8 Tips For Moving To a New Home

Tips For Moving To a New Home
Tips For Moving To a New Home
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Moving to a new home is rarely anyone’s idea of a good time. While a new home and a new city is certainly exciting, the act of packing up and moving is often filled with stress. If you’re planning on relocating to one of our service locations in or around the DMV area, rest assured that you’ll enjoy the wide variety of homes and the seemingly endless opportunities for work, school, and leisure. Here are 8 tips to help make your actual  moving day go as smoothly as your newest adventure:

Research Your New Hometown

If you’re just moving a town over, you may not need to prepare yourself too much for your new city, but if you’re coming from several states away, then you’ll want to take some time to get to know your new town before the move. Use the web or go old school and request a relocation guide. Learn about important local services for electricity and water, for instance, as well as the local hospitals, grocery stores, and schools for children. With a fresh, new house, you may be on the market for new art, furniture, and upgrades to match. Get an idea of which shops to visit or services to use ahead of time by browsing online. 

Shenandoah Shutters is locally owned and operated out of Richmond, Virginia. We serve D.C, Maryland, and Virginia cities. We’ll outfit your home with authentically wooden, custom made plantation shutters that will let you control the sunlight entering your home, as well as add beauty, privacy, and value to your new home. 

Start a Checklist

Having a checklist of things to accomplish before, during, and even after moving day is one way to cut down on mental stress and be sure that everything is in order for the big move. Make a list of anyone who you need to call or contact before the move. Go from room to room and make notes of anything that might need to be remembered, like defrosting the refrigerator, for example. Don’t forget to include things like giving your home a good scrub down and any necessary conversations to have with the movers regarding fragile items or your moving paperwork. 

Organize Your Boxes

Make your unpacking job a whole lot easier by using separate boxes for each room. For example, pack all of your living room belongings together, all of your kitchen items together, and so on. Label each box. Take it even further by separating your fragile belongings from your more durable ones. This way, you can let the movers know which boxes need extra attention when transporting. You’ll definitely want to invest in plenty of quality markers and boxing tape. You’ll likely also want to pack the things that you’ll need first upon arrival in your new house in their own separate box, as well. It sounds like a lot of separation, but you’ll thank yourself come move in day. 

Take Inventory

Your moving company should give you an inventory sheet, but if they don’t, be sure to ask for one. If you aren’t tired of labeling yet, take a moment to number each of your boxes. When you arrive at your new house, it’ll be much easier to make sure that you have all of your items. If there’s a problem, you can quickly communicate this to the movers and consult your inventory sheet.

Ask Yourself If It’s Time to Downsize or Update

Going through the kids’ closets and realize they can’t actually wear half of the clothes? Come across old utensils in the kitchen that you’ve never used? Instead of seeing packing as a chore, use it as an opportunity to think about what you really want and need in your home. You might even find that some of your heftier items, like couches and sofas, don’t fit into the style that you imagine for your new home. In that case, would it be better to donate or sell them and buy fresh furniture in your new hometown?

Remember Your Mail

It seems like nearly everything is done online these days, but you likely still receive packages and mail from stores, subscriptions, and credit cards. Make a list of the services that will need you to change your address, so that you don’t lose out on that monthly package from Amazon Prime, for instance. You might want to stop by the post office to fill out a change of address form or set up a P.O Box. It can also be fun to send out classic moving announcement cards to family and friends. 

Unpack One Room at a Time

When you get to your new house, unpack each room at a time. This will keep you from rushing all around in search of that one specific box. Have children or pets? Their boxes may be the first ones that you want to open, so that they’ll be entertained while you work on the bedrooms or the bath.

Make It Fun 

Don’t feel like you have to unpack everything immediately after a long day (or couple of days) of moving. Settle in and enjoy your new home. For example, instead of ordering pizza and staying inside to unpack on your first night, consider going out to eat at one of the restaurants in your new hometown. You’ll come back refreshed and you’ll have had a chance to explore your new surroundings. 

Ready to Work on the Windows?

Plantation shutters are extremely popular in the DMV area for the timeless grace, style, and functionality that they provide. If you’ve just purchased a new home, or if you just feel like it’s time for a change with your existing window treatment, contact Shenandoah Shutters today. We can construct a variety of types of plantation shutters to suit your needs. Live in or close to Richmond? Stop into our woodshop and showroom for a tour of our products. We’ll have you feeling like a local in no time!

12 Ways to Make a Small Space Look and Feel Bigger

12 Ways to Make a Small Space Look and Feel Bigger
12 Ways to Make a Small Space Look and Feel Bigger
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If you’re looking to make a room or even a smaller home feel more spacious, there are many tricks and ideas that you can try. From simply lightening up the space to decluttering the environment, you can feel less crowded without spending large amounts of time and money. Here are 12 ways to give small spaces the illusion of something more:

Keep the Room Light and Airy

Choose light-colored furniture, rugs, and fabrics to help give the space an airy feel. If possible, also opt for light, wood flooring instead of carpet, especially dark carpet. In the bathroom, go with a sheer or clear shower curtain. Darker colors are definitely still winners when it comes to making a space feel more intimate, but cooler colors (like blues and greens) or a neutral tone like grey, white, or beige opens up a small room. 

Use Built-In Storage Pieces

Using furniture pieces that double as storage units helps with organization. A less cluttered room with more versatile pieces gives the space a minimalist feel that makes it appear larger. Think of a light ottoman or a glass coffee table with storage underneath.

Invest in Plantation Shutters for Natural Light

Soft, natural light contributes to the airy feel of your space. Rooms with a lot of natural light appear larger and more inviting. Plantation shutters allow you to filter sunlight to create the perfect ambiance for your living space. Open the slats to reveal as much sunlight as you’d like during the day, completely transforming the feel of the space, but easily close the slats for night relaxation. Plus, all-wooden plantation shutters lend a strong aesthetic value to any room. Like giant art pieces that draw the eye’s attention, plantation shutters make a dramatic statement, filling spaces with natural beauty and sunlight.

Declutter Your Shelves

Take care when displaying small decorations, like knick knacks and tchotchkes. Too many small items quickly clutter shelves, making spaces feel small and crowded. To really open up a room, try to keep just a few items on display at a time. 

Paint the Walls Cool and Neutral Colors

If your walls are painted dark or warm colors (like red), your room will likely still feel small even with lighter furniture pieces. Consider painting your room a light color, particularly a color that matches your furniture. You might also consider painting the baseboards and trim a shade lighter than the walls, further using the paint to open up the space and make it feel bigger.

