{design dilemma}: help!

This huge window (along with the other one in the playroom) are one of the features that made me fall in love with this house. I love the light it brings into the house and the brick detail as a "seat".  It's 6 feet wide, almost 5 feet high, and 17 1/2 inches deep.

The thing that I don't love is the blinding sunlight that streams in the window while we're trying to eat breakfast each morning - or while Grayson is trying to eat breakfast and I'm on my second cup of coffee.  I'd love to put up some type of window treatment that can be used to block the sunlight for the hour or so that it's blinding, but that won't obstruct the view of the backyard.

Here are a few not-so-great iPhone pics of the window...

Here are a few of the looks like I love:

                                                                     Source: younghouselove.com via Mary Jo on Pinterest

                                                                    Source: younghouselove.com via Mary Jo on Pinterest

                                                                               Source: thenester.com via Mary Jo on Pinterest

                                                                      Source: johnsjournal-maria.blogspot.com via Mary Jo on Pinterest

I love the look of curtains, especially the fabulous striped drapes found at the Nester's house, but I'm not sure if that's the right fit for that window.  I like to hand curtains high and wide, but there's not much space for that on this window.  There's only about 8 1/2 inches of space on the left-side of the window, before you hit the dimmer switch and peninsula.

Here's where you come in!  How would you conquer this design issue if it were at your house?  Would you hang curtains?  Blinds?  Roman shades?  Or a combination?  I can't wait to hear your thoughts!