A roman shade would be a nice modern touch. Another suggestion would be to hang a curtain rod at the ceiling going across the entire wall and hang long curtains to add some sophistication.

I wonder if having some built in shelves around the window would make it seem more purposeful. You could have side cabinets (for a sewing machine, for example), bookshelves and a window sill big enough for that brave little palm in the dark corner. I googled some pics.
http://www.google.de/search?q=built+in+shelves+around+window&hl=en&tbo=u&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADSA_enDE384DE385&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=RxQJUcDtDYz14QTyh4GYAQ&ved=0CCoQsAQ&biw=1457&bih=519

I agree with the above poster re: the roman shade. I think that would be a nice, practical, polished way to treat this window. I would choose a bold print that you love, or an interesting solid, maybe (depending on your taste).

I agree with the built in idea. These kinds of long, short windows are so weird.

I am partial to a dark woven wood like the one at the link below. I think it would look great with the green for a natural feel. http://bit.ly/129iNeY

The roman shade is a good idea. I'd avoid putting up large curtains or shelves along that wall. You could make the area seem claustrophobic.

I like the idea of floor to ceiling drapery panels. Lots of "modern" fabrics to choose from and you can whip them up easily on that sewing machine!

I think you should decide what kind of window treatments you want first. If you want to replace the blinds with cafe curtains and a sheer behind it, you should paint first and accessorize based on the new color. If you want to forgo curtains and just replace the blinds with something that looks nicer, you can go ahead and do that right now as long as you choose something that would go with a variety of colors. I like bamboo blinds.

The combination of the horizontal window at the end of this narrow eat in kitchen is, well weird. I would think about pleated paper shades, and think about getting them in the same/similar color as your walls; the window will "blend" with the walls when the shade is drawn. Also think about getting the shades with the top down option, which would allow you to let light into the kitchen from the top, but still have the bottom in place for light control and/or privacy.

No offense, but I don't like the idea of roman shades for this window. When the shade is drawn up, it would occupy 1/3 or 1/2 of the opening, accentuating the horizontal-ness.

While we're at it, I think the light fixture is a problem here. Not sure what is going on in the rest of the kitchen, but don't feel like it belongs in a kitchen at all. Maybe switch that out. A globe would contrast nicely with the boxiness of the nook and the window. In the same vein, a round table would be nice here if you are so inclined.

I do like what other folks have said about shelves around the window. Especially if you're desperate for storage. If you do a built in, a banquette at the bottom could be a great way to have lots of seating at the table, without the need for many chairs.

While I am a big fan of light, gauzy curtains, I think that if you want a more modern feel I agree that roman shades are a good avenue, especially with the possibility of tiny hands tugging on long curtains! Woven wood seems like a nice compliment to the table and chairs but be careful to have enough light, or it will make the space feel small and tight, instead of open.

I would use an outside mounted, banded bamboo shade, hung high above the window. The banding gives a finished look, but the bamboo keeps it casual. You also could use some panels, hung high and out the sides of the window, with the shade covering the space above the window. If you do panels, keep the fabric light, not too much pattern.
On several windows in my house, I've bought bamboo shades from Overstock.com and put on the banding myself with a hot glue gun. Miter the corners before you glue on.

I would make a cornice, mount it high and put a roman shade under it. No one would ever see that it was only a wall under the top part of the shade, and the window would appear bigger.

If you want privacy but to keep as much natural light as possible, I would consider privacy film. It will keep it light/bright and won't take up extra space in your small dining area. There are also a ton of pattern/finish options for a reasonable price. Then you could do a nice shelving wall or something and it would blend in nicely. You could even do a window box of something for the plants to filter the light even more if it's too bright.

Good luck and please post a follow up so we can all admire your solution!

Basically ignore the size and shape by creating the illusion of a bigger window. This problem seems to come up a lot and what is usually recommended is hanging a roman shade higher up than the window but opened to expose all of the window, then flank with curtain panels slightly overlapping the sides of the window to conceal the edges. That only leaves that awkward empty space below it which meets the dining table and always makes me uncomfortable. How about a narrow shelf to display objects and/or plants but one that won't interfere with curtains (if you go that route) when drawn.

I always think that windows without trim look unfinished and a window with trim doesn't necessarily need curtains, so that's what I would start with.

I love shutters - If you had them mounted on the outside of the window itself, the window appears larger, even when open. Probably have to compromise on movable louvers although you may be able to get a combination of moveable louvers over the actual window area and fixed over the wall area (I'm assuming the oversize-larger-than-window approach). The "shutters" could also be made of fabric on frames - think folding floor screen type - the fabric could be put up in a way that allows easy removal for laundering. Good luck - I hate these "trailer" windows.

