by Mike Harly
Imagine a plain window. Now, imagine that same window framed by decorative shutters. The wide array of shutter styles allows any window to take on a whole new appearance that lends charm and appeal to the most ordinary windows. Shutters began as wooden panels with a single purpose: To keep the elements out. Exterior decorative shutters are as popular today as they were when they were in their original form. Now, however, shutters are installed indoors and out. In addition to the way they dress a window with style, they still remain a good choice for energy conservation.
The shutters were drawn and the undertaker wiped his feet—
He was aware that this sort of thing had occurred before.
—T. S. (Thomas Stearns)
Today, shutters are made from various materials like wood, metal and poly-resins. Metal and poly-resin shutters work well for exterior windows. Consider an exterior shutter system that allows them to be opened and closed from inside the home. This makes for a wonderful protection from the elements. In addition, installing a shutter system helps retard fading of furniture and draperies. For the interior, decorative shutters help save on energy costs by keeping the sun out in summer and preventing drafts in winter.
Decorative shutters are available in a wide variety of designs. The most popular are louvered. These can have immobile louver panels or are available with panels that slide to allow for management of light in a room. Other styles are flat panels with carvings of flowers or other designs in them. While still others have sculpted or raised panels within their frames. Decorative shutters are not always sold in flat panels. Some are cut in strips and fused in an open lattice style. For more on decorating and fuctional exterior shutters, check out Better Exterior Shutters.
She does all right. She does all right. She just put up the shutters and stopped living.
—David Storey (b. 1933)