Think Big When It Comes to Art and Seating Arrangements

You might think that large art pieces will overpower a small room, but a few large wall hangings will actually make the room feel bigger. By that same token, a single large couch or seating surface will also make a room feel more spacious than if you have many small seating options in the room. 

Make Use of Your Ceilings

We don’t think a lot about our ceilings, but taking the time to paint a pop of color onto your ceiling or add decals is another way to draw the eye to the top of the room, making the space seem bigger. You can also choose shelving that goes from your ceiling to the floor for another way to open up your space.

Color Coordinate 

Books, shoes, vases, or other similar things on display in the room can be arranged by color to really make the room feel organized and tied together. A floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, for instance, with the novels arranged by color will give the illusion of a much more spacious room.

Keep Furniture Low to the Ground and Away from the Walls

Try to choose couches and tables that are low to the ground to create the feeling of a larger space. If possible, resist the temptation to push your furniture against the walls. Instead, play around with ways to bring your furniture away from walls, like placing a small table behind the couch, or simply having that free space. Seeing the separation between the wall and the couch tricks the eye into thinking that there is more space in the room.

Use Glass and Mirrors

Go even further when it comes to selecting light furniture by choosing plexiglass chairs or glass tables. The more of the room that you can see through your furniture, the bigger that it will appear. Mirrors, too, can be strategically hung alongside your wall art to reflect the sunlight coming in from your plantation shutters. They can also be hung in a way that allows them to reflect the room itself.    

Use Lamps Instead of Typical Lighting

Most spaces have overhead lighting choices, but a few lamps in a small space is what will make the room seem bigger. Combine the lamp lighting with the soft sunlight from your shutters to really give the space a roomy, comfortable feel. Like your furniture, choosing lamps in whites, blues, or greens will contribute to further opening up the space.

Make Some Room

Like moving your furniture away from the wall, creating as much space as possible within a room will help it to feel less small. Try to find seating surfaces that have the legs exposed to make the floor visible. If you need more than one seating surface or multiple tables, seek out pieces that fold up and away rather than placing many small tables and sofas all throughout the room. 

When it comes to opening up your space, you don’t have to sacrifice the colors, furniture, or displayed collections that you love. Instead, think of ways to use these tips to open up your space while still incorporating your own design ideas. 

Your windows have a major impact on the way that your room looks and feels. You fill your living space with the finest furniture and art selections. Remember to do the same with your window treatments. Heavy draperies, while pretty, weigh down a room and don’t filter sunlight. Custom made, authentic wood plantation shutters from Shenandoah Shutters are elegant and timeless. Our shutters are handcrafted to blend in with your high quality furniture and let you control the light. 
Contact us today to add natural sunlight to your space and add value to your home with our stunning plantation shutters.

Keep Your Home Flawless With These Summer Cleaning Tips

Keep Your Home Flawless With These Summer Cleaning Tips
Keep Your Home Flawless With These Summer Cleaning Tips
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You’ve heard of spring cleaning, but the summer season is also a great time to get your house ready for the upcoming fall and back-to-school season. From the hustle and bustle of kids and grandkids being home from school to all of that sand from your recent beach trip, summertime brings unique cleaning needs. Here are some tips to keep your home spotless and ready for whatever the next couple of months may bring:

Control Pests with Essential Oils

The heat of summer brings in the spiders and other insects. While you can purchase products specifically designed to deter these creatures, many people have had luck with just  a spray bottle of water and peppermint essential oil. Spray the combination in the corners of rooms around your house or other places where pesky critters tend to gather. The smell will leave your house smelling fresh and like it’s Christmas in July, too. 

You can also add vinegar or soap to your mint concoction. Not a fan of essential oils? Try a mint plant. Citronella plants, too, are considered helpful at deterring specific insects, such as mosquitos, but you’ll want to keep them away from your pets. 

Clean Up Your Patio or Deck

Your backyard spaces are well loved in the summer. Keep them clean with a patio and deck cleaner or make your own by mixing baking soda with water. Alternately, you can make a cleaning solution that is half vinegar and half water. Vinegar and baking soda are both able to naturally deep clean almost anything. It’s an excellent item to have around the house for a variety of cleaning projects. 

When it comes to cleaning outdoor surfaces like patios, it’s usually recommended to sweep the patio and then use a water hose to rinse the area before applying your cleaner. You’ll also want to rinse the patio again immediately after you scrub it all down. If you’re looking at an especially intense job, you might prefer using a pressure water instead of going the DIY route. 

Most patio furniture can be cleaned with simply warm water, dish soap, baking soda, or vinegar. In fact, go ahead and pour some baking soda into the bottom of your patio trash cans. They’ll keep the cans smelling clean even after your summer parties. 

Spend Some Time in the Garden

You’re probably keeping your lawn and garden maintained throughout the summer, but don’t forget to work on getting the grime and even rust off of those gardening tools. Gardening supplies, like shears, can be soaked in a solution of water and vinegar. A water hose can be helpful when it comes to clearing away old grass from your lawnmower.  Vinegar and water solutions can clean lawn chairs and other outside equipment.

Give Your Grill a Deep Cleaning

Like your gardening tools, your utensils can be soaked in a solution that incorporates baking soda or vinegar with a touch of soap and water. When it comes to your grill, however, you’ll need to be a bit more involved. Scrape the gunk off of your grill grates (best practice is to do this after warming the grill) and then let them soak like you did your tools. You’ll have to scrub and rinse your grates, too, of course. 

Switch Out Your Air Filters

Regularly changing out your air filters helps cut down on allergens and germs. Our service areas have experienced quite the heat wave this summer season. With your air conditioner taking that much of a beating, it’s especially important to keep a close eye on your filters. 

Dust Your Plantation Shutters

You’ve spent the summer filtering in beautiful sunlight, creating just the right seasonal ambiance for gatherings with family and friends. Plantation shutters are low-maintenance, so it’s easy to find yourself forgetting to give them a good dusting every now and then. You can clean your plantation shutters in three easy steps. With faux wood plantation shutters and all-wood plantation shutters, you want to be sure to avoid the classic soap and water combinations that you used while cleaning the rest of your home. This is because water can actually warp the plantation shutters. Vinyl shutters, on the other hand, can usually handle cleaning solutions. 

