Hi Cook, I purchased a custom rod from Paso Robles a few years ago. Shipping is very expensive, but we live on the other side of the country. I wanted this rod for our dining room, but because of the depth and height of our crown moulding, the support brackets did not fit. Luckily, we were able to use the rod in our son's room. I cannot believe that you would only need one center support for a pole that long. Ours has one center support---and needs it. It is about 12 feet long, and I would think a longer pole would need more support. My advice is to order first one of the supports to make sure it will fit and the curtains will not hang down too low. The way our support is forged, the pole actually hangs down 4" below it. Add an inch or two for rings, and depending upon your ceiling height you may not be able to use the pole, the curtains, and/or open the doors. If you order a support you can at least see how they attach and where the pole will hang. Best of luck--- the poles are excellently crafted and the guy who makes them is really nice.

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):

I would not call that color red, more of a rust, an orange, which I really love with your rug, your floor, and your furniture. The color even brings out orange tint of the ceiling beams. I also like the poles as well. I think they make a strong statement. Good luck getting the new leather chair into the living room. Have you shopped around for better mover prices? I have Kirsch fluted wood 2" diameter poles which come in several colors - I bought some on Amazon and years ago at JC Penney's. I have the pineapple finials but they also have round ball finials. Here they are seen in a previous home where I used the rings. Finials and rod colors; http://www.designerdraperyhardware.com/kirsch-drapery-hardware/2-inch-wood-trends-classic/ Here is a link that might be useful: [Kirsch 2[(https://www.houzz.com/products/kirsch-wood-trends-2-inch-fluted-wood-pole-prvw-vr~1069663)

Use electrical conduit, it's lighter and apprx $2 for 10 ft. I found an online DIY video and I'm about to tackle this project myself for an almost 200' rod. My biggest problem is figuring out where to put the brackets so I can still open the curtains. I have a slider with windows on both sides, about 11' of wall space between the slider and each window, very little wall space to the corner. I'm hanging 3 patio drapes, because I wanted the color and the company doesn't sell matching curtain panels. My goal is to block the bright morning sun and the heat (the sun rises right into my window!). I'll try to post a link to that video, it seems fairly easy, except the bracket issue. I bought 2 100' pieces of conduit, 1 can of primer paint combo (spray paint) and it only cost $8. I did pick up some connectors for $2, but I'm not sure if I'll use them yet. All i need to buy now is brackets, shouldn't be that expensive, i'm guessing the total cost will be under $30. I'm also hanging a black out liner in front of the slider, on a separate rod, as close to the wall as possible. If rods weren't so ridiculously expensive, I would just buy a custom made one, but that would cost more than my curtains! I'm hoping this is as easy as it is in my head...Anyone have any suggestions on where to put these brackets, please let me know. Here is a link that might be useful: DIY curtain rod