Kitchen rails: varieties, tips for choosing and installing

Kitchen railing is a unique design in its simplicity, which can easily replace an entire cabinet or rack. In addition to practical benefits, this simple at first glance construction gives the kitchen a stylish look and a complete look.

Kitchen railing is a hollow pipe of round, rectangular or square cross section, which is mounted on a wall, countertop or ceiling with the help of several holders. The number of brackets depends on the length of the rod and can reach 3 or more pieces. The diameter of round rods is usually 16 mm, which is the most convenient size and allows you to easily place all kinds of clothespins and clamps on the pipes. As for the length of rails, it ranges from 40 cm to 3 m, and the most common are models with a length of 60, 80, 100 and 120 cm. The hollow bar is closed on both sides by plugs that give the product an aesthetic appearance and protect the pipe cavity from dust accumulation and mud.

Initially, roof rails were widely used in bars, restaurants and other catering establishments, where they successfully solved the problem of lack of space and helped to more efficiently use the available space. At the same time, all necessary utensils for the kitchen utensils were at arm's length.A little later, roof rails came to home kitchens, where they were appreciated by housewives and firmly entered into everyday life. The high consumer demand for kitchen rails is due to the following indisputable advantages of these simple designs:

• due to its high mobility, the bar can be installed on any part of the kitchen, regardless of the size of the room and the arrangement of furniture;
• the possibility of hanging multi-tier storage systems on railing eliminates the need for bulky kitchen shelves and cabinets;
• a wide variety of accessories and rich equipment turn an ordinary pipe into a multifunctional and convenient construction, because, in addition to kitchen utensils, there are many other necessary things on the railing;
• removable hinged accessories allows you to change objects at your discretion and move them to other parts of the kitchen;
• the use of railing significantly saves space on the desktop and eliminates the presence of numerous small items, which helps to maintain exemplary order in the kitchen and visually increases the space;
• as mentioned above, railing is able to replace a small kitchen cabinet, but, unlike the latter, it is very easy to maintain, because if you need to completely empty all shelves and wash each corner thoroughly, then to wash the railing, it’s not necessary to remove the hanging there are objects on it, for this it is enough only to move them first to one, and then to the other side and wash the bar;
• thanks to the aesthetic design and use for the production of beautiful materials, railing fits perfectly into any kitchen interior and gives it a special elegance;
• the design of rails is so simple that it will not be difficult to install it even for a person who does not have experience;
• the railing surface is highly resistant to moisture and chemicals, and the products themselves have a long service life and overall reliability of the structure; the rods do not deform under high loads and retain their original shape throughout the entire period of operation.

The main purpose of roof rails is the proper organization of the storage system for kitchen utensils, from utensils to flowers and textiles. When using traditional cabinets, small items are very cluttered with shelves, which is why quickly finding the right thing is often difficult. The roof rails allow you to accurately determine the location of an object, since they are constantly in sight and clearly recorded in the visual memory.

Items are placed on the bar using attachments - hooks, clothespins, mesh shelves, holders for glasses, dryers, hangers for towels and magnets. The listed accessories can turn the ordinary bar into a complete storage system for kitchen utensils and solve the problem of placing grains, ladles, cutlery, lids, colanders, spatulas, kitchen towels, bread bins, glasses, plates, mugs, scissors, fruit baskets, table napkins and other necessary items.

There are several types of roof rails.

• Vertical. Such structures assume a vertical arrangement of the bar and are fixed between the ceiling and countertop, ceiling and floor, as well as between the table and the hanging shelf or cabinet. They have all kinds of devices for storing items, they often give them a separate angle. Such options look good in spacious rooms, where they often act as an independent design element. Vertical railing also looks good on the bar, fitting glass and glasses on it.

• Horizontal Such roof rails represent the largest group of goods and are very popular in home kitchens. The rods have different lengths and can be located near one wall or surround the kitchen around the perimeter. Such models are often equipped with a multi-tier storage system, which allows you to fit in a limited space a large number of kitchen utensils. Horizontal models are often placed under the cabinets and equipped with a large number of hooks and mesh shelves, which leads to ergonomic use of space and allows you to save space in the cabinets.

• Hanging models. Such designs are placed above the desktop, kitchen island or bar. They are used to place cookware, dishes and glasses. The only condition for placing suspended rails is their removal from the slab. Otherwise, the burning and drops of fat will settle on the utensils and quickly contaminate it.