Don’t have plantation shutters? Summertime is an ideal time to install custom made, real wood plantation shutters. Home improvements and renovations are extremely common in the warm summer months. Why all-wood instead of faux wood or something like composite? Wooden plantation shutters are the only plantation shutters that add value to your home. They’re naturally beautiful and as easy to clean as any other material. You just dust and polish until you’re happy with the end result. 

Use Your Decorations to Your Advantage

A new seasonal welcome mat will keep guests from tracking dirt into your home. Table cloths can be switched out and tossed in the washer without sacrificing your good tables. Decorative coasters protect your fine furniture from the water rings that summer party guests tend to leave behind. If you’re looking to refresh your space, there are plenty of summer decorating ideas worth trying this season.

Remember Your Pool Accessories

Your pool receives all of the attention during the summer months, but it’s easy to forget to clean the floats and toys drifting across the water. This is where that baking soda or vinegar comes in handy again. Combine it with warm water to thoroughly clean your favorite pool toys. Don’t forget to scrub down any pool storage units, as well. 

Looking to Brighten Your Home with Wooden Plantation Shutters?

If plantation shutters are on your list of things to do this summer, contact Shenandoah Shutters today for a free in-home design estimate and consultation. For years, plantation shutters were used as a form of temperature control throughout the seasons. Today, they still help control the temperature, as well as filter in and out gorgeous natural sunlight and offer privacy for home owners. Our plantation shutters are crafted locally in Richmond by skilled employees with decades of experience. Let Shenandoah Shutters enhance your home this summer season.

10 Game Room Ideas for Summer Entertaining

Game Room Ideas for Summer Entertaining
Game Room Ideas for Summer Entertaining
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Many of us have a basement or other spare room that is just waiting to be turned into something to wow guests and provide a welcome break from the stress of the work week. Summer is prime time for entertaining guests and hosting parties, so there’s no time like the present to think about transforming that extra space into an exciting game room for friends and family. 

Want to have the game room of your dreams, but not sure how to make it happen? Here are 10 ideas to jumpstart your home design creativity:

Decide on a Retro or Modern Space

There are so many types of game or recreation rooms, so the first thing that you’ll want to do is envision how you’d like your extra space to look. Retro gaming rooms tend to have a vintage 80s feel with muted colors, neon lights, old school games, and posters of familiar classics. A modern gaming room is more versatile, with softer lighting, varied colors, contemporary seating, and even unexpected additions, like intricate shelving. Deciding on the type of space that you’d prefer will allow you to begin turning your vision into a reality. 

Paint the Walls to Fit Your Theme

You have endless color choices for the walls of your game room. Because game rooms tend to have eclectic art hangings and other interesting accent pieces, you might choose to paint the walls a neutral color, like a shade of white, beige, or gray. 

However, for a retro theme or simply more playful game room, bright colors can really bring out the fun of your entertainment space. Some of Pantone’s favorite color trends for 2019? Lime greens, earthy blues, and cheerful orange tones. For a retro room, you might even want to skip the paint in favor of retro wallpaper from decades past.

Hang Relevant Art and Decorations

Video game posters and wall hangings, sports memorabilia, shelves of figurines, and other creative touches all turn your game room into a place to escape. Of course, you might also prefer minimal touches, like a freshly painted accent wall with no art at all. For kids, a wall painted with chalkboard paint or a magnet wall with magnetic letters can provide a special spot for family game nights.

Control the Light In Your Space with Plantation Shutters

It seems that game rooms usually go one of two ways: You either want the room as dark as possible or you want the room bright and open with light. While blinds and curtains will certainly enhance a space, plantation shutters are the way to go when it comes to permanent, maximum light control. 

With plantation shutters, you control the louvers to let in or filter out as much sunlight as you’d like, creating the ideal ambiance for entertaining and gaming. Real wood plantation shutters, as opposed to faux wood plantation shutters, will also add a strong aesthetic to your rec room. These versatile wooden shutters pair well with retro-themed rooms, contemporary spaces, cheerful playrooms, or any other variety of entertainment space. 

Consider Your Seating Options

Like your paint and art choices, your choice in seating for your space plays a huge role in the look and feel of your game room. Retro rooms might include plush couches and cushioned chairs or even less seating in favor of more standing arcade game space. Sports bar spaces might have comfortable seating to watch the game, saddle-style upholstered loungers, or wooden furniture. Modern rooms, meanwhile, could include contemporary seating options, like a sectional sofa or uniquely shaped sitting pieces. Colorful bean bags are a great choice for children.

Use Versatile Shelving and Storage Options

In a game room, you’re going to need a lot of shelving and plenty of storage. You’re also going to want your room to be organized. Look for entertainment center style shelves that can hold multiple gaming consoles and low shelves for family board games. 

To store video games, get creative. You could hang honeycomb shelves or similar pieces to display favorites, while housing the others in a cabinet or larger wall shelf. Ottomans are excellent for game rooms, because they provide extra storage for decks of cards, dice, and other gaming supplies. When selecting furniture for your game room, seek out those pieces that also provide a storage option, whenever possible. 

Bring in Poker Tables, Pool Tables, Ping-Pong, or Arcade Games

Tables games really tie the whole room together. Go ahead and bring in a poker table, pool table, ping-pong surface, or retro arcade games. Don’t forget about table tennis, air hockey, and foosball. Gaming tables make great centerpieces for the room. Add interesting overhead lighting and you’ll feel like you’re in a real arcade or professional poker tournament. 

Combine a Game Room with a Movie or Screening Room

You don’t have to choose between a gaming room and a screening room. Those large TVs that you set-up for gaming easily lend themselves to a home theater. Add in some media loveseats or home theater recliners, a selection of favorite Blu-rays or streaming devices, and old Hollywood or vintage California posters for a decidedly glamorous feel that will make your friends want to skip the multiplex in favor of your house.

Add Some Music to Your Game Room

Like movies, music naturally lends itself to an entertainment room. Guitars hung on the walls and keyboards or pianos in the corner add an extra element. Plus, the family will have a blast playing Guitar Hero alongside actual guitars. 

Create a Play Area for the Kids

Devoting some of your extra space for the kids is an easy way to add more space to the rest of your home. Bring their tents or kitchen sets to a corner of your new game room to create a kind of imagination station for the kiddos. They’ll have a blast playing their games while you play yours. Add in some arts and crafts or put the board game shelf over here to create a space the whole family can enjoy together. 

