Shutternots the Shutter Alternatives F.A.Q.'s

SHUTTERS: Choosing a Shutter Color

The first thing to distinguish with regard to shutternot color is the difference between the paint of your shutternot and the color of your house. This will emphasize the cutout of your shutter alternative and bring out the full impact of the design.

The second factor to consider when choosing a shutternot color is your motive and mission.  Do you want your shutternots to make a quiet impact or to stand out? Do you want to boldly capture attention or whisper a subtle statement?  If you own a business or commercial building, consider your purpose and product to help guide you toward the proper color choice.  In all cases, take into account an existing building's trim and decorating scheme to round out your consideration, and decide on a complementary shutternot color.

Choosing a paint color.  Paint is another beautiful and versatile shutternot color option and can create a precise mood, or add to an existing color scheme on homes and commercial or business buildings.  Certain colors create certain moods, so a color should always match or complement the function, service or product of the building.

In general, warm colors are uplifting, friendly and inviting, while cool colors are peaceful, calming and relaxing. 

• Red.  Red is a stimulating, energizing color and works especially well for restaurants and food stores as it has been proven to stimulate appetite.
• Orange.  Orange is a warm, friendly and welcoming color which grabs the eye's attention.  Orange works particularly well with children, such as for a preschool or toy store, and can also add energy to sites like health clubs and hobby stores.
• Blue.  Blue imparts feelings of calmness and tranquility, often desirable for doctor's offices and hospitals; dark blues, such as navy or midnight blue, add an element of formality or a tone of seriousness, such as for a bank or insurance company; bright blue, such as turquoise, is refreshing and invigorating at the same time, and might be considered for a health club.
• Green.  Green is the chief color in nature's palette and adds an air of relaxation.  Green is soothing and refreshing for hospitals, workplaces and schools.
• Neutrals.  If in doubt, a neutral color like black, tan, ivory or gray paint will always come through with an air of elegance and beauty, in nearly any situation or application.

Choosing a shutternot color is an enjoyable process that allows a home- or business-owner to tailor shutternots for a specific feeling or atmosphere.  Whether you seek a welcoming or an invigorating entryway, let the color of your shutternots speak volumes about you and your home or business!

SHUTTERNOTS:  Measuring for Shutternots

When it comes to measuring your windows for shutternots, taking the time today to get accurate measurements will ensure that your shutternots will fit perfectly and look their best for years to come.  It is well worth the time and effort to get good measurements - you'll agree when you see professional results that you achieved yourself!

First, you'll need to gather a few tools to help you measure your windows:  A tape measure, a pencil or marker, and a clipboard and paper will ensure accurate measurement-taking and a good way to record them.

Here are some tips to remember when measuring:

• Always take two or three measurements of each width or length to eliminate mistakes.  Being thorough today will make installation easier tomorrow!
• Record all measurements in inches, and round to the nearest 1/4". 
• First measure the width, then the height.
• Always take measurements from the inside of the window casement. 

To measure, follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way to a shutter job well done:

1. With your tape measure, first take the width of the window by measuring across the top of the casement, from left to right.  Record your number, and remember to round to the nearest 1/4".  This number is called the “pair width,” and is twice the width of one shutter.  Dividing the “pair width” by two tells you the approximate width your shutternots should be. You can order them more or less wide depending on your personal preferences. Remember though, this is old practices for wooden shutters. This is not necessarily what you need to order.
2. Next, measure the height of the window.  Measure inside the casement from the top to the bottom, and record this number the same way as you did in step #1.  This tells you the length your shutternots should be.
3. Repeat for each remaining window, being careful to distinguish differently-sized windows from each other.  You can designate windows by which wall they are on, or what position they are in (i.e. “third window on South wall”) or by which room they open to on the inside of the house (i.e. “Dining room window”).  Designating which windows go with which measurements will help when it comes to keeping track of which windows have been measured, and which you have left to measure, and will also come in handy when ordering and installing your shutters. 
4. Use your measurements to order the size of shutternots you need for each window on your house! 

SHUTTERNOTS: Shutternot Applications and Ideas

When most people think of shutters, they picture a residential application on the exterior of a home… but shutternots are a much more versatile, useful accessory than just the obvious!  In addition to gracing the exterior of a home, shutters can be used to complete a wide variety of do-it-yourself crafts and projects both inside the house and outdoors, as well as to make a statement at business and commercial sites.

