Megan,
Yes to the shutters! The same color as the rest of your woodwork.It will add the detail that you need, and carry your eye upwards from the beautiful trim molding that is already in place!

Hi Megan -- Congratulations on your marriage! I would treat this as if the piano and mirror were part of one large window, and hang a long curtain rod across the whole thing, so that you have floor to ceiling silk-look panels in either your wall or wainscot color to the outsides of the windows. Should you want privacy, you can close them just as far as the piano. And they'll cover that outlet.

I am a shutter lover, but agree with barnhart on the need for some softness here. The bottom trim work is beautiful. Perhaps soft roman shades are good solution so that the bottom trim is still visible.

Congratulations Megan ! Shutters are possible but they block out a lot of light and the windows are small- so that's a lot of wood on a small window.There is also a lot going on in that space. Look at the picture - don't you agree ? So I think it would look at lot more elegant to have some full drapes across the whole wall and put your mirror some where else. Is it not a good idea to have a piano on an outside wall ?

I would hang narrow silk panels in the same color as the trim, all the way up to the ceiling and puddling on the floor, on 2 black swing arm rods.

The lines of the wainscot and the oriental rug would be a wonderful compliment to rice paper film on your windows. These can be further complimented by a single curtain on the left of the left hand window and the right of the right hand window- hung as stationary panels. The rice paper is semi-opaque, so you still get the light filtering through and it is a simple, yet delicate and unique look. I realize it's different from standard blinds, shutters or shades, but I tend to like doing more unique treatments. Here's the one I am referring to, which can be purchased at Home Depot and is very simple to cut and install. Virtually any window panel can work well with this style and it makes your center wall- the mirror and piano, the focal point of the room, plus look smokin hot with your wainscoted panel wall!

Happy decorating! I thoroughly enjoy working with new husband/ wife homes. It is fun to create the happy medium.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=100608532&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100608532&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D59X-_-100608532

Hi Megan,
Have a look at pleated blinds. I would go light and soft with this room as it already looks heavy and small for my taste. I would definitely not add more wood to it.
Have installed pleated day & night blinds on our house with solar control fabric - just excellent. Available in different fabrics & colours, manufactured to size to fit into the window arch. Day & Night blinds give you 3 options: totally open, sheer fabric for the day, block-out for night. The last two guarantee total privacy. Contemporary design, but very 'quiet', it will work with pretty much any style.
Here is some more info on their website: http://www.verosol.com.au/products-pleated-blinds.php
PS: I don't work for these guys but I love their product. Best window coverings I've ever come across.

What a great spot for Stained Glass. I'm a Glass Artist, and those windows are just begging for glass. Maybe a design using a heavy textured clear glass. To add some color that doesn't actually add a specific color, irridized glass could be added. The textured glass won't block any light from coming in and gives privacy!

Stained glass isn't just for churches! Maybe the design could incorporate swirls that give the impression of music!! Or another interest. Custom glass could really accent the space. Let the glass speak the design ~ Brook, Creative Glass by Brook.

PS > Your windows aren't replaced, custom panels would be made for the windows (area you want to cover).

I love shutters but have to agree that some softness with drapes/curtains on the left and right would help balance the space and soften things up. I like the idea of having them extend to almost the adjoining wall on the left and right. If the budget allows some kind of pattern would be nice. I also think you need to raise the mirror so that the top edge is lined up with the top edge of the windows.

I think the piano is too wide for that spot. It and the lamps are partially blocking the window.
The windows are quite lovely. Unless you need privacy, I'd leave them as is and perhaps frame them out with some matching woodwork to go with the rest of the room. Some art work on either side on the wall would balance things out.

I agree with the whole wall curtain idea. I've seen candice olson do that many times on hgtv and it always looks great.

I'm not sold on the whole-wall-curtain idea, or the shutters. Since I don't know what direction these windows face (or the view from them), I recommend looking at bamboo blinds which roll from the top or from the bottom, depending on which will most enhance the transition between indoors and out. Although the piano is a bit large, if that's where it best fits it's not really distracting. Interior design is working with what you've got and you've done a nice job with that here.

