Love your "hide the ugly window" solution and I don't think there will be fade/damage problems seeing as the curtains will be a buffer. Your Sue "fix" is a wonderful idea....wandering about in Grandmother's Flower Garden....I remember reading an article about window quilts when I was living in Asia...It was either the Netherlands or Norway...anyway...they made quite puffy quilts and used them over big windows/doors, but hung like curtains with rings, clever and beautiful way to keep out the chill winds of winter.
Thanks for sharing your beauty! Happy quilting.