"putting a plant from the inside or something"

It sounds like you are not much into gardening? If you mean to put the plant inside, you look to have limited space and you would need to choose a plant able to cope with the light/heat in a window in that position. Even outside the window the orientation might affect the choice of plant. (You don't say which way it faces? Or your local climate and soil type?) For good privacy you need a plant with good density. A columnar conifer could do the job but take a long time. A fast growing plant will soon need regular pruning. So my suggestion is to go for the 'something' rather than a plant. I think decorative screens up the vertical window would look fabulous.

Go to Spotlight and get a length of muslin the window length and a little bit more. Bunch at the top and bottom using 2 lengths of dowel.It is soft, natural and see through....you can also use rubber bands to create little bunches of interest at various points if you need to...

I have a similar problem as Rema, above, with a clear 'frosted' window next to the door which faces west. In summer it lets in a large amount of heat and light, let alone the outside light of the house directly opposite. The only solution I can think of is to get a pretty coloured leadlight in the top panel and have a wooden insert put in the bottom panel that matches the door frame.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

It very much depends on your budget, but I would be thinking of dividing the front lawn area somehow with either hedging,fencing or even a wall, to create a usable front courtyard. it would be pleasant to look out on, and provide privacy for the window, as well as giving you a seating area with a different aspect, shade-wise, to the other side of your house. We sit out the front with a cuppa often when it is too hot/windy to sit out the back.

Is it privacy or weather control you most want? A custom made long blind might work well for the long window, if you want both privacy and heat/cold control. You might also think of external solutions, including plantings that would manage both sun and privacy for the lower levels. Having something that cuts neighbours views and gives you a nice view is always a good solution, and can be an important part both of privacy and weather management. A front courtyard of any sort (built wall, plant wall) also works well - we had one at an earlier house and it worked well. We had, in our just moved into place, a long window beside the front door, which also gets late afternoon sun (hot at present), and I replace the two panes with a stained glass pair of windows and it cuts the sun and increases the privacy, but it's not a cheap solution when you have such a long window.

Also, part of a solution might be having film put over your windows that cuts glare and hear but some will also increase privacy. Worth checking out.

The best way to keep heat out is said to be to stop it before it hits the glass, shading the outside is more effective than all the curtains and whatnot inside.

RE: cat pjed: My local Op Shop has GREAT blinds selling for a song...I wonder if there is one near you? Cutting and sewing a new edge to make it fit would be worth the trouble. Save 100's of dollars, and get something really nice.