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Shutter
usage isn’t
just for the exterior of your home, or simply for an interior window
treatment. While both of these are functional in closing off a window
from light or the elements, the uses for decorative shutters go much
further than that. Shutter design has made its way into some of the
most unlikely uses in the home.
Ideas for Using an Exterior Shutter
Many home styles are enhances with shutters on the exterior of the
home. Very few of these decorative shutters still function for closing
off windows and protecting the glass. They merely look good.
An exterior shutter
purchased from a home improvement centre or salvaged from an old
house can be used in other decorative ways. A short screen can
be made by joining three or more of these shutters with hinges.
A fresh coat of paint, or a decorative, distressed treatment turns
the shutters into a fireplace screen when the fireplace is not
in use, or a way to section of a child’s
play area from the rest of the family room.
Decorative Shutters on Furniture
Decorative shutter and blinds can also be used in cabinetry and as doors on
pieces of furniture. This can turn a run of the mill piece into something
with some real country charm. Try replacing the doors to an old cabinet
with shutters in a contrasting colour for added interest.
There are many styles of interior shutter that are labelled usually
according to the thickness of their slats. A popular style available
from either American Blinds or Levelor is the Plantation Shutter.
This bold style is common in traditional style homes as well as contemporary,
irrespective of its design roots. It comes in a few pre-finished
colours such as white and ivory, or in natural wood tones. These
can then be painted or stained to match window trim or in a contrasting
decorative finish. The cost is on the higher side of window coverings,
but the life-time durability makes it well worth the investment.
If you like the function and look of shutters then you can go one
step further in your window treatment by adding soft valance or draperies
around the shutter.
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