I have a really large window almost to the floor that's right beside the front door and since the dogs love keeping an eye on the goings on outside, I just put a sheer curtain that doesn't go all the way down. They have a foot of peeping room left at the bottom.
If I had the type of windows you have I would either put those little accordion type shades or the cling on things that you can get all sorts of patterns and it looks exactly like stained glass. Home Depot sells them.