The Rise of Traditional Wood Shutters
Plantation shutters are designed to control light for ventilation and protection. It is believed that the first ancient shutters were made of marble in ancient Greece. The ancient Greek homes were made of sun-dried mud bricks and roof of clay tiles. These marble shutters were fixed with louvers and were sound compared to other window coverings. With passing years, the popularity of shutters spread to the Mediterranean region and their form changed from marble to wood. It became an important accessory when King Louis XIV of France persisted it to be a part of his palace. This helped the women to doze off comfortably without having to shut the circulation and allow the cooks to control sunlight when cooking. Movable louver shutters emerged so that amounts of light and air could be controlled from entering into the room. The wood shutters provided more insulation, acted as a barrier for insects and, when pointed downwards, they could prevent rainwater from entering in.
The houses in medieval Europe had rectangular windows and solid shutters that were closed using a large iron bar for security reasons. During Tudor and Elizabethan period, glass windows were used as the top part of the window because they were expensive. Indoor shutters were used for the other half of the window sash which remained shut all the time. In the 15th century, hinged glazed window slash replaced wood shutters. Interior shutters started being used for decorative purpose rather than functional purposes. Woodwork designs for shutters became the main ornamental element in 18th century English houses.
Wooden Plantation Shutters
The colonization of America by the Spaniards brought shutters to America. The South adopted this trend and used shutters in their plantation manors, and hence the term ‘Plantation shutters’ developed. These shutters had wider louvers and were painted in white color. While in England, wooden shutters had narrow louvers. Many shutters in cafe impersonated the original shutters where the bottom half was a window as the glass was not affordable back then.
During the Victorian period, wood was a major part of a house construction, and people started using it for their shutters. The stone brick houses built before the wooden houses had low-level windows that restricted the use of shutters.
Many integrate shutters into their homes because of their aesthetic and convenience factor. Wood shutters are available in various sizes and shapes and can be made with different materials. Today, design flexibility helps shutters fit in an exceptional space either on the exterior and interior of your homes.
