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Shutters (do’s & don’ts)

SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS

Thinking of sprucing up the exterior of your home with some shutters?

(get ready… here comes a 2 minute rant!!)

Please, please, please read these shutter do’s and don’ts before you start! Hopefully then you can avoid the same mistakes so commonly found with shutters in the Midwest!!

I’ve traveled across the USA, coast-to-coast, East-to-West and North-to-South… Pretty much every other place ‘gets’ how to size and mount exterior shutters.

EXCEPT for the Midwest… I’m convinced it is especially bad in WISCONSIN! (I can pick on Wisconsin, that’s where I’m from!)

Last week I was giving a little ‘client design’ input for someone working on the exterior of their house, I was trying to explain how to measure and mount shutters for it. My friend took note, but then came back a few days later and asked, “but why is it then that all we see around here are shutters mounted the wrong way?”

I don’t know! But once the ‘shutter light’ goes on, and you know how they are supposed to look, the incorrect ones look a bit silly.

Maybe it’s because we’re so far from the ocean, because apparently for some reason the folks in the Midwest forgot what shutters were originally made for and started turning them into more of a ‘window trim’ look than what they were intended for.

Knowing and understanding what shutters were supposed to do, helps to see how they should be mounted. Shutters were created to swing across the window and tightly close, keeping the window glass protected and secure from intruders, storms, cold or sun. For that to happen, when they were swung shut, they’d actually need to fit inside the frame of the window, (not over the top of the trim, but inside it!). That means where they’re mounted when they’re open would have to be over the trim. Check out the detailed pics below to better understand what I mean.

Here is an example of what we typically, and most incorrectly see in the Midwest:

simpledecoratingtips.com shutters do's and don'ts

Before you think I’m pointing fingers at you all doing it wrong, while I’m sitting on my high horse being ‘the shutter expert’… haha… I’m not!… I’ve been there! I actually have, in complete ignorance, hung shutters on a property we renovated a few years back, totally wrong! Now that I know how wrong they are, it’s an eyesore to me, and a bit embarrassing! (I plan to remove them this spring when I repaint)

After being educated with seeing shutters properly installed, as well as reading up on shutters a bit, I finally get it. I’d love to pass this info on to you and have you fix yours too! Let’s re-educate the folks in the Midwest on how it’s supposed to look!

One more quick ‘don’t’…

Here is another mistake… to put flat top shutters with arch top windows:

SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS
Don’t do straight top shutters with arch top windows.

This is actually another property we own. Okay, so this shutter mistake I’m not responsible for, they were like that when we bought it. (bam! See how quickly I blame someone else?) I am glad to say that though they were like this, they are no more! This last year we had it painted and I was thrilled to finally get those inappropriately shaped shutters off! (The brick work and opening is arched, but unfortunately the replacement windows aren’t arched, but that another story!)

OK, enough of the ‘shutter don’ts’. Now let’s see how lovely properly sized and hung shutters can look.

Here are several shutter examples from a recent trip to the oldest town in America, St. Augustine, Florida, (what a charming town! I will write a post about our trip there). I always think it’s the best to go back to the classics to understand the right design.

SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS
Green shutters properly sized and mounted on stone building.
SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS
Grey shutters on pink building have proper size and mounting.
SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS
Green on gold, proper sized and mounting look so attractive.
SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS
When shutters are closed, like these, they fit inside window frame.
SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS
Different hinges depending on window frame style.
SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS
Half closed shutters show how hinges work.
SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS
This style of hinge brings shutter out open flat on wall.
SIMPLEDECORATINGTIPS.COM SHUTTERS DO'S AND DON'TS
Shutter dogs in action.

Shutter dogs are the little pieces of hardware that are mounted on the wall of house and rotate to hold the shutter in an open position, or to release the shutter so it can be closed.

You know how in those old movies when someone hears something banging in the upstairs bedroom on a dark stormy night, though fearful of the ominous noise, they still proceed into the shadowy room only to discover it’s just the shutter? Whew! Probably a fairly common occurrence to have the shutter dog rotate just enough to let the shutter swing freely in the wind. (Unfortunately, after they go to fix the shutter, being filled with relief it wasn’t the dreaded madman, don’t they always turn around to find the crazed intruder already in the room?!)

