Archive for the ‘Cool Projects’ Category
Monday, January 25th, 2010
Another unique custom shutter to move through our facility recently was an ellipse shape that was destined for a home in Florida. There are a few features that made this plantation shutter stand apart from the rest.
1) Solid Walnut Plantation Shutter
2) Special 7″ deep framework served as an extension jamb designed to work with European style windows made by Tischler Und Son windows.
3) Unit size was 136 1/4″ wide by 39 1/2″ tall
4) Ellipse shape required the hands of our most skilled artisans.
5) Shutter panels on the wings had fixed louvers per the customers request and the center pair were operable.
This walnut shutter spanned over 136" wide
- Notice the elliptical curvature of this custom walnut shutter.
Do you have a highly custom project? If so, we can help! Call us at 800-416-6455.
Tags: architectural shaped shutters, cirular plantation shutters, custom shutters, florida shutters, kansas shutters, oklahoma shutters, plantation shutters, shaped window treatments, tischler und son windows, walnut shutters
Posted in Cool Projects, Plantation Shutter Design | No Comments »
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
Yet another unusual custom shaped shutter shipped from our facility this week. These shutters, were headed to a home in NY and had an insect screen built into them!
How did we do it?
- The shutter was made at 2 1/4″ thickness, this is 1″ thicker than our standard plantation shutter. As with all painted Kirtz Shutters, they were made of solid maple.
- The stiles (side pieces) were made 3 1/8″ wide (an 1″ wider than standard) and the rails were made flush with the stile.
- 2 1/2″ louvers were used and rather than center them in the middle of the stiles, as is our standard process, they were moved forward. This allowed the shutter louvers to fully pivot open and closed without protruding from the backside of the shutter.
- A groove was cut in the backside of the shutter all the way around it. The insect screen was stretched tight, and vinyl cording pushed into the groove was used to secured the screen in place. This is very similar to how screens are inserted into aluminum frameworks for windows.
- Finally, a custom piece of trimwork was made and placed so that it covered the grooved area for a clean finished look on the backside.
Arched Plantation Shutter with insect screen inserted into custom groove
Trim covers insect screen in this custom shutter
Plantation Shutter (backside) complete with insect screen
- plantation shutter, frontside, with insect screen
The Kirtz Shutter factory has amazing flexability for two reasons. First, the right tools. We do it all in house, from making parts to speciality finishes. Second (and most important), the people. Kirtz Shutters is composed of many skilled men and women in each department who are not afraid to tackle the most unique of challenges when building a custom shutter.
Tags: custom shutters, photos of plantation shutters, plantation shutters, shaped shutters, unique shutters
Posted in Cool Projects, Plantation Shutter Design | No Comments »
Friday, July 24th, 2009
Yesterday we finished a plantation shutter installation at a new branch of SNB, a local bank, with national presence. Just like many of our jobs, this was a “one off” of Kirtz custom shutters. Let me explain, with some photos to help.
Designer Request:
Make each window opening appear as one seamless unit, and provide a finished casing around the opening. Build the custom shutters out of oak and custom stain them to match the flooring.
Sounds simple, right?
The Challenge
When the windows arrived from the manufacturer the transom portion that seamed to the lower window did not line up uniformly. This is because both outside and inside jambs of the upper unit were different widths than the jambs of the lower unit.
The Solution
Kirtz mounted the oak shutter and frame inside the window jamb with custom width framing around each unit. This allowed us to align the stiles (vertical part of the shutter) so that each shutter panel is the same width and provides a continuitous vertical line.
One issue solved, one to go…….
The Challenge
Standard work of applying casing onto a frame at the factory would not provide a cased look to the opening since this opening had to be installed as four separate shutter units due to the window jamb issues mentioned above.
The Solution
Custom width casing was milled to be applied in the field around the entire window unit. These trim pieces not only surround the outside of the opening, but run along all vertical and horizontal window mullions to provide a uniform cased appearance, eliminating any hint of the window’s irregularity.