I was going to say what HHRI just did.

A bamboo blind would be nice here, and I'd leave it drawn up so it lets some light in... Might just be the pictures, but it looks so dark in there! I use a lot of natural blinds in my house and wind the cords up at the top — it's a very un-fussy solution when there's young kids around. If you want to bring in more color, pattern, and character to the space, think about your new wall color now and find curtains (or hem your own fabric and use curtain clips to hang them). I'd hang them "high and wide" with a chunky rod and clips, and extend the panels to the wall. The panels would be used in conjunction with a bamboo shade. I liked the suggestion of built-ins until I studied the pics again, and now I don't think there's enough space to work with next to the windows. So my final answer is bamboo shade, drawn to let light in, and curtains hung at a grander scale to make the window look bigger. Good luck!

I would go with a simple curtain rod hung just above the window draped with an extra long fabric panel. All you need to do is loosely wrap the fabric around the rod and let it hang off of both ends. It would frame the window and add drama without being fussy, and you could make it more modern by choosing a modern fabric - maybe one with geometric shapes.

Shutters are another good idea. That way, you could adjust the amount of light you want, and you get a lot of privacy.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/217828/Wolfram-Dining-Room-traditional-dining-room-chicago

Remove those blinds, and add more trim. Then, you can hang shutters or dark match stick blinds.

I'm partial to this look, it's what I've done in my living and dining areas. Just bamboo shades and floor length curtains hung high and wide. Easy peasy. Although I hung my shades inside the window frame, not above it.

http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/06/curtain-call-2/

hi: First, I want to compliment you on your light fixture and dining set. They are beautiful. The brass and wood are the stars of the show. I would keep everything on that wall white ( or your favorite neutral). I would build a simple white wood cornice box. The box should be a bit wider then the window with white dummy panels on each side. You could even make the whole wall part of the window treatment.

Yes! @mnkenne's pic is exactly what I was trying to describe ;)

P.S. If you don't like the idea of covering the whole wall... I would try to visually get things in proportion. White wood cornice adds 8" to the height. Side panels can cover 6" on each side. Also, any kind of bamboo / reed texture would look great in there. I would also think about some kind of centerpiece for the table to be a focal point.

I'm a fan of bare windows (unless it's a bedroom or bathroom). I like the clean lines of a "bare" window. My bare windows have white enamel paint in a gloss on the wood trim so there is a bit of highlighting going on but drapes, blinds, curtains, valances . . . just visual clutter in my opinion.

Don't add trim to the window if the other windows in your home (esp in the same room or areas open to that room) don't have trim. Unless you're ready to do all of them. Otherwise, I agree with the high and wide curtain-hanging idea to really fill up that wall. If a bamboo roman shade would fit with your decor, I agree with those who have recommended hanging one high to create the impression of a taller window as well.

I think what you already have looks fine and very "contemporary".

If it were my place and I wanted an upgrade, I'd consider Duette blinds (Hunter-Douglas, I think.) But I'd keep to something very plain within the confines of the window frame for the uncluttered, modern look that goes with the rest of your room.

You don't say enough about what you want. Do you want to keep these blinds and add a "window treatment" around them, or replace them? Do you need to control light? What level of privacy do you want here - none necessary, semi-private, or actually private? What do you mean by modern? Your light fixture appears to be modern, and while I like it, it seems to big visually for the small space it is in. Your furniture doesn't appear to be modern to me, unless is it some sort of mid-century modern, so if you are replacing the furnishings, I'd take them into account when working on the window.

The main problem with this space to me is that is is small - and narrow - for its intended use. Since you need a table to feed a family here, you need a big table. The one you have seems to take up all the room in the space. If your "moving toward a modern look" means replacing furniture, then try to find something large enough that doesn't take up all the room in the space. Round is nice, if your space if big enough for a round table that will feed five, but I'm not sure it is (hard to say, since you didn't give dimensions.) An oval table, or one with rounded edges, will also soften the room a bit - much like the way the shape of the table you have now does, but even more. I think I would put a long rectangular table there that is way more narrow than the table you have there, to create some room at the sides. One more narrow than you find in you typical table sizes. And I'd replace the lighting with something not so visually blocky.

I start with the table, because what I chose would affect what I did with the window. There isn't a lot of room (as far as I can see from the pictures) between the end of the table and the window, so there's no room for long curtain panels or shelving. If I had a table that left more room there, I'd think of putting in long curtain panels. But I don't have three kids, and I don't think long curtain panels are practical with young kids (I remember us liking to hide behind them when playing hide-and-seek, and constantly being yelled at by my mom for doing so.) Even if your kids are older, I'm not sure long panels are practical in a dining room with kids (I hate washing curtains, and only put there where they will stay clean, which isn't around kids eating, I think.) In any event, it doesn't appear you have room for them where you won't be stepping on them. So, while that look might look good in this room with a small table for a few adults, I don't think the wall of curtains will work for you.

