What is a drapery medallion?
A drapery medallion is a decorative wall-mounted hardware piece used to support, style, or secure curtain panels. Unlike traditional curtain rods, medallions allow fabric to be mounted at individual points, making them ideal for swags, layered treatments, bay windows, and architectural installations where flexibility is required.
What is the difference between a drapery medallion and a curtain holdback?
Curtain holdbacks are typically designed to pull fabric to the side of a window, while drapery medallions can function both as holdbacks and as primary mounting points for full window treatments. Medallions offer more decorative presence and greater flexibility in placement, spacing, and scale.
Can drapery medallions replace curtain rods?
Yes. Drapery medallions are often used instead of curtain rods, especially in custom installations. Because they mount individually, they eliminate the visual weight of a continuous horizontal rod and allow fabric to follow the architecture of the space more naturally.
Are drapery medallions difficult to install?
No. Most drapery medallions are straightforward to install with basic tools. Metropolis Iron designs many of its medallions with a two-piece mounting system that allows for secure installation and adjustable projection, making them suitable for DIY installation as well as professional use.
What types of window treatments work best with drapery medallions?
Drapery medallions work well with stationary panels, swags, scarves, layered drapery, and decorative side panels. They are especially effective for bay windows, arched openings, sliding glass doors, and wide windows where traditional rods may feel restrictive.
What finishes are available?
Metropolis Iron offers a wide range of hand-applied faux finishes, including warm metallics, dark iron tones, soft neutrals, and coastal-inspired finishes. Each finish is applied by hand to create depth, texture, and variation that cannot be achieved with mass-produced coatings.
Do finishes look the same in person as they do online?
Because finishes are hand-applied, slight variation is natural and intentional. Lighting conditions and surrounding materials can also affect how a finish appears once installed. Many designers request samples or printed catalogs to compare finishes against fabric, paint, and other materials before final selection.
Are your products made from solid iron?
Yes. Metropolis Iron products are crafted from solid iron, not lightweight composites or hollow materials. This ensures durability, proper weight support for heavier fabrics, and long-term performance. Of course we use other materials for other types of medallions too!
Do you offer different sizes of the same design?
Yes. Many Metropolis Iron designs are available in multiple sizes. Scalable sizing allows hardware to be proportioned correctly to window size, ceiling height, and fabric weight, which is critical for achieving a balanced and intentional installation.
Are drapery medallions suitable for coastal or high-humidity environments?
Yes. Metropolis Iron designs and finishes its hardware in Florida, with coastal and high-humidity environments in mind. Properly applied finishes and solid iron construction help maintain integrity and appearance over time, even in challenging conditions.
Can I use medallions for layered window treatments?
Absolutely. Drapery medallions are ideal for layered treatments because each fabric layer can be mounted independently. This prevents overcrowding at the top of the window and allows each layer to maintain its own visual presence.
Do you offer unique designs?
Yes. Unique designs are available for clients who require alternating sizes, projections, motifs, or finishes. Alternate/Unique fabrication allows medallions to align with architectural details or unique design concepts.
How do I choose the right medallion for my space?
Choosing the right medallion involves considering window size, ceiling height, fabric weight, finish coordination, and architectural style. Scale and placement are just as important as design. Larger windows typically require larger medallions to maintain proportion.
Do you ship nationwide?
Yes. Metropolis Iron ships throughout the United States and works with homeowners, designers, and workrooms nationwide.
Why choose Metropolis Iron?
Metropolis Iron focuses exclusively on specialized handcrafted iron drapery hardware designed to integrate into architectural interiors. With solid iron construction, hand-applied finishes, scalable sizing, and transparent pricing, the goal is to provide durable, flexible hardware without unnecessary complexity or inflated costs.