There's a debate going on at the Ten June household.
And it involves one last thing that may or may not go on the living room tweak to do list.
Boom. Plantation shutters.
When we first purchased the house, the gorgeous blinds were a selling point. I absolutely loved them. Loved. Yes, I just wrote in past tense. The loving of the plantation shutters has now ceased. Believe it or not, I am now voting to get rid of the plantation shutters. Let me make my case.
Our lovely living room is simply a small rectangle. And the windows in the room face the southeast, so we get very little sun in the late afternoon and early evening, otherwise known as the main times of day that we spend in the room. Here's what the room looks like in the late afternoon, blinds closed.
Even with the blinds open (you can see that some of them are broken and don't love to stay open!), very little light enters the room. Because of the furniture we have in front of the windows, it's tough to open up the shutters altogether (they can be completely opened and pulled away from the window like the dining room photo you see below), so we tend to just crack each blind open as you see in this picture. Still not a lot of light in the room. Sad faces.
Oh and did I mention the little guys need painting? Both the plantation shutters in the living room and the dining room are currently the yucky yellow color I described yesterday. They all need a fresh coat of white paint, which means hiring someone or renting a paint sprayer. Phew. I'm exhausted already.
The dining room tends to stay dark as well. Blinds closed...
...and open. Let there be light.
My vote? Get rid of the shutters altogether. Pull them down, sell them on Craigslist and add a window treatment or two. I think that removing the shutters will make the living room look much larger and, of course, will lighten and brighten the space.
David, on the other hand, thinks my suggestion would be equivalent to committing house murder.
"Those babies are expensive!"
"The plantation shutters look great and add all kinds of southern-y, awesome charm!"
"Window treatments are a whole other world of scary, expensiveness!"
"Renting a paint sprayer to spruce the blinds up would be easy!"
"I love them like a fat kid loves cake!"
Ok maybe he didn't really say all of that, but that's close enough to his arguments. Not to mention he's got my sister, our neighbors and the original homeowners (who, by the way, added the beautiful shutters to the home twenty years ago) on his side. I'm not sure I stand much of a chance.
So, my blogging friends... dare I ask... what do you think? Are the plantation shutters keepers?!
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i think some nice long curtains would be great in both rooms, especially in the dining room! they would suit the style of the room so well! and i always think plantation shutters are cool, but i know they are more maintenance, they can break, they need more cleaning and are harder to clean.... so in theory they are great but in reality not as great.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tough call but I do think David's right that they add a lot of charm. On the other hand I see your point too. I would probably keep mine open all the time and just have them for the detail. Plus they add a lot of resale value to your home. Yeah, I'm just thinking out load and not offering a lot of help at all, am i?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that curtains would be more airy and bright in both rooms. Plantation shutters are nice and definitely add that southern charm, but they don't scream fresh and modern. I've never taken them off, so this may be a ridiculous suggestion, but could you remove them and keep them (and the hardware) in case you change your mind later? This way you could also pass them on to future homeowners, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so torn on this exact same thing. I wrote a post with some inspiration pictures trying to decide whether to add the curtains and keep the plantation shutters or remove the shutters and add matchstick shades for texture. I still haven't decided so for now I have curtains with the shutters: http://wp.me/p1soQX-19M
ReplyDeleteWe have 20 year old white 2 inch wood blinds (plantation shutters only in our master bath). I personally would kill for shutters in my home. You can close them, you can open them, easy to control the light...but mostly because I (and my allergies) are not a huge fan of window treatments everywhere. They are pricey, and if you want to change out your rooms decor (which I love to do)...it would make it more difficult. Shutters match everything-and can be country, traditional, or modern.
ReplyDeleteI am such a bad person to ask because i LOVE natural light....literally when we look at homes, if there isn't much, I am like...nope...next. So, my vote is to take them down! But--I say hold on to those puppies for a while just in case.
ReplyDeleteI purchased shutters about a year ago for my living room and L-O-V-E them. But I think I love them because they work great for my space and decor. I think they work well for your space, too, but based on your decor, I think window treatments would be more fabulous. You seem to like texture and color- and well shutters don't always work well in those "sichiations..." Good luck with that battle sista!!
