Maybe Roman shades with a bit of terra-cotta to pick up on the Spanish look without really selling out to the look? Are the interiors distinctly Spanish as well?

Thank you, Paul. Yes, lots of arches. niches, crank windows but enlarged kitchen, enlarged master and new master bath but trying to keep to Spanish farmhouse style. BTW, I'm painting the exterior white also.

Playing off the woven/burlap theme yet integrating something like:

A hint of color yet still fairly neutral.

Yes, that is the line I was thinking but perhaps with more texture. The 2 windows which face the street are a guest bedroom and would like to put something more traditional in them. Any suggestions?

You could do a textured Roman shade (like that one int the post above) and back it with a fabric color complementary to the exterior paint/colors for the two windows that face the street.

Conrad grass shades look great in traditional interiors as well as modern. I like the darker grass color which makes it easier to see through to the outside and provides the desired privacy. Essentially, you will get something with woody texture that goes beautifully with a Spanish hacienda architecture but using very clean lines:

http://www.conradshades.com/product/view/1840-Lava

More rustic choice:

http://www.conradshades.com/product/view/1838-Loam

In a previous home (converted warehouse actually), years ago, before digital photography, I sewed some really cool drapes made of actual burlap... and loosely lined with muslin (as a second layer and only attached at the top). I tied them with skinny "tabs" to iron rings and they looked great if I do say so myself! I feel they have to be generous with fabric, not skimpy or they'll look cheap and/or home-made. I also think drapes or shades should be relaxed, not formally constructed to reinforce the casualness of burlap. My only warning would be that it does stink! I took the burlap to a laundromat and washed and dried it (very fibrous, tough on your home equipment). The process softened the texture and added permanent wrinkles. The smell was lessened but it still remained for some time, eventually airing out. You may find a better solution on the internet these days.

I do love those conradshades suggested above...

Mmartine10 - I like these a lot however hey won't work in the rooms that require privacy. I don't like the way lined shades look from the outside. And, I don't draperies over them it because the price goes up. However, I will consider them in my kitchen.

Lindadeniseclaire - So, funny I did a similar thing in a previous home but I did not wash them (did not have a odor) but love the idea of softening them but no so crazy about wrinkles? I had planned to do the same treatment on some larger windows in this house. Curious - did the muslin liner make them look beefier (I did not line my previous one). .and where did you get skinny tabs and what are they?

Boyce, boy do I love the sound of that!! But, again privacy since several of the windows face the street?

You can also find cottony "sheers" and do double layers of that heavenly flowy goodness!

Hi Kathy,

Have you thought of plantation shutters? Hunter Douglas has a line of hardwood shutters (Heritance Hand Crafted Series) that might work for your space.

Hunter Douglas

I realize you are looking for privacy but I want to second the notion of the white sheer cotton with the idea of white sheer linen. Perhaps on the non privacy Windows? Several folks make these on etsy so you can get them to make the size you like. Or, since it sounds like you sew, you can order the raw linen and make them. If you have the traditional chalky walls and white sheer linen curtains....oh how beautiful that would look! Gorgeous home, by the way!

Solid wood paneled shutters, painted or stained- not colonial or plantation style.

what about the white sheer linen with a simple pull down roller shade for privacy.

An embroidered or block print drape or panels.

Lilyanddaisy - Do you mean raw linen drapery with a white sheer cotton underneath?

HunterDouglas Shutters

How about vintage serapes..,Kathryn Ireland did some a few years ago when she had a Spanish house in Ojai...and they were gorgeous. Perhaps only for the street facing windows (could use the white linen sheers under.)

I loveeee that idea and perhaps can use that one room I have so much pattern in fabrics etc it may fight. I have suzanis , mudcloth and kilms etc.

Kathy- Re my burlap curtains... You asked me whether the lining made them beefier... yes, it did. And, the skinny tabs... I guess I should have said "ties"... I made them. Sewed them from the burlap as thin as I could. Tedious stuff! I was actually inspired by (that's a nice way of saying, I copied!) Nancy Braithwaite after reading about her in a 1993 House Beautiful magazine. This was what I found online. I'm referring to the curtains/drapes surrounding the bed in the room with the checkerboard wall. You'll see what I mean... somehow they're sturdy but relaxed, partially due to the subtle wrinkles.

http://kitchensihaveloved.blogspot.ca/2013/09/a-visit-to-early-nancy-braithwaite.html

Thank you, lindadeiseclaire - beautiful!

Although I absolutely love the look of plantation shutters, to me they work best in a home with some carpet or upholstery that softens the acoustics. (I know there are beautiful exceptions, so please, no haters!). Many of the Spanish homes we see here in Texas have a lot of hard floors, like tile or wood. So, I like the idea of gauzy sheers on windows. I also love the burlap idea, but that's because I have done them myself! Burlap (comes in natural, white, or colors!) with a sheer liner, made simply, and hung on an iron rod using those clip-on curtain rings. I had no problem with odor, although I did experience shedding. The sun filtering through them looks lovely, Oh - warning - cats really like them, too. :-/

Wishicouldaffordthat. I agree about the shutters . I love them but don't think they are the best fit for my home. Did you attach the liner to the burlap or leave it separate like a sheer?