If I had more room by the window, I wouldn't build in any shelving at all. But I would consider finding (or having made) a long, very narrrow console to put under the window. Higher than table height one. Or putting a shelving unit across the width of the floor, again something higher than table height, but not all the way up to the window. Something with doors or baskets would all a lot of storage, if you need it. It only needs to be bookcase units, 11 or 12 inches deep. Putting furniture under the window is the only way to deal with the horizontal window in the small narrow room thing. But I'm thinking with all the people you need to seat, that you won't likely have room to add any furniture other than your table in here. If you do, if you can pull whatever table you use further from the window, then try putting something under the window.

So, either way, furniture under the window, or not, I wouldn't use the long curtains here. I also like bare windows where I don't need light control or privacy, and if they need a little something just for style, I'd used a piece of fabric I've made into a valance and put on a spring rod in the window - it looks modern because I barely gather it at all - the fabric is just an inch or two wider than the space it is in for just very minimal gathering, that doesn't even look like gathering - it looks like a flat panel, which it basically is, with a little give to it. This treatment can also be used over a blind, or hung on a curtain rod attached to the wall over and to the sides of the window.

If you need some light and privacy control, then decide if you like slatted blinds like you have now. I find them less practical because they must be dusted, though I do like them and have had them. I'm moving toward stuff that needs less cleaning. So I would go with honeycomb blinds here, installed inside the window. Or just those simple pleated blinds. They do have a softer look than slats. And I would get the ones that can be lowered from the top as well as raised from the bottom. Semi-sheer if you don't need full light control of privacy, more opaque if you do.

For an even softer look, one that combines slats with sheers, get those ones that have fabric vanes that run between two sheers that open and close like blinds, but have the softer look of curtains - and the benefit over slatted blinds that you don't have to dust each slat (you can't). They look good with any style room. Many companies make them - if you don't know what I mean, google sillouette, I think that's what Hunter-Douglas calls theirs. They might be your best bet - practical, softer looking, can be opened and closed like blinds for light and privacy control, or pulled up completely.

And, while I'm not that modern so it wouldn't go with my stuff, a solar privacy shade would look great in here with modern furniture - it is likely the most modern look you can get.

Just don't use vertical slat blinds of any sort, please.

Consider hanging a corresponding vertical mirror opposite your pictures to bring more light in. You can frame the mirror in a way that echos what you do with the window and the the pictures and the hanging lamp.

I think you need to look at the room in its entirety. The proportions are not quite right, and this includes the potplant.

I'd either get a larger plant, or put it onto a stand of some kind so it looks like a feature, not a plant that doesn't have a better home somewhere. Likewise, the wall colour is fairly dark and doesn't really go with white blinds- is painting an option? Thirdly, the blinds themselves- you could keep the style but switch them over for a wooden colour which would bring them in line with the table.

Faux stained glass with a narrow sideboard as in pic #3?

http://pinterest.com/judyfreeman/stained-glass-mosaics/

OK. Not very modern, stained glass. Here's a nice AT: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-install-a-floating-ikea-51639

Forgot to mention what is blatantly obvious about this nook is that it is claustrophobic and the color of the walls, though attractive, exaggerates this aspect of the nook by the sharp contrast in color with the awkward size of the window. So you need to seemlessly blend shade, curtains and wall color by eliminating high contrasts and keeping all colors very light. (This would also eliminate the problem of that awkward space underneath the window.) Forget trim because it would probably not be consistent with rest of the house, but consider someone's suggestion to uses mirrors on the wall opposite the pictures. This is a traditional way of expanding space. One thing you might consider to give you more usable space but would force you to alter the lovely light fixture placement would be to push your table against a wall - it might be worth gaining the added space. Picture and/or mirror placement can make this seem a more "designed" look and not just a maneuver to gain more space.

Thanks for all of the feedback. So many ideas I hadn't thought of, and details I didn't think to provide with my question. We live in a townhouse, and there is a sidewalk about 10 feet from the window and another unit right across from us, so the privacy from the faux wood blinds is necessary. I love the idea of trim around the window, curtains hung high and wide, and coordinating shade, curtains, and wall color so they blend seemlessly. I also should have "staged" the space a little better. That plant on the floor is there because we move it off the table when we eat! I will post pics when it's done.