Jeff Doubét records how a Spanish arch picture window was installed. See and learn the steps to completely change the view of a beautiful Santa Barbara remodel.

Today I highlight a couple of custom designed windows that ended up providing a whole new perspective on a view that was always there.

AFTER Photos: Before I share construction photos, here are a few images of how everything turned out. The large Spanish arch picture window frames a view of downtown Santa Barbara and the majestic Santa Ynez mountains, beyond.

The added height of the 12 panel window opens up the entire living room. The new window now engages with the natural surroundings outside.

Many clients have expressed interest in installing iron and glass windows… the kind originally built into local historic homes. Those were fabricated with thin frames and large panes of glass.

Sadly, they are not energy efficient and are no longer allowed in new builds. Luckily, modern window manufacturers now offer a similar look, and with excellent energy efficiency.

To achieve the look, order your wood windows with a narrow sash (frame), and specify the aluminum clad exterior finish in the color black.

The decorative bars separating the glass panels (mullions) can be specified in Modern Square (shown), as well as a Putty Mould. Putty mould mimicks the original styling when single panes of glass were secured in place with soft putty window glazing.

Scroll to see how we made this decorative round window. A local Santa Barbara iron worker custom fabricated the black metal frame.

THE EASY BUTTON TO VIEW ALL PROJECTS ON SITE

Pro Tips For Planning A Spanish arch picture window

Every project is different, but here is a collection of photos showing you how we planned this arch top picture window.

BEFORE Photo: The first decision we made was deciding what size window to order. To visually see what size would work best, we used blue tape to mock up different ideas. We tried different combinations of Width x Height… and number of window grids.

We made a crude mock up right over the top of the existing window. The photo represents our final design decision, ABOVE.

Here, demo day finally arrives. The new header for the taller window will be installed much higher up on the wall. To prep, the general contractor removed all of the drywall.

Framing a SPanish Arch picture Window

Your project architect and structural engineer will provide technical guidance for all that you will need to do prior to the installation of your own window.

This project architect processed the rough dimensions we had provided on a scrap piece of paper. He and the structural engineer turned our concept ideas into real working drawings- and a revised building permit.

With the new Spanish arch picture window on site and the technical specs and instructions in hand- the general contractor begins rough framing.

Here the new header has been raised to where it needed to be to maximize the view.

The living room is taking shape, and the newly sprayed insulation is complete. This construction photo helps illustrate how standard 6′-8″ height windows look great with a much taller Spanish arch picture window.

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Details Surrounding a Spanish View Window

There were many other custom details built around this Spanish arch picture window.

A full barrel niche was framed to the left of the new modern fireplace. It will receive floating shelves, and a built-in cabinet.

The homeowner walks down the new modern Spanish staircase under construction. The floating shelves and built-in cabinet are installed, and drywall mud is being applied.

Here the local iron worker Artisan team are welding up the modern Spanish iron railing designed for this open staircase.

Check back once in awhile. One day I will add a full blog post on the steps that were taken to fabricate this modern Spanish stair railing (both on and off site).

The living room with completed niche, oak cabinetry and a floating fireplace mantel, anchored to the wall with hidden brackets.

Spanish-style products on Amazon, and my project overviews where they were installed.

Spanish home construction in Santa Barbara

Spanish-style home construction is an ongoing local tradition in the charming seaside towns of Santa Barbara and Montecito, CA. Home designers, architects and builders keep reiterating upon the popular architectural genre, coming up with new interpretations all the time.

Construction Sketch: While the big arch picture window was being waterproofed for stucco, our group met to discuss the front entry. We brainstormed ideas for improving an existing awkward cantilevered section of house above the front door.

In this rough sketch, I proposed adding a new arch underneath the cantilevered bedroom, above. Something to balance out the overall façade, and compliment the picture window next to it.

Again the rough sketch was shared with the project architect, and within a few weeks the general contractor had the modified building permit in hand. Here the stucco crew begin to weatherproof the new structure.

Make sure to drop in on the blog now and then. Walk beautiful job sites, and see first hand how custom Spanish homes are being designed and built in Santa Barbara, California.

Here, the guys are plastering two new modern Spanish column caps in black stucco.

Here, an Artisan builder prepares for a new patio with Spanish tile steps leading to the front door. See how the steps turned out at Spanish-style Garage Doors.

Soon the existing landscaping will get a major overhaul. For now… a shot through the agaves and an AFTER photo of how the new arched front entry turned out.

Designing Round Windows Into Spanish Interiors

When re-designing your Spanish home interior (or exterior), look for opportunities to include a specialty window. This post is about the large arch top picture window and small round window, but you can also learn about Quatrefoil Windows, HERE.

During this local consult, I saw an opportunity to upgrade the existing trapezoid window with a deeply recessed round window. Positioned tightly between two different rooflines, I sketched a rough idea of how it would look.

Here the rough framing of the round window gets under way. You can see how it was positioned in the previous trapezoid and is now centered on the newly framed breakfast nook ceiling beams.

Here is how the overall renovation turned out. Close up photos of the round window are at the top of the post.

One last artistic image of the round window as seen from the front of the house looking through the new Spanish-style picture window.

Well friend, this wraps another site visit episode in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. I hope you enjoyed learning how to infuse more Santa Barbara Style into your own Spanish home design project with specialty windows. Scroll to explore more helpful links and resources for designing and building your own Spanish-style home and landscape.