You are in design phase. At this point it is really easy to incorporate ideas that relate to the actual architectural features of your new home - such as extended roof overhangs - that will affect the overall energy performance of your home. To be considering things such as window films, interior shades, even retractable exterior shades during the design phase is putting the cart before the horse - IMO. As ERLA (hiya ERLA!) mentioned earlier, put your concerns into ensuring that you have the best energy performing windows that you can afford. Absolutely ensure that those windows have a LowE2 or a LowE3 coating - both are designed to block direct solar gain - as part of the glass package and then, when the windows are in place and you are settling into your new home, you will be able to determine if your architectural features and energy efficient windows are doing the job that they were hired to do. Namely, keeping solar heat out of your home. I am going to strongly suggest that at that time you won't be concerned about blocking excessive heat build up thru your windows and you won't be concerned about "exotic fixes" because you won't be needing them.

Hi Melanie! So, a common way for placing furniture is known as the “floating” furniture arrangement. This keeps the furniture from being against walls and it allows more walking space from one room to the other. This type of arrangement is necessary especially when you have a living room that is as large as your space. This also gives you the opportunity to have more intimate seating rather than seating that can tend to be disconnected and awkward if seating were to be placed against walls within the space. For an example, what if you decide to place furniture against the walls in your space? This is going to make the living space become less functional and awkward due to the furniture being placed far apart from each other. And it will cause people to feel disconnected from one another. Or, this will cause someone to have to move from one area of the room to another, in order to get close to the person they are trying to socialize with. In realty, your space is very large in length, so disconnection between furniture and people could be of concern. Therefore, in order to avoid the -“leaning in to talk or hear someone” scenario, or having to move from one seat to another to converse with others, you should consider furniture arrangements, such as floating furniture, that will allow comfort and good conversation. You also have a beautiful view from your windows, so it is best to avoid placing your furniture directly in front of them. I would recommend placing your tv near the wall that has the smallest window. By understanding where your tv will go, this will serve as a focal point that you want your furniture to be centered around.

I am currently working on a sheer fabric lined with a plain sheer fabric for 3 windows in an entry area with the upper balcony exposed by 6' x 6' palladian windows. My client does not require operational, just ability to remove for annual cleaning. The 'free hanging' shades will be installed with velcro around the half circle and with a weight bar in the bottom hem to keep it stationary. No photo yet because I am working on them. I used this method on other windows without arches in her home. It lets in light and still offers sufficient privacy. You can see a bit of the rectangular free hanging sheer lined with a sheer in one of my uploaded photos.

1. sideboard is too large for the walkway. Move it under the t v. Choose a long sofa console to go behind the sofa. On the now empty walkway wall, you can design for hanging coats, etc. https://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/home-accessories/g25589411/decorative-wall-hooks/ 2. You could turn the sectional and wall hang the t v on the long entry wall using the t v console you have, With the sectional turned, you would have room for an extra chair by the front door. Again teeny photo...I lik this chair with your sectional, too. https://www.wayfair.com/keyword.php?keyword=front+entrance+chair Found ready-made drapery panels which match the chair. https://jllhomestore.com/products/blue-grey-curtains-grey-white-curtains-light-blue-medallion-curtains-custom-curtain-panels-ogee-print-curtain-panels-linen-blue-white-drape