Cherry Knoll Rain Chain

Though few would argue that downspouts effectively direct water from the gutter to the collecting tank, would we agree that they add to the aesthetic appeal of a landscape? Probably not. Fortunately, for people who wish to transcend function for form, there is another option.
Rain chains ('Kusari doi' in Japanese) offer a highly attractive and unique alternative to traditional downspouts. They are hung from the corners of your roof or canale to guide the flow of water into large barrels to catch the water from the roof for household purposes and gardening. They have been used for hundreds of years in Japan, and are a perfect expression of the Japanese knack for combining aesthetics and practicality. I had a major problem with water drainage from my upper deck onto my lower deck and came across this fascinating solution to the problem. With the help of my friend, Reed, we installed a gutter along the upper deck of my house and then added a copper rain chain to direct the water down into a beautiful ceramic pot. The water is then drained under my deck to a nearby flowerbed. A perfect solution to a very annoying problem! You'll have to check it out the next time you visit, and hopefully it will be raining so you can get the complete effect. It's absolutely mesmerizing, and I love it! Now I can't wait for rainy days, and the harder the downpour, the more beautiful the effect!