plantation shutters? Pros, cons, and info you want to share?

[wildernesslodgelover]

I never paid attention to plantation shutters. But I am starting to notice them more and more, and we will need window treatments in a house we may be purchasing soon.

Do you think plantation shutters go with any decor, pretty much? We are going for wood floors, kind of a rustic look, so not sure of the PS will be too "refined" looking?

Are they super duper expensive? Can we install them ourselves? Does it look dumb to have them all over your home, or should they be on only a few windows? Is it common to put other window treatments on top of the shutters, or is that overkill?

Give me any input, opinions and suggestions! If you have pictures...that would be great, too!

 

[mickeysgal]

We have them throughout the house. In my opinion, it gives it a traditional Southern look which I happen to like. When we were house shopping and I saw these shutters, knowing how expensive the were, it certainly was a very big PRO when deciding on the house. I don't like shades so this was a nice alternative. Drapes I can do without, so again, a nice alternative.

I don't have any other window treatment on top of them, although you certainly could if you wanted. I've seen it done both ways.

They do require vacumning as the slats do accumulate dust. But it's not hard and goes quickly. It does limit the full strength of light that comes into a room even with the slats perfectly horizontal. When I pull out the shutters to reveal the window and fold the shutters back, the light increases tremendously in the room. Not sure if that's a pro or a con, just a fact.

 

[TimeforMe]

We have them in our bedroom and I LOVE them and get many compliments on them. Ours are white and our bedroom is a very dark (almost navy) blue so I needed some contrast and also some light in the room. These work perfectly. I have sheer blue curtains along the top that hang along the sides. I forget what they call them--like a loose handerkchief sort of thing.

 

[mickeysgal]

I have sheer blue curtains along the top that hang along the sides. I forget what they call them--like a loose handerkchief sort of thing.

A scarf valance?

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Thanks for the replies so far!

mickeysgal-Yes, just the name evokes a southern feel, I guess. I am not into the "traditional southern look" but this house has river rock floors (dark) and we will be putting wood through the rest of the house. There are french doors that lead out to the pool/patio, and also on the side of the house, and in the master. Not sure if planatation shutters would work there...or if because they are so pricey, maybe it would be best to skip the doors and just do the windows?

I do like to have a room, and the whole house DARK if I want. that is actually very important to me..to be able to make it dark if I choose.

Do all shutters have that "fold out" capability? Or is that an extra cost? I never thought about "opening them" away fromt he window, but i would like to be able to.

Time-That sounds really pretty. I like the idea of the scarf valance, cuz that is not *too* much treatment, ya know?

thanks again, keep up the suggestions/comments!

 

[mickeysgal]

Thanks for the replies so far!

mickeysgal-Yes, just the name evokes a southern feel, I guess. I am not into the "traditional southern look" but this house has river rock floors (dark) and we will be putting wood through the rest of the house. There are french doors that lead out to the pool/patio, and also on the side of the house, and in the master. Not sure if planatation shutters would work there...or if because they are so pricey, maybe it would be best to skip the doors and just do the windows?

I do like to have a room, and the whole house DARK if I want. that is actually very important to me..to be able to make it dark if I choose.

Do all shutters have that "fold out" capability? Or is that an extra cost? I never thought about "opening them" away fromt he window, but i would like to be able to.

Time-That sounds really pretty. I like the idea of the scarf valance, cuz that is not *too* much treatment, ya know?

thanks again, keep up the suggestions/comments!

Ohhhh...river rock floors. I want to see a picture.

I can see how dark plantation shutters would work here.

I have shutters on my doors. It matches the windows and looks great...it gives it a "complete" look.

On most of my windows, the shutters are one piece. In other words when you open them they don't fold back, they just swing open, like a door.

On my larger windows, they are hinged in the middle and have the capability to open and then fold. Not sure about the cost involved in hinged shutters.

For example, in my dining room, I have a series of windows...one center picture window with two side windows. The two side windows are one piece shutters that swing open. The center picture window is two hinged shutters that meet in the center. I can open those and fold each side back. Does that make sense?

A bit off topic, but what I've always loved is shuttered interior doors. I think Boardwalk Inn at Disney has shuttered doors in their public restrooms. I've always wanted them. Very Floridian/Southern looking when they're white, very Bahama looking/Ernest Hemmingway looking when they're dark toned.

 

[mickeysgal]

Ok...another thought. In my house all the rooms facing the street, the master (first floor, side of the house), and my great room located at the back of the house have shutters. My dinette area doesn't. The upstairs bedrooms don't. Perhaps to be consistent, my dinette area should. My point is to be consistent if you decide. All formal, public areas of the house should have them. It lends a seamless look to the windows.

You really don't need any other window treatments. The shutters are pretty to look at just the way they are.

Where do you go to shop for the most cost efficient shutters? Home Depot? Smith & Noble (they are probably expensive)?

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Ohhhh...river rock floors. I want to see a picture.

I can see how dark plantation shutters would work here.

