Shutters are a pet peeve of mine...
We all see them. Beautiful homes, new and old, in all price ranges, with a pair of shutters slapped up on the brick to the right and left of each window. They serve no functional purpose and if they could shut....they wouldn't even cover the window!
Don't get me wrong, shutters will add a pop of color/character to a home, but they can also be a determent to a home. Shutters that are too small or rectangle shutters on arched windows are just a couple of items that BUG me!
What is a SHUTTER?
SHUT-TER -
1: one that shuts
2: a usually movable cover or screen for a window or door
Yes - 1 - SHUTS 2 - MOVEABLE
Here is a little History on Shutters:
Exterior wood Shutters were installed not just because they added character, BUT, they provided a necessary function in day to day living. They provided PRIVACY, PROTECTITON and a needed breeze in the afternoons.
Typically you would have the solid shutters on the downstairs windows and a louvered shutter or Blind (as they were referred to) on the second floor windows. This way they would adjust the blind to let in the breeze or light when needed.
So how did we get so far away from the original shutter?
Today everyday homes get treated with a light-weight, vinyl/plastic, non-functional 'Shutter' that wouldn't cover the window IF they could actuallly close....... I didn't have to go very far to get you some examples:
Take a look at the extra large windows on the right...... Not all windows need to have SHUTTERS.... Just say NO!
Another home .... double window on left and triple window on right.....both with the same size shutters!
Now I'm not even getting into the fact that you really should install the shutter so the 'hinge' side is sitting on the window trim to create an 'offset'. This 'offset' will give the illusion that it is a working shutter and also give a shadow which gives you even more character!
How to do shutters the RIGHT WAY???
Here is an exampe of real working shutters, installed correctly, sized accordingly with working hinges:
Here is an example of shutters installed the RIGHT WAY!!! Complete with hinges and tie-backs!
No, shutters do not all have to be working shutters, but, they should LOOK like they are working shutters!
Hopefully, this will give you some useful information so you can bring back the REAL SHUTTER!!
Have any real estate questions, call Paige Walker the Central Louisiana Expert at 318-308-2121 or 318-640-2121.
Comments(7)