Old Style Shutters

Main Components for Making Window Shutters

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:32:45 +0000

Plantation shutters are a popular way to add an elegant look to your home. They are both functional and attractive.

shutter components

The design of traditional plantation shutters is actually pretty simple.

The main components can usually be divided into four main parts:

The horizontal pieces found on the top and bottom of the shutter are referred to as the rails. Some plantation shutters may also contain one or more horizontal rails in the center of the shutter, dividing the plantation shutter into separate tiers.
Located on the outer sides of the shutter, are vertical stiles.
Louvers are the horizontal slats inserted between the stiles, which are able to be tilted and adjusted to allow in more or less light.
The tilt rod is the mechanism which controls the movement of the louvers. They allow you to move the louvers up and down. While very popular, not all shutters use this piece. Some designs forgo the tilt rod so that individual louvers can me maneuvered up and down independently.

Single tilt rods are one continuous, vertical rod connecting and controlling all the louvers simultaneously. A split tilt rod is a tilt rod split into individual pieces. This allows separate control of grouped louvers.

Not all that complicated is it?

View complete instruction guides on how to make shutters.

Plantation Shutters are great for Hideaway Locations

admin — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:28:22 +0000

shutter hiding a shelf

Interior decorating with plantation shutters can bring distinctive beauty to your home. They add that extra touch of elegance that is unmistakable. But what about other uses? Is there other ways to have the look of shutters in the interior of your rooms? Here is one nifty idea that will put you in the smart interior design category.

Shutters are ideally suited not only to provide a distinctive look for windows. But they can also be used to hide shelves that contain items you don’t want seen all the time. This is ideal for those items that are indispensable to have but sometimes overpower all other decorations because of their size color or clutter. How about having a way to hide these items when we don’t want to have them be so prominent?

shutter hiding cabinet

Shutters are ideal for hiding a TV or media center whenever no one is watching or using it. It’s a cheap and easy way to hide something while adding beauty to your interior decoration. How about a messy cluttered shelf?

The idea is to affix shutters to the frame of a shelf or entertainment center containing these items. When we want to use them, remove the shutter, when we don’t want to see them, simply close the louvers and presto, instant elegant look.

This is but one of the many many uses for plantation shutters. They are not just for windows.

Learn how to make shutters

Increase the Saleability and Curb Appeal of your Home

admin — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:25:59 +0000

Well-planned and well-executed home improvements will add value to your home and increase its sale ability. Signs that you have looked after your home and are proud of it will lure potential buyers and there is no more, obvious a sign than a matching set of fitted wooden window shutters.

With this window treatment in place, your property will stand out from the crowd, looking great in photos and even better at the curb side. In effect they create a relaxing, nurturing home environment where one can get away from it all.

The addition of plantation shutters helps to achieve this with style and elegance, creating a clean look, which is both, timeless and on trend. They are the modern alternative to drapes and blinds. In addition, they are virtually maintenance free requiring nothing more than a quick wipe down with a damp cloth to keep them looking their best.

Shutters particularly help you to moderate the amount of natural light entering a room. They also allow you to control the amount of airflow or ventilation. Simply by raising or lowering the louvers. You can shut out the wind and sunlight at will. Because of their design, shutters can assist in creating a near black out room, which is perfect for creating an environment for sleeping.

Add curb appeal to your home while saving money by learning how to make shutters.

Recent History of Plantation Shutters

admin — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:08:03 +0000

When decorating your home, remember to think about window treatments as an integral design element in your home. You will find that the type of window treatment you choose not only affects the atmosphere and theme inside the room, but also the view from the outside.

Old South Plantation

What are plantation shutters and why are they a good choice? As the “plantation” name suggests, these window coverings were originally used in plantations, either in the Deep South of the United States or in the Caribbean islands.

In warmer climates where curtains were not an absolute necessity, shutters make made good sense. They block out the light and let in air at the same time. Plantation shutters have been the top choice for window treatments ever since.

Traditionally, the plantation style shutter was made from a hardwood. But today’s plantation shutters are made from a variety of choices including wood, MDF (medium density fiberboard) or even plastic. Basically, any material that can resist warping will build a virtual work of art for your window.

Learn how to make shutters

6 Interior Design Tricks for Tight Budgets

admin — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 02:05:17 +0000

interior decorating

When decorating on a budget, prioritizing is key. With less money come fewer choices. Analyze your current home, furnishing and decorations.