ReplyDeleteI think you should take them down and store them... maybe start with some inexpensive curtains (ikea?) and see if you can convince your H. I agree they are expensive and you never know if you'll want to change back and you'll be glad you still have them...
ReplyDelete(I don't think I have ever commented before but I found you through Natasha months ago... love your style!)
We have shutters in the bedrooms and breakfast room. I like them but prefer curtains/drapes in the living and family rooms. Especially because these rooms face north and do not get a lot of light. Being able to pull back the curtains completely, let in all the light possible and have them frame the windows really works in these spaces. It is hard to get rid of expensive window treatments but, hey, just because it costs $$$ doesn't mean you have to live with it forever!
ReplyDeleteI say sell them! I Love drapes and how it makes a room feel cozy. I would buy them from you and make a table top from them but I live to far away. :0( I say change is always good
ReplyDeletePainting and fixing the shutters sounds like a real pain, but I'm a lover of plantation shutters. What about keeping the shutters and hanging curtains. Could be the best of both worlds. Plus, then you could spend a little less money on them since you wouldn't need to close them for privacy.
ReplyDeletethey look great but don't seem to be all that functional...i vote you sell them and use the winnings to get some airy window treatments!
ReplyDeleteI think they are keepers (obviously that's just my opinion.. it's *your* house!). I think they really are charming, and the added layer gives the rooms some built-in texture and architectural interest.
ReplyDeleteI would say, paint the shutters, frame them with some light curtains, and if the light/opening issue in the living room is still intolerable for you, maybe look at modifying your furniture layout to better accommodate the shutters. Just my 2 cents worth.
Good Luck!
i say get rid of them. i LOVE a lot of light (and plants!) in our home so i wouldnt be able to deal with it being that dark. plus if you dont love them then its not worth it to pay the money to get them painted. xo
ReplyDeleteI have a sort of wishy washy vote! I think you should take them down and keep them just in case or, ( I checked out plantation shutters on pinterest...which I'm sure you've already done) and they had some options with open shutters and curtain panels on the side. I totally agree the more light the better but I do love them and think they are unique. Whatever you decide will be fabulous and I can't wait to see.
ReplyDeleteAs a compromise, what about shutters for only the bottom half of the windows. This still gives you privacy, and the look, but with more light! Just a thought.
ReplyDeletei can 100% relate to you...but i still love my p.shutters and don't want to give them away hah! the shutters were a selling point in the house and i love them, but they make the rooms so dark! i sleep in so late because i keep thinking it's the middle of the night...not cool, i love me some sunlight. and the yellow color sucks..i'm going to paint them soon, like next year soon. oh, and did i mention the previous owner let their dogs chew the boards? awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'd def hang onto the shutters, even if you decide to take them off. They ARE gorgeous, and there are a ton of things you could do with them. And while I love them, I think I love light more.
ReplyDeleteOh I totally see your point. I adore the idea of Plantation shutters and totally see how the add to the whole Southern Charm of a home which I love, but I hate a dark home. My parents house has shutters as well and the second I get in I started opening everything out, because it's too dark.
ReplyDeleteI would carefully remove them and store them and then hang some long panels. Perhaps compromise and just get rid of them in the living room and leave the dining room one.
as much as i heart plantation shutters..i think you have a strong case.
ReplyDeleteLove the plantation shutters! What if you got curtains and hide them behind the curtain panels? That way you can have the versatility of both?
ReplyDeleteRemove them and save all the hardware, store for a short time (while the new window treatments grow on everyone) and then pass them on to someone who loves them like your sister or the original owner. I bet they won't want them either : )
ReplyDeleteDee
I'm a big fan on plantation shutters, but I love curtains, too. Couldn't you add window treatments to get the best of both worlds? I also think painting them will make a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you choose, it's going to be fabulous.
Lose them! Light always wins out for me. That's it. Easy!
