Spotted! The Ancient Pulley System Lives On
See 10 ways you can add a rustic or an industrial feel to your space with this novel – and practical – accessory
Ancient Greek tinkerer Archimedes is credited with unpacking the physics behind the pulley system, which quickly became popular with sailors looking to move heavy cargo. Electronic lift systems have relieved the mechanical pulley from most of its former duties, but this ancient technology can still be useful today. Here are 10 ways to stylishly incorporate a pulley system into your home.
Here, a decorative pulley system with rustic rope does the job of hanging two bedside lamps, but mostly it enhances the barn-like feel of this stylish lodge.
Browse more country-stye bedrooms
Browse more country-stye bedrooms
2. Hang art
Converted warehouses and lofts make especially inspired hosts for industrialist touches like this mounting system consisting of marine rope and vintage hardware. This dining room has a double-heigh ceiling, and the artwork and the pulley system work in tandem to make a dramatic statement on what is more or less a blank canvas.
Converted warehouses and lofts make especially inspired hosts for industrialist touches like this mounting system consisting of marine rope and vintage hardware. This dining room has a double-heigh ceiling, and the artwork and the pulley system work in tandem to make a dramatic statement on what is more or less a blank canvas.
3. Hang mirrors
The pulley used to hang this mirror complements the weathered wood vanity, rope-sling towel holder and oil-rubbed-bronze fixtures. The fishnet pattern on the matching pendant lamps is another nautical reference that completes this stylish scene designed by Tineke Triggs.
The pulley used to hang this mirror complements the weathered wood vanity, rope-sling towel holder and oil-rubbed-bronze fixtures. The fishnet pattern on the matching pendant lamps is another nautical reference that completes this stylish scene designed by Tineke Triggs.
5. Secure bunk beds
Kids often have an appreciation for anything remotely adventurous. To them, sleeping in a bunk bed hung from the ceiling is like hanging out in a magical treehouse. But hanging top bunks from the rafters has a more practical benefit too: it liberates the designer from having to work around the boxy footprint of a traditional bunk bed by freeing up space underneath the lofted beds for other purposes. Here, we see space has been carved out for a little reading alcove under one of the lofted beds.
Kids often have an appreciation for anything remotely adventurous. To them, sleeping in a bunk bed hung from the ceiling is like hanging out in a magical treehouse. But hanging top bunks from the rafters has a more practical benefit too: it liberates the designer from having to work around the boxy footprint of a traditional bunk bed by freeing up space underneath the lofted beds for other purposes. Here, we see space has been carved out for a little reading alcove under one of the lofted beds.
6. Hang drying racks
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a designated room just for doing laundry. Those who do probably still might not have a tonne of space. A pulley system allows a drying rack to be mounted at the ceiling and pulled down for service. If you design it right, you can even fit one into a laundry cupboard above two side-by-side units.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a designated room just for doing laundry. Those who do probably still might not have a tonne of space. A pulley system allows a drying rack to be mounted at the ceiling and pulled down for service. If you design it right, you can even fit one into a laundry cupboard above two side-by-side units.
7. Hang a bike
A pulley system allows a person of moderate strength to hoist a significant load. A bike is an item whose weight can range from light to heavy, but which is almost always unwieldy and takes up a lot of space in storage. Some loft dwellers prop their bikes on the wall, and others just leave them at the door, but if your ceiling height allows (either inside the home or in your garage), consider installing a simple locking pulley to clear up some floor space while keeping your means of transportation within easy reach.
21 ways to store your bike inside
A pulley system allows a person of moderate strength to hoist a significant load. A bike is an item whose weight can range from light to heavy, but which is almost always unwieldy and takes up a lot of space in storage. Some loft dwellers prop their bikes on the wall, and others just leave them at the door, but if your ceiling height allows (either inside the home or in your garage), consider installing a simple locking pulley to clear up some floor space while keeping your means of transportation within easy reach.
21 ways to store your bike inside
8. Secure windows
Custom pass-through awning windows were added to this lake home’s screened-in verandah. The alder-framed windows can be pulled up and secured, allowing the lake breezes to flow into the home during warm summer months.
Custom pass-through awning windows were added to this lake home’s screened-in verandah. The alder-framed windows can be pulled up and secured, allowing the lake breezes to flow into the home during warm summer months.
9. Hide a television
People are often looking for clever and stylish ways to hide their televisions. The owners of this home devised a pulley system to lift a piece of stained wood that hides the flat-screen television mounted above their fireplace mantel.
Living rooms that don’t revolve around the box
People are often looking for clever and stylish ways to hide their televisions. The owners of this home devised a pulley system to lift a piece of stained wood that hides the flat-screen television mounted above their fireplace mantel.
Living rooms that don’t revolve around the box
Here we see homeowner Mark Rieves cranking the pulley’s lever to expose the flat-screen television mounted above the mantel.
10. Add a historical reference
Of all the uses for a pulley, this one may come closest to the rig’s historical use. In the past, multi-storey buildings and barns were often outfitted with a pulley system for hauling heavy furniture up to the upper floors. The pulley on this barn could be used in a similar manner to raise something to its second level.
Tell us
Have you used a pulley system around your home? Tell us what for in the Comments below.
More
Browse more decorating guides
Of all the uses for a pulley, this one may come closest to the rig’s historical use. In the past, multi-storey buildings and barns were often outfitted with a pulley system for hauling heavy furniture up to the upper floors. The pulley on this barn could be used in a similar manner to raise something to its second level.
Tell us
Have you used a pulley system around your home? Tell us what for in the Comments below.
More
Browse more decorating guides
There may have been other, more conventional ways to hang this chandelier, but few would have been quite as striking. Especially against a backdrop of white, the rustic texture of the pulley adds visual weight and some patina to this modern dining room.