Why any shades at all?

Privacy... we're on full 180 degree display to the neighbourhood at the moment, with the lights on in the kitchen at night.

This area is a little dining nook in the kitchen.

I would mount them near the ceiling so that when open they block as little of your window as possible.

Agree with chispa.

Thanks all. And would you consider a linen shade without a liner? (I like the look of just linen, and a liner takes that away a little). Since I'm mounting them outside, I'm thinking I won't see the seams when the sun shines through them, but does not having a liner affect the way it hangs?

If you decide to not go with a liner, you will certainly see the seams regardless of inside or outside mount. It helps to grab some samples as different materials can be more transparent than others. You can get a light liner (or privacy liner) that will protect your cording and give you a little light protection, slightly hiding where the pleats connect.

https://www.selectblinds.com/romanshades/classic-light-filtering-roman-shades.html

Lea, we have a similar setup in our master bedroom (two short, wide windows meeting each other on the corner) and were told outside mounted roman shades would not work because they would block each other at the corner). I'm curious if you were able to do outside mounts. I agree that mounting them inside would take up too much of the (already short) window.