By improving what you already have and building some items instead of purchasing new, interior decorating even on a budget can provide spectacular makeovers.

Following are doable inexpensive decorating ideas to add distinction to a home without breaking the bank.

Repaint cabinets, instead of replacing them. Paint will clean, freshen and liven up a cabinet.

Take off the old curtains and add plantation shutters. Normally this would break the bank. But not if you build them yourself with a DIY shutters guide. You can build them for the cost of materials. Usually under $40 each.

Paint floors. Most people forget this simple trick, but you can improve most surfaces with paint, including your floors – unless you have carpet of course!

Bring the outdoors in. Real or fake plants, herbs or flowers brighten up a room. Mix real flowers and silk in one vase, saving money as the silk flowers round out an assortment enabling you to purchase less of the expensive fresh flowers.

Utilize mirrors to create light, space and special accents – you will be surprised how mirrors make a room look bigger and more distinctive.

Paint, paint, paint. Paint is one of the budget decorator’s best friend. It creates a dramatic change for little money and effort. Be brave and try out new inventions. Paint only one wall a vibrant color, layer and balance colors, paint furniture.

Put your best foot forward. With a tight budget, it may not be possible to buy everything new. So work with what you have.

Curb Appeal on a Shoestring Budget

admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:05:44 +0000

Plantation Style Shutter

Looking to upgrade the inside of your home and at the same time build curb appeal while on a tight budget? Think you are stuck with only trivial options because of your tight budget? The good news is that plantation shutters may be a viable option for you.

Nothing adds curb appeal to your home like plantation shutters. Shutters can transform a room with dull drapes or mini blinds into a grand space with a touch of elegance and charm.

Until recently the biggest drawback for choosing plantation shutters has been the price. But did you know that the material that goes to make shutters is commonly less than $50 per unit? Would you be willing to do a little work following a DIY Shutters instruction guide to make shutters for the cost of just the materials? Think of it, beautiful, fully operable plantation shutters for about $50 per window. How is that for savings?

If you are still not convinced, did you also know that besides the distinctive elegance of shutters, an added benefit is energy savings?

Because wood is a better insulator than glass, plantation shutters can usually reduce the amount of heat that is allowed to radiate in during the summer. By pivoting the louvers up and down, the amount of sunlight allowed inside can be controlled to still let in those grand views of the outdoors while keeping direct sunrays out. In effect, plantation shutters create a thick barrier of non-heat-conducting material between the scorching heat outside and the nice expensive cool air inside.

Convinced now? Ready to learn how to make shutters?

Plantation Shutters: Decorating on a Tight Budget

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:27:47 +0000

There’s a certain exotic charm to plantation style window shutters. A remembrance of sunny days spent sipping ice tea while the ceiling fan cools you. Plantation shutters have a classic design that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years, and are so attractive they can transform an average window into a virtual work of art. They never go out of style.

Interior Plantation Shutters

Until now the only obstacle has been their high price since they commonly require a professional to measure each window and custom build each of your plantation shutters for you. Sadly, this is usually the reason for homeowners to settle for a “second choice” for window treatments. True, the process to build plantation shutters is best done at the factory by professionals who have years of experience. Using specialized tools, they can custom make each piece and provide you with an exceptional shutter. Unfortunately, this also comes with an exceptional price.

What if the mystery was taken out concerning the techniques for making plantation shutters? Furthermore, what if this was done using simple methods that don’t require specialized tools? See the possibilities; your “first choice” for window treatments for the price of just the materials, mainly wood. You may even have most of the materials needed to construct these beautiful shutters sitting in your garage.

If we break down the process to build plantation shutters it mainly consist of

Taking measurements of your window
Determining the shutter measurements.
Constructing a frame
Installing the louvers that pivot up and down inside the frame
Painting or staining the complete unit
Installing the shutter in your window

Fortunately, it is possible to break these steps down so anyone can build plantation shutters that look great. It is even possible to have more than one way to do each step to match what tools are available on hand. Yes, expensive specialized tools are used at the factory to build shutters, but the main reason for this is because they make hundreds of units per day. Building a few units for your home does not require this automated hardware.

And, once you learn to construct your first shutter, you could duplicate the process and decorate all the windows in your home, all for the price of material. See the possibilities now? Your “first choice” for window treatments is now affordable. Don’t be afraid to give it a try. You may even be surprised how simple the process is.