July 5th, 2012
Occasionally I will hear… “Shutters are too traditional for my space.” Like any good design element, shutters are versatile enough to fit most a variety of interiors.
It comes down to making the correct selections for your final vision of the space when they are ordered. Something an experienced shutter consultant will be sure to help you accomplish.
The project featured below was designed to compliment a craftsman style interior. Clean, crisp lines were in order. To that end the shutters were ordered without the standard tilt rod and boast a hidden tilt instead. The cut out for the doors lever radius was also modified. Instead of our standard rounded cut out, we used a square cut out to better compliment the lines of the home.
The result? A functional treatment that was a compliment to the style of the home. AG5MJPR5SZTR
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shutters on a french door with lever handle, square cut out.
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Windows before shutters
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After plantation shutter installation
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another after photo of shutters in craftsman style interior
Tags: craftsman shutter, custom shutter, Kirtz Shutters, plantation shutter, shutters on doors
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June 18th, 2012
If you are looking to dress up your window with a practical and gorgeous window treatment, plantation shutters are the way to go… If you want some serious WOW factor, consider adding a KIRTZ Shutter with a cornice top.
These windows started out as a dry wall wrapped window without any trim except a wood window sill and a piece of trim below. This maple shutter with 3 1/2″ louvers has a wide casing style frame on the sides, and for added drama, a cornice top. The cornice is complete with finished returns for a truly custom look.
A Cornice Top adds impact to these plantation shutters
Details such as finished returns and extra wide case enhance these plantation shutters
Cornice Top and Single Plantation Shutter
Can we help take your windows from ordinary to extraordinary? Give us a call at 800-416-6455
Tags: custom shutters, hardwood shutters, maple shutter, Plantation Shutter Design
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June 5th, 2012
I had the foresight on this recent project to take some photos before, so you can truly see how stunning the after can be with the right window treatments.
Initially the windows had been treated with faux wood blinds by the previous homeowner. The new homeowner loved the look of shutters and, like many parents, had safety concerns with the lift and tilt strings on the wood blinds.
Take a look at the transformation!
before plantation shutters
plantation shutter in breakfast nook by Kirtz Shutters
after adding 4 1/2" maple wood plantation shutters by Kirtz Shutters
The only thing I hate about these photos is that they don’t show the awesome view you get with a 4 1/2″ louver on a plantation shutter. To get them open enough to show that detail, the sunlight is so bright you can’t see anything at all! But, a 4 1/2″ louver is on 4″ spacing, meaning you only have a louver every four inches. Clients are AMAZED at how different that can make a room look.
These next photos show how a
Kirtz Shutter (especially a large louver) really does make a space feel more grand!
Home Office with Wood Blinds
Home Office with Plantation Shutter by Kirtz Shutters
Another question I am often asked… “Should I leave those second story windows open? I love the natural light!” Personally I sway back and forth on my answer to this question, but here is a look a a room where we did leave the windows open.
Kirtz Shutters in lower windows, transoms open
Call or email Kirtz Shutters today- We can help you with quality wood plantation shutters in your home!
800-416-6455
http://www.kirtz.com/wheretobuy.html
Tags: 4 1/2" Louvers, custom shutters, custom shutters oklahoma, Kirtz Shutters, maple shutters, plantation shutters, Quality Wood Shutters
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May 17th, 2012
Most all shutters bill themselves as custom– but a plantation shutter by KIRTZ Shutters? We take it to a whole other level. Recently, a designer in Alabama contacted us with a need for distressed shutters. We worked off of a photo of the furniture that was the inspiration for this piece, and some stain and paint color references to come up with a distressed finish sample the client got to approve before we finished the plantations shutters.
The finishing process is complicated to be sure… stain, paint, distress and glaze…. but distressed shutter custom matched to their design plan was exactly what they had in mind!
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Distressed Shutter and Antiqued with Glaze
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Distressed Shutter Antiqued and Glazed
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another shot of distressed shutter with antique glaze
Let us help you make your vision a reality, call Kirtz Shutters for your distressed shutter or antique shutter needs today… 800-416-6455.
Tags: antique shutter, distressed shutter, glazed shutter
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May 14th, 2012
A Kirtz Shutter on an eyebrow arched window is one of my favorite applications. There is no other window treatment that comes close to offering the same amount of functionality and beauty.
The homeowner for this shutter project wanted a way to block more light than her current treatment allowed. After seeing the Kirtz Shutter at the Wichita home show, she had us out to take a look and see what we could do.
eyebrow window
She decided on a 4 1/2″ louver with a tilt rod that is custom stained to match her existing window casing. We added a divider rail at the transom location. This allowed us to (a) mimic the design of the window and (b) recess the shutter deeper into the window jamb (if we had done louvers all the way up they would have hit the vertical mullion, requiring us to pull them out further into the room).
Notice how the shutter louvers are actually shaped to allow them to be functional and open and close…. No short cuts (big solid wood pieces at the arch portion) with a Kirtz Shutter!
4 1/2" Shutters in Eyebrow window
A BZ frame rests nicely on her existing casing, making it look like shutters had always been the plan for her window.
Give us a call to see what we can do for your windows… 800-416-6455
Tags: arch shutter, custom color shutter, eyebrow shutter, eyebrow window treatment, kansas shutter, maple shutter, oklahoma shutter
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November 2nd, 2011
Arch windows that are full half circles often represent a challenge for homeowners. These windows, which add architectural interest, often sit above large rectangle windows. By treating only the lower window sun damage and light control can often continue to be an area of concern.
