Traditional Shutters

Sometimes tradition is a good thing. Especially in shutters. Traditional shutters are often called colonial shutters. They have between 3/4 inch and 1-1/4 inch wide slats, or louvers. The slats can be flat, but most modern ones are slightly rounded and tapered at the ends. There may be a sort of ridge or vein down the center.

The panels are usually hinged together in pairs. Sometimes, if the window is a double pane width, you will find four panels (formally called "bi-folds") lined across. Café shutters, the kind that are divided or hung only on the lower half of a window, are a popular type of traditional shutters. The neat thing about cafes is that you can have shoulder level privacy and still have a great view. That makes them ideal for breakfast nooks or bedrooms.

There are double paneled styles as well. Called two tiers, these have a rail bar (flat board) between the panels. That gives them look of cafes, but it keeps the shutter solid and sturdy. You can still open either the top louvers, or bottom ones, or both; however, when you open the shutter, the entire window will be exposed instead of just one half. So, take your time and really think about your room and how the shutters will be used before you decide which traditional style you want.

Colonial or traditional shutters were first popular on the East Coast, in the thirteen original colonies. You will find the style in early American homes, some predating the Revolutionary War. For a long time, they have bowed to the Plantation or Southern shutters that seem today more popular. But for a formal, classy look, you can't beat the traditional shutter. More and more designers are discovering this, and traditional shutters are once again coming back in vogue.

Many traditional shutters are in a style known as "Flair-Fold". That means that they do not open flat against the window jamb but instead form a triangle that protrudes outward into the room. So when measuring for your shutters, take that into consideration. Hardware stores also make butt hinges that help the panels fold flat. Just make sure you have enough space on the wall next to the window to allow for that to happen.

The trick is to measure, measure, measure. You may be able to buy ready-made panels that allow for some trimming down on the sides. Just remember that traditional shutters are hung on 2 inch centers. Most common width of panels are from 7 inches to 16 inches wide. If your window is less than 3 feet wide, consider buying double panels that open to either the right or the left side.

These indoor styles are usually installed on the inside of the window opening. Some are installed directly onto the window jamb, but that is not as clean of a look and it makes it a lot harder to line them up correctly. If you install them on the inside, you have to make sure the depth of the window is substantial enough to house a shutter system.

Traditional shutters add value to your rooms. They are easy to keep clean and you do not have to worry about messy cords that can be hazardous to pets and smaller children. Plus, if you have windows with flare, traditional shutters accent them instead of covering them up. When it come to window coverings, you really can't go wrong with colonial or traditional shutters.