Where louvres are built to last

Few people buy a product without first thinking about how long it will last before needing to be repaired or replaced.

A cheap product will actually prove much more costly than the apparently more expensive version if it has to be replaced at a future point – it’s what the phrase ‘false economy’ denotes.

In the world of interior design, the choice between two entirely different options could become a whole lot clearer if it’s evident one will last longer than the other.

So it is with our shutters. High quality timbers and the finest contruction techniques ensure that all our hand-crafted shutters last a lifetime.

We use superior joints, of the type used in bespoke furniture, meaning the frames won’t split. Our reinforced stiles (the vertical beams on each side of the shutter) are thicker than those of inferior designers, so they will remain level and true for many years. Our louvres benefit from advanced tensioning, so they won’t droop over time.

Beyond the timber and craftsmanship, it’s the finish that can make a difference. Ideally it should show through the paint but not be felt over the wood grain. Whether stained or painted, shutters should have a minimum of two top coats. They should also have a UV-resistant finish to prevent discolouration by the sunlight.

They are going to be used a lot too. After all, it’s worth taking advantage of the flexibility (in terms of controlling light, ventilation or privacy) they give you.

Curtains get their fair share of use, too, but even the best quality ones will deteriorate after a few washes and the rubbing of fingers against their surface. Their other shortcoming is the temptation they offer children to grab one end and pull...resulting in the rail coming away from the wall.

Talking of children, the trailing cords associated with some curtains are considered a serious hazard, as there’s a risk of entanglement unless particular care is taken to conceal them.

To sum up, the quality of design of a premium shutter will make it timeless, pleasing feature in your room, whatever the ebb and flow of fashions, and the construction will make it last for as long as you want it.

Greek beginnings

Greece conjures up images of sun-filled holidays, azure seas or, less happily, a debt-laden country that’s caused European finance ministers more than a few headaches in recent months. But for Lifestyle Shutters, it is really worthy of note as the place to which we owe the origins of the shutter.

Not quite the shutter as we know it, though: archaeologists have established that the ancient Greeks used shutters with louvres, but with a notable difference in that the material used was marble rather than wood. As with modern shutters, they were a versatile window covering enabling light and fresh air to enter and, when drawn shut, a measure of privacy and security. Greece was, and is, prone to alarming thunderstorms, so the shutters were used as storm-protection to prevent rain getting in.


A Samos view

The shutter concept spread to other European countries: glass, used by the Romans in their grandest dwellings, was not a practical choice for most people. Timber slotted into window frames became the protection of choice for many medieval Europeans. For the poorest people, bundles of thatch stuffed into the apertures had to suffice. The first glass windows, including those which became widespread in churches and merchants’ homes in 13th century England, were thin and fragile, so for protection from the elements hinged shutters would be fitted both inside and out. As glass technology improved in the late 1600s, sash and casement windows, with interior shutters for protection, became standard.

Perhaps appropriately for a city that gave its name to a type of blind, Venice was the Western world’s centre of glass production in the middle ages.

As for shutters in modern Greece, tourists on Samos or other islands will not have failed to notice the gaily-coloured shutters in village houses. Recreating this look in your own home will add a splash of Mediterranean brightness to your property. Bright blue, green, pink... at Lifestyle Shutters we can help you choose a customised paint finishes from a choice of around 5000!

But we don’t recommend marble shutters.