Kirtz Shutters builds only the finest of custom plantation shutters, so when a homeowner came to us wanting to not only treat a large window with a 1/2 circle top with a plantation shutter, but also add decorative millwork, we were happy to oblige.
arch window before shutters
This sunburst, over 60″ in width makes a dramatic statement itself. Combine it with the large casing and keystone located at the peak, and the window changes this room from blah, to WOW!
arch 1/2 circle window with plantation shutters and sunburst top
A sunburst this large can only be made out of the true hardwood. Kirtz uses only maple for our painted product, not poplar or basswood like most manufacturers. That is because maple is twice as dense as basswood, letting us build a wider, taller and STRONGER shutter than average.
If you are searching for a shutter company that will build a product with excellence to address even your most complicated of windows, Kirtz Shutters is the company for you!
Tags: 1/2 circle shutter, arch shutters, best shutter, custom shutters, plantation shutters, sunburst shutter
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October 20th, 2011
After several years of a love affair with dark, rich woodwork we are having several requests to help homeowners “lighten up” a room with there plantation shutters.
Given the size of investment made when purchasing a plantation shutter, there is often a concern of future regret by the homeowner.
My professional opening on that matter can vary depending on the room itself, but I will say with utmost confidence that it can be done — and in a very tasteful way.
There are a two methods to do so:
Cover up casing with a new shutter and casing frame, thus eliminating any direct contrast of dark casing and painted shutters. The casing stays in place, so if the shutters ever come down, the original mill work design is still in tack (albeit with a few screw holes to touch up).
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Make the transition obvious and intentional. This works best when the painted shutter is chosen in a color to complement the existing trim. For instance, if you have rich, warm dark brown trim- choose a paint color with complementary undertones, such as a nice cream color as opposed to a stark, pure white. Then you will find the shutters look as if they were part of the design plan from the beginning. Of course, since we custom color match at Kirtz Shutters, your options are only limited by your imagination.
If you are building a house, you may have the opportunity to tie in other painted elements in the home so that the mix reads thoughtful and intentional.
Below shows a breakfast nook with beautiful stained mill work, and gorgeous painted Kirtz Shutters.
- Painted Shutters with Stained Casing
This photo goes to show that with just a little forthought, you can have shutters that compliment your homes design, even in a different finish!
Tags: custom shutters, paint and stain shutters mix, painted shutter, stained woodwork
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June 28th, 2011
This project shows the Kirtz Custom Shutter in a very traditional application. The panels are small, the louvers a 2 1/2″ wide. The shutter were built of Red Oak and custom stained to match the homeowners mill work.
The home, colonial in style, has corner blocks in window mill work. The windows were double hung and had about 1″ of mounting space. Although many shutter professionals will tell you the obvious choice was an outside mount, perhaps around the casing- that unnecessarily increases your cost by making the shutter unit larger, not to mention covers up what, in this instance, was very nice mill work.
Our solution?
An L frame that sits inside the window jamb, and protrudes out slightly past the casing. This allows the shutter to be inside the window, showing off the mill work, and yet allow enough room for the louvers to tilt without hitting the glass.
Then, to help make the transition, we sent our standard trim. The installer then cut a groove into the trim onsite so that it would miter flush around the corner blocks.
The result?
Shutters that look like they were part of the homes design, not an after thought.
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Bedroom Before
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trim notch corner block
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close up of shutter on corner block with trim
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traditional shutters in master bed
Tags: 2 1/2" louvers, custom color shutters, red oak shutters, stained shutters, traditional shutters
Posted in Plantation Shutter Design, Plantation Shutter Installation, Uncategorized | No Comments »
June 20th, 2011
This homeowner found her deck was no longer a private retreat for her family due to new construction in her neighborhood. Looking for a tasteful, long term solution she browsed the web until she found information about our Bahama Style Exterior Shutter. A conversation began via email and since she was so close to our shop, we handled the project turn key.
- Shutters are built from Cypress, which is a long lasting choice for exterior products
- The color is custom to match to the deck stain, which was Sherwin Williams Deckscapes, Hawthorne
- Hardware is fully functional
- Louver size is 3″- which is a nice scale for this size panels (apx 35 x 72″), but provides limited visibility when opened. Not a concern for this homeowner since the whole point of the shutters was to block the new less than desirable view
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This homeowners deck needs some privacy!
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View into deck before shutters
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Bahama Shutters Installed
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These bahama shutters help the deck feel intimate and private
Kirtz Shutters can help with your interior or exterior shutter projects! Give us a call at 800-416-6455.
Tags: custom shutters, exterior shutter installation, exterior shutters, fixed louver shutters, privacy shutters
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March 9th, 2011
This project is one of my favorites, as it show how versatile plantation shutters can be. They are right at home in this distinctly modern interior. The design work was done by David Smith Ltd, a firm based out of Chicago. I love working with these men– they are detail oriented and precise in the vision they have for their clients.
In this space…
3 1/2″ louvers were used to maximize the view, as this is a lakefront property.
Built out of white oak, Kirtz hardwood shutters were custom stained to match the hardwood flooring in the home.
Kirtz created a custom framing profile to compliment other mill-work in the space.
Here are a few before and after photos~
stairway window, almost 10 feet tall
Shutters on almost 10' tall window
custom trim profile milled by Kirtz
Whatever the shutter project, or the customized demands of the job,
Kirtz Shutters is ready and able to take on the challenge. From on-site consultation and specification, custom mill-work to professional installation by our crew, we are ready to take care of your needs.
Tags: custom match shutters, Kirtz Shutters, modern shutters, oak shutters, planatation shutters
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