Owning a Home Is Special 

The chance to be creative is one of the best things about owning your home. An extra, well used space can add value to a home, as will the inclusion of plantation shutters as a window treatment. Plantation shutters give you a choice when it comes to your home’s lighting that can’t be matched by any other window treatment. You’ll have the right ambiance to entertain — and the right ambiance to screen films or game the night away. 
Contact Shenandoah Shutters today to update your home and enhance your natural sunlight options with our custom made, all-wood plantation shutters.

Service Area Spotlight: 10 Things to Do In Richmond, Virginia

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As the capital of Virginia, there certainly is no shortage of things to do in Richmond. Gorgeous and historical, there’s something for every personality type in town. With the summer travel season in full swing, here’s a look at 10 things to do in Richmond, VA: 

Take a Walking Tour of the City

Walking tours should top the list of things to do in any city. There’s just so much to be gained from walking around with an expert guide and learning the history of important locations while staring right at them. If walking isn’t feasible, Richmond also offers trolley and segway tours.

Visit the Maymont Estate

Maymont is an outstanding gift to Richmond, with an authentic Gilded Age mansion available for touring, a farm and wildlife habitat, nature exhibits, and grounds that are perfect for picnicking and soaking up the Richmond sun. 

A must visit for history buffs or anyone who enjoys grandeur, Maymont was originally owned by James and Sallie Dooley, a millionaire couple who purchased the land in 1886 during a time when the wealthy were anxious to show off their riches. Sallie Dooley spent her days working to turn the land they’d purchased into an extraordinary estate, cultivating gardens and meticulously purchasing items to decorate the interior of the mansion.

The couple had no children, so upon their deaths, Maymont was given to Richmond. The lavish mansion and its stunning grounds were opened to the public as a museum only months after Sallie Dooley’s death. Maymont has since been listed on The National Register of Historic Places. It’s one of very few surviving Gilded Age mansions in the country, particularly considering that the estate of Maymont is almost exactly the same now as it was back in the time of its owners’ lives. 

In keeping with the generosity of the Dooleys, the Maymont grounds are free to enjoy. Touring the mansion is only $5, while the nature and visitor center is $4. 

See the Virginia Capitol Building 

Designed by Thomas Jefferson himself, the Capitol Building is a key feature of many Richmond walking tours. It’s an amazing piece of architecture and American history. A free, guided tour will provide you with fascinating facts and information regarding this city — and country — landmark. 

Stroll the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

This expansive botanical garden is perfect for families. When the weather’s warm, kids enjoy Water Play, a series of sprinklers in the Children’s Garden. Also in the Children’s Garden, you’ll find a climbable treehouse, garden cottage, investigation station, and fascinating plants for kiddos to explore. The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has 50 acres of gardens and regularly hosts exhibits, too. This summer season, enjoy The Art of Play and Art with Lego® Bricks, both of which are playfully designed to encourage creativity in children and adults alike. 

Explore the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

With over 5,000 years of art behind its doors, art lovers near and far will love the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Housing youth and family programming, summer camps, fascinating exhibitions, and art classes for all ages, you could spend literal days at this museum. 

Take on the Science Museum of Virginia

Another museum for all ages, the Science Museum of Virginia has three floors of exhibits, hands-on experiences, and the Dome, a home for astounding astronomy shows and movies. Local kids can even enjoy exciting summer camps.  

Drive Through Carytown

Every town needs a shopping district, and in Richmond, that’s Carytown. Nicknamed the “Mile of Style,” Carytown is nine blocks of unique, local shops and eateries. You can also expect to see the occasional festival come through Carytown. 

Tour St. John’s Episcopal Church

Like the Capitol Building, St. John’s Episcopal Church is a favorite for Richmond tours. Patrick Henry gave his legendary “give me liberty or give me death speech” right here at this church. You can take a tour of this historical building or, while it’s summertime, enjoy Sunday re-enactments of the famous speech. 

Get Literary at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum

Although renowned gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe never lived at the location, the Edgar Allan Poe Museum is an in-depth look into the life and mind of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe was born in Boston, MA, but grew up in Richmond after his mother’s death. His mother’s gravesite is even located at St. John’s Episcopal Church. 

At the museum, you can explore more memorabilia and artifacts relating to Edgar Allan Poe than at any other location in the world. Although Poe didn’t reside at the museum, his childhood staircase, bed, and even office bricks are placed within and around the museum, allowing visitors to quite literally walk through his life. This is a powerful museum experience for literature fans. 

Tour the Shenandoah Shutters Woodshop

The Shenandoah Shutters woodshop  can be toured and explored right in Richmond, Virginia. If you’re a Richmond local who is in the market for plantation shutters, a resident of one of our nearby service areas, or planning to purchase a home in one of these locations, then visiting our actual, working woodshop will allow you to see us putting together our handcrafted plantation shutters in person. 

Richmond is filled with American history, and you’ll see that we stay true to that history by using only the finest American woods for our plantation shutters. We’ve set up our woodshop like a home, so that you can really imagine these shutters in your own house. You can see the different design options close up, including our original, patented Softedge design.

With the Softedge design, hinges are hidden in a way that is similar to European cabinetry. This is an extremely popular design option and is particularly helpful for tilt-ins and casements. 

We’re proud to show you firsthand the integrity and beauty of our business. Feel free to stop by our woodshop for a tour and detailed information Mondays-Thursdays from 8:00 a.m -4:00 p.m or on Fridays By appointment only.

Contact Shenandoah Shutters today for more information on investing in all-wooden, custom made plantation shutters for your home. Can’t make it to Richmond? Schedule an appointment with one of our design consultants for a free estimate and planning consultation. 

9 Famous Homes That You Didn’t Realize Had Plantation Shutters

9 Famous Homes That You Didn’t Realize Had Plantation Shutters
9 Famous Homes That You Didn’t Realize Had Plantation Shutters
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Drive through any of our service areas, and you’ll be instantly struck by the popularity and beauty of plantation shutters. Historically, plantation shutters have helped control the temperature of a home, keep out pests, and offer residents privacy. Today, they are valued just as much for these historical features as they are for their ability to provide the perfect ambiance to a home. Plantation shutters provide unmatched sophistication and elegance to modern homes. In fact, you can regularly spot plantation shutters on the windows of the homes that are featured in some of your favorite movies and shows, making them a key piece of pop culture.

Here’s a closer look at 9 movie and TV homes that you might not have realized had plantation shutters:

Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind is perhaps the most obvious choice for a film with endless shots of plantation shutters, but no movie list about these shutters can be complete without a mention of this classic. The movie’s Twelve Oaks home and Bellamy Mansion, also known as Scarlett O’Hara’s beloved Tara, features stunning architecture that even today, so many years since the release of the movie, are often the first images that people think of when they think of plantation shutters.

