When we bought our house years ago, it was new, but already built, so we weren’t able to make any changes to the finishes or add details like window trim. In the area where we live, houses are not built with even a windowsill, let alone full window trim. These all have to be added after, or you pay extra during the build. So, we knew we would eventually have to do something about it. Yet, year after year, our money went to other projects, like doing the backyard and adding in a pool, which was a massive undertaking, and adding lights throughout. Not to mention, adding decor and furniture so it felt like home.
But, over the years, having nothing but drywall around all the windows started to bother me. I wanted the windows to feel finished, and I love the way that wood window trim and shutters can add charm to a home. I’m very much into the Nancy Meyers/coastal grandma home aesthetic and when I look at those houses, I am always drawn to the use of shutters and drapes to add warmth and character to a space.
It’s honestly amazing how much window coverings can add to a space. Here’s a before picture of what the dining nook in our house looked like without anything. This is right after we moved in and only had some basic furniture. We had a kiddos birthday to celebrate, and this picture was taken the night after that party, so excuse the mess, but we live here, haha. (Anyone else wonder how all the houses on social media always look like model homes?). You can see how basic the room looks without even blinds on the windows.
Then, we got the light and the white blinds installed, and that added a little more life to the room. I normally wouldn’t have chosen blinds like this, but the builder offered them for free and we weren’t in a position to turn anything free down. They were nice quality, for blinds.
Over time, I added more to the space. Wallpaper on the back wall. Shelves. Art. Drapery. This all gave it a more cohesive look, but we knew we always wanted to add something else, like shutters.
Before and After Adding Shutters:
So, after talking about it for a long time, getting quotes, and looking at our options, we decided to work with Sunburst Shutters for our shutter install. We had shutters installed to every single window in our house, which was a big project, but definitely worth it. Now that we’ve lived with the shutters for a month, I’m happy to report that we’re thrilled with them. They add a little charm and refinement to our windows and home, while offering more features than just blinds. Just take a look at this before and after in our dining nook:
To see the room from a different angle, check this before and after out:
Almost looks like a different house! So, if you’re on the fence about whether to add window trim, like shutters, and drapery – I think these photos show you what a difference it can make to the look and feel for a home.
In fact, I always think of the big three whenever revamping a space: windows (which includes things like shutters, roman shades, drapery), paint, and lighting. Those three things can transform a space.
All About Our Sunburst Shutters:
There’s a lot of options out there for shutters. For us, the deciding factor was the quality of the Sunburst product, the lifetime warranty, and the design options. It can feel overwhelming when talking to lots of companies, like we did, but once we compared all of them, Sunburst became the clear winner for us. Here are the selections that we made for our shutters:
- Durable Polywood Shutters – The Polywood Shutters are made from recyclable wood substitute and painted with non-toxic paint finishes that are environmentally safe and below acceptable VOC emission levels. Because of the extreme heat that we see in this area, we didn’t want to risk wood warping, so we went with the much more resilient polywood shutter. These are 100% made in the US, have a lifetime warranty, and are moisture, temperature, and fire resistant, which we very much need. In fact, they are able to withstand extreme temperatures – even more so than our very hot summers. It’s a relief to know that if anything happens to them over time, they will be replaced.
- 4.5 inch Louver Size – The average is 3, but our windows are very wide and tall. I wanted to maximize the light and so that led to the 4.5-inch louvers for our house.
- Hidden Tilt – We went with a hidden tilt mechanism, which means you don’t see the bar down the middle in the front. You can see the mechanism from the side if you’re looking for it, but otherwise, it’s nice to have less obstruction to the view.
- Split Tilt – Also, I went with a split tilt, which I think is the coolest part of it. You can close the bottom or top, for privacy or to keep the light out of your eyes, but leave the rest of it open, for more natural light or to be able to see out. I love this feature a lot more than I thought I would. This wasn’t an added cost, either, it was included.
- Mini Craftsman Trim – It was important to me to have a trim option that matched the baseboards and other styles in our home. The mini craftsman trim was the perfect trim for us, but they had quite a few options, more than other people we talked to.
- Tax Credit – Sunburst Polywood shutters have an exclusive, patented weather stripping, which adds additional window insulation. This helps the shutters last longer than traditional wood shutters, and insulate up to 70% more efficiently. The result is lower heating and cooling costs by blocking up to 30 degrees of airflow and an additional tax credit up to $1200.
- Easy To Clean – A damp cloth is all it takes to clean these quickly and easily. So much faster than dealing with all of those skinny little blinds.
Shutter Installation:
We all know what a challenge it can be to have people in your home. Our experiences over the years have run the gamut from total nightmare to amazing. I am very grateful that the Sunburst installers were fantastic. They set up all the windows in the spaces before beginning to install them and then they got to work. They were able to do the entire two-story house, and dozens of windows, some requiring very tall ladders, in about four hours. They covered covered their shoes, cleaned up after themselves, took the old blinds away, and were generally very respectful of our home. We know too well that this is not always the case when hiring companies, so I appreciate great installers when we have them.
Things To Know:
Shutters are customized exactly to your window size and preferences, so you’ll want to go into your appointments with some idea of what you’re looking for.
Here are some things to consider: What is the weather like where you are? What style shutter do you like? What color do you want (some are only available in certain colors, while others can be painted any color)? What features are important to you (hidden tilt, split tilt, etc)? What kind of install time do you need? Sunburst wasn’t the fastest option, but it had everything we wanted, so we were willing to wait. If you’re looking to do something quickly, check with your local Sunburst franchise and let them know the time frame that you have and see if they can do it before signing a contract.
Also, see if you can look at the shutters you’re considering in a house near you. They’ll bring samples to your home, but it’s always different to see them fully installed. We were lucky in that our local Sunburst works with a builder that had model homes nearby, so we were able to go to the model homes and see the shutters installed. That really helped us make the decision, because we loved how the shutters looked in the model homes.
*****
Getting shutters is something we’ve been thinking about and saving up for for a long time. While it’s always nerve-wracking to make such an investment in our home, this has been one that we are very happy with. Now that we are moving quickly into what will be another hot summer, I am extra grateful to have that added layer of insulation to keep the cold air in and the hot air out.
I’ll be sharing more pics soon to show you the impact the shutters have made in other areas of the house.
Until then, feel free to go to Sunburst Shutters website and customize your own dream shutters.
Any questions? Leave them in the comments below!
Have a fabulous day,
E
