Sorry for the bad pic - I took it while the craft paper was up for them to spray the trim!

Also, we have 9' ceilings with a tray ceiling

Hi there! I think a perfect solution for your windows is Hunter-Douglas blackout pleated shades, with the top-down/bottom-up option. This way, you can have several inches pulled down at the top during the day, to let in some light but still retain privacy and block some heat and sun. The blackout shades have good insulating qualities, so they will help keep your room a bit cooler in the summer.
I feel you should have six side panels for the curtains to look right. Each window should have a proper panel on each side. A semi-sheer panel would not be too light, but certainly cotton or a cotton/linen bend would also be beautiful, depending on the look you are after.

Here is a Plan B, should you decide the pleated shades would be too expensive.....you could do solar shades along with blackout curtain panels. The solar shades have excellent insulation, and during the day you can still get some light filtration even when they are closed, yet also have privacy from the outside. At night, you would definitely need to close the curtains, as the solar shades will show silhouettes from the outside.
Since your windows are narrow, you may be able to use double-wide panels (usually about 110" wide and intended for patio doors) and just have them stack on one side of each window. You can also get them with those plastic wands that make drawing them easier, since opening and closing curtains twice a day - especially if there are lamps in the way - can get to be a bit of a chore.

Plan C is to use Hunter-Douglas Pirouette shades. These are quite pricey, so may not be in the budget? They are a wide slat pleated shade, reminiscent of roman shades when closed. They have a tilting option which reveals a strip of sheer fabric in every second layer, so that you can let in some light but retain your privacy. They are quite stunning. I don't believe the Pirouettes come in a blackout option, though, so you would still need the blackout curtains for the room darkening effect.

Double roller blind one sunscreen one blockout(could be Roman blind) motorised so you can have furniture in front of the window and you don’t have to worry about excess.

Blackout shades (roller/pleated/etc.) with decorative sheer curtains. Your windows are very close to the walls, so you don't have enough room for a large "stack back"-- any panels you use can't be too wide. Perhaps one width gathered on a rod on each window pulled to one side, something
like these?

Or these dreamy sheers over a blackout shade?

Thank you all! That is a great idea about one panel to the side.