Adding shutternots to the exterior of a home adds curb appeal and a unique identity to the facade, as well as conveying the homeowner's sense of style. It is common for homeowners to utilize indoor window dressings such as curtains, valances, draperies, shades and blinds to create a feel and style for each room in the home; achieving the same effect on the exterior of a home is possible through the addition of shutter alternatives.  With numerous custom options regarding our alternative shutter style, there is an infinite realm of possibility for adding beauty and personality to the outside of a home.  

In addition to adding shutternots to a home's windows, consider other outdoor shutternot applications, such as garages and tree houses.  Shutternots on garage windows add zip to a part of the house that is normally forgotten, making it fit in with the rest of the residence. When combined with a matching window-box and possibly a cupola on top of the roof, the garage becomes a spunky structure with both style and character.  For homeowners with children, the addition of shutternots to a tree house or backyard fort provides yet another way to personalize or dress up the play structure.  Shutternots can add a whimsical touch, a piece of Victorian gingerbread, or rustic charm to a child's play area.

Business applications.
For business owners, adding exterior decorative shutternots is a way to capture clients' attention with style.  The most recent trend in shopping districts is a reversion back to outdoor, open-air malls and plazas; business owners are once again having to consider the outer facade of their buildings, and shutternots can help create an inviting entrance and an exterior with personality.  With wide-ranging style and design, shutters can range from formal to whimsical.    

Commercial applications.
For commercial companies whose business is in supply, distribution, wholesale or manufacturing, functionality and practicality may necessitate a boxy, plain, or even warehouse-like building.  But the addition of shutternots can serve many functions, including as “dressing up” an otherwise-plain building.  Adding color and interest to a commercial building is one way of creating a warm, welcoming facade with personality for both clients and employees, as well as for creating a good first impression.  Another function of shutternots on a commercial building is to distinguish customer service areas and entrances from truck or delivery entrances; when clients see shutternots on the windows outside, they automatically know they are in the right place.

SHUTTERNOTS:  Caring for Shutternots

Shutters used to have the practical purpose of protecting a home's window openings from harsh sun and rain, and even though most of today's shutters are solely decorative, they still face the elements every day of the year.  Our Alternative Shutters are virtually maintenance free. All you have to do is wash down with a hose like you would with your home. Avoidance of high pressure water hose is highly recommended and we can not be held responsible for damage occurred from its use.

SHUTTERNOTS: Adding Value with Decorative Shutternots

The presence of shutters on a building used to add a practical value - in times of heavy rain and wind or intense sun, shutters would block the elements.  But with the development of modern glass and window casings, the value of functional shutters has waned.  However, today, the use of shutters has been sustained for one primary reason:  installing exterior decorative shutters is one of the quickest, easiest and least expensive ways to add value to homes and business buildings.  Through the use of color, shutter style and paint color, decorative alternative shutters impart an instant punch of beauty, elegance and timelessness.  Shutternots can be tailored to fit a building, much the way a fine suit is tailored to fit a human body, to emphasize a specific, unique personality or purpose.

Shutternots add value to homes.
Installing alternative shutters to the exterior of a home adds value in a number of ways.  First of all, shutternots add to the personality of a home, and can help emphasize an existing color scheme, theme or decorating style.   

Additionally, since shutternots frame windows, they bring focus to the windows, making them look bigger, and can serve to “break up” large, expansive walls that may appear monotonous or boring.  Furthermore, for homeowners with a house on the market, adding shutternots is a great way to add curb appeal to a home, and make an immediate impact on prospective buyers.

The great thing about Shutter Alternatives is that you can have different spaces to your home. Decorate the garden area whimsical, the side of your house with nature and the front of your home with geometric or with a floral touch. The choice is yours. Go with it and make it your own.

Shutternots add value to business and commercial buildings.
Shutternots also add numerous aspects of value to offices, shops and boutiques, as well as to warehouses and manufacturing sites. For businesses and offices, shutternots can impart an enticing, inviting feeling to people driving or walking by.  They add a finished feeling to any building, and with a punch of color can even serve to grab potential customers' attention!  A beautiful and well-maintained building or office creates a good impression about your business, displays pride of ownership and creates a sense of professionalism.  An additional benefit of shutternots besides attracting customers or clients is to help provide a warm, inviting setting that is welcoming to employees. 

Whether you own a home or a business building, shutternots can impart several layers of value to your structure.  With a little thought and creativity during the designing process, shutternots will help to convey your personal sense of style as well as a bit of elegance and originality.