I used a combination of techniques to FINALLY get our curtains to glide easily. Like you, i t was driving me nuts to close and open the curtains every day. We bought a house with blackout curtains that covered a triple sliding glass door—total 12 feet long. There was also a 3 section window that was 11 feet long. The curtains have wide grommets and the curtain rod was 1.5 inches in diameter. We have to close the curtains every night as it is VERY bright and sunny as early as 5 AM in the summer. I tried several different suggestions I found online and finally arrived at a combination of a homemade narrow and longer single rod along with the rolling shower curtain hooks in bronze I found on amazon. I made the new longer and more narrow metal pole without telescoping sections out of half inch metal electrical conduit—about $7 for 10’ at Home Depot. I needed two rods at 12’6” and 11’6”, but could only find 10 foot sections at our local home depot, so I bought three 10 foot sections and a pipe cutter, and pipe connectors to make longer rods. I cut one pole into the two shorter sections I needed to add to the 10 foot section of each rod. I had a couple of pieces of wooden dowels I used duct tape sticky side out and put inside the two sections and the connector so the rod wouldn’t sag at the connection point. I then spray painted both rods with some bronze/brown paint—it took a whole can for the two rods—and I actually went over a light coat of black spray paint I had to get more coverage. I had tried the grommet curtains on the just the more narrow single rod, but it was still sticking a little. So I ordered the rolling shower curtain hooks from Amazon in bronze attaching them to the grommets and then the rings to the rod. IT WORKS GREAT—FINALLY! I still have to figure out the end finials, but can use the curtains for now with ease. Here is the list of things I used for the two 12 foot rods—most at Home depot except for shower curtain rings 1. 3 10’ sections of ½ inch metal electrical conduit—about $7 each 2. a pipe cutter about $18 3. conduit connectors ($2.50 for 5, but I only needed 2) 4. Spray paint (about $8 a can 5. dowel and duct tape—I had some scraps 6. Shower curtain rings with rollers—I got bronze in sets of 12 ($7 each):

One more reason to like the rings - with them, the top of the curtain sort of extends the line of the trim (see 1st picture), and together with the rod uncovered, creates a cleaner, stronger effect.

Tina, That is my alternate option---I even have the linen white sheers picked out. There just isn't much space between the bed and the windows (there are 2 windows with the bed right in between) so I'm wondering if the side by the window will get bunched up and look crowded. Tried having the sheers end at the windowsill and I didn't like that....Only like that look (in this room at least) cafe-rod style.... which brings me back to my dilemma. I know your suggestion is the safe route---I just want to make sure I absolutely can't make the cafe curtain idea work with a shade before I give up and go with that option. So my 2 ideas are the reverse roll shade, or the fabric "psudo valance" that come with the shades. Or, wonder if I could just add some wood to the top of the window (like where the fabric valance would go---as seen in the picture up top) but paint it white---and maybe it would blend in with the moulding?

I bought a bunch from Sierra Trading post-- wait for one of their 35% or 45% sales. I don't know what size I bought and they are still packed .. but the stock changes regularly. I'd just check them out and check back. I am pretty sure I paid less than $5/set on one of their discount sales.