ReplyDeleteI've always said I love plantation shutters and will have them in my future home, but your case of no light has me torn. Living in Seattle, I know how big of a deal LIGHT is! I'd either do what Natasha said, or just scrap them and get some fun drapery panels!
ReplyDeleteI understand the love for plantation shutters, they do add a lot of charm. But I also think adding some drapery panels to the side will add a lot of depth to the room..and not all curtains are expensive. Ikea has very reasonable options that you could buy just to see if you like it. I would leave the shutters and hide them behind the curtain panels!
ReplyDeleteEveryone has curtains! I wish our house could get away with having plantation shutters. Def need to keep them!
ReplyDeleteI was about to launch into a big 'they are gorgeous, so expensive, people love them' speech...then I remembered the advice I try to use in my own home. YOU live there, YOU have to love it NOW. Who cares about the people that will live there after you...who knows when that will be?!?!? If you don't love them, get rid of them. it's like not painting an inherited piece of furniture, or not using 'the good china'...do what makes you happy.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the storage space, keep them for when you sell and tell new buyers all the plantation shutters are stored and stay with the house??
I'm popping in late on this- but I would take them down- put up curtains but store them somewhere- it would be a shame to get rid of them and then decide you want them at some other time...;)
ReplyDeleteTake them down! Keep them so if you don't like the way it looks you can replace them. What is the fun in designing if you cannot experiment?
ReplyDeleteI vote to take them down! You can buy (or even make very easily) some curtains that are inexpensive. Also, you can always just keep them in the basement and if you change your mind you can put them back on! ;)
ReplyDeleteI say take them down!! Blasphemy to some, but I'm all for change if it's going to brighten your space and make mama happy. :)
ReplyDeleteHeidi @ Show Some Decor
PS- in full disclosure, I JUST TODAY made the decision to chunk the {expensive custom} blinds in my dark-ish dining room and try window treatments instead. Be bold! We can be Thelma and Louise! ;-)
Eeek...at first I was thinking Noooooooo they are so great, but you didn't have to twist my arm very much - show your hubs some photos of how awesome curtains can make a room. That should hopefully sell him on it, hopefully.
ReplyDeleteI actually LOVE plantation shutters and have been thinking of putting them in my living room for years. My only problem is the low light just like yours. I know - it really is a hard decision. Sorry - I guess I am not a big help!
ReplyDeleteLet there be light!! I say get rid of them and put up some nice panels.
ReplyDeleteI would get rid of them in a heartbeat, however I live in the north and we need LIGHT and the softness that fabric window treatments in a room provide. Shutters look like dust collectors to me, and I hate to dust. Luckily my husband has few opinions about decorating our house though. So I guess you'll have to decide if it's a battle worth fighting...
ReplyDeleteThey scream late 80's early 90's! Get rid of those (light) suckers! Put them on Craig's List and get some new beautiful panels. Men hate change. They think you decorate once and your are done forever. Start your fabric shopping tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to your blog and definitely agree with you, get rid of the shutters. One of the first things I said when we moved into our home 2 years ago to our realtor was that I was going to ditch them. Her jaw dropped for the same reasons your hubby wants to keep them, and I LIVE in the south . . . the windows face south and east, but it's covered in trees in the back as well as our lanai. They were also in the same shape as yours, as well as blocked by furniture. The ones in our breakfast nook kept getting hit by our chairs when people would sit on the window side too. Fingers crossed you get your way!
ReplyDeleteCan you push them open to the side then add beautiful curtains that hang in fromt of them so theyre hidden? I do think really pretty curtains would add a richness to your rooms plus make your ceilings look taller and windows bigger if done properly. If you do take them down all together definitely hold on to them for the next owner.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Michelle. I'm a huge fan of light and getting rid of those shutters would definitely allow more light to enter the rooms. That said, I do agree with Amy that perhaps you should hold onto them for the next owner, or even for yourself in the event that you change your mind.
ReplyDeleteOn a totally different note, I LOVE your dining room rug. Where is it from?
