Well, they still do! And best of all, because of the way sash windows operate, the window can still be open even when the shutters are closed, a great ventilation option if you choose louvred or café style shutters for your home.
Sash window shutters are an excellent alternative to blinds or curtains. They look outstanding in contemporary homes with a minimalist design. However, they can also be bespoke made for old properties and still offer all those same benefits combined with a traditional look and feel.
Wooden shutters can be designed to suit personal requirements with solid or louvred-style plantation shutters. They can be full height, tier-on-tier or café style, plus painted in any colour. It’s your choice.
The Different Types of Sash Window Shutters
Solid shutters are a classic look, but they offer the least amount of flexibility. The shutters are either open or closed; there’s nothing in between.
Louvred shutters are the most flexible as they light in as required but also provide privacy without too much light loss.
Café-style shutters are often seen in Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses partnered with original box sash windows. This is because they are the shutter equivalent of net curtains, so they are an excellent choice for streetside properties. However, at night, there needs to be an additional facility for complete closure. Many people use café-style shutters instead of nets or blinds and then have a traditional curtain to close after dark.
Full-height shutters are the most flexible of all options; these are not solid but louvred and extend to the full height and width of the sash window. They offer the maximum control over light, privacy and security of all the different shutter options.
Another design is a tier-on-tier shutter. The top section can be opened whilst the lower section remains closed for privacy – it’s like a stable door on your window! However, these shutters are not without their challenges. The panels have to fold back somewhere when they are open. Also, some windows are just too wide or too short to work with this style of shutter. Is there space to add the appropriate mountings? Tier-on-tier shutters usually need to be bespoke made for the individual window.
Interior Design
Shutters offer a stylish, sleek finish which can be uber-contemporary or bare wood traditional, depending on your home and the look you want to create. Shutters are as flexible as curtains when it comes to colours, you don’t have to play safe, and they are more effective in practical terms when it comes to privacy, controlling light, insulation and security.
Shutters have a look and style that works with any age of property or interior design. They can be tailored to the architecture of your home and the room itself, so it’s possible to create literally any look or effect.
What is the Origin of Wooden Shutters in the UK?
Shutters are more commonly viewed as a European feature, well, external ones anyway, but they have been around in England since Tudor times. Because glass was so expensive, only the very rich could afford windows, so shutters were used to close off part or all of the window depending on how much glass you could afford. Half-glazed windows were not unusual, with glass at the top and wooden panels at the bottom. Shutters allowed these solid panels to open and close to suit demand.
In the Victorian era, external shutters became popular. By this time, the walls of properties were thinner, so it was more viable to reach through the window to open or close the shutters. External shutters also allowed for more internal wall space.
As curtains and other options became more developed and widespread, wooden shutters lost their popularity. However, there is no doubt that they are a fabulous feature with wooden sliding sash windows and are hugely practical and functional.
We repair and restore old wooden sash windows and manufacture bespoke new ones in any shape, style or design. We are proud to blend the very best heritage techniques and traditional craftsmanship with modern materials to create functional windows with a strong design aesthetic. All our windows are optimised for their period authenticity, sound and draughtproofing, security and thermal regulation.
Contact us here to learn more about bespoke sash window design and our repair and restoration services.
