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A Glimpse into the History of Shutters
Chances are, you have probably never taken the time to think about or read the history of shutters. However, this does not mean that shutters do not have a very interesting history. From ancient
Greece
to Medieval Europe and beyond, shutters have gone through many different transitions and changes. Even though shutters have gone through some changes over the course of time, one thing has remained consistent: they have always been one of the most effective home improvements. Whether you want to change your home's exterior, interior or both, shutters have always been able to provide homes with a fresh breath of air. So, with that being said, let's take a look at what has allowed shutters to remain popular for so long...
So, what is the purpose of having shutters?
Before we look at the actual history of shutters, it's important to understand why people purchase shutters in the first place. As we all know, shutters play a major role in the visual design of any home. However, shutters are more than just a pretty window decoration. In addition to appealing to the eye, shutters serve three major functions. The first (and most obvious) function is controlling the amount of light that enters a room. Whether you want to give your home a very open feel by allowing lots of natural light to enter, or prefer to minimize the amount of sunlight that enters your home, shutters give you the power to choose how much or little light makes its way through your windows and into the rooms of your house. When it comes to window shades, there is truly no other option that can provide the same level of comfort and flexibility as high-quality window shutters.
The second function of shutters is to provide ventilation. Louvered (lamellen) shutters allow you to not only let air circulate into your home, but also give you the ability to block out extremely hot sunlight. By utilizing the shutters to repel the heat of the sun, you can significantly lower the amount of your energy bill each month. As an added bonus, if it starts raining, you can point the louvers downwards and all of the rain will find its way straight to the ground (and away from your home's interior).
The last function of shutters is privacy. Regardless of how safe your neighborhood is, chances are that you don't want strangers peering into your home during the night. By purchasing a quality set of shutters, you can ensure that you and your family is safely out of view from the rest of the world. If you don't already have shutters for your home, you will be amazed at the added sense of security that they can give you.
Now that you are familiar with the three main functions of shutters, let's take a look at the role shutters have played during different periods in history...
Greece
: Ancient
Greece
is believed to be the place where shutters were conceived and introduced. According to experts, the people of ancient
Greece
used shutters as a means of dealing with the harsh sunlight and temperatures that resulted from the tropical environment. Unlike today's modern wooden shutters, the window shutters in ancient
Greece
had fixed louvers and were actually made from marble.
Mediterranean: When the concept of shutters spread from ancient
Greece
to the
Mediterranean
, shutters underwent their first major transformation. Although marble was the original material used for producing shutters, it didn't take long for people to figure out that wood was a much better material for making shutters. Thanks to this major reduction in weight, it was also possible to create movable louver shutters.
Lady Godiva: Although Lady Godiva actually lived in
England
during approximately 1040-1080, her involvement with the history of shutters is actually a legend. However, because it is such a popular legend (and amusing one), it seems appropriate to discuss it here. As the story goes, Lady Godiva's husband had enacted an oppressive toll on his tenants. In order to get the toll lifted, Lady Godiva rode nude through the streets on a white horse.
The part of this story that involves window shutters is an unlucky character named Tom. Although the entire town stayed indoors and shielded their eyes as Lady Godiva rode through the streets, Tom could not resist the temptation and peeked through his window shutters (hence the term "Peeping Tom"). According to the legend, Tom was struck blind shortly after laying his eyes on Lady Godiva.
15th Century Europe: Previous to the 15th century, the popular house designs throughout
Europe
had gone through several changes. During the Medieval period, solid shutters (normally with iron bars) were used as a means of protection from unwanted intruders. Another advantage of solid shutters during this time period was that they provided a significant amount of insulation, which was very important during times of bad weather. Once the Tudor and Elizabethan periods arrived, glass windows were introduced. However, due to the high cost of glass, only the top of the windows were actually made of glass, while the bottom half was still covered with a solid shutter.
It wasn't until the 15th century that hinged glazed sashes began appearing throughout
Europe
. Most experts agree that this was a turning point for window shutters because it was the most significant period in which they transitioned from strictly functional to a decorative accessory for homes. As time progressed, the construction materials used for building homes moved from stone and brick to wood. As this transition continued, exterior shutters became a part of more and more homes (this was due to the fact that the thinner wood walls actually allowed people to access their exterior shutters from within their home).
17th Century France: Although this story is another shutter legend and not shutters history, it is still a very interesting read. - According to folk lore, shutters were actually invented in
France
during the 17th century. As the story goes, Louis XIV was extremely fond of watching various women bath in the ponds that were spread throughout his gardens. Although Louis XIV was more than happy to spend his time watching these bathing women, he was less than thrilled to find out that many of his guards were spending their time doing the same thing (while they supposed to be keeping watch over his court and estate). In order to prevent them from continuing this practice (while allowing himself to partake in the viewing at any time), the tale says that he had movable louvered shutters installed all the way around the walls of his magnificent gardens.
Old South: During the time of plantation area of the American South, wealthy landowners built giant mansions to live in. To decorate (and ventilate) their giant homes, cotton landowners used shutters, which became known as "plantation shutters." In addition to being painted white, plantation shutters also had wider louvers than previous shutters had featured (most of the shutters found in the
New England
states fall into the category of possessing a narrower louver because the got their inspiration from the original English shutters).
Modern Times: In today's world, shutters are an essential window decoration. Whether you are looking to increase the value of your home by making some real estate improvements or simply want to give your house a make over, any respectable home design consultant will tell you that one of the best ways to accomplish this is with new window shutters. Of all the shutters that are available, plantation shutters are one of the most popular. Not only are plantation shutters considered more contemporary than traditional shutters, but they also offer a large amount of flexibility.
Whether you are looking to spruce up your living room, bathroom or virtually any other room in your home, plantation shutters are almost always a quality option. As discussed earlier, plantation shutters give you almost total control over the amount of light that enters a room. When the louvers are closed, plantation shutters can block out almost all of the light that could enter a room. However, the louvers can be easily adjusted to allow sunlight to fill an entire dining or living room. And, because they are wooden shutters, you can rest assured that they will look brand new for many years to come.
If this Glimpse Into the History of Shutters has piqued your interest, it's probably time for you to purchase a brand new set of high quality window shutters for your home. Whether you're looking for American shutters, Houten binnenluiken, bass wood shutters or aren't sure what kind of shutters you want for your home, Shutters Direct can help you find the perfect window decorations for your home. Whether you are into DIY or need professional home improvement help, Shutters Direct will work with to meet all your needs and expectations. In addition to serving the entire
Netherlands
area, Shutters Direct focuses on the following areas:
Bergen
op Zoom, Antwerpen,
Roosendaal
,
Helmond
,
Nijmegen
,
Dordrecht
,
Rotterdam
,
Tilburg
, Weert and
Zeeland
.
Annette Wilson is available to answer any questions that you may have on Interior shutters
http://www.shuttersdirect.nl
Raadhusistraat 63
4701PM
Roosendaal
The
Netherlands
0031 165 392 066
Webmaster@shuttersdirect.nl
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