A home office with a waterfront view cried out for a corner desk. The first solution was to find an inexpensive desk with corner piece and two wings from Door Store. But as the years went by, there wasn't enough storage so the wings were replaced with two custom pieces that allowed for horizontal and vertical storage. Because the drawers were deep, the carpenter designed them with the same kind of full extension hardware that is found in kitchen cabinetry. When the renters move on to their own home, the modular pieces can be used in another configuration.
Window treatments are too costly.
Go with what the landlord provides or use some cheap curtains on extension rods. If you already have blinds, shades or verticals, it's easy. Buy a decorative metal rod that extends to different widths and then find drapes that you can hang at either side of the window. They don't have to be the perfect width for the window because you won't have to close them. For the perfect finishing touch, make a valance out of linen napkins.