If you decide on drapes, it won't matter what the color is on the inside as long as the linings are the same color, usually white. I have plantation shutters, and while a little pricey, will last for years. The louvers can be adjusted so you can have light, and still have privacy. I don't have them thru-out the house, only on the windows that let in the brightest sunlight. Also saving on the furniture/rugs fading.

My plan is to use a heavier rod, add bamboo roman blinds inside the frame and burlap curtain panels to the sides. If you are going to do both blinds and burlap panels, plus a heavier rod, you are going to have to move the rod up and out. There is not enough space on the window frame for all that fabric. And if you move the rod up, you are at the ceiling. Drapery panels normally cover wall space and the side frame with the glass window exposed as much as possible. I generally don't like the look of one panel on each side of a set of windows. If the panel isn't closed, you have too much rod exposed. If you have the panel closed and covering the rod, then you have to swag it back to expose the window. And that swag-back is a more formal, fussy look than I like in my house. It looks like you have room for stationary panels on the fireplace side of your windows. As long as they don't touch the mantle, they can be close to the fireplace and look fine.

I just bought blind from smith & noble. I had been going back and fourth about what to put in my great room and really wanted the woven wood blinds- The designer was REALLY helpful b/c she brought everything out as well as different liners (colors and types- privacy, light shielded etc) and held them up for me to see. I'm sure most local blind stores would do that as well, but i didn't not get overwhelming help at HD or Lowe's when I went and the local shops charged a fortune just to walk in my door. I haven't had them installed yet so no pictures, but wheN i ordered them they had a sale buy 3 get 1 free. I think I saw the other day they have buy 3 get "encouraged" me to ask her if there were any promotions going on and we found the one that would save me the most. Not cheap but for the help she offered it was worth it to me. They are based out of CA but I live in MA so they have local designers who come out to help all over th country. I believe the in-home consultation is free- regardless of if you purchase or not.. Hope this helps!

Thanks olychick and songbird! I do like the view, which is why I haven't done anything with the windows up to now. I was wondering about the honeycomb shades but also was thinking about roller shades as they don't need as much room at the top for stacking, hence I would lose less of my view. We have new neighbours and they are building a large deck which is the motivating factor for installing shades now. As I mentioned, I expect to have them up most of the time. Is there a colour direction that I should be headed? The window frames are BM Simply White, and the walls are Manchester Tan. The floors are limestone.