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SHUTTERS

In the world of window coverings, it's difficult to match the richness and elegance of wooden shutters. Extremely versatile, interior shutters can fit any window and complement any decor from the traditional homes of Charleston to the contemporary homes of today.

Wide louvered plantation shutters allow for maximum light and view when tilted open yet close completely for privacy and light control. Panels will also hinge open to allow access to windows for cleaning the glass, opening the window, or simply allowing even more view.

• available in 2 1/2", 3 1/2", and 4 1/2" louvers
• painted, stained, or unfinished
• solid wood or composite construction
• custom made to fit each window
• excellent light control and privacy
• arch and other special shapes available

Traditional shutters with the smaller 1 1/4" louvers achieve an old world charm found in many cottages. The smaller louver works well when several panels are used to cover a single window and helps to soften the natural light coming into the room. Although often used "cafe" style where they cover only the bottom half of the window, the need for privacy may call for covering the window entirely.

Wood versus Synthetic 

There are pros and cons to both. In recent years a great deal of time and effort has been spent marketing the composite shutters as being the better choice. In reality, they each have advantages. Wooden shutters are typically stronger and lighter weight than those made of the various composite materials. Like wooden furniture they can be painted or stained any color and refinished when necessary (usually after ten or more years). Anytime a shutter without a frame is to be installed inside the window it's much easier to get a true custom fit with wooden shutters since they can be planed, mortised, sanded, etc. as needed. This cannot be done with composite shutters of any kind. Composite shutters do have some advantages over wooden ones. Since most do not require paiting they lack a finish which could be easily damaged by direct exposure to water and/or high moisture.

Wood Shutters: Lighter weight Larger panel sizes available Specialty shapes available Unlimited paint and stain matching Easier to fit in out-of-square windows Slower delivery

Synthetic Shutters: Water/moisture resistant Faster delivery No painting necessary Difficult to fit in out-of-square windows Limited color selection May discolor (yellow) over time

Choosing shutters

With so may options available, shutters can be one of the most complex window treatments. An understanding of the styles available is a must in order to choose the options best suited to your windows. Let's start with louver size first:

The variety of louver sizes available make shutters one of the most adaptable window treatments. The sizes are; 1 1/4", 1 3/4", 2 1/2", 3 1/2", and 4 1/2". Which size is best? It depends on the window to be covered and how the shutter is to be used. Wider louvers such as the 3 1/2" and 4 1/2" allow the most view and light but require a deeper window in order to install the shutter on the inside of the window frame. The smaller 1 1/4" and 1 3/4" louvers require less depth but won't allow as much light and view. In the middle is the 2 1/2" louver which is used most often because it allows plenty of light and view and can be installed in many of today's windows.

Louver size as well as how the shutters are to be used will dictate the number of panels used per window. For example, let's take an average window, say 30" wide by 60" tall. If the larger louvers are desired then one 30" wide panel or two 15" wide panels will probably look and work the best. The disadvantage of this however is that a 30" wide panel, when swung open, requires 30" of wall space next to the window in order to be out of the way. Two 15" wide panels reduce the necessary wall space to 15". To further minimize the amount of necessary wall space, consider four 7 1/2" wide panels. It's with these narrow panels that the smaller louvers, especially the 1 1/4", are most often used because a larger louver in a narrow panel tends to look out of proportion and stubby. In summary, wide panels with large louvers equals maximum light and view but may not be practical to swing open on a regular basis. Narrow panels will restrict the light and view but fold back more easily. It's been our experience that most people simply tilt the louvers open or closed rather than actually swinging the shutter open therefore we would usually recommend using one or two panels for our average window instead of four.

The next decision is whether to do cafe shutters, full length shutters, full length shutters with divider rails, or double hung shutters. Cafe shutters only cover the bottom half of the window so the top half is left uncovered or covered with another treatment of some kind. Full length shutters are more common, giving more light control and privacy. Putting a divider rail in a full length shutter divides each panel into a top and bottom section of louvers, allowing independent control of the top and bottom sections of louvers. Double hung shutters are actually two separate sets of shutters, one on top of the other, where the top can be swung open and folded back against the wall independently of the bottom. On stationary or casement windows that crank out, full length shutters without divider rails are most often used. Double hung windows where the bottom half of the window raises up usually call for full length shutters with divider rails or double hung shutters. A word of caution with double hung shutters though, they generally don't look as "clean" and can make a window look cluttered because of the greater number of panels used, and are generally more expensive.