The windows before hardwood shutters
This illustrates the different jamb widths of the window pre-shutter installation
This close up illustrates how we unified the upper and lower units to look cohesive
Thefinished unit
Tags: custom shutters, harwood shutters, oak shutters, plantation shutters, shutters in commercial spaces
Posted in Cool Projects, Plantation Shutter Design, Plantation Shutter Installation | 1 Comment »
Monday, July 20th, 2009
Architectural Shaped windows such as triangles, arch tops, ovals, circles and hexagons all present many challenges when choosing a window covering.
This blog is focusing on triangle shaped, or Rake Top window openings.
Plantation Shutters are a great choice for Rake Windows for several reasons
- You can treat the entire opening, not just the rectangle portion, thus allowing greater privacy and light control
- They are one of the only window treatments that once installed into the shape that are functional instead of fixed, allowing you to control the light that enters the room.
- Every type of triangle is possible. Unlike other window coverings, shutters have no restrictions on width, height or degree of angle, making even the most challenging of window possible.
Just as your window is an architectural statement for your home, the window treatment you choose should complement and enhance it. If you choose shutters (which I hope you will) be sure that the company you choose makes all the louvers movable in rake tops with horizontal louvers. See my earlier post about arch top windows for more info on that subject and why it matters. If you order a burst shape, be certain that the center hub is in proportion to the size of your window so that your finished product looks like a custom piece of millwork that belongs in your beautiful window.
Custom Shutters from Kirtz Shutters do just that. The photos below are a couple examples of homes that used Kirtz Shutters to compliment their triangle shaped windows.
rake shaped windows before plantation shutterspartially open rake top shutters
Knotty Pine Shutters by Kirtz Shutters, Triangle (rake) shaped shuttters
A gothic arch show the burst concept for triangle shaped windows
Tags: angle topped shutters, architectural shaped shutters, custom hardwood shutters, knotty pine shutters, lodge shutters, plantation shutters, rake shutters, rustic shutters, shaped windows, triangle windows
Posted in Cool Projects, News & Events, Plantation Shutter Design, Plantation Shutter Installation, Plantation Shutter Styles | 2 Comments »
Friday, July 10th, 2009
This post is about a very special project for Kirtz Shutters. We just completed installation of walnut shutters for Coach Gundy’s office, the head football coach of Oklahoma State University. Go Pokes!
Our company is composed of many individuals who “bleed orange”, no one more so than our owner, Chris. So needless to say, we felt privileged to have the opportunity to work on this project.
But lets talk about the shutters, there are a few unique charecteristics to note about this project.
1) These are WALNUT hardwood shutters. Walnut is beautiful, but challenging to finish due to the large amount of sapwood in the lumber. The sapwood produces a great deal of color variation throughout the wood. On this job we used “premium” walnut, which contains less sapwood than normal and our finish department spent many hours tweaking the custom finish between coats to give a nice even look to the wood while maintaining the beauty of the wood grain.
2) The Wall Curves: This office is located in the end zone of the stadium and we had to account for the curvature of the half wall on which the shutters sit. We did this during installation by cutting down trim on site to fit the curve of the wall, thus giving it a nice even reveal down the length of the wall.
3) Plantation Shutters Sliding on a Track: These are a great option for sliding doors. We build a frame around the shutters that allows for the installation of two tracks in the header of the frame. The shutters have cars attached to the top of them and can then by-pass each other to allow access to the doors, or be moved over the doors and the louver’s open.
4) 4 1/2″ Louvers with Hidden Tilt: This is truly becoming one of our most popular product features. Check out the photo below to see just how wonderful the visibility can be with this feature!
Walnut Shutters, Hidden Tilt, Louvers Closed
Walnut Planation Shutters, Sliding custom shutters run to the floor
4 1/2" Louvers, View Outside
Tags: custom shutters, custom shutters oklahoma, hardwood shutters, hidden tilt shutters, how to install shutters, plantation shutters, shutter configurations, shutters for sliding doors, shutters in commercial spaces, walnut shutters
Posted in Cool Projects, Plantation Shutter Design, Plantation Shutter Installation | 2 Comments »
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Sunrooms are great, but in many parts of the country they are down right unbearable during the intense summer and winter months.
Have you ever thought about Plantation Shutters for your sunroom?
