• Cable systems--often called curtain wire--are ideal for window treatments with a contemporary or industrial look. In lofts, you can also use cable system curtains as room dividers. Cable systems hold a length of heavy wire taunt between hooks or brackets mounted to the wall or ceiling, and your curtains hang from the wire. Though cable system curtain ideas are as endless your imagination, styles that complement the sleek look of the wire are best.
  
  

Unlined Linen or Cotton Panels

• Hang simple linen or cotton floor-length panels for a fresh, simple look. Leave them unlined if privacy isn't an issue. White or unbleached natural colors look best, and complement the simplicity of the wire. If you can't find panels of the right length, buy a bolt of fabric. If you don't sew, you can use fusing tape to hem the panels. Hang them from curtain wire clips or sew small rings to the top or back of the panels.
  
  

Shower Curtains with Grommets

• Panels with grommets--small rings set into the fabric at the top--look great on curtain wire. With a stiff fabric, they're very structured in appearance, nearly architectural. If your windows aren't too tall, shower curtains with grommets are a simple solution. If shower curtains aren't long enough, use a grommet kit to convert regular curtain panels or lengths of fabric.
  
  

Natural Burlap Panels

• Try unhemmed, unfinished burlap panels for an unexpected look. The contrast between the two--the coarse, natural burlap and the sleek industrial wire--enhances both. The common element that makes them work together is the raw, unrefined nature of the materials, something you won't find in formal, traditional window treatments. Hang the burlap panels from curtain wire clips, or sew small plastic rings to the back of the burlap, making the panels appear to float over the wire. You can ravel the burlap deliberately, or just let it unravel naturally over time.
  
  

Metal Mesh or Screen

• Embrace the industrial look of your cable system by hanging panels of metal mesh or screen. You can buy rolls of the type used for window screens from most hardware stores. Screen doesn't ravel like fabric, so there's no need to hem your panels. Just cut them to the size you need, allowing an inch or two at the top to fold down for a clean edge. Hang them by threading the wire directly through the screen, or use metal curtain wire clips. Or make flexible rings with ball chain, the kind used for key chains and ceiling fan pulls.