I have shutters on my doors. It matches the windows and looks great...it gives it a "complete" look.

On most of my windows, the shutters are one piece. In other words when you open them they don't fold back, they just swing open, like a door.

On my larger windows, they are hinged in the middle and have the capability to open and then fold. Not sure about the cost involved in hinged shutters.

For example, in my dining room, I have a series of windows...one center picture window with two side windows. The two side windows are one piece shutters that swing open. The center picture window is two hinged shutters that meet in the center. I can open those and fold each side back. Does that make sense?

A bit off topic, but what I've always loved is shuttered interior doors. I think Boardwalk Inn at Disney has shuttered doors in their public restrooms. I've always wanted them. Very Floridian/Southern looking when they're white, very Bahama looking/Ernest Hemmingway looking when they're dark toned.

Ohhh, yes, dark toned shutters. that makes sense.

<----decorating challenged

The river rock floors...well, I like them, but I am not sure if they were installed properly. They are only in the living room/foyer (can barely call it a "foyer"...that sounds too grand...I mean right when you first walk in the door, LOL) but they are not totally flat...they are kind of bumpy and almost seem like they would be better suited outside. My DH wants to remove them, but I think with some big area rugs, furniture, etc, they will work.

You explained the hinged vs one piece. I totally understood what you meant, and never really thought about the two options. Your dining room windows sound divine! I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of that!

I do not know how to post a picture on here. I will try again, I know I did it once!

Oh, yes, the shuttered doors at the BW! Funny, for some reason, i love the bathrooms there, but never really thought "why?" I think I never really paid attention to shutters before, but now I am noticing them everywhere!

Thank you, you have been most helpful. I will let you know what we decide. We are still a few weeks from our (scheduled) closing. I want to redo the kitchen COMPLETELY so I think I will probably be hanging bedsheets from the windows for the first few months or maybe years, that will be all we can affod after a kitchen redo! LOL!

have a great night!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Ok...another thought. In my house all the rooms facing the street, the master (first floor, side of the house), and my great room located at the back of the house have shutters. My dinette area doesn't. The upstairs bedrooms don't. Perhaps to be consistent, my dinette area should. My point is to be consistent if you decide. All formal, public areas of the house should have them. It lends a seamless look to the windows.

You really don't need any other window treatments. The shutters are pretty to look at just the way they are.

Where do you go to shop for the most cost efficient shutters? Home Depot? Smith & Noble (they are probably expensive)?

Yes, makes sense to have them all the same at least in the same room. And I see your point...from the outside looking *in* you will want uniformity.

Oh, my DH is gonna dislike the DISboards even more, now that he knows I am discovering expensive new home improvement ideas! (JK...he doesn't really hate the DIS...saved him tons of money over the years!)

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

darn! why can't I post a pic?

I will try again tomoroow...too tired now!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I did it! I did it! I did it!



sorry so small, but you can kind of get the idea, I think!

Ok, talk to you soon I hope! Thanks!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Me again...good morning!

I just wanted to say I have been googling "tennessee river rock flooring" ..which is what this flooring *supposedly* is. I mean...that's what it says on the real estate listing, so it must be true...right? (one of my pet peeves is when a listing says "wood floors" and it is pergo! I ran across that a LOT!)

So I am not sure what this is or what it would be called. like I said, it seems more like an outdoor application. I would be surprised if it is anything expensive or too desirable, because the people who owned the home before did not do any expensive renovations.

 

[clarabelle]

I have white ones that are in 3 windows at the front of my house.

They are easy to clean and have held up well. They are about 8 years old.
They were expensive then. So I am getting a little bit tired of them (ready for something besides white) but will probably keep them.

One of the windows is really wide so it has 3 folds. When you open it two sections go to one side and one to the other

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi clarabelle!

Can you sand and paint them? Or add a window treatment? that's another thing I am afraid of...spending good $$$ and then tiring of them, especially if they are all over the house.

 

[clarabelle]

I think they could be sanded and painted. I am not sure if I could do it myself though. Right now they have a very smooth -sprayed on look about them that I don't think I could recreate -I would probably have to have them professionally done.
Also I have all this white crown moulding -So I guess I should stick with the white right now?
I am not hating them -just not sure if they are what I would choose if I were buying now. But I feel that way about a lot of my home decor. After about 7 years I am tired of it. Thats why I don't have a tatoo! I would be sick of it in 7 years!!
But they do still look great -they still have a classic look.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I think they could be sanded and painted. I am not sure if I could do it myself though. Right now they have a very smooth -sprayed on look about them that I don't think I could recreate -I would probably have to have them professionally done.
Also I have all this white crown moulding -So I guess I should stick with the white right now?
I am not hating them -just not sure if they are what I would choose if I were buying now. But I feel that way about a lot of my home decor. After about 7 years I am tired of it. Thats why I don't have a tatoo! I would be sick of it in 7 years!!
But they do still look great -they still have a classic look.

LOL! That is exactly why I don't have a tattoo either!