Window shutters aren't as much of a fixture on homes in the Northeast as they are down South, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider them if you're looking for unique window treatments that can beautify the interior and exterior appearance of your home. Whether you're looking for Boston window shutters to add a little class to your living room, or are thinking about exterior decorative shutters to spruce up the outside of your residence, window shutters in Boston have a lot to offer any Bostonian looking for a little something different for their Beantown residence.
Interior Boston Window Shutters
If you like the classic look of shutters, then the first decision you'll need to make is whether you're drawn to interior shutters or the exterior variety. Interior shutters come in a variety of designs, and are installed to provide privacy, to regulate sunlight, and to add decorative flair to a living space. Don't be fooled in thinking interior shutters are just for windows, either. Whether you choose a louvered or set slat style, shutter style doors are also very attractive options for closet doors, and as decorative doors between large rooms, such as the dining room and the foyer. Furthermore, since interior shutters in Boston can be built of any wood, or painted, they can be manufactured to fit just about any home design in creation.
Exterior Window Shutters in Boston
Exterior shutters come in two types: functional and decorative. If you live in a Boston home built before the year 1800 or so (and they're out there ? remember, Boston was founded in 1630), chances are pretty good that the original inhabitants had swinging exterior shutters instead of glass windows to protect them from Boston's brutal winters. Anymore, however, modern window glass does the trick, so the majority of the exterior shutters you see on Greater Boston homes are purely decorative and attached directly to the house. Exterior shutters are made of two materials. Wood shutters, usually manufactured from cedar, are classy and popular, and are the only way to go if you're planning on functional shutters that you can close against a Nor'Easter or occasional hurricane. Vinyl shutters, however, are by far the most popular decorative shutter made today, since they are more durable than wood and are virtually maintenance-free (no painting). They can warp in high temperatures, however, making then unsuitable as exterior shutters than actually swing shut.
Boston Window Shutters Design
If you're interested in having shutters installed in your home, your best bet it is to find a company that specializes in shutter construction and installation, or one that deals with window treatments in general. Either way, you'll be well on your way to outfitting your home with one of the most traditional, and proven, window coverings in the world.
Besides exterior and interior designs, you'll also be choosing between plantation and New England-style shutters. Obviously, the New England style is more common in Beantown, consisting of the narrow slats that most Bostonians associate with shutters in the first place. Plantation-style shutters have much larger, louvered slats. Picture the shutters adorning a Southern estate, or a tropical villa, and you've got the idea. New England-style shutters create a more utilitarian look, and one that generally seems to fit the character of the city better than their Southern cousins. If your goal is to create a home design that is unique to the Northeast, and one that creates a feel of classy Southern warmth even on the coldest Boston winter day, then plantation-style window shutters in Boston might be exactly what you've been searching for.