Plantation Shutters will:
- Add greater energy efficency, saving you money
- Allow greater control of intense sunlight that can fade furnishings
- Add beauty and charm to your sunroom
In order to maximize the original purpose of the room (openness to the outside) there are a few design tips to keep in mind.
- Order a large louver size (the larger the better)
- Consider adding hidden tilt, to keep the least amount of obstruction to your view
- Order your shutter panels as large as is reasonable with your window configuration. This will minize the presence of too many stiles (vertical piece of the shutter) taking up more space than necessary. Kirtz will build custom shutters with warranty up to 38″ wide. We’ve often successfully built larger than 38″ wide panels, consult a sales rep for more details if you are interested.
Customization for Your Needs
The standard plantation shutter in a sunroom is typically set in a frame, and the shutter panel is hinged to the frame.
Another option is to place your shutters on a sliding track. The benefit of this configuration is that one shutter panel will slide over another, fully opening up 1/2 of the window without swinging into the room. This makes furniture placement much easier. However, determining if this application will work for your sunroom is important, as a slider shutter frame is typically 5 1/2″ deep, compared to a standard shutter frame that is only 2- 2 1/2″ deep.
sunroom before shutters
plantation shutter panels closed, louver open
shutter panels slid open, louvers closed
Tags: custom shutters, hardwood shutters, oak shutters, plantation shutters, shutters for sunrooms, sunroom window treatments
Posted in Cool Projects, Plantation Shutter Design, Plantation Shutter Installation, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, June 11th, 2009
This job was running through our finish department and I just had to share! We’ve never done ANYTHING like it before. It is two plantation shutter panels meant to install with the 5 1/2″ louvers running vertically (two firsts for us!). These panels are massive with 2 panels 62″ high x 84″ . They will sit side by side in a wood opening and will be doweled together on-site during installation. Did I mention they are a custom stained red oak?
These go in a funeral home, and the idea is to offer privacy for the family, but still allow them to see out into the chapel where the service is held. We used a hidden tilt bar so that there are no interruptions in the sight line for the family. Notice the two bottom pics. The louvers are set partially open. Notice how one side offers visibility while the other angle privacy?
More photos showing how these look in the room setting will be added once they are installed.
But really ~ have a unique project? Call us! I’m about convinced we can do any type of custom shutter, and make it look good.
View when the 5 1/2" vertical louvers are closed
vertical louvers, family view out to chapel
5 1/2" vertical louvers, chapel side
I promised an update when I had installation pictures, and here they are!
opening before installation
5 1/2" louvers (aka california shutters) run vertical, hidden tilt ~ open 5 1/2" red oak vertical louvers, closed
5 1/2" red oak vertical louvers, closed
Tags: 5 1/2" louvers, funeral home partitions, oak plantation shutters, oak shutters, oversize shutters, partition shutters, plantation shutters, vertical louvered shutters, vertical louvers
Posted in Cool Projects, Plantation Shutter Design, Plantation Shutter Styles, Why Kirtz?, design | 3 Comments »
Friday, June 5th, 2009
Exterior Shutters are a small segment of what we do, but occasionally someone will want a plantation style exterior shutter and turn to Kirtz for help with their project.
There seems to be some confusion about what makes a plantation shutter exterior or interior grade, so here is a brief explanation of what to look for in an exterior shutter.
Wood Species- exterior shutters that stand the test of time are made of western red cedar, cypress (pecky or clear), or mahogany. These woods naturally repel water and insects, making them the longest lasting most durable choice. not to mention the beauty of handcrafted mahogany shutters!
Fasteners and Glue- Make sure your manufacturer is using exterior grade glue and stainless steel staples (found on moveable louvers). Otherwise, the joints of the shutter will fail and the fasteners will quickly rust. This is especially true if your home is near ocean air, as salt can be very corrosive.
Finish: A marine quality finish is recommended. A good finish will protect your purchase, so don’t skimp in this area. Shutters used for exterior projects made by Kirtz can be ordered with a marine finish, or raw and you can source the finish work yourself.
