why are you doing mini blinds? please, no.

Bali double cell cellulars would be a nice, mod addition. do an inside mount. you can get blackout if you need it. I've had these for 10 years (blinds.com) and love them. they come in a lot of colors and sizes.

you can also do a texture type of material

No drapes.

and build a box to cover that unit or disguise it. this is an easy DIY to hide that unit.

Stick a chair in one corner and a tall tree plant in the other corner.

I think this is something you could do w/your bed in that room. They put that white thing over the ac unit (No blinds here, but the cellulars in Licorice would look great!)

I'd skip the curtains, too. They don't seem to be a good fit, and as both benjesbride and Beth H. note, there other options to meet you light control and privacy concerns.

Because of the AC unit beneath the window, you need to keep the curtains -- or vertical blinds (wood, faux wood, fabric or vinyl options) inside the window.

If you need that AC unit, consider buying a new heat/AC unit for beneath the window -- the modern digital kind used in hotel rooms. However, if that's beyond the current budget...

If you build the box (as someone suggested) to cover that AC unit, make it as wide as the window and deep enough (at least half again as deep as the unit) so it doesn't touch the unit or even come close or it will decrease the efficiency of the unit. Also, make the front of any cover a row of doors that you can open to clean the inside periodically.

I agree with the comments above and love Beth H's 'box' -- it's a lot better than that. I just wanted to express my awe at that view -- it's a brilliant urban art composition. How often does one get that?

If you think blinds alone might be a bit severe, place a soft, tall plant to the right of the window.

Vertical blinds would not look as "severe" as miniblinds. In this window, I'd recommend them. They'll give you more options for light and privacy control and wouldn't look "unfinished" as other shades/blinds alone could.

https://www.budgetblinds.com/window-blinds/vertical-blinds/

I completely agree with Benjesbride and Beth. We installed drop-down shades, interior mount, with a battery-operated remote control on our four den windows, and DH says it's the best décor decision I ever made. Very tidy-looking, so easy to manage with no cords, and the design selection out there is enormous.

These are the double cellulars from Bali, in Licorice, that I put in my sons bedroom.

cordless. I've had these in here over 10 years. ordered them from blinds.com. they have the best customer service. Put these in my rental as well. I love these blinds.

+1 blinds.com

Excellent customer service

Have also used blinds.com. They replaced a blind promptly when I had a problem with one of them.

The mini-blind plus drapes plan will work fine. Outside mount the drapery panels. Have the panels go all the way to the floor, stopping 1/2 inch from the floor. These would be stationary panels that are not meant to be closed.

My wife really wanted curtains on there.. if we have to do curtains, what would you guys recommend under them? We ordered cheap blinds because they would be covered almost all the time by the curtains and just needed something for light blocking.

It looks like the way the window recesses that you wouldn't be able to have a center bracket to properly support a curtain rod. Also, you don't have much space to the sides of the window--curtain panels will cover the window and reduce natural light. Finally, you won't be able to close them because of the unit.

why would you 'have' to do curtains? because your window is recessed, the Inside mount blind looks cleaner, will fit better, won't cover the AC and you can get a black out if you want. you can also get a top down one as a combo. so many options, colors, textures, materials...

so you ordered cheap blinds and now just want curtains?? i don't get it.

Curtains, unless you can find the exact measurement to fit vertically, you might have to hem them. what about the AC? just cover it, so it bulges out? that will look great. Or worse, only do curtains that hang to the sill? now you have to find specific ones that have blackout liners or do something in dark velvet. if you want that, then just get the blind!

You've asked, we've answered.

Beth - I meant if we wanted to do curtains on top of the mini-blinds.

Do you think roller shades alone would look fine here? Would still have to deal with the option for light filtering though. The double roll looks like a good idea but I bet that is going to be pretty pricey. And cellulars.. I always thought they never really look all that nice, not that mini-blinds do, but if both wont look that great we figured get the cheap ones and cover with curtains that my wife wanted.

Yes. Roller shades. JC Penney sells the dual blinds and they're 25% off thru March 1. http://baliblinds.jcpenney.com/Style.do?command=&productLineId=61

Bali is sold at several retailers. https://www.baliblinds.com/where-to-buy/

putting in your measurement of 98" X 4' (I guessed on that one), I got these blackout Roller Shades for $239. many colors and patterns.

these are the blackout, double cellulars, and would run about 350.

if you want to do a woven wood blind, you could have a blackout liner added to it,,but before that added cost, this would run you about 400-500, depending on what material you get. .

https://www.blinds.com/p/blindscom-deluxe-woven-wood-shade/524828

I have their woven wood blinds and can tell you they last forever. I've had mine well over 10 years and they still look perfect. 8' window like yours

Dimensions are about 98" w by 77" tall.. it gets expensive and cordless options become hard to find in that size

If you did just curtains, would you do an inside mount and stop the curtain a bit below the ledge but above the HVAC?

The shades are a tough sell because we will have situations where we will want to maintain privacy but also allow light in, but also be able to completely block out light for the sunny mornings. Love the look of the shades, hate the lack of flexibility... that's why we were thinking mini-blinds to control the light + curtains in front of them to hide the mini blinds but also allow light in if we wanted to and keep some privacy.

It looks like you do not have a place to attach a center bracket for rod support. You might look into a ceiling track. All the way across so when the curtain is open it stacks back to the right side and doesn’t cover up your window.

Not to be a contrarian, but, I would go with curtains. Two rods; one with sheer, one with blackout curtains. Sheers could be inside mounted (wall or ceiling) and blackouts could be outside mounted (ceiling). Blackouts could then be opened all the way exposing full window. Sheers could be mounted close to window so things can be placed on sill in front of sheers. Benefits:

1. Easy to clean - shake out periodically, take down and wash once per year.

2. Open everything for that gorgeous view, close sheer for privacy and some sun blocking, close blackouts for complete sun blocking.

I agree with others about covering ac unit. However I would build cabinet wall to wall and deep enough to line up with that wall section which butts out to the side of the window (assuming it's deep enough to cover ac). Real doors on each side of unit for storage (or open shelves if you want more places that have to be dusted) and vented doors/grilled doors in front of unit which can be opened for cleaning/maintenance. If top of cabinet would block air flow too much then a floor vent can be installed in the top.

For a cheaper/easier solution substitute a shelf (wall to wall above ac) for the cabinet with wall mounted shelves on each side of ac and curtains hung from shelf which could be opened to expose the ac (when used) and access shelves.

Preferably cabinet height matches sill height to create illusion of deeper cabinet. Curtains long enough to just brush surface of sill/cabinet.