cafe mount without drilling holes into frame

[DebiC53]

I have vinyl frame windows that are set into brick. This was a front corner porch that was converted to a dining room, so two walls are brick, and the two outer walls are windows. One window is 150" wide, overall, containing three 48" windows. The additional 6 inches is from the 1" vinyl framing around each window. The other is 108" wide overall, three 34" wide windows, set the same way. These windows are 64" long. There is wood above the top of the windows. I want cafe curtains so I can get privacy, but still have light from above the cafe.
I cannot figure how to mount cafe rods, because I have no way to support the rods thru the long lengths. The manufacturer of the windows said we negate the warranty of the windows if we drill any hole into the frame. Any ideas how I might accomplish the cafe mount? Thanks! -DebiC53

[Annette]

other than some sort of support rod/stick/moulding that would sit on the sill and go up to the rod, supporting it from underneath, that could be hidden by the curtain itself, or trimwork between the windows where you could use individual tension rods, i don't see a way to use cafes either.

what about top-down-bottom-up pleated shades? they mount above the window, and they can be lowered from the top like usual, or they can be raised from the bottom, giving you privacy while leaving the top portion of the window open.

[DebiC53]

Thanks, we have the raising/lowering from the top shades...for two years now. I was so excited when I got them, but very shortly I discovered they are a real pain! There are 4 cords on each side of each shade. When I want to raise the bottoms (like when I want to clean the windows)... it raises just fine....(all four cords pulled at once on the left side) but getting back to the desired position is exasperating...first it just will not lower without raising the entire shade to the top...not accomplished with one pull like raising the bottom...the cords have to be alternately pulled left and right side....finally, after getting it to the completely raised...then the shade must be lowered to total window covered position, (the cords on the right side have to be jiggled and played with as one side and then the other begin to fall)..and...then the top of the blind can be cajoled into lowering (and the four cords begin to tangle at the top right where they come out of the rod) I have spent hours on a stool trying to untangle these cords... :wall: so when eventually I get it back to the original position, I vow I will never attempt it again!... (until 6 months later when I want to clean again!) So they have hung there....just opague white shades...have not pleased me at all. They have, however, been very entertaining to my cat... :cheshire: she has shredded the bottom of them.... so these shades...that cost about $300 with shipping two years ago....are soooo needing to go! I did buy these shades as soon as they came on the market....hopefully they have improved by now...but I'm just not willing to put out that much again to try...besides, I'd prefer the decoratative look of the fabric. I may just try putting up a wire stretched taut as I can get it between two hardware eyelets sunk into molleys into the mortar...and shirr the curtain on it...that'd be a real unsophisticated country look, huh? ;)