Materials such as brass, anodized aluminum and stainless steel are used to make rails. To give products a modern look, metal rods are coated with chrome and nickel. Chromed surfaces combine perfectly with most modern trends and fit well into space. For lovers of retro styles, a modern manufacturer offers a huge number of models for gold, copper and bronze.

As for the strength of the material, the stainless steel holds the palm. Steel products do not bend and do not deform, are not subject to corrosion and can last 10 years or more. Anodized aluminum is much lighter than rolled steel, but more vulnerable to severe weight loads. Therefore, the use of this material is often limited to the production of short products, which, due to their low cost, are in high demand. Brass is also used in the manufacture of roof rails and looks very nice. Its only drawback is the high price and the need for regular care. The last requirement is due to the tendency of brass to darken and become cloudy over time.

In addition to metal, high-impact glass is often used in the manufacture of roof rails. Such models are often equipped with internal lighting, and the glass can be transparent, matte or multi-colored. And also there are models with inserts made of wood and plastic. They look very original and thanks to a wide range of colors and a variety of designs, they can be easily selected for any artistic look of the kitchen.

Most of the rails on the modern market have a chrome or nickel coating, which makes the surface of the rod mirror. Such models are especially popular among consumers, due to their compatibility with most interiors. Often, products are equipped with multi-colored plugs, inserts and decorative elements, which allows you to pick them up to the color of household appliances, walls or items of kitchen furniture.

The modern market of kitchen accessories offers a huge selection of roof rails. Among them, there are both models of famous companies and products of unknown enterprises. Below are the most famous manufacturers that produce roof rails in a wide range with a wide variety of sizes, shapes and designs.

• Tescoma from the Czech Republic It has been on the market for quite some time. A distinctive feature of products is the excellent quality of products and a wide price range. All models have a beautiful design and are available in both matte and glossy designs. The cost of the simplest compact railing without accessories starts at 300 rubles.

• Kessebohmer from Germany more than a decade specializing in the production of equipment for kitchens. The company produces roof rails with round and square sections, as well as a huge number of attachments. The German manufacturer uses the latest galvanic technology, allowing the mirror surface to remain in perfect condition for a long time. In addition to glossy chrome and nickel, the product catalog also includes products with a decorative coating “matte chrome”, “matte nickel” and “glossy gold”. The cost for German models is quite adequate. The most budgetary railing company Kessebohmer will cost the buyer 900 rubles.

• Lemi company from Italy produces inexpensive roof rails with bronze, copper, chrome matte and chrome glossy surfaces. The undoubted advantage of Italian products is a wide range and low cost. The disadvantages include not too high-quality spraying, which quickly wears out and leads to the loss of the initial gloss. The most inexpensive railing with a bronze coating from Lemi can be bought for 390 rubles, while a chrome-plated model in a matte finish will cost 550 rubles already.

• Well established and products from China. As an example, consider a company called Lemax and is the leader in sales of kitchen rails in Russia. Compatriots choose Chinese products for a low cost, rich equipment and attractive appearance. Models are often decorated with colored inserts of glass, plastic and wood, and some of them are equipped with internal lighting. In addition, some products are attached to the surface using suction cups, which allows not to spoil the walls with extra holes. The cost of the budget model without attachments is 350 rubles.

When choosing rails you need to take into account a number of important points. The length of the purchased railing must be commensurate with the size of the kitchen. In small rooms quite a few compact models are enough, for example, for a kitchen with an area of ​​12 m², two rails 60 cm long will be enough. Otherwise, there is a risk of overloading the space and creating difficulties when cleaning.

The choice of attachments should be determined by needs and common sense. You do not need to purchase too many different holders, hooks and shelves, since only those items that are used daily should be on the railing. If, for example, the baking of confectionery is done once every six months, then keeping the baking dish on hand does not make sense. And also it is not recommended to purchase and place holders in reserve on the bar, and even more so to hang them with a large number of mugs. Excess items will cause a visual clutter of space, and railing will lose its sophistication and aesthetics.

The railing system should successfully fit into the general style and not look like something foreign in it. To do this, it should be understood that the color of the bar, attachments and holders should be in harmony with the accessories of kitchen furniture, plumbing, household appliances or an exhaust hood. In classic, rustic and country interiors, matte models of copper, gold and bronze tones, as well as products with forging elements, are well suited. Black roof rails will look good in a loft-style kitchen, and for the Scandinavian trend, minimalism and high-tech - strict flat designs without any special artwork in a glossy or matte finish.

