I thought those were gum trees outside that window that's why I asked. I'm from Perth. I got my blinds through Spotlight made to measure. They came out to do the quote and were very helpful and had a great range to choose from. Also, you may have even more options if you go through a company that specialises in window treatments. Check out your options.

I have had a love/hate relationship with curtains in both my houses (both houses gutted and extended). In our current house our family/kitchen/dining room is quite big and has two sets of cafe doors and two big double windows. I had NO curtains/blinds on them for TEN years because I didn't like anything I saw! We had a film crew use our house and they put up sheers on all the windows/doors that are a beige/mushroom tone similar to your grey sheers. (My walls are Dulux white opal.) We loved them so much we kept them. They are relatively dust free (unlike shutters) and they don't impose or darken the room which was what worried me (I like airy, not closed in). My couches are red and I have a bright colour palette generally. But the thing is you don't want the curtains to dominate, or the room/s to look too busy and because the couch is the same tone, you can now decorate to your hearts content with other colours with cushions and vases, etc without losing that restful Hampton's feel. I say stick with your curtains. Good luck! Kerry

I have to tell you, we had one of those windows in our old main bedroom and the light was annoying coming around the edges. We ended up putting beautiful timber louvres in bedrooms in 2 homes we built and they are the best things ever. Adjustable to light and weather for airflow too.

Thank you everyone. Decoro, I am afraid I am in Regional Vic., but thank you for the offer. At this stage I have decided to go with sheers but not right to the ceiling - I am going to try them hung from about 70cm above the frame, which is almost level to the ceiling over the kitchen. That way, they are still higher than the window itself, but still leaves me with the 'sky' views through the clerestory windows. The other windows will have double rollers, in a dark, charcoal colour for both the sheer and the block out. Again hoping that will look OK, as most people go for lighter colours (ie white) but all of the walls are Dulux Whisper white, and the window frames are black. When the blinds are down at night, I didn't want to be surrounded by white. Fingers crossed I've made the right decision.