Even with a great finish, maintenance will be required. Your shutters should have a new protective coat added to them every few years. It varies depending on your climate and their exposure to the elements how often this needs to be done. It is a good idea to look them over ever year for signs of damage.
Below are some picture of exterior shutters we built for a home in Florida.
These louvers are fixed at an unusual angle to allow visability looking out of the home, but obstructing the view of those looking inside
This gorgeous indoor/outdoor space is complemented by these shutters used as doors
fixed louvered shutters by Kirtz, bahama style
Tags: exterior finish for shutters, exterior shutters, mahogany shutters, plantation shutters, western red cedar shutters, wood shutters
Posted in Cool Projects, Plantation Shutter Styles, Why Kirtz?, design, exterior shutters | No Comments »
Friday, May 29th, 2009
Recently we have worked on a number of projects that have required specialty multi-step finishes.
Distressed Shutters have been especially popular lately. This is one of my favorite things that we do, because we do it very well. Lots of kudos must be given to the head of our finish department, Allen. He has both the skill and the willingness to do this type of work.
How does this process work?
Any time we match a finish we request a physical sample. This is incredibly important in specialty finishes because each finish is unique. Did the original finisher have a heavy hand, or a light hand when he wiped off the glaze? What tool was used to do the distressing? A wire brush? Chains? A wheel? There are an incredible number of variables, and since these shutters are often going up against millwork or paneling, it is critical to get a good match.
So we bring a sample that shows the finished look, and the stain department does a strike-off (or sample) of their ability to replicate the finish on your plantation shutters. This is then provided to the homeowner/designer for their approval. Once approved, we proceed with the finish work. Distressed, glazed, antiqued and sand thru finishes are going to have a longer than average lead time, due to the complexity of the finish. But just like fine wine, it’s worth the wait.
Here are just a couple of photos of specialty finishes that have gone through our factory lately.
stained, distressed red oak shutters
exterior shutters with a sand through finish
painted and glazed knotty alder result in an antique distressed look
As nice as these distressed and specialty finished shutters look, they are all an effort to duplicate an old world look. And the best way to get an authentic old work look is to use old wood.
Enter wormy chestnut……
The short version of the story is its old, like 100 years old. So all that patina and distressing was actually earned by the wood through years of use. Pretty cool, huh? The picture below shows wormy chestnut shutters with a tobacco hued stain. It looks great with a clear finish too, but this stain really gives it some nice warmth. This wood, more than any other wood, is one that people gravitate towards when we put it on display.
Another wood that gives a nice authentic decayed look is Pecky Cypress. This wood has been attacked by a fungus that eats the wood. This in turn makes lens shaped pockets throughout the tree. The result is a very attractive multi-dimensional wood. We treated this pecky cypress
hardwood shutter with a heavy black glaze, thus intensifying the appearance of variation of the surface.
Pecky Cypress with a glazed finish
This is just a sampling of our work that I could pull up quickly this afternoon to show the variety in finishing techniques we use. If you don’t see what you are after, that is only because you haven’t asked us to build (and finish) it yet. Give us a call and lets see what we can do for you!
Tags: antique shutters, custom finish plantation shutter, custom finish shutters, custom shutters, distressed shutters, distressing, glazed shutters, multiple step finishes on shutters, pecky cypress, sand through shutters, specialty finish shutters, wormy chestnut, wormy chestnut shutters
Posted in About Us, Cool Projects, Plantation Shutter Design, Plantation Shutter Styles, design | No Comments »
Monday, April 20th, 2009
Come check out Kirtz Plantation Shutters in the Wichita Parade of Homes going on now through May 3rd. We can be seen in one of the newest premier developments by Ritchtie Development called the Waterfront, located just east of Webb road off 13th Street. We are in model #1 (also the sales office) in the master bedroom, dining and living area.
Susan Kromer, the fantastic designer who is responsible for this homes design, specified 4 1/2″ louvers with hidden tilt, custom painted to match the trim. You will be amazed at the view through the shutters, and at what an amazing house it is. So, check it out!
Tags: Kirtz Shutters, plantation shutters, shutters on display
Posted in About Us, Cool Projects, News & Events | No Comments »