Ok, here's my take. I love shutters- always have -especially because of that southern charm they add. I have them in my kitchen and they were the first purchase we made after moving in. I had the 4 inch wide shutters installed and they were crazy expensive, but since we think this is the forever home we bit the bullet. Anywho, that being said, the other reason we had them installed in the kitchen was for privacy. SO, the whole blocking the view (or light) thing was sort of the point. I get alot of light in my kitchen still because it's vaulted and there's a huge window up top.
ReplyDeleteMy advice is to make a deal with your hub. Tell him that he can paint them white and then if (key word being if) you like them once they're painted you'll keep them. Honestly painting them white will probably lighten the room a lot. Plus, I like what a lot of people said about hanging panels with the shutters. At the end of the day Cassie hit the nail on the head- it's YOUR house- you gotta do what YOU love.
If those were my shutters: 1) I'd take down the ones in the dramatic blue dining room and add lovely, lush curtains; 2) I'd do a mock-up of curtains in the living room to check if long curtains will get annoyingly caught in the door when it opens and closes, cover the light switches and heat registers. In the LR I might go for a very structured valance over the newly painted shutters. It's just these decisions that drive us crazy, n'est-ce pas? Jo at Let's Face the Music
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog through Centsational Girl and I love it. Yay, love finding new faves! :) Okay, so about the windows. I feel ya. A few of our rooms are dark in the afternoon/evening too and I love to roll up the blinds and let as much light in as possible. Plus, having the choice of fabrics for window treatments can add so much to a room. I can see your husband's point too, of course... shutters are gorgeous and expensive, but I say go with your gut. Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a tough one. I just love those kind of shutters. They look great in your house too. But I love changing things around so I vote for taking them down. Maybe don't sell them yet. This way here you can do window treatments now and maybe a few years down the road you will want the shutters back up. Or you might think of them for a different room or a whole different project. I love the thought of the windows letting the light come in now. Especially with Fall and Winter coming
ReplyDeletegood luck deciding
deezie
I do love the look of plantation shutters BUT I can totally see where you're coming from. Especially if there are some that are broken. One idea? Take them down but keep them- that way, IF you ever sell, you can use them as a selling point since a lot of people do love them. Or you could use them for another project. My vote is window treatments- maybe curtains and bamboo roman shades?
ReplyDeleteLeave them open for a few days and see if it really makes a difference. Having them open would be what having curtains would be like... and if you don't wanna crawl over your furniture now, you're not going to want to do it even if you have curtains. Trust me. I have shades and they're just as annoying.
ReplyDeleteAs pretty as I think they usually are, I'd get rid of the shutters, since you don't get a lot of daylight in these rooms. I think light, sheer, white curtains would be really nice, since they don't take away light and add a nice softness to both rooms. Maybe you could add roller blinds, like IKEA's Enje ones in white, for privacy when needed.
ReplyDeleteEven though it might be a pain, could you take them off just to see what they would look like? I love shutters,too, but I think you're right that they would really open up the space.
ReplyDeleteI love your dining room wall color! So brave and bold!
By this time, I'm sure you've made your decision about your plantation shutters. It's 2013 now! I just ordered plantation shutters for my 13 foot window that is 7 feet tall. I'm decorating my room in a coastal cottage decor and the walls will be Benjamin Moore linen sand (off white) and the plantation shutters will be silk white. I have had blinds on these windows, curtains and a honeycomb shade. My neighbor has plantation shutters and I love them. I think they will add so much versatility. I can fold the blinds back and have the whole window letting in light or I can close the louvers on the bottom for privacy and open the top to let the light in. I think it will add to the cottage look I'm going for. It's your choice. Ultimately, it's what makes your heart sing. Just discovered your blog and plan to take a look around.
ReplyDeleteI have plantation shutters in my son's bedroom that have broken louvers. I was thinking about removing all the louvers and hanging curtains in the wooden shutter frame. What are your thought?
ReplyDeleteI LOATHE plantation shutters. They seem like a good idea, but they block light, they're hard to clean, the louvres break, you can never open them completely unless you have a lot of clearance - and that too only when you have two panels. I don't like curtains either because of dust. I much prefer some nice quality blinds.
ReplyDelete