Shutters or Shades?
I’d like to take a quick poll. We’re deciding between plantation shutters and silhouette shades (both in white, both Hunter Douglas) for our new condo. Both are beautiful, but different looks. Would welcome opinions on which is more desirable. For pics go to the “Product” page on www.hunterdouglas.com Thanks!
I’d like to take a quick poll. We’re deciding between plantation shutters and silhouette shades (both in white, both Hunter Douglas) for our new condo. Both are beautiful, but different looks. Would welcome opinions on which is more desirable. For pics go to the “Product” page on www.hunterdouglas.com Thanks!
I can recommend The Shutter Store a new wood shutters company if you need diy plantation shutters shutters and I think they look great with brownstone buildings being classic whether cafe style or contemporary with no push rods they give a great clean line…
JLo, totally with you on using shutters in the front, if it is a brownstoner. But I am not sure the OP is.
We were darn lucky our shutters were original and still in good condition. They had been (ugh) nailed nastily into the pocket sides and had been painted with layer upon layer of paint. It was a bear when the pain stripping team came to remove them.
But when they came back from being stripped, they were just awesome. With the TLC of our contractor (which included actually rebuilding or making from scratch a couple of panels, plus cleaning up the pockets, they have added what is really a special element back to this old house.
Sadly the garden floor does not have the shutters in – not sure but suspect the folks who renovated years ago when they bought before us knocked them out. Too bad, but we saved the top three floors.
For a brownstone I definitely recommend renovating existing shutters but if not there, then considering trying to recreate. Just beautiful.
Sure, honeycomb or other shades are more useful, but not as elegant.
Full disclosure: I am a traditionalist. I recently installed Horizon Shutters in my brownstone, in the street-facing basement level windows. They are extremely well-made and loads cheaper than the Hunter Douglas estimates I got, although you do have to self-install. From an interior and exterior perspective, they look like they belong with the house. Horizon also gave me great customer service. Totally happy with the results.
Thank you all!
Our condo is new construction, very traditional, brick, three story building. I initially thought shutters was the way to go because I personally think they’re very clean, classic and beautiful. I typically hate blinds. Then I saw the silhouettes in a Hunter Douglas showroom and thought they actually looked very soft, filtered light quite beautifully, and are very versatile (i.e., offer the versatility of blinds, but softened by gauze and the fact that the slats are fabric and not wood/metal). I also love that they can be either completely sheer or have a complete blackout option. Anyway… I just enjoy hearing everyone’s opinion. We’re not going to stay in our place for more than 5 years or so, and we’d love to choose a product that potential buyers may also enjoy.
Well, I can agree with tiptoe on one point and, in fact, stretch it a bit further: without knowing what kind of building your condo is located in as well as the interior design of your rooms, the best any of us can do is give us our personal opinions on what we like best in our own spaces. That said, I’ll tell you that I like both plantation shutters and silhouettes. With respect to the latter, we installed a silhouette shade in our dining room which has a large single window. The design scheme is tied back drapes on either side of the window with the silhouette shade in the middle. We love it, don’t think it looks tacky at all, and get many compliments and inquiries about it. Also love how it functions. Although similar to traditional, wide slatted venetian blinds, the lovely sheer fabric is so much softer and pleasant to the touch. Beyond providing a fantastic light filter, the fabric also allows for easy, noisless operation from open to closed slats and from the shade as lifted or dropped.
OP did not indicate that he or she is purchasing a condo in a brownstone and if it is not, then any talk about what looks appropriate for a brownstone goes out the window.
I only recently purchased shades for the bedrooms in our brownstone, and they are those top-up/bottom-down honey comb shades. so, we can let light in on top and have privacy below. They are also black-out. I think these look good in any setting.
i went to the H-D site and honestly am not crazy about the silhouette shades. I’d do the shutters, especially if you’re not in an old building.
http://www.hunterdouglas.com/our-products-detail.jsp?id=1
For the uninformed – what are silhouette shades?
For the uninformed – what are silhouette shades?