As a professional window tinter here in Tasmania , I've often solved many of these types of situations with an application of a decorative opaque / frosted film to the glass balustrades with an added suggestion of using light weight plant holders hooked onto the stainless top rail ;if safe to do so ; to increase the overall privacy height as well as doing same to the end/ side walls . I believe doing it this way will allow you a wider choice of smaller & cheaper plants to choose from rather than having to use up valuable floor space with larger pots and equally taller and more expensive plants which may also limit the choices suitable for the location . Photo included here is one showing only a portion of each panel of glass done starting from the lower edge of the glass going up part way by approx 600 mm. which still allows the scenic views over the neighbours roof lines. As you have have a situation with high buildings overlooking you as well ,does make the situation harder to offer the best alround and cost effective way to solve your particular situation ,but I hope this may be of use . As much as I like decorative mesh screens as a suggestion , I believe the deco film option can be the cheapest option whilst providing extra glass protection by shatter proofing the glass . Gary ,Protek window tinting & blinds (Tasmania )

Once again, thanks everyone for your thoughts. The idea of a skylight is definitely on the cards - the glass doors are something that we just like on all the other doors, with the toilet just being the question. Also, a skylight might be a bit beyond our DIY (sky-tube maybe less so?) and trade work down here takes time (I'm not just in Snowy Mountains rural, but then down a country road 25km, plus another 2km of uphill dirt driveway, and the trades don't always show willing) - things we can't do ourselves take time and frustration. What Maguire Architects says about heat loss is important to us though (thus the double-glazing, storage heaters, etc.), so I've particularly taken that on-board. As for IKEA (jajlynn, Belinda)... jajlynn, that kitchen looks fantastic. I love those overhead lights - they really suit the style. Brisbane IKEA did delivery to Sunshine Coast, but the cost was pretty exorbitant, and they wanted to charge that each time more of the ordered stock came in. It got so frustrating having an incomplete kitchen, waiting for stock, we eventually brow-beat them into sending the stuff from a Sydney store (something they were very unwilling to do, even transfers between stores). They sent whole cupboards by Australia Post, slathered in standard stamps - it was weird. But it got done, and it got put together. Before and afters below Belinda, I'll be honest with you: as much as the IKEA kitchen is better than the Mitre10 kitchen, instruction-wise, you're gonna swear. You're gonna have to paint over the blue when you're done. ;) Just remember, when you're swearing, and probably at each other (assuming there's an other here - otherwise, at yourself and everything else), but it's just a kitchen - you'll get it done, it'll look great, you'll be justly proud and you'll want to do your next one (maybe not straight away though ;) ). That's why we're doing stuff here straight away in the new house - it gave us confidence to do it or learn trying. Now if you'll all excuse me I've got to get back to swearing at pantry wall cabinets, at my partner, at Mitre10, at the government, at that thing over there whatever it is, and at cursed fate that placed these suddenly-discovered slightly-wonky walls between me and happiness. ;)

I would keep the glass in and put stick on privacy film over it. You will get a neat result, you can get a huge range of patterns and colours (start your search on eBay for examples) and you won't lose your wind protection in Winter. Handy when having a BBQ in Summer too.

It’s a great idea, that way you can alternate whenever needed without too much fuss, your balcony looks quite spacious so you can have some beautiful pots out there with the added bonus of looking lush from the inside, love these wall circles too.