Thanks everyone, this really gives me a lot to think about - things I would have never thought of. I really like the drapes across all across idea. I should have mentioned that we really do need the light that these small windows provide. The large family room is next to this "piano" room and these windows are the only light the family room really gets other than French doors. I may try out the rice paper idea from Fashion House to let light in with the stationary panels on each side to soften the room. Someone mentioned raising the mirror to the same level of the windows and that is a good idea too, I didn't think of that. New to all this interior design, it is fun though!

You might consider eliminating the lamps - they are making the space look small. If you put roman shades up, it will make the space look a little wider and make the windows more visible.

Oh and one more thing.....if you will take down the lamps, you could put up wall sconces on either side of the windows!

Megan, I have an alternate suggestion to help you think through the process not only of window treatments, but also floor plan. You already have some great suggestions to think about, but none of them is quite comfortable to my eye. I hate to be the bearer of confusing news, Megan, but the piano is too large for the space. When you have conflicting lines of delineation as you do with the piano overlapping the window openings, it is visually awkward, and that's why you're having trouble deciding what to do with the windows. You see, you don't just have windows to dress, you have windows to dress with a piano in front of them that's too large for the space, and it's an awkward task.

It appears there is a little open floor space to the left and front of the window area, where you could turn the piano around to face out instead of facing the wall, and turn it diagonally facing either left or right, depending on the conversational seating nearby. At that point, I would put a short folding screen in front of the unfinshed back of the piano, or hang a large work of art in the appropriate size directly on the back; or alternately, put a comfortable reading chair, a small side table, and a floor lamp that swivels for lighting either the reading area or the piano. You will now have opened up the window area to futher options. This is a much more interesting placement of the piano, and floor to ceiling drapery panels across the entire window area (removing the mirror to another location) with tie backs to reveal the two openings, will make the windows seem more important, in greater proportion to the room, and will soften the entire look of the area. A good rule of thumb to remember in decorating your home: if you can't get a handle on what to do, it might be because there are objects of conflict that are confusing your eye.

Hi Megan -- Wow, great responses! Just wanted to show you this photo:

It's not an upright, but it's in front of the window and the room is still flooded with light -- I think you're on the right track where you have yours now.

Another thought that may help to tie the look together is to layer a dark wood matchstick blind behind the silk drapes, going all across as the designer did here, although I'd skip the tiebacks in your case:

Absolutely beautiful vignette - try hanging the mirror vertically with sconces on each side. The lamps kind of detract. Relaxed roman shades in a very soft fabric may work - not too heavy and can still let light in.

Stained Glass. Find a pattern you like or have an artist help you design a one of a kind for each winmdow. The affect will be beautioful. OR...have clear beveled glass put in, with a design that is easy to see out of but not easy to see inside. This would involve varies finished for clear glass but the over all affect could be beautiful.

Can't wait to get home tonight and try some of these ideas out. I have always wanted wall sconces, I agree they might be better than the lamps. I just really have always loved these lamps (from restoration hardware but don't think they make them anymore), I can probably use them in a different room. The piano may be a little too large for the space, but hopefully I can keep it there by using some of these ideas because the room doesn't really have a lot of function- it was originally a dining room but we knocked out a wall to open it up to the family room. The formal living room I am converting into a large dining room. I should post pictures of that, too, but it's in progress right now. Once I get more of my ideas in place I'll post it then we can change a few things up! Stained glass would be really neat but sounds very difficult. Thanks barnhart gallery for the pictures- love those silk drapes!

A short rod above each window with a long curtain panel hanging with a beautiful roped tassel that hooks the curtain off to the side would be pretty, easy and elegant. A lot is going on with the piano, mirror and lamps, so remove anything else that is on top of the piano and keep it simple. I don't know if the part you sit on, on the piano bench is material, but if it is, you could cover the cushion with the fabric of the drapes.

I would do Roman Blinds in a color similar to the wall as there is a lot going on with the piano, lamps and mirror.

I would definitely think about drapes from one window to the next - all behind the piano. A piano really shouldn't be on an outside wall, but if that's where you want it, the drapes would help with weather-control which would protect your piano.

