Where Did Plantation Shutters Originate?

They first appeared in windows of homes in ancient Greece. Greece is a dusty, hot country for most of the year and people were always looking for ways to control ventilation and protect their homes from the direct heat of the sun. The first shutters were apparently made with fixed marble louvers and attached to the outside of the house. Naturally, making them out of marble made them very heavy and unwieldy, so before too long the idea came up to switch marble for wood. Wood was easier to work with, less heavy and easier to manipulate.

Before long, fixed wooden louvers were replaced with movable ones, which allowed greater control over how much light entered the room, and allowed for better control of air flow. Another plus with having them movable was that they could also be closed tightly shut when rains or winds were strong, protecting the homes during storms, and opened again afterwards to allow fresh air and light into the room.

Shutters were in common use during medieval times all over Europe. At that time they were built solid, however, and were not louvered. Their prime use was to protect house owners from thieves and robbers as covered windows made it difficult for thieves or the poor to gain entrance into the house. Glass wasn't commonly used in windows till Tudor or Elizabethan times, and even then it was very expensive and used only by the rich. The rest of the population were content with wooden shutters, and as time went by gradually these went from being practical only, to becoming decorative as well. Wooden slats improved air circulation inside homes, and brightened the appearance as well.

With the colonization of America by the Spanish it became common to see Spanish or European styled housing being built. Rich landowners, such as plantation owners, in the South especially, seemed to favour the Spanish style architecture which included putting wood shutters on windows, thus giving rise to the popular name for this type of window covering.

Today shutters are made from a variety of material. Wooden plantation shutters are still some of the more popular ones on the market, often made from either hard wood or basswood. They are also available in vinyl, plastic or faux-wood. Prices vary a lot, depending on the material they are made from with the hard-wood ones being the most expensive of all. Basswood is also a very popular choice especially as the stained wood is very pretty. They are now found in windows all around the world and are no longer restricted to Europe or plantation owners in the South.

Incorporating Wood in Shutter Design

Wood adds a natural element to your home, but the very thing that makes nature beautiful also makes it unpredictable. Interior wood shutters are one way to add elegance and warmth, but you must work hard to match your wood blinds to your home. Do not worry, this work is the most fun part of interior design. Taking an idea and using the bounty of the earth to make you home uniquely yours is the excitement of interior design - the excitement of wood.

Interior wood shutters are a fixed wood blind that allows you to mix and match window treatments while allowing for both natural light and privacy. In an era of cheap plastic blinds, the wood shutter is a truly classy design. Wood shutters are more sturdy than wood blinds. They are also easier to clean and decorate, as the shutter basically becomes part of your home.

Most people do not use curtains or any other window treatments with their shutters, but with a little foresight you can find the perfect matching curtains. Paired wood shutters and curtains will certainly raise the value of your home. Wood blinds do not need curtains. On their own, these shutters take a time honored design element to the home. They come in a variety of hardwoods, painted, as well as faux wood. Price should not be a major concern because they come in a variety of finishes and designs. Natural woods like pine and cedar can be finished in almost any stain.

The design of your interior panel is also as varied as a venetian wood blind. Wood shutters com in slats, solid panels, and whatever your custom blind manufacturer can come up with. The mounting and instillation of shutters is not all that involved, so the average Do-it-yourself handyman should have no trouble. Pick whether you want the wood shutter mounted inside or outside the window frame.

When picking a wood blind, first determine your budget and ideal design. Faux wood is cheaper but less stylish and durable. Think about how your shutters will mix with both your furniture and overall house design. Then contact a custom blinds manufacturer and get working!