Oh Wow, Thanks Jan, That is exactly what I was looking for. I hate the little skinny poles and that's all I was finding. Also the rod you pointed me toward is much longer which is better to hold it tight than only an inch or two beyond what is needed. I will certainly order the black one you showed me. I agree the black would look the best. Oh, I'm also in WI and bored with the snow now. Donna

I've been eyeing these on West Elm lately, currently on sale for 49.00/pair. They're linen, 96" long. Also on sale Plus a bunch of others, including patterned or solid, e.g. burlap. I can't quite make out your colors (more beige, greige, or gray?)

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 like that look very much, Caroline. And painted white would be great. I don't have that now, but when I first moved into this house, several windows had wood platforms covered with curtain material over the windows that then had the curtains coming down from them. Well, that didn't last very long with me. I took them down, patched all the nail holes it took to put them up there and then repainted the area. They had left cans of every color they used in every room. Since then I ordered lace curtains from Country Curtains for the six windows in the original part of the house and I used tension rods, top and bottom, to fix them inside the frame of the window. They have held up very well over the years.