I googled Spanish houses and found a bunch of images but the numbers keep changing on them so I can't reference them. The ones I like had dark trim around the windows. I know you just want to paint the door for now, but later down the road you might consider painting the fascia white or to match the tiles and then paint the window and the pergola that dark green color. I found a picture of a color that is something like that caramel apple, but maybe a little lighter. That would also work with the dark green. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/205/spanish-village_11771.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hickerphoto.com/spanish-village-morella-11771-pictures.htm&usg=__bvXdh2zaJ5TFliT6X_VNVPxM2qk=&h=311&w=468&sz=37&hl=en&start=48&zoom=1&tbnid=Q2ERDMXvti0grM:&tbnh=147&tbnw=217&ei=f-e4TbPSEMrq0gGrvPz-Dw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dspanish%2Bhouses%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DZMJ%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1289%26bih%3D609%26tbm%3Disch1%2C1163&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=641&vpy=296&dur=3275&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=137&ty=141&page=4&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:48&biw=1289&bih=609 (I'm sorry that link is so long.) I think it would be cool if you planted some espaliered fruit trees or shrubs along that long wall on the left. With some soft up-lighting that would be very dramatic at night.

Thank you! So much great feedback. Sadly, the paint job is a necessity rather than just aesthetics -- paint on the back side is failing pretty badly & peeling off in layers. (After reading up on the paint forum, I think it was just too many layers of latex on top of old oil paint without adequate prep.) Maybe we will keep it close to current color. I'm not sure what color it is, but I'll have to stop by the BM store and pick up a tab for Briarwood. I think those color visualizers are just a bit off, at least on our monitor -- Down Pour is a very smurf-y blue on my screen. Luckily, SW store is right down the street. Of the SW colors, we liked Mineral Deposit -- gray, but not quite so dark. Johnmari, my wife said exactly that about warm trim looking bad with cool gray field color. I just want to get away from the current ultrawhite, just tone down a bit but not too much. Shutters? I think we will someday, after we've finished the essentials. Of course, being picky, I don't want to just screw aluminum shutters that don't match window size on there, so might be a while given that real shutters & hardware are pricey. The suggestion about doing the sash black is good--that could look really sharp and make the windows pop a bit more until we can dress it up a bit more with shutters. Absolutely agreed on the landscaping solutions. Could be more varied and it would add a lot. THANK YOU for all your suggestions, such a helpful group & nice little corner of the internet.

Thanks so much for the offers of help. It is a difficult space to work with and all the "wants" I have. Right now there is a large dining table and chairs which are very much in the way due to its size. They will be moved into the new dining room. The 36" measurement between the island and the window wall does take into account chairs. I should have indicated that in the drawing. A movable work table would probably work best here. This is why I am coming to you guys for advice!

mobuddy89 These days I obsess about what other colors our home would be. There are a few more brown beams in the back of the complex and the same brown trim over the garage doors! If the brown stain doesn't work we could definitely layer with deeper colors! torreykm I think talavera elements could work in our area. I have thought it would be nice to really bring out the Spanish character of the home but in a very updated way? I'll have to peruse Houzz and see whats out there! :) Beth H. Thanks! You know, I looked for a wood "conditioner" and wasn't able to find one at HD, Lowes or Rockler that was exterior grade?! But Rockler recommended the Zinsser Bullseye clear sander coat as a base layer. Its very clear and watery stuff. The UV varnish I picked up is also the Zars exterior UV grade. Wish I'd known about the other products- but will see how the Zars holds up this time around. For sure will take your advice and do no less than 3 coats! Your garden is amazing!!