Another scary story is the cost of shutters! Shutters, as in the real ones that are mounted with hinges, shutter dogs, and actually swing closed can be very pricey. But I have a compromise. If you can get the shutters in the proper size for your window, you can ‘fake’ the rest!

Here are several choices of shutter hinges and shutter dogs readily available!  Then if you mount the shutters, (properly placed next to the window please!) using hidden mounting strips from the back like these, (instead of screwing through the face of the shutter and popping on those ‘caps’ over the screw heads), you will create a shutter that looks like it is hung on hinges. It will be very believable and a truly lovely accent to the exterior of your home. I plan to do just that this summer and I will post about it when I do, to show you how to ‘fake’ properly hung shutters!

So maybe they won’t be as cheap as the off the shelf standard 12″ wide shutters that mount embarrassingly flat on the side of the window like a wide hunk of extra window trim, but they also don’t have to be the price of solid redwood shutters mounted with real hand wrought iron hinges either. There is a compromise, and it can look pretty darn good!

Did you know I now offer e-decorating? I can help you with your decorating needs via email, without having to step foot in your home. If you’re interested in more information, visit my e-decorating site: Frame and Frills. I’d love to help you with your project!

Here are more of my carpentry tips and ideas:

Blue-and-White-Backsplash-Tile
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Creating a Built-In Faux Fireplace
wall mounted potrack
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shutters do's and don'ts
DIY Faux Exposed Brick Chimney
DIY Frosted Glass  Privacy Window
DIY Cedar Closet Lining
How to Change a Door Lock
tips to refresh basement steps
Old Time Carpenter Taught me this Trick
Wallies
How to Make a Chandelier Longer
DIY Wide Plank Laminate Flooring
How to add a fireplace to any room
Composite Decking
Tips on Creating a Kitchen Island Feature
Changing Popcorn Ceiling to Knockdown
Closet-Transformation
how to mount a shelf when there's no stud
Easiest DIY Beadboard ever
Nautical Cottage Bathroom
DIY wall mounted potrack
How to install a farmhouse sink

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please feel free to follow and share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook, Pinterest, Flipboard, Bloglovin, YouTube and Instagram! I appreciate you reading along.

This can be also be found at these other sites: Refresh Restyle, Between Naps on the Porch, A Stroll Thru Life, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, My Repurposed Life, My Thrift Store Addiction, A Delightsome Life

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Welcome to Simple Decorating Tips! I’m Liz, the author, and I’m so glad you’re here!

My goal is to encourage you with DIY tips, techniques and tutorials so you feel empowered to join in the fun! Along with this DIY blog, I have a DIY shop, Frame and Frills!
Frame and Frills is in Wisconsin. I stock amazing DIY products! Fusion Mineral Paints, ReDesign Transfers, Decoupage, Waxes, loads of DIY Goodies, re-done Furniture and more! Even if you're not close to where the shop is in Wisconsin, good news... I ship nationwide, (USA) daily! Check out the link here and let's get your DIY on!
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Welcome to Simple Decorating Tips! I'm Liz, the author, and I'm so glad you're here! My goal is to encourage you with DIY tips, techniques and tutorials so you feel empowered to join in the fun! Along with this DIY blog, I have a DIY shop, Frame and Frills!
Frame and Frills is in Wisconsin. I stock amazing DIY products! Fusion Mineral Paints, ReDesign Transfers, Decoupage, Waxes, loads of DIY Goodies, re-done Furniture and more! Even if you're not close to where the shop is in Wisconsin, good news... I ship nationwide, (USA) daily! Check out the link here and let's get your DIY on!


Disclosure Policy: According to FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that some of the content of this blog may be a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

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Sharing is great! Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz and YouTube the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by. But please remember that all photos, images, text and content are owned by SimpleDecoratingTips.com. So anything you share, please be sure it always links back to my original post it came from. Please do not remove watermarks, crop or edit anything without written permission from me first.

Disclosure Policy: According to the FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials and shopping links. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Disclosure Policy According to Federal Trade Commission guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. My truthful opinion will be what I state, no matter if I'm getting paid or not. Accuracy and truth are the priority for me on this blog's information, no matter if it's about a product or anything else. Not every product or service or store etc. may be mentioned in each and every post as an affiliate. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post.

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