Guest post: Interior designer Claire Totman tells us why she favours shutters for her renovation projects Posted on 15 Aug 08:20 , 0 comments

Today, we are living through the explosion of plantation shutters and every other house you drive past is likely to have them. They are becoming increasingly popular and taking over our most common forms of window treatments; curtains and blinds.

image of an interior design development detail showing a grey colour palette for walls, sofa and white door and interior shutters

 

I am, of course, a huge fan and have had them installed in to most of my projects.

But why? Because they aren’t cheap. So here my top five reasons as to why I will always choose shutters.

 detail of the outside of a red rick house showing a sashed window with interior design shutters and flowers on the outside

  1. They look fabulous from the outside of your home, creating that all important kerb appeal giving off that luxury look. 
  1. They are an investment. Curtains and blinds will date and become worn over time whereas shutters are timeless. They will never go out of fashion and the white wood will go with any colour palette as a room is re-decorated over time. So in the long run, they are the cheaper option. There are shutters for all budgets, from MDF to basswood and premium hardwood. Shutters are not a fad, they’ve been around since Greek times!

bedroom with white shutters on the window

  1. The simplicity of shutters will transform your room making it feel more bright and airy. The white of the wood is simple and elegant and gives that clean and crisp look. They give off such a wow factor.
  1. Shutters give you privacy that curtains and blinds simply cannot do. They offer such versatility. Go for ‘full height’ with a mid-rail so you can keep the bottom section shut for privacy but the top open for light or the ‘tier on tier’ option where the top section opens independently from the bottom. This means you can fold the shutters back to be completely opened if you do not wish to have them over your windows at all times. Shutters also offer great privacy by tilting the louvers so wandering eyes cannot see in but the natural light can still pour in.
  1. Shutters suit both traditional and contemporary styles. Smaller louvers and a tilt rod suit a more traditional style whereas larger louvers and a hidden tilt rod give off a more modern and contemporary look.

Here are some more images of my home and #millwatercobham project supplied and fitted by The Shutter Shop.

Claire Totman Designs specialises in high-end residential property development, project management and interior fit out design across Surrey and South London. You can follow her work on Instagram and find more design inspiration in her blog. 

Ready to discover how shutters can complete your design project? Request a free on site survey for one of our experts to discuss available options with you.