Kathy Skilton I attached it at the top only. It was oh so easy.

To be truly authentic, let your window coverings and accessories bring in bright pops of color The vintage serapes are perfect. I have a bathroom that has wrought iron hooks over the window and I've draped a serape over the hooks. Very simple and eye catching.

Dottiemoon - I love that idea but will have to play with in since I have so many textiles. Vintage serapes really intrigue me. Where do I get one?

I am loving this discussion since my house looks a lot like yours from the outside, and I have also tried to figure out how to do a "casita" window treatment without velvet or brocade. I did end up with lace -- tree of life/folk-arty/otami-animal off-white lace from Country Curtains. Hung generously with extra panels for privacy, on wrought iron rods. I love them in the daytime since they are sheer and difuse light charmingly; sometimes at night I think they are a bit too busy/frumpy. But, they are an off-the-rack not too expensive solution. I do like the idea of raw linen tab curtains, with sheer liner --maybe that will be the next upgrade. Also adore the vintage serape idea, perhaps for our breakfast nook.

Jean - I looked at your drapes - They are really beautiful but I think they are too airy for my furnishings. I'm for sure going to do the burlap.

Hi Ted, I have 2 long windows - in the guest bedroom which faces the street. I will use a coral Matisse bed cover with a suzanni throw.This bedroom is connected to the guest bath which has this tile which is on the floor and half way up the wall. The bathroom has a heavy milky/ leaded glass which will not need covering. I would like to get the bedroom drapes soon.

In the living room which has a long window is where I will use the burlap. In the dining room also has a long window but faces the back yard so I'll wait until we move in.

In the master bedroom we have French doors and one small window. I have not quite figured my bedding since I have this headboard and want to upholster

the inside with padded fabric I most likley will use a plain white coverlet and throw my Moroccan wedding blanket at the bottom. Any ideas for fabric?

That was a long answer for a simple question, right?

...My worry with burlap is that although in the House Beautiful photos it looks elegant and fabulous, in my house it would end up just looking rustic. Early California, but NOT in a good way.

Ted I like the idea of the woven shades on the smaller Windows especially in the kitchen and office. The burlap drapes in the living room will not be affected by the sun.
Have ant ides for fabric on my headboard? I was thinking something with a lot of texture. Maybe red with a little black and maybe turquoise.

Jean, I do know what you mean. I have q lot of ethnic furniture so I it will. Work. But, how about the sarape? So fun

I've never been a fan of burlap, which is why I opted for gauzy cotton...plus, it flows with the breeze!

Thanks, for the input. I'm planning to use burlap in the living room and considering gauze in the bedrooms.

Something light linen with embroidered flowers like a "Mexican" dress?

Pottery Barn Catalog- Check out pg 120 with using a sheer as an additional layer and then page 144 with the Flax Linen drape on the right side of the page.

http://www.potterybarn.com/pages/e-catalog/pottery-barn-catalog-summer-d3-16.html

Your headboard is beautiful. I'm wondering if going with an understated fabric would be the way to go and let the carving be the star. I think its going to be a case when you see the fabric, you'll know it.

Place your rods as high as possible and I would go with a linen look full drape. I would also extend the rods on the sides so that you can get the most possible light in the house. My guess is that it is dark ( just guessing). Without inside photos it is hard to really suggest properly. I would not go with blinds since that would be too modern for the character of this home.

I like the idea of a textured hobbled woven wood and do a shade behind for privacy or sun. I would do the back shade in a color that would blend with outside. check out Horizons. Also cordless!!

Ted, thanks so much I love those suggestions and will plan a trip to Pottery Barn this week! I also like the idea of Nclaarke01 (thanks) of something with a few embroidered flower. Cheryld1 - Fortunately, the master bedroom is light and airy BUT the living room is not.

You can do interior louvered shutter in off white, antique white or weathered mint green or a weathered periwinkle blue or natural wood tone similar to main door; and if your ambitious, high curtain rod with long sheers on each side. It gives you the lace vibe without the fussiness of lace and the drape length can add the luxe feel that velvet gives without velvet heavyness. The sheers can remain open along shutters of closed instead of shutters. The allow light to enter without visibility from passers by. Sheers are also available in a host of colors to feature the window as well as combine to your interior color palate.

I like your idea of using burlap. I have a couple of coffee bean bags my niece gave me that I keep meaning to repurpose into something. Could be fun if you can source some of those (she got them by being friendly with the owner of a coffee shop that roasted their own beans). Sometimes they use some bright colors too in the logo's.... A little zing to the curtains!

Very clever!

With added width, sheers become less sheer. I have made my curtains as much as 5X the width of the window to get the look I wanted. Usually I use sheers at 2 to 3X the width of the window, depending on how sheer the fabric is and how much filtering I want at the window. With more fabric the soft folds become both deeper and greater in number so that there are many thicknesses involved even though the curtain is just 1 layer.

what did you decide?

Good tips alice68. I decided on the windows that face the street to use linen and sheers and in the living room to use burlap. I'm looking at the colors of fabric and curtain rods.