Rod On

The ‘60s and ‘70s aren’t showing up just on fashion runways these days. The retro movement is also on display in window dressings and hardware.

Blome, a leading maker of curtain rod hardware and accessories, has created a cool and campy-looking line in carved resin. The Paradise collection, with three styles available ($125 to $250), can turn ordinary swags into something rather swanky.

The styles include Anna, a large singular gumdrop, which caps the ends; Nina, two asymmetrical gumdrops, stacked skewer-style on the rod’s tip; and three almond shapes that climb Lily’s tapered end in an irregular procession.

Blome hardware is available through Randolph & Hein, Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, (310) 855-1222.

Cutting Edge

Bosch’s rotary tool is a cut above the rest.

Using one of several bits available, it will work on a multitude of materials: acrylic, plastic, ceramic wall tile, wood composites, laminate, chip board, drywall and plaster, just to name a few.

Because the rotary tool can cut through ceramic wall tile, it can also be used to etch designs on the tile for accents.

The rotary tool has a compact, ergonomic design and weighs less than 2 1/2 pounds. It has a down spiral cutting design that pushes dust into the cut--it stays away from you so you can see what you’re cutting without debris flying everywhere.

Bosch’s tool comes with quarter-inch and eighth-inch collets, eliminating the need for reducing adapters. The tool, available at hardware and home centers throughout the county, is sold separately ($75) or in a kit ($200) that has several bits and a circle cutter.

Cursive Lines

Give your room shape by throwing in a few curves.

The twisting and turning metal designs by Tripoli are cursive in shape and form.

“There are no harsh corners, and one shape goes into the next,” Tyrome Tripoli says of his work. “Just like water going down rocks, it flows. That’s what I’m trying to do with my metalwork.

“My focus is taking the metal medium, which is cold and hard, and giving it a warmth.”

Tripoli, 29, who grew up in Corona del Mar, draws his inspiration from the ocean. The designer, who has set up shop in San Francisco, is a passionate surfer and former player on Corona del Mar High’s water polo team.

Among his signature pieces are his beds ($2,800 to $3,500) made of wood and ornate metal. More of his mainstream pieces, like his candelabra ($385) and occasional tables (from $300 to $1,200), have the same look, but the detail is toned down, so they can be produced quickly without losing quality.

For more information on Tripoli’s works, call (415) 764-2939.