American Horror Story: Coven

The mansion in American Horror Story: Coven was basically its own character on the show, with white walls, dark furniture, and light, yet gothic style, chandeliers. The office and the kitchen of the mansion are where you can most clearly see the plantation shutters on the windows of this elaborate home for the witches. Off-screen, you can find this mansion in New Orleans.

Jerry Maguire

This 90s comedy probably had you laughing too hard to notice the plantation shutters in Jerry’s oceanfront condo. Most of Jerry’s windows were without much window treatment, giving full view of the beach, but when he needed to filter light, wooden plantation shutters did the job. Many of our service areas are in beach communities, and plantation shutters are perfect for giving your home a beach glow (and the slats can be opened as wide as you’d like) while offering privacy.

Mrs. Doubtfire

The iconic family home from the classic Mrs. Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams and Sally Field back in the 90s, was placed for sale at a price of nearly 5 million dollars back in 2016. Subtle plantation shutters line the beautiful bay window of the house’s living room, giving the room a more grand, upscale appearance.

Sex and the City

Considering that this television show was all about city living, it may surprise you to learn that plantation shutters featured quite a bit in some of the apartments and spots throughout the run of Sex and the City, showing that plantation shutters are diverse and a true possibility for a wide variety of home types — even the apartments and penthouses of New York City.

The Notebook

Similarly to Gone with the Wind, the home in The Notebook played an essential role in the film’s plotline, with one of the main characters, Allie, insisting on a home with a very specific kind of look and style. Viewers will notice the light in the house scenes creates the kind of romantic ambiance that you expect from plantation shutters. Noah, the character who makes the home into Allie’s dream house, also used light and airy curtains to set the tone. Curtains and other fabric window treatments can easily be paired with plantation shutters.

Life As We Know It

This sweet 2010 movie starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel is set in an absolutely beautiful home with careful detailing and plantation shutters in various parts of the house. Just like in the movie, plantation shutters blend in with fine furniture and stunning detailing, making for a truly luxurious home on-screen and in real life.

Taken

You probably weren’t examining the architecture in Liam Neeson’s hit action movie  Taken, but if you had, you would’ve quickly noticed the plantation shutters featured on the film’s home. Like The Notebook, the home in Taken also paired plantation shutters with a fabric window treatment. The most common way to do this is through the café shutter, where the top half of the window is covered by a valance.

Something’s Gotta Give

This 2003 comedy starring Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson featured at least one scene at Santa Monica, California’s Shutters on the Beach hotel. Shutters on the Beach is a gorgeous location and a perfect example of how plantation shutters can be used in a beach environment.

In the movie, Nicholson’s and Keaton’s characters meet up at a restaurant that was actually set at Shutters on the Beach, but take a look at this hotel’s luxury suites and you’ll see plantation shutters on their sliding glass doors. Tilting the louvers allows guests soft beach light to filter into the rooms with a spectacular view of the Pacific ocean. Shenandoah Shutters offers a slider option for sliding glass doors, so you can bring the same luxury to your home.

Plantation Shutters: The Star of Your Home

The custom made, all-wood plantation shutter is as beautiful as it is practical. At Shenandoah Shutters, we’ve been passionately crafting these shutters for decades in our Richmond, Virginia woodshop. We offer a wide variety of plantation shutters, from the traditional shutters that you know and love to unique options for tilt-ins, casements, and hinges, as well as various stains and colors. We use fine American hardwood that is specially chosen based on your choice of stain and your home design, including basswood, yellow poplar, and requested woods, such as mahogany and cherry.

Like the plantation shutters in these movies and shows, your own options are limitless. We can craft a plantation shutter for a window of any size or shape. You can choose full shutters or opt for the increasingly popular café  shutter. You can even customize your tilt rod and louver. Plantation shutters add value to your home beyond what can be achieved with other options, including faux wood plantation shutters. All-wood plantation shutters are the real deal and provide an extraordinary level of aesthetic.

The next time you’re at the movies, take a closer look at the houses that you see on screen. Chances are high that you’ll notice all-wood plantation shutters on a character’s house — and the gentle light that fills their home and the screen as a result.

Shenandoah Shutters offers a free, in-home design estimate complete with samples to help you choose a plantation shutter option that fits the needs of your own starry home. Contact Shenandoah Shutters today or visit our Richmond showroom to see our shutters up close and personal.

7 Summer Decorating Ideas to Try

Summer Decorating Ideas to Try
Summer Decorating Ideas to Try
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There’s just something about the summer season that inspires us to refresh and reinvigorate our homes. After all that spring cleaning, it can be richly satisfying to change up your color scheme, update your furniture, or get creative with your existing window treatment. Even simple things, like adding some colorful throw pillows to an otherwise neutral couch, can leave your home feeling like a vacation paradise.

Here are 7 decorating ideas that are especially popular this summer:

A Newly Painted Door

Your door is the first thing that guests see when they visit your house, so make sure that it’s as tidy and vibrant as what’s inside your home. Chipped paint or scratches don’t exactly lend themselves to that fresh summertime feeling. Painting your door is an inexpensive way to immediately brighten your home. Choose a trendy summer color, like bright or pastel shades of yellow, blue, or green. Alternatively, go a completely different direction with whatever color evokes the feeling of summer for you.

If you have a front porch or space just outside of your door for potted plants, you might even consider painting your door to match the style of your planters. Southwest style plants and pots, for instance, look great next to rich, vibrantly painted doors (think vivid purple or electric green). Mediterranean style planters, meanwhile, match well with softer, pastel hues, like a matte pastel blue.

Combine your newly accented door with a lush, summery wreath that fits your color and design scheme.

Pops of Color

Bringing sunny days into the home is a trend this year, with bright, sunshine yellows and sky blue colors making homes feel airy and light. Pastels, as well, are proving to be popular, adding to the trend in light, fresh homes. Pastels also pair perfectly with a calming nautical theme, another trend this year.

Get in on the summer color craze by adding little pops of color throughout your home in unique and interesting ways. Think throw pillows and blankets, bright art pieces, a colorful coffee or end table display, or even a brightly painted accent wall.

