Can you put a complementary or corresponding molding around the windows to tie them in design-wise with your cabinets. Then paint them the same colour as your trim. You might think that the windows are ugly but it looks like you have a nice outlook to the outdoors so frame that.

I was thinking as I was writing this that your windows are framed black and you are adding more black trim to the cabinets - I might be concerned that you will be drawing attention to the black frame of the windows by doing that when in fact you want to downplay them. Is there another accent colour you could use on the cabinets instead of the black? I like the idea but I am concerned.
If you like the idea of putting molding around the windows to frame the outside - what about using one of your outside colours as the accent rail edge around the cabinets. For eg. maybe a dark green verging on black, or a dark forest green - not a yellow or blue green but a green with black as the tint.
Then you are tying your inside and outside by accenting it but downplaying the black fo the windows.

I think you've already done it. IMO, by putting the black accent pieces on the cabinets, you tie in the black frames of the windows. You may want something more, as well, but I'd wait till I got the cabinets in place to decide, what, if anything else to do. And I caution, that I'm picturing a kind of clean, modern look, which the bare windows with black trim around them would complement. If that's not what you had in mind, perhaps you will need something more.

See how they look with the black trim. You may or may not feel you need to change the color since you will have the black trim. However, these windows are at different heights which can be easily handled by using Roman shades for each window but hang them all at the same height to obscure the fact they are different sizes. I have this in one of our bedrooms and it works very nicely.

What about hanging pretty valances up near the ceiling so that the bottom of the valance comes just below the top of the window? It will create the illusion of tall windows and it won't block the light coming in. Hanging on wrought iron rods would tie in with the window frames and your other dark features. If you are handy with needle and thread I could post a couple of pics of valances that I've made that were fairly simple.

@blfenton, that's a great suggestion about having the trim close to the color of the view (green with black tint)! I'll run that idea with the designer when she comes to the house -- as a prize for being a winner of the contest, we get two hours of free consultation. As for color matching (cabinet, trim, countertop, windows, wall, ceiling, flooring), I can definitely use help there. I'm a boring engineer.

@melissastar, you are right. Since we were not going to open up the frame and replace the windows anyway, we should probably just wait until our other pieces are in and see what we can do about the windows. I'll post pictures then for suggestions.

@LRy511, I'll wait and see if the fridge with the cab on top can provide an adequate barrier and division so that people will recognize the office area as separate from the kitchen, thus a different window height (and width). If it still looks weird, I'll look into Roman shades. I didn't even know about them until your post.

@rayle, unfortunately, I'm not handy with needle and thread at all. I'm sure the home made valances will provide some homey feel, but being me, I'll see if I can get by without them so I have less dusting to do. If you have pics handy though, I'd love to see them. I'm learning so many things from GW, so who knows, I might just change my mind about dusting.

We had the same windows and almost the same layout. We have those windows all over our house. We removed them in the kitchen and it was expensive. In my office, I used white wooden blinds and when they are closed, of course you don't see the windows. When they are open, you don't notice them either. We put trim around the windows and painted it the same as our baseboards, which are white.

Our dining room window has a window treatment that also disguises the window. Its the knock off silouettes.

If your kitchen is going to be modern, you may not want to trim out the windows. You could use one of those sunshades that you still see the view. They would give texture and obscure the window. They would not give privacy at night though. The silouettes obscure the window but even when open, there is limit to how much you can see the view.

My neighbor put plantation shutters on hers, and they look great. I agree that in the current state they are ugly. They will detract from the upgrades.

Hi Mudworm,

I love your views. The bright light filters in through
leaves of green. I don't dislike your windows. I think they
are immature. (young, naked, unfinished but not ugly)
They need a frame to finish them and make them part of your
space. Shutters are nice but I for one would not want to
block the beautiful light coming through.

Maybe embrace the black and add some wood trim or even
black trim. Here are some ideas of what I mean.
~boxer

Okay your kitchen is not white but adding grates makes
it look really nice.

These are not trimmed out and in fact the modern look
lends itself to the plain black thin trim already on the
window.

This picture is hard to see but notice the black frame
on the window. It looks like it has a purpose with those
black counters. Works beautifully

Transitional somewhat modern kitchen here, with unstained oak "shaker" cabs, white appliances and sink (no stainless whatsoever) and a lot of windows. I'm going to do roman shades in a Marimekko supergraphic organic branches pattern--white, cream, silver, mauvy brown. Hope I like them--I've planned this for a very long time and I fear I've pushed the idea into the "fantasy that won't work in reality" category, but I'm going to try. Behind them will also have light-filtering honeycomb shades in thermal track which are "hazelnut" to work with wood window trim. I have a view I don't necessarily want to look at at times, so these are top down/bottom up ones.

There is a new kind of blind in the listings now, which is made of inflated C-shaped pieces--tilt them one way and they let in light, tilt another way and they form a solid thermal barrier. Very intriguing, but I've already bought the honeycombs and am awaiting the last of the condensation weather to dry out the window frames so we can finish them.

I've been looking at photos of large graphics in roman shades and find them used in rooms that need a focal point. The eye goes to them first. In your case, a large print fabric might bring the drama that your lower-ceilinged room needs.

Another idea--could you have your workers install a sill of wood below the window that matches the cabs? A line of honey maple would add a visual excitement that is lacking right now and if it were deep enough, it could be a place for a row of plants, riding above the sink area.

If you want to set off the kitchen from the computer area, put a trim of some sort on the beam where the ceiling drops. A line of paint? a geometric stencil pattern of some sort, perhaps to compliment the fabric of a window treatment? a gorgeous horizontal piece of art in the peak above the drop so the eye goes toward the kitchen?

An interesting light fixture over the sink will look more special if there's a solid color behind it to set it off--consider that when choosing fabrics/colors for blinds or romans in sink area.

[by the way, SelectBlinds has the 4 for 3 sale today for V-Day as it does for most holidays]

These are both really simple patterns.

Great inputs, everyone! Thanks for letting me know that I can work with these old windows in our new kitchen!

I have been thinking about using the same countertop material for the window sill (at least in the kitchen). So it'll be somewhat dark-ish. but I will give some thoughts to the option of having it in the cabinet color.

Oh, privacy is not a concern where I live. We have not had the blinds up for many months now and it was fine. Only the birds in the trees can see us.

boxerpups, I'm amazed that you were able to find so many photos to help make a point. They help a lot for someone like me with poor visualization. I especially like the color combination in this image below. That's something I envision in our new kitchen. I'll even look into dark colored hardware. But I think I like it that we have our cabinets more scattered (i.e. we'll leave the window are fairly open).