Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Why Choose Plantation Shutters Instead of Curtains?

When it comes to selecting window coverings, one of the first choices you will make is whether to buy curtains - one of the most popular options - or to go for something different, such as plantation shutters.

Curtains have been in use for centuries but there are a number of benefits plantation shutters bring over and above curtains. Plantation shutters, for instance, are easier to keep clean and their sleek design and flexibility means more and more people are choosing this style of window covering.

The Bespoke Shutter Company creates beautiful made-to-measure plantation shutters and solid shutters in the London area and these add an elegant touch to both period properties and modern style homes

Here we shall look at the benefits of choosing plantation shutters rather than curtains for your home.

Plantation Shutters - to view some of our plantation shutters click here.

Timeless

Although there are a wide choice of curtains on the market including floral curtains, striped curtains and plain curtains, these designs can date and you may have to replace them if you want to update your room.

Plantation shutters and solid shutters are a style classic and, if you opt for a neutral colour such as white or go for shutters that reveal the beauty of the solid timber, they are a timeless choice for the home.

Aesthetics

Plantation shutters look stylish and graceful in a period property and give a modern, fresh look to a contemporary home. They look great from all angles too, both inside and outside the house. With curtains the best view comes from one direction only - the inside - as the lining tends to be shown on the outside.

Flexibility

Curtains can only be used in three ways: closed for privacy, or open or part open to let the light in.

This is where plantation shutters come into their own as they are far more flexible than other types of window covering. You can keep the slats (or veins) part open to maintain privacy, while still allowing the light to stream in. 

Tier on tier plantation shutters give you even greater flexibility; it means you can keep the top section open to allow a full steam of light into your home and open the window to let the air in while keeping the bottom section closed.

You can also have shutters for windows that are high up or have an unusual shape, such as arched windows.

Warmth

Both curtains and plantation shutters keep the heat in and the cold out which is ideal for the winter months and helps keep heating costs down.

However, with plantation shutters you can close them during the day to keep drafts at bay while adjusting the slats to let the light in, which helps to warm up your interior in the daytime.

Cleanliness

Curtains accumulate dust and grime, trap smells, and can get mouldy over time as they attract condensation. They need to be vacuumed once a week (or given a good shake if you have a delicate fabric) and washed yearly.

Washing your curtains, especially if they are dry clean only, is not only a hassle but it also means you won’t have any window coverings in the intermittent period.

On the other hand, plantation shutters are easy to keep clean. All you have to do is to wipe them free from dirt with a duster or soft cloth.

Quieter

Both curtains and shutters help to block out external noise. Shutters are of a solid construction and are good at keeping the noise levels down from outside. Heavy curtains work in a similar way.

Security

If you have curtains, it is likely you will keep them closed when you are away for long period and this could alert burglars if you are going on holiday.

With plantation shutters often the slats remain partially closed all the time (especially on the ground floor of a busy street) so it is hard to work out whether someone is in the house or not.

Privacy

Curtains need to be completely closed for privacy whereas the slats can be altered with plantation shutters so you have the benefit of being able to see out while someone can’t see in. This gives you the best of both worlds.

Value

Plantation shutters are more universal and therefore more appealing if you want to sell your home. They are even said to add value to your property.

On the other hand, curtains are more individual: particularly if you have chosen a more unusual pattern or colour as this is designed to suit a distinct taste. Unlike shutters, they are unlikely to clinch a deal and sway a potential house buyer.

Plantation Shutters - to view some of our plantation shutters click here.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Plantation Shutters for Contemporary and Traditional Homes

Plantation shutters are elegant and extremely versatile and suit both contemporary and traditional homes. The Bespoke Shutter Company has several years experience in the supply and installation of beautiful plantation shutters for homes in London and the Home Counties.

One of the many great benefits of plantation shutters is they work in almost any home - from open plan city apartments to more traditional period properties. They not only enhance your interior, but they also offer excellent flexibility, as you can use them to block out the sunlight or let it stream through into the room, making the whole space appear bright  and airy.

The Bespoke Shutter Company creates high quality made-to-measure plantation shutters and solid shutters in fine materials including cedar wood and basswood. We offer a variety of colours or stains to suit your home and we can also match your existing paint shade to get the right colour for you.

Whether you have a modern or period property, plantation shutters are a fantastic addition to your interior. This article will look at just some of the benefits they can bring to traditional or contemporary properties.

Plantation Shutters - to view some of our plantation shutters click here.

Plantation Shutters for a Contemporary Home

If you have a modern home, plantation shutters create privacy and also allow sunlight to filter the room giving it a light, fresh and contemporary feel. Choose from full length plantation shutters, cafe style (which conceal the lower half of the window) or tier on tier plantation shutters, which offer the most flexibility.

Tier-on-tier shutters means you can leave the top section open (and open the window) while the bottom section remains closed to prevent anyone seeing in  - something that you can’t do with blinds and curtains.

There are various options on how to install your shutters and this is up to you. You can choose plantation shutters that fold out against the inside wall, or shutters which fold inside the window frame (a good alternative for very deep window frames).

The later may leave you with a small ledge on the inside of the shutters to rest a cup of tea, a book or remote control, and a small ledge between the shutters and the window. In this case you can place a thin contemporary vase or modern sculpture to create a focal point from the outside.