Ok so I removed the lamps and clutter from piano and put up a VERY TEMPORARY drape, it was all I could find in the house just to give me an idea what it will look like. I think will get same color silk drapes as the white wainscotting with the black swing arm rods, I like that idea. Also, will add wall sconce on either side of curtain for lighting. As for the placement of piano on outside wall, thanks for the tips I had not heard it was bad for the piano. For now, this is really the only place for the piano, such a perfect room for it.

P.S. That chair is temporary in the corner, please disregard! What do you guys think about the room now, better without the lamps?

To my eye (because it's a small space) I'd go for less volume than the temporary drape (I'm one who doesn't like the "drape the whole wall" idea either, since it would give it a "church-like" look, imo). Removing the lamps is an improvement but only because they were larger than the space can comfortably hold. But if you're relying on overhead lighting, I'd put at least one of the lamps back :) Again, I'd go with an "arty" blind solution for the windows. One girl's opinion.

I think the placement of the piano is fine now that the lamps are gone. But some task lighting would be appropriate if the piano is actually played. A swing arm library lamp would be nice. Not too modern looking, so it would match the feel of the piano. Something to warm up the space. I think the drapes do give it a kind of "stuffy" feel. When I saw your first photo I instantly imagined Roman Shades mounted inside the window frames. In a soft, lighter color to go with the wainscoting. Also, I personally think the chair in the corner is a good thing. It makes it feel like the room has a purpose and not like the piano is just floating there because you had no where else to put it. If you get rid of that chair I would definitely get another seating option to make the room feel cozy. I can actually imagine someone sitting there while listening to someone else play. Even if that never happens that would be the 'feel' I would want to convey in that room.

Nice! I have to respectfully say that I don't think a white shimmery silk panel will look stuffy at all -- it's gorgeous. Needs full length, and to land just outside of the windows, which are not an architectural feature I'd hide. Then they can be pulled as far as the piano if needed for privacy.

I love the simplified piano top. I think that sconces to the outsides of your drapes will be too far apart, but how about one of these centered in place of the lamps you had before?
http://www.target.com/p/Piano-Desk-Lamp-Antique-Bronze-includes-2-CFL-bulbs/-/A-10626816
Or, to break up the symmetry, you could do a pharmacy floor lamp to one side. And I agree with Dawn that a music room should have a chair.

I had mentioned earlier to go with a short rod above the window with a long drapery and it does seem to work, I know this is a temporary drape, the new one should hit the floor (length-wise). I like the white, it doesn't make the room look stuffy...you could try a white fabric that isn't shiny too. A damask embossed print on the fabric, whatever you choose white does seem to work. I wonder what it would like if you pulled each curtain to the side with a roped taupe tassel. You could unhook the curtains when you want privacy and hook them up when you want the light to come in. It is looking better and better! :)

I would case out the windows and paint white like the rest of the wood work, that would really pop the windows and add character

I guess I should backtrack and explain my term "stuffy". I guess I see the piano up next to the full white curtain and it just looks very traditional to me. Formal. And it closes off the room when the windows are completely covered like the picture shows. If you have them pulled to one side like smasko suggested I'm sure it would look lovely. I personally like to see the windows and you said that you need the light from them. The lamp that barnhartgallery posted is perfect. Sort of what I had in mind. I said swing-arm but this is much better. I'd love to see the finished results!

Thanks for keeping informed of your progress toward a design you're happy with. As someone else said, I think the mirror should be placed the other way, mirrors should almost never be placed horizontally. Softly draping silk at window is very nice, I think. It adds softness to the hard piano, windows, mirror. Do you sew? A muted greek key trim might be nice down the centers or sides.

I was thinking short rods with curtains pulled back also..just like smasko. I agree that a mirror should almost never be hung horizontally. Could hang it vertical but not centered then add a candlestick lamp to balance it out.(might even use one of your existing lamps) The drapes should be to the floor and my opinion would be a darker, heavier fabric so it would drape and tie back more gracefully than a thinner fabric would allow. It would also warm this area up considerably and give you a chance to add a pop to an otherwise bland color scheme. Sit a cozy club or wingback chair on the rug to the left & sort of facing the piano. Coordinate the drapes and upholstery. Please post finished pics so we can see what you decided to do.