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CurtainRods.Com
My dear colleague Melissa "Mimi" M. recently asked yours/hers truly for suggestions on stylish and inexpensive curtain rods. Good question! Hand-carved water gilt curtain hardware from Joseph Biunno is stunning but will run you about as much as a hybrid car. So I told her West Elm had some good modern options, but what to do for a more traditional room? Turns out there's a site called CurtainRods.Com selling all components in a variety of finishes as well as unfinished wood. I think this oak leaf finial could look cool on a 2-inch fluted pole in their white finish or painted a glossy, pop-y color (only $18.50 for a pair -- pardon the pics):
But I also might do away with finials altogether and use straight wood poles (available in 2-inch or 1 3/8-inch diameters) and these unfinished wood elbows, or what decorators call "returns," for $13 each : 
Sleek but substantial and you can stain or paint in any color. Oh, and their simple rings with eyelets are only $12.50 for 4.
Nick- This forces me to think about something I've been avoiding--curtains for my living room. The apartment has lovely curved windows in the living room--actually curved, glass and all. There is a bit of a sticking-out part from the wall that includes the windows, and that is also curved. A straight rod wouldn't be able to be flush to the wall, if that makes sense? I looked into custom curtain rods with a curve to them, but they are spendy and hideous; I only found the kind you use with super-formal curtain, the kind with pin clips... Do you have any ideas?
hi kate - what about a curved curtain track that mounts directly to the ceiling? the looks is a bit hotel, but with french pleats and an interesting fabric it could be cool in an older home. lucky you to have big, curved windows!!
blinkdecor.com recently hightlighted a company that has fabulous drapery hardware:http://www.blinkdecor.com/decoratorsdish/?p=253