Beach Themes

This one may seem like a given, but adding beachy or nautical elements to your home is completely on trend this year. You can take this theme as far as you’d like, from adding nautical-themed pillows or ocean scented candles to the home, to going as far as adding wicker furniture pieces or sisal rugs to your house. When thinking of coastal design choices, envision shades of blue, indigo, sandy brown, and white, including striped designs of these shades. This beach house theme also ties into the overall summer trend of adding a lightness to the interior design of homes.

Spaces to Entertain

Summer brings cookouts, parties, gatherings, and more. If you’re looking to host family and friends at your house, a backyard with brightly colored patio furniture and attractive lighting is always a winner. If you have the ability to add a firepit to your backyard, you’ll really be ready for the characteristic bonfire nights of summer.

Classic Florals — and Unique Citrus

Classically summer elements like florals are still as popular as ever. So, too, are pillows, table runners, and other home pieces decorated with citrus fruits. It may seem a risky choice, but adding a little splash of fun with a citrus printed art piece or a lemon wreath (that you can even make yourself, if you’re feeling crafty) is a fantastic way to incorporate the cheer of summer without losing sophistication.

Patriotic Vintage Americana

Vintage has been a growing trend for the past few years, and in 2019, it’s in full force. For summer, vintage Americana is a trendy choice in advance of the Fourth of July — and it’s beautiful. Matte blues and reds alongside faded whites and checkered patterns are quintessentially summer. Vintage shelf blocks and posters, birdhouses, sunflowers, picnic baskets, and patriotic paper fans are easy on the budget without sacrificing the décor of an old school American summer.

Lighten Up — Everything!

Letting the sunlight in is a theme every summer and this year is no exception. The more ways that you can open up your home and create the illusion of a softly sunlit space, the more inviting your home will be this season. This is where you’ll want to take a close look at your windows. White or cream plantation shutters already lend themselves to summer decorating, but stained plantation shutters can actually be paired with breezy  white curtains for summer. You may not have realized that plantation shutters can be paired with curtains, namely because they don’t require them, but many people choose to combine their plantation shutters with a fabric window treatment to add an interesting design element to the home.

The great thing about plantation shutters is that the ambiance that they give exists all year, so you can filter in and out as much light as you please to get just the right ambiance for the summer home of your dreams.

Looking to Transform Your Windows This Summer?

Don’t already have custom, authentically wooden plantation shutters in your home? Invest in them this summer to expand your home’s sunlight potential, add value to your property, and remove the time it takes to clean and care for other window treatments, like drapes and blinds. Plantation shutters are timeless and they completely re-energize a home while providing you with privacy and functionality.

Worried that the particular size or shape of your window is too unique for plantation shutters? Think again! Shenandoah Shutters can handcraft your plantation shutters to fit windows of any size or shape, even French doors, tilt-ins, and casements. We’re locally owned and operated in Richmond and will provide a free in-home design consultation to plan the window treatment that is perfect for your home in any of our service areas. Give us a call today, toll free at 1-800-733-1549, to learn about the different plantation shutter options available to you, or send us a message online for more information.

10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home
10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home
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Most of the time, your first house isn’t the one you stay in forever. In fact, you’ll likely sell your home and purchase a new one at least a few times in your life. When it comes time to make the big move, the first thing on your mind will be the resale value of your home. If you’ve taken the time to invest in some key upgrades throughout your time in the house, your chances of selling your home quickly and for a price that makes your wallet happy are far greater than if your home is exactly the same as it was when you first signed the paperwork.

Here are 10 ideas to increase the resale value of your home:

Have Your Home Checked for Problems — and Then Have Them Fixed

Have a maintenance problem that you’ve been ignoring for years? Make it a point to correct any issues before opening your home to prospective buyers. Older homes are more likely to have wiring or pipes that need to be inspected and updated. The more updated and — most importantly — safe that your home proves to be, the more that your resale value will rise. You’ll also be gaining your home buyer’s trust.

Paint Those Walls!

This one may seem a little too easy, but really — you’d be amazed what a fresh coat of paint can do for a home, especially if your current wallpaper or paneling is beginning to look dated or if that living room wall has chipped paint. Paint can make your home feel more modern, but don’t be too quick to give a room splashes of reds or other stand-out colors. Neutral tones, like shiny whites and dusky grays, work best to attract home buyers. They can more easily envision themselves and their furniture in your newly painted space and the colors are contemporary. Have a little extra time and money? Consider a backsplash above the kitchen or bathroom sink.

Treat Your Windows to Plantation Shutters

Custom plantation shutters are really the only window treatments that add value to your home. Plantation shutters are a permanent fixture of a house and extremely attractive to buyers. Entirely wooden plantation shutters are the epitome of plantation shutters. Original and authentic, all-wood plantation shutters give your home an upscale appearance that draws in new homeowners. Plus, you can adjust the sunlight using the louvers, allowing just the right amount of light to enter your home and create an inviting ambiance (as well as the illusion of an even bigger space) for interested buyers.

Take Time to Landscape and Tend to the Outside

The outside of your home provides an immediate first impression to interested buyers, and you’d be amazed at how something as seemingly simple as an overgrown lawn can turn buyers away. Hire someone to properly tend to your yard and, if you really want to go all out, consider adding an irrigation system for a proper gardening experience. Buyers, in general, love beautifully planted and maintained trees, lively shrubbery, and outdoor lights alongside the pathway to your home entrances. While you don’t want to add personal changes to your landscape that might make it difficult for buyers to picture themselves in your space (like a giant front yard statue), these broad additions are requested by most buyers and can have a huge impact on home resale value.

Consider Hardwood

The people have spoken: Hard flooring surfaces have been the growing trend for awhile now, with carpet starting to feel outdated and old fashioned in today’s homes. If you have room in the budget, replacing most of the carpet in your home with hardwood, laminate or even tile will greatly increase its resale value in the future. If you have particularly fluffy, modern carpeting that you plan to keep in places like the bedroom, shampoo it regularly and maintain its cleanliness. Carpet cleanliness and appearance is a big part of the reason behind the hardwood trend. You could also try adding a contemporary rug on top of a hardwood floor, particularly in a place like the master bedroom. Using carpeting in small doses to add warmth to your home will also appeal to buyers.

Add Options for More Sunlight — and Fun — to Your Home

The more light and open a room looks, the more buyers will feel like they are buying into an expansive space. Plantation shutters allow you to filter in just the right amount of light for a beautiful ambiance that feels satisfying to potential buyers. Big, beautiful windows, like bay windows, are also popular for letting in sunlight. When it comes to your backyard, try making a patio area with seating, twinkling lights, and a firepit. A gathering area is something that many buyers look for in a home. Homeowners want to enjoy their backyards. A deck is another way to increase your home’s value.

