I have remote control window coverings in my bedroom (which are also programmable) and the only reason not to do them (aside from cost) is that you will love them so much you will want them everywhere! To answer the question -- I'd do top down, bottom up blackouts on the regular windows and regular blackout on the clerestory. That way a person who likes it dark could have it dark and a person who likes a little light (but still wants privacy) could put the regular window shades down from the top to let in a little light.

I enjoy looking out at my backyard when I am on the computer.Looking out my living room window isn't bad, the cemetery is right across the street. In the winter we have snow and it makes everything look even better. I would prefer mountains and woodsy but just for a vacation home. I am happy where I am. I enjoy having coffee on my deck and looking up at the bluest sky which I did not see in CA with the air pollution.

Holly-Kay, you mentioned a good point, if someone still has a daily work commute. I'd forgotten how much I hated the drive to and from work. Even with sun glasses on and sun visor down, I often had to drive one handed, down a particular road, in order to shield my face from the blinding sun. It wasn't ideal, but I figured one handed driving was safer than trying to drive without being able to keep my eyes open, lol! But I'd always want the exposure for my home that offers the most light in rooms that I spend most daylight hours in, especially in Wisconsin, where you aren't going to suffer extremely hot summers.

After Ravencajun's comment, I will definitely make sure that the barstools do not have casters - I did not like that idea anyway. The problem with one design is that it is somewhat cone shape that goes down to the floor, and so there is not a separate base from which the seat can swivel. I told everyone that this was a bad idea from the beginning, but they kept telling me that they wanted it. If this design does not have casters, it will be very difficult to move, but we can still put a swivel in the base, although it still does not seem like a practical design to me. The design is based on a popular lounge/occasional chair that we have that is barrel shaped and has both casters and swivel, but it is also a very heavy chair and difficult to move, even with casters. I did some other designs with a 6" diameter column and round base, but not everyone liked those, although I think they are more practical. However, my boss had me put casters in those, but I will be taking them out. At work I have an intermediate stool/chair that is like an office chair, but is between the height of an office chair and a drafting stool. I use it at my work table, which is about 33-34" high, I think. I had the work table built for me so that the top would be at the point where my hip flexes, and this makes it easier for me to bend and reach across the table. It's a very large table, about 42" x 80", and I am able to cut sheets of cardboard that start out at 48"x96". Do you like barstools with a column base or do you prefer four legs. I tend to prefer the ones with legs, and I have done several of these with swivel seats. The ones with the center column have to have a round foot rail attached to the column, but the ones with legs I did with either square or round foot rails. For the ones with square legs, I rotated the legs 45°, to accommodate the round foot rails. I really appreciate all of this help, especially since there are so many diverse ideas on this subject.