When choosing a place for railing, it is advisable to be guided by some rules. So, it is better to place the most capacious corner models near a sink. In addition to linear options, the use of multi-tiered structures is appropriate, which will allow you to place on them not only dishes and cutlery, but also detergents, sponges and paper towels. However, this arrangement is only suitable for spacious kitchens. In small rooms, multi-tiered and too cluttered roof rails create a feeling of crowding, bedlam and disorder. For small kitchens, one short model is enough, on which several blades are hung or a compact drying for dishes.

In the area of ​​the slab, the installation of compact horizontal structures will be justified, which are perfectly suited for placing kitchen utensils, salt, a lighter, potholders and seasonings - in short, all that may be needed in the process of cooking. It is good to place short roof rails on the ends of countertops, on the side surfaces of the “kitchen islands” and on the side walls of the hanging cabinets. Roof rails can also be used for closed storage systems, located on the inside of the doors of cabinets and cabinets.

An interesting solution will be the location of rails at different heights in the form of broken lines. This will allow zoning of the space and emphasize the geometry of the kitchen. An equally unusual option will be the location of railing systems in the recreation areas of dining rooms and large kitchens. Typically, for these purposes, vertical structures are used from floor to ceiling, on which kitchen textiles, wicker baskets for various trifles and other pleasant little things are placed. You can also place railing near the coffee machine by equipping it with a home coffee bar. When the structure is located above the bar, it is advisable to hang only glasses and small bottles on it, since there is absolutely no place for other kitchen utensils in such places.

Install rails so that the objects located on them are always at hand, and they did not have to reach. So, if the horizontal structure is installed above the table, then the distance from the crossbar to the countertop should be 40-50 cm. If the storage system will be located on the kitchen apron under the wall cabinet, then at least 8-10 cm should be indented from its bottom panel. Railing systems can be fixed to any surface, including painted, glued and tiled walls. The only exceptions are kitchen aprons made of extremely durable glass. In such cases, the installation of roof rails is carried out before installing the apron, and in cases where this is not possible - use models on suction cups.

The installation process itself is quite simple and consists of such sequential steps as:

• with the help of the laser level, markings are made, while on the surface the initial and final, as well as several intermediate points are marked;
• in the marked areas, holes with a diameter of 6 to 8 mm are drilled for fixing the holders; if work is carried out on tiles, it is recommended to use special drills for tiles;
• in the holes made, plastic plugs are installed, which are included with the rails, and the support bushings are fixed to them with the help of self-tapping screws;
• the holders are put on the support pins, after which they insert and fix the rods; if the bar is too long, it needs to be shortened, use a hacksaw for metal;
• the ends of the pipes are closed with decorative plugs consisting of a connecting screw, a protective cap and a coupling;
• if necessary, angular installation use special connectors, which are an arc with an angle of 90 or 135 degrees;
• installation of vertical rails is carried out at the disposal - for this the models have an additional rod that extends according to the telescope principle to the desired length; instead of plugs, plastic or silicone linings are used that do not allow damage to the supporting surfaces.

To use railing as convenient and comfortable as possible, You can use simple recommendations.

• To save space on the crossbar, small items are best placed in one glass or basket, rather than hanging on separate hooks.
• It is better to store kitchen utensils by category and in certain places. So, it is better to place all the utensils necessary for cooking next to the stove, glasses and glasses - above the bar, mugs and cutlery - not far from the dining table, and beautiful textiles, wicker baskets and decoupage boxes will find their place near the recreation area.
• The filling of the rails should also correspond to the style of the kitchen and not cause dissonance. So, for shabby chic checkered gizmos are suitable, pot-bellied pots with fragrant herbs or voluminous cans of tea and coffee will perfectly fit in Provence. For retro interiors, the placement of wooden mills for salt and spices or patinated copper mortars will be an excellent solution.
• In order for the railing to last as long as possible and retain its original attractiveness, it must be properly looked after. To do this, it is enough to wipe it daily with a damp and then dry cloth, and perform general cleaning with neutral detergents. In this case, the sponge should be used with the softest one that does not leave scratches on the chrome surface. The use of abrasive cleaners for the same reason is unacceptable. It is better to use ordinary dishwashing liquid, which will not only give the metal surface its original shine, but also dissolve frozen drops of fat.

Besides the practical function, kitchen rails are highly decorative and can significantly transform even the most boring interior.

• A long railing over the work area will give the kitchen a sophisticated and modern look.

• The corner design is very roomy and functional.

• The black model looks great in the loft style.

• Hanging railing over the kitchen island is compact and functional.

• The vertical design to the ceiling is a great addition to the bar counter.

See how to install roof rails for the kitchen in the next video.