Plantation Shutters Add Beauty To Today's Homes

Shutters add a touch of elegance to any casual home. Durability, function and value are key design features that make them a desirable addition to the home. Wooden plantation shutters are revered to be the original window decoration.
Before blinds, shades and curtains were invented there was just an open space that allowed air to circulate throughout the house.  Rocks were used later as a measure against the elements. The use of shutters goes back to about the fifteenth century to replace rocks in these openings that served to protect the inside from wind, rain and sun.

Later the rocks were replaced by marble slabs. They were installed so they could slide across the window opening to control light and air entering the room. Just imagine what the cost would be today if we still used this technology.

As other materials were experimented with, wooden shutters became the more desirable choice as the idea spread throughout Europe, particularly Italy then Spain and further throughout the Mediterranean. That’s probably why when we think of wood shutters these countries come to mind. In many of the older homes, in those countries, circa 1600 and 1700 dwellings, shutters are integral parts of the design.

Plantation shutters are wooden shutters with broad louvres, or slats mounted in a solid frame. The term “plantation” was added when shutters were introduced in America. As the Spanish populated the Southern part of America it was popular to adorn the mansions on cotton and sugar plantations with shutters. This is where the term “plantation shutters” was coined.

During the height of mansion building throughout this period, shutters were used for practical reasons. Today they are used primarily as decorative accents to the home. They still provide protection from hurricanes and tornadoes in some parts of the country, but most shutters sold today are for aesthetics.

Hunter Douglas Plantation Shutters allow you to bring some of the past back into your home without compromising the modern day convenience of windows. Mansions that originally used shutters had larger windows. This permitted the use of wider louvers and the trademarked elliptical shapes. They were almost always painted white to preserve that Victorian look.
 
Hunter Douglas has tried to maintain that same character in their products. Although they still manufacture shutters from wood products, you also have the choice of using vinyl and faux wood materials. The added protection inherent with faux wood and vinyl is they are waterproof and durable. Not only can they be used outside the home, but inside as well. They can even be extended to places like kitchens and bathrooms since they are water resistant.

Plantation shutter prices are much more affordable today because of the availability of materials other than wood. Many of our contemporary homes have larger rooms and bigger windows. These are primary candidates for the wood plantation shutter. You just don’t need the plantation or the big house.