Leave your very nice home alone!!!

The only windows on which shutters would even fit are on the three right side ones. Which always begs the question as to what you are trying to do. It doesn't give the home a Colonial, Georgian etc. style it doesn't have. It just looks foolish.

Maybe something like this:

If you still insist, at least install shutters that look like they could close and cover the windows, not just flat panels screwed onto the wall.

The only time I have seen shutters on just a few windows that don't totally detract from the looks, it's when they are on central focus.

No! It looks great! Congratulations! The only thing you need is your landscaping. Once you have that, you won't have that feeling that your house is "missing" something. Landscaping makes such a big difference. Good luck!

Thanks! I was happy without them, but my mother is insisting that we put them on. Now, to break this to her! HAHA!

I am going to be the dissenting opinion. I would put shutters on the windows on the right (garage?). You don't have to do shutters, but I think they would look nice on these three windows. If I did them, I would make them black. You could add shutters to the top double window too. It wouldn't really be architecturally correct, but I still think they would work. Just my two cents.

BTW, I like your brick. It is a nice color.

I like to see windows with shutters that would actually fit the window when closed. So it's difficult for me to say though on a house such as yours with so many different style of windows. Sorry, I'm of no help.

Worthy, that second house looks unfinished to me with the shutter just on the one window. I think shutters on the other windows would really look nice because they are all the same width.

mdc, if you could find someone kind enough to photoshop for you then you could see what the windows kelleg recomended would look like with shuutters. You could try going over to the decorating forum with your photo and asking someone to photoshop for you. You can tell them I referred you.

I have taken a second look at your house. I think photoshop is a good idea. I am worried about just having shutters on the one side of the house, but I do think those narrower windows would look very nice with shutters. A red brick house with black shutters is a classic look!

that second house looks unfinished to me with the shutter just on the one window.

Agreed!

To maintain architectural or historical integrity, shutters should either be on all windows or none.

{{gwi:1516070}}
Starwood, Aspen, Colorado Robert M. Stern, Architects

So where would you put the shutters on this home? Definitely needs some prettyfying, eh?

At first glance, the garage windows are begging for something. Perhaps it can be addressed with landscaping. It doesn't appear that any of the other windows could accommodate shutters.

I emailed Robyn our inspiration pic, but I thought I'd go ahead and post it here to add to the discussion. It's a similiar style house and I think the shutters look good -- of course, we are both in the south (geographically YMMV).

I think she could go either way, but if I were going to do shutters (and I am :o)) I'd do it similiar to this:

Hee - sorry I forgot I photoshopped in my doors :o) hmmm, lemme see if my trial version of cs3 is expired yet...

Fake shutters that don't even look like they could cover the windows they're adjacent to look ridiculous. And the home above has two examples--the centre bay ones and the left bay rectangles next to Palladian style windows.

But who am I to dispute a taste and style universally adopted in the finest of North American homes?

worthy, my thought is, and as you know I'm no designer, but do know when something looks "pleasing" LOL. That big house/castle in Aspen is sickly looking, unfinished I suppose. To me it's just ugly. Even the window wood is the same color as the brick. Eck!! I'm thinking, what about putting up moldings around the windows if you can't put shutters on them? I'm not even sure that's possible on a brick home however.

I agree the last house looks ridiculous with those shutters that are way too tiny for the windows.

My new house has molding and will also have shutters. Even if I didn't have shutters, it would look pretty to me. DH had to remind me the other day he needs to build the shutters. I forgot about them to tell you the truth. Down here in hurricane country we need workable ones so that's why we are putting them in. I don't have a photo of a window but, here is the front door and all the windows have this molding. Except the side pieces are plain on the windows.

I would definately vote yes for the shutters - think it would add a lot to the curb appeal.

We are building a similar home with similar brick. After looking at a lot of similar homes around the area both with and without brick, we have decided we are definately installing black shutters on all the windows (except dormers).

Shutters are inexpensive - on a rental home we own we went ahead and bought some and held them up to determine if it looked better or worse on that house. You could buy a couple pairs, hold (or tape) them up, and then decide. Think you will like how they look - solid double panel shutters as shown in jnjmom's pic would look good.

Think it looks fairly "plain" without them- but that's just my opinion. Very nice pond by the way. Looks like you could almost fish from the back patio.

john

Down here in hurricane country we need workable ones so that's why we are putting them in.

Perfect! Historically accurate. Functional. Appropriate to the style.

And, like your entry, I'm sure they will fit those criteria.

worthy said: To maintain architectural or historical integrity, shutters should either be on all windows or none.

Looking at some historic homes, I'd make an exception in keeping with the original designs. Small windows were not always protected. As in this historic home of a well-known General.

Robert Stern the designer of Starwood, is the dean of architecture of Yale University and one of the leading architects in North America and a strong traditionalist. Shutters in the middle of the stark high desert? I don't think so. (Though no doubt there are a myriad of double-wides sporting them.)

But this is a democracy and screwing shutters into home facades to fill up space is a taste, like that for black velvet Elvis paintings and corndogs, that stands equal to any other. Shutters forever!

Here is a link that might be useful: Sparwood

You are right on worthy about shuttered manufactured homes in the desert. There are also log homes that look out of place as well, but i think that's just a preference for those who dig log homes despite location, which is cool. But shutters in the desert makes about as much sense as building an igloo! I think the reason for it is the manufactured homes are based around various parts of the country and shipped out to folks everywhere. If it happens to have shutters, that's what you get even in the desert. Many years ago a customer had me remove the shutters from theirs, they got it. There are still many around that have them though!

Another vote for shutters on the right but that's just me. I see shutters as decor and not function. I got a new computer for Christmas and don't have photoshop on it. If I decide to load it up, I'll play with it for you but no promises.

P.S. If you don't want them, don't get them. Landscape will make a world of difference and fill in the blank space.

I think the reason for it is the manufactured homes are based around various parts of the country and shipped out to folks everywhere

Never thought of that. But you're absolutely right!

With but a couple grievous exceptions, this manufactured home builder that I once wrote about gets it too.

Awesome website, Worthy! Manufactured homes have come a long way since the days of double / single wides with metal sidings/ roofs. Once referred to as mobile homes, i believe in the southern U.S. they are or were known as trailer houses!