Of course, this may make you wonder about adding a pool, as well, to add to your home’s worth. The truth is, adding a pool to increase a home’s value is much more controversial than you might realize. Some potential buyers don’t want to deal with the maintenance and care involved with owning a pool. Others, however, specifically seek out pools. When it comes to this area of homeownership, it seems that it’s best to only add a pool if you and your family would like a pool during the time that you’re living in the home, not with the hope that it will increase your home’s value (although there is always the possibility that it could). Just make sure to turn your pool into as safe of a place as possible, such as by adding a safety entry gate. This may make buyers with small children more likely to give it a second look.

Smarten Up Your Home

We’re living in the era of smart everything, from smart smoke alarms that send alerts to your smartphone to smart security systems, doorbells, thermostats, and more. These elaborate technological systems all feel luxurious and state of the art to a potential home buyer, thereby increasing your home’s value exponentially.

Replace Dated Countertops and Cabinet Knobs

An updated kitchen or bathroom are some of the things that homebuyers look forward to the most. Take a close look at your cabinets and countertops. Are they reminding you a little too much of a scene from The Brady Bunch? It might be time to consider switching out your counters and cabinet knobs for something more modern. Granite is a favorite of countertops, while stainless steel, long bar handles modernize cabinets for around a dollar a pull at your local hardware store.

Don’t Forget the Faucets

While you’re updating the counters and cabinets, don’t forget to think about updating your faucet, as well. Waterfall faucets are extremely popular right now and can be had for $50 or less. An easy update that will have prospective buyers taking notes on your space. Remember to be sure that you have the latest and greatest shower head in the bathroom, too. These can be inexpensive to replace, with varieties for all budgets, but they can still make all the difference in a home’s worth.

Remember the Power of a Clean Home

Power washing your house can make all the difference in the world when it comes to increasing home value, as can touching up scraped doors or chipped door paint. Inside, organize clutter to the best of your ability. Make the home look as spacious and freshened as possible. Don’t forget to check the garage and attic, too, for any needed repairs or cleanings. If you have a basement, consider turning it into a gameroom or something else exciting for potential buyers.

Start Adding Value to Your Home Today

Custom, all-wood plantation shutters are a great first step toward adding value to your home. Shenandoah Shutters has been handcrafting these gorgeous window treatments for decades and can provide you with the shutters you need for any window of your home, including plantation shutters for sliding glass doors, arches, French doors, tilt-ins, and casements. Contact us today to add value to your home with our stunning plantation shutters.

Understanding Your Options for Plantation Shutters

Dear Customers – A Letter From Marcia
Dear Customers – A Letter From Marcia
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Today’s plantation shutters are designed to fit every type of window, from unusually shaped designs and arches to French and sliding glass doors. Interior plantation shutters are easily customized to blend in with your existing home furnishings and overall style. They provide functionality, through light and privacy control, but they also add beauty and value to your home.

While a traditional plantation shutter is probably what you first think of when you think of a plantation shutter — something covering the complete height of your window — there are also designs that cover only part of the window (known as a café shutter). Here’s a closer look at the many options available to you as you invest in plantation shutters for your home:

Interior Window Plantation Shutters

Adding interior plantation shutters to your home changes the look and feel of your home for the better. Your plantation shutters will serve as the stunning focal point of every room in your house all on their own, but you can also choose to coordinate your plantation shutters with curtains or valances. All will depend on the style of shutter that you choose.

Traditional Plantation Shutter

When you think of a plantation shutter, this is the one that you’re thinking of — a full-length window shutter that covers your window completely from top to bottom. Your choice in louver size or tilt rod design will make this traditional plantation shutter your own, as will your decision to include or forgo a fabric addition, like curtains.

Café Shutter

Believe it or not, café shutters are the original plantation shutters. Centuries ago, when glass was too expensive, residents chose to place glass in only the upper part of the window. The bottom half, meanwhile, was covered with a shutter. Of course, today’s café shutters offer contemporary options, such as your choice in louver size, that make café shutters a cutting edge window treatment. You can even choose to place a coordinating valance on top. As the name reveals, these are particularly common in kitchens.

Sunbursts and Arches for Uniquely Shaped Shutters

There are so many different kinds of windows and each one can have its own custom crafted plantation shutter. No more worrying about finding the right blinds or curtains to fit your unique window. For circular designs, you might consider the attention-grabbing sunburst plantation shutter. With a sunburst plantation shutter, the louvers travel in the same direction as the circle, like a burst of sun. You can also use traditional plantation shutters specifically crafted for your circular window. Plantation shutters for arches can be made to look similar to a sunburst or have a more traditional look. Shutters can be crafted for any window cut, even gothic arches!

Plantation Shutters for Your Door

Of course, plantation shutters aren’t just for windows, and can add style and elegance to doors with large glass panes such as french doors and sliding glass doors. Here are a few options:

Shadow Box for French Doors

The shadow box option at Shenandoah Shutters is an ideal way to install plantation shutters on your French door. With the shadow box style, plantation shutters fit easily on your door, and are expertly crafted to accommodate the specific shape of your door handle.

Slider for Sliding Glass Doors

For your sliding glass door, Shenandoah Shutters offers a slider option that allows the sliding movement of your door to be unaffected by the addition of your plantation shutters.

Choosing Your Louver

When you order custom interior plantation shutters, you are able to choose your prefered louver size. Louvers are the slats in your plantation shutter that move and allow sunlight to enter in or filter out.

The most common louver sizes available are 2 and a half, 3 and a half, or 4 and a half inch louvers. A larger louver size, such as the 4 and a half inch louver, is more characteristic of American plantation shutters, while a narrower size more closely resembles English homes. Both are classically elegant and simply a matter of personal preference, however there are a couple of small differences between the two that might influence your decision. A larger louver size will also offer you a greater view between the two slats, as well as close more completely, letting less sunlight into the room when the slats are closed.

If you’d like a little more sunlight when your louvers are closed, or a little less of a traditional plantation shutter look, then you might prefer smaller louvers. If, however, you enjoy the more common, traditional view that is offered by wider louvers, then you’ll want to consider a 3.5 or 4.5 inch louver style.

You can also choose what shape of louver you’d prefer along with your sizing. Flat louvers are exactly as they sound, flat on top and on the bottom, while contoured louvers are wide in the middle but more flat toward the ends. The different shape options allow you to customize even more and choose which louver gives your plantation shutter the right look and feel for your home.

