If simplicity is beautiful, my first method for locking and loosening the barre was mildly attractive. Instead of hanger bolts, I used a small screw. It held the barre in place just fine, but I had to keep a screwdriver close by — extra baggage. I stopped to reflect for a moment. The barre did exactly what I needed it to do. And even with the screwdriver, it was still streamlined and simple to use. It was good. Maybe even better than good. Still, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling it could be simpler.
If there were a hardware hotline, I’d nominate a designer I work with to be the authoritative voice on the other end. One afternoon, she stopped by in a BMW she repairs herself to swap quarantine supplies. I showed her the barre, and having zero patience for the screwdriver, she suggested hanger bolts. My vacant look said it all, so she drew it for me, explaining these bolts would eliminate the need for a screwdriver. Problem solved, simply and beautifully.
There’s always more to know, and these moments remind me why hitting the bullseye is temporary. I aimed to build a stable yet movable barre and landed on a clothes rack held in place by a screw. It met my objectives. It was a center hit, or so it seemed, until new information about bolts shifted the bullseye. Now I want to nerd out and discover more of hardware’s greasy gems. But first, a workout.
Instructions for building your own barre are below. For questions, comments, or to see more posts like this, follow @movingbullseye on Instagram.