We have similar windows in the dressing room and master bath off our master bedroom in our MCM house. We have short pleated curtains for those windows. Although seeing your room in your profile pic, I don't think that'd work for you. Perhaps floor to ceiling for the entire wall might look best.

Houssaon I have actually! And potentially going with vertical instead of horizontal (something other than the vinyl siding). We just had some significant water damage inside from a rolled roof (if you’ve heard of that). We had no idea how terrible that roof material was. Anyway, we’ve since put about $60,000 of insurance and our own money into this house so we’re probably going to wait another year before we hop on any new exterior projects. We live in NW Florida so the yard keeps us very busy. But that is the goal to change the white vinyl siding along with a pretty rough looking driveway that’s an eye sore.

If you want affordable, repair what's there, and add a few more supports, I dislike cable for this reason, it sags. When you say, broken, what's wrong with it? The other option that won't be as cheap is Tech lighting rail kit, much cleaner than track and runs much the same as the cable. Your cable light might be as simple as replacing the transformer or a stand of cable. please explain to me what is wrong with it? as it is a very good solution for your space.

Clearstory windows are typically found on modern architectural style houses, and not traditional or historical style houses. Most builder and tract division houses are the latter style, and not modern style house. The post and beam houses you show in your pictures appear to be mid century modern styles. Here's a Frank Lloyd Wright house with clearstory windows. The idea behind clearstory windows is that they allow additional natural light into the house interiors. They can easily be a part of your house design if your architect is designing in the proper architectural style.