Choosing Your Tilt Rod

Shenandoah Shutters uses a wooden tilt rod that allows you to control the movement of the louvers. Traditionally, tilt rods are placed in the center of the shutter, running down its middle, but you can choose a design that allows you to hide the tilt rod. With either choice, you’ll have the same control over your slats, but you might personally prefer the traditional appearance of the visible tilt rod or the modern appearance of the hidden tilt rod. Alternatively, you can also choose a divider or a split tilt rod without a divider that allows for independent control of the upper and lower louvers.

What About the Finish?

Hand-finished, hand-sanded shutters truly give you plantation shutters of the highest quality. When it comes to color choice, you’ll see homes with plantation shutters that are custom stained, in shades of white, cream, or custom paint, and even solidly a wood, such as oak, to match existing molding. Choosing the finish that is right for your home really rounds out your custom plantation shutter.

What About Material?

Contemporary plantation shutters are available in a variety of different materials, with words like faux wood, vinyl, and composite shutters often tossed around when discussing plantation shutters. Despite all of these available materials, the material that has best represented plantation shutters since the beginning is wood. In fact, all of these other materials are made to resemble wood. When you buy all-wood plantation shutters, you know that you are investing in a material that is real and authentic. Plus, there’s just something about wooden plantation shutters — they are aesthetically satisfying to have in your home, are naturally durable, and are easy to clean.

This is why, for decades, Shenandoah Shutters has specialized in only the all-wood interior plantation shutter. Contact us today to see our samples and learn more about the different styles available for your home, or if you’re in the neighborhood, stop by our Richmond, Virginia showroom and see our team in action.

A Look at the History of Plantation Shutters

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History of Plantation Shutters

The history of plantation shutters is long and rich, which is why it’s so common to spot all-wooden plantation shutters inside the homes of residents across the historic cities of Baltimore, Richmond, Washington, D.C, and their many surrounding areas. Our service areas are filled with history and this window treatment fits seamlessly into the stories of these towns.

Plantation Shutters: From Ancient Greece to the American South

You might assume that plantation shutters began in the American south, with the name plantation shutters bringing to mind elaborate mansions. In fact, shutters, as a whole, actually go as far back as ancient Greece. These shutters were purportedly mostly made of stone and marble, neither of which was nearly as effective as the eventual all-wooden shutters would soon prove to be. These materials, of course, didn’t allow for the kind of louver movement and overall flexibility that wood does.

The purpose of shutters back then was more practical than aesthetically pleasing — they were meant to help control the intensity of the sunlight and to protect residents from the naturally windy and stormy tropical elements, as well as the many other unpleasant possibilities living outside the walls of a home, from bugs to invaders. Shutters were also valuable for their ability to provide comfortable ventilation and privacy in a time when there simply weren’t many other options, save for perhaps a piece of cloth fabric.

Shutters quickly became popular outside of ancient Greece, spreading to all parts of the Mediterranean and Europe. For a long time, glass was expensive and hard to come by, so wooden shutters were really just that — solid pieces of wood that covered the holes in the home that what would one day come to be known as windows. Eventually, during the tudor era in England, glass was used in the upper part of the window, while a wooden shutter covered the bottom half to cut down on the cost of the glass (similar to the café shutters of today, with a plantation shutter on the bottom and a valance covering on top).

As homes began adding glass more readily and completely, resembling the windows that we recognize today, shutters began to serve a more decorative function alongside their earlier uses. Shutters became known as much for their beauty as for their practicality. Their design changed as well, particularly beginning in Europe, where even royalty had taken up the shutters (rumor has it that Louis XIV of France enjoyed the ability to secretly peek through his 17th century version of plantation shutters). More narrowed slats and much larger louvers were popularized there.

Plantation shutters made their way into the United States by way of Spain, and they were instantly loved by the 19th century owners of large, stately Southern mansions, giving them their familiar name. These plantation shutters had wider slats than their English counterparts, were typically white shutters, and were especially prized for their ability to protect residents from the hot Southern summers. This association with upper class, grandiose homes has led to today’s view of plantation shutters as a sophisticated addition to a living space, which is fascinating considering that these shutters actually first began as a low-cost way to protect a home! Plantation shutters now dominate windows across all regions of the United States, with elegance, charm, and a wide variety of types of plantation shutters available. An ageless window treatment, plantation shutters are as appreciated now as they were centuries ago.

Improvements in Plantation Shutters

Just like the plantation shutters of old switched from marble to wooden material and eventually added slats of differing sizes, today’s plantation shutters are more versatile than ever, with plantation shutters custom made to fit the many different windows that outfit homes today.

For your French door, for instance, Shenandoah Shutters offers a shadow box option that attaches to the door. For a sliding glass door, a slider allows for appropriate movement. At Shenandoah Shutters, we even created our own update to the traditional plantation shutter with our original  Softedge design. This design is perfect for tilt-ins and casements, window styles that in the past have made home owners pause before deciding on plantation shutters. With the Softedge, the hinges of your plantation shutters are fully concealed behind the panels when closed. No extra, heavy installation materials required. With this patented design, plantation shutters are truly and cleanly accessible for every window. You can even choose your louver size and shape.

The History of Plantation Shutters Continues Into the Present

Plantation shutters may have evolved over time, but their ability to provide a home with the highest quality window treatment has not changed. Plantation shutters are timeless, with the same elegance and functionality that they’ve had for centuries, but with a dash of the originality that only comes from selecting an expert plantation shutter crafter. They are the easiest window treatments to clean and maintain, with a simple dusting using gentle cloth usually sufficient. They are also extremely durable and built to last. While plantation shutters are now routinely made using materials like vinyl, plastic, or faux wood, nothing compares to the strength and authentic beauty of the same real, true wood that has formed plantation shutters for generations and across the world.

At Shenandoah Shutters, we take the beauty of this ancient shutter as far as it can go. From our choice to use only the finest American woods in our Richmond woodshop, including yellow poplar and basswood, to our hand-finished louvers, silken lacquer finish, and adjustment-free tension system, you can be certain that your all-wooden plantation shutters are an investment for your house as the only window treatment that adds value to your property. In fact, we even offer a 100-year transferable warranty on the plantation shutters and a 25-year warranty on our lacquer finish, so that you can really have peace of mind that you’ve chosen the ideal window treatment. Contact us today to add this remarkable piece of history to your home.