I had those cottage-style shutters in a Florida house and folded them back when I opened the shutters. You have to open them all the way because the louvers aren't wide enough to let in much sunlight.

The look is very cottage-y and fresh, imo. I love them opened at the sides of the windows because it sort of looks like outside shutters. We've had wide-slat plantation shutters in our last two homes and confess that I would rather have the smaller shutters.

I have plantation shutters on every window in the house and I never opened them (except to clean). I just open the slats (which are 3"...perhaps a little larger). I get a lot of sunlight.

The first time I got shutters was in a home with a city view. I thought I'd always have the shutters open so I could enjoy the view BUT was surprised that the view still came through the open slats!

But with that said, none of my homes have been cottage-y (although I LOVE cottage). They've been traditional or contemporary.

We've only had ours for a few months, but I only open the slats, and plan to continue to just open them that way. Plenty of view and plenty of light!

BTW, don't open using the "spine," use the actual louvers. And when closing, you'll probably need to lightly run your hand down the slats to tightly close them (that's an important detail if you are in cold climate!). And, if you are in a cold climate, you probably won't open them unless it's really sunny out, because they really do keep out the cold when they're closed...

There have been times I've had something sitting in front of the shutters when I wanted to open the window. That is what you're talking about, right? Because our windows aren't open except on perfect days, lol, I'd move the furniture, or table out, open the window/shutters, close shutters, open slats, then move the furniture back in place. It's a pain, but it only takes a minute and is well worth the fresh air!