I would just do some privacy film, so you still get the light but not the view.

We've got a few clerestory windows in our house too, mostly to let in light while reducing the impact of a hot western sun. We have them all fitted with roller blinds.

I agree that the window film or roller blinds, or maybe honeycomb blinds would do--anything that pulls up and takes up very little bit of room. You can get blinds now that have no visible cords.

Here's another thought for you, to help you with all those windows. Think about doing window trim all the way around the window. There are lots of diy blogs and how-to. Window trim all the way around will make a big difference in making the windows appear substantial and "dressed."

Here's an example:

We did window trim in our house, and it made a huge difference. In many rooms, I don't even feel we need drapes.

If I did a roller shade, what color would I use? Do I want to contrast or blend in with the wall? If there are other (normal) windows in the room, do I need to match those window treatments?

And what do you do UNDER the windows, then? You can’t hang a picture there. A console table or basic bookcase would look laughably small beneath those wider windows. Do I just leave the space empty?

I think with the trim, a bookcase or console table will look fine....because you can put some tall items (tall candlesticks, lamps) on top of them. For artwork, maybe just set the art on the table and lean it against the wall under the windows. It will look great, imo.

Try to find bookcase(s) with opening at the top . Leave windows bare and put plants. Put in a stained or leaded glass window insert .Decorative window film sold on line?

I found a website called Decorative Films LLC, if you want to take look. Looks like very nice quality. Enjoy your new home !

Is this a PNW thing putting in windows like this? I would sheet rock that up and add skylight. My opinion only, but I couldn't live with those windows as it breaks the room and leaves unusable space. I would definitely sheet rock them in the bedroom since he works nights. Looks like you have a large window on one wall. Please I am not trying to disparage your home, I am just speaking from what I would be able to live with. Went back and looked and have to say either sheet rock the kitchen window or make it larger. The hallway window looks fine, but I would suggest triming it out with molding. Now I understand all this costs money, but if this is a long term home, I would start with sky lights then move to sheet rocking over the windows.

Liberty Bell, I think so, but I TOTALLY agree with you. I really can’t stand them, but maybe after living here longer than a month, I’ll appreciate them better. Maybe...

I don't know, maybe you can. I would paint everything a light color to bring light in. I have SAD. I must live in a home with lots of lights. The windows up there remind me of something you would see in craftman type homes, but it doesn't fit as the home is to new. I hope I didn't insult you with my ideas, I sure didn't mean to.

Liberty Bell, not offended at all. I agree that the windows don’t fit. I just don’t understand them at all! That’s why I was asking for help. I don’t think we can Sheetrock over them, but you have confirmed that I’m not alone in my dislike of the windows, so I very much thank you for that!

Mdln, thank you for a pleasant picture to wrap my mind around.

Can I add trim to only specific windows/rooms in the house, or is it the sort of thing where if I do one, I’ve got to do them all?

Clerestory windows have been around a long time, it's true, but they can certainly be a strong element in contemporary design as well. Just do a search of them in Houzz photos and you'll get plenty of examples, so don't think that it's incorrect to have these windows in a new house. (Personally, I enjoy having light streaming in during the afternoon without blasting us away with the heat, so I love ours).

But here are a few photos that may help give you some ideas:

Except for the bedroom where you don't want light--I would just leave them be. No one from next door can see in-I am assuming, so why "privacy" film? If you trim them out then for sure you have to do all windows in one room--you could work your way around the house slowly. Trim out those you want to stand out--leave other's as is. For me this is the same as the two-story walls--decorate where people live. These are high, meant for light only, not meant to be archetectural features.

If you want to let the light in but obscure the view, another alternative is delia shades which come in a wide variety of patterns. Something that addresses just the window is fine if there's nothing underneath, like in the hallway. But if you are going to put something underneath anyway, then you can certainly put full length drapes there...like they did here with the lamps and end tables. The applied molding treatment to the wall adds a lot of architecture to what otherwise would've been a pretty plain space.

I would not consider a skylight in a bedroom. My daughter enlarged all the windows in her home and added quite a few, also. Hers were not the high-up variety, but the process would be the same. Her house is not brick. She did them mostly a room at a time when she had the time. That said, if the view is into a neighbor's windows, there may be advantages to yours - they provide privacy but still allow some light. If possible, I would want at least one full size window in every room as a safety exit.

In our old house my Mom did a similar dining room window with view of neighbor’s brick wall with a light, understated stained glass type panel. Everyone commented on how much they liked it. When we got translucent film for the bottom of our bathroom windows - which I love - the number of patterns and colors was amazing. Much cheaper and easier to find than stained glass and easy DIY.

I think the bedroom looks great--it's furnished, decorated, and de-cluttered. Windows just blend in the background. I think when you get the moving stuff put away and other rooms more furnished, the windows won't seem so weird.

For the living room, do you need more seating? What do you plan for the wall color? The windows seem stark because the wall is so dark and empty, especially since the TV and stand blend right in. I'd start with think what you need furniture-wise for the function of the room.

In the breakfast area, I'd clear the clutter off the window sill, de-clutter and maybe relocate the bookshelf, then hang some art around and below the window.

Hallway, I think might be fine with nothing around the window. Or bookshelf or console table much wider than what's there.

For the windows themselves, I'd probably either do a light roller or cellular shade. I'm in sunny California and have cellular shades, which are good for blocking harsh light in day, but also look nice at night so that the windows don't look like black holes. In PNW, you may not need the light filtering, so could consider a sheer option to let in more sun.

I actually just put in a window like this in my bathroom, so that I get the light without the privacy concerns. Definitely see that it makes decorating more challenging in other spaces, but I think you'll be glad to have the light.

We had those windows in our previous home. We had cellular shades on them, inside mounted, in a color that blended with the wall color. They just sort of disappeared whether closed or open.

We've had similar windows in a couple homes and used plantation shutters on them. We used a local company for one home, but ordered online for the other. In the home that already had nice trim on the windows, we ordered inside mount and used the existing trim. In the home without trim (SoCal), we ordered outside mount with 3 1/2" trim. The slats can be tilted so as not to see the neighbors, but to still have the light. Good luck with your project.

Don't trim them out. Just ignore them unless you need the light blocked or privacy.