Plantation shutters are minimalist with a simple, sleek design that makes them such a great choice for a contemporary home.

White shutters are a popular option for a modern home, or you can also choose other colours or stains to suit your interior.  We also supply and install waterproof made-to-measure plantation shutters for the bathroom.

Plantation Shutters for a Traditional Home
Although plantation shutters are seen as originating from America and the West Indies, this type of shutter has been used in British homes for generations to keep the heat in and for security.

Their sophisticated looks and design means they have remained popular in both country style homes and period properties in London or elsewhere in the UK. In addition to privacy, they also have the added benefit of being able to block out the noise, which is perfect for city homes.

Plantation shutters look stunning in period properties with large windows and will reduce draughts. They can also help ventilate your home, as they allow you to open your window to let the fresh air in while still maintaining much needed privacy.

Bespoke Shutters also produce plantation shutters for odd shaped windows, such as half round windows, arched windows, circular windows or hexagonal windows, so you will be able to choose the right shutters whatever your property.

We can match many paint colours to suit your period home including shutters for interiors decorated in Farrow and Ball colours.

Plantation Shutters: About Bespoke Shutters

The Bespoke Shutter Company is proud of the quality of our plantation shutters which are designed to stand the test of time. We cover the following areas: Chiswick, Chelsea, Barnet, St John’s Wood, Belsize Park, Hammersmith, Kensington, Mayfair, Notting Hill, Putney, Crouch End, Clapham, Hampstead and Finchley.

Plantation Shutters - to view some of our plantation shutters click here.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Plantation Shutters and Solid Shutters – How to Vary the Light Levels to Create Different Looks in the Home

If you have just moved house or are redecorating your home, plantation shutters and solid shutters will give your home a brand new look. It may be that your house faces onto the street and you want extra privacy but are tired of old fashioned net curtains and want a contemporary look to your interior. Perhaps you have a period property and, rather than go for blinds or curtains, you want window fittings with greater flexibility - and you can get this with plantation shutters or solid shutters.

Plantation Shutters - click here for more information on our range of plantation shutters.

Creating a New Look with Plantation Shutters and Solid Shutters

If you are choosing plantation shutters or solid shutters for your home, the first thing you may want to think about is whether to go for cafe style, tier on tier, or full plantation shutters. Here we shall explain what the differences are and the looks that you can achieve with each.

Cafe Style Shutters


Cafe style plantation shutters and solid shutters give a light and airy look to your interior. They do not cover the whole window, just the lower half. This allows natural light to stream in through the top part of the window while still maintaining privacy.

With cafe style shutters, you decide how far up the window your shutters will go.  Most people, however, will choose to have cafe style shutters up to the natural break of the window and this could either be half way up or three quarters of the way up depending on your style of window.

You could either choose solid shutters for the bottom part of the window, or go for plantation shutters. Plantation shutters gives you greater flexibility as it means you can move the slats to adjust the light levels whereas solid shutters will completely block out the light from the lower half of the window.

Solid shutters are a popular option for period homes as they create a more traditional look to your interior. Another traditional look is to have cafe style shutters and curtains, which gives homes a cosy feel.

Whether you choose cafe style plantation shutters or solid shutters, you can keep the shutters closed for privacy while at the same time benefiting from letting fresh air stream in through an open top window. This is something you can’t do with blinds or curtains!

Tier on Tier Shutters

Tier on tier shutters gives you the best of both worlds. It a great option for city homes as it prevents prying eyes and lets you make the most of the natural light.  Tier on tier shutters are made up of two sections, one on top of the other, and these are placed on either side of the window (so it makes up four sections overall). Each section opens independently to the other.

If you have plantation shutters, you could open the top section fully during the daytime and partially open the slats on the bottom section, but shut both sections at night for added security. Or it may be that you prefer to keep both sections closed, but want to let the light filter in through partially opened slats at the top. If you are choosing shutters for your home, tier on tier is the most flexible type of window covering.

Again, tier on tier shutters allow you to open the top window, while still maintaining privacy indoors.

Full Height Shutters

Full height shutters provide less flexibility than tier on tier shutters, but gives an elegant look to your interior.

If you are choosing full height plantation shutters, it is possible to have a mid rail. This means that you can adjust the bottom section independently to the top (and vice versa) so it gives you greater scope to vary the light levels.

If you have full height solid shutters, this will give you an almost complete black out when you close the shutters. Full height shutters are a popular option for those who have a period property - such as a Victorian home - and want to restore the interior to its former glory using original style features.

Coloured Shutters

The colours you choose for solid shutters and plantation shutters really comes down to personal taste.

It may be that you want wooden shutters to give your home a welcoming appearance and a natural warmth. Perhaps you prefer sleek white for a minimalist style home and want a contemporary look to your interior?

You can even go bold and daring and choose bright red window fittings or even black shutters for a monochrome interior. Only your imagination is the limit! Or you can choose shutters to blend perfectly with your existing decor.

When it comes to choosing your shutter colour, a top tip is to think about whether you will still appreciate your choice a few years down the line. The Bespoke shutter Company produces a full range of colour options and we are able to match most paint colours, including many Farrow and Ball colours.

Solid Shutters - click here for more information on our range of solid shutters.