Woodwork around plantation shutters--need advice and pictures

16 years ago

Our plantation shutters should be ready for installation soon, but first we need to finish the woodwork framing the window.

We have one large window (8 ft wide x 4 ft high) in our family room that adjoins our newly remodeled kitchen. Cabinets are natural cherry, counters are green peacock granite, floor is natural red oak, walls are straw colored. There is no white woodwork in the room or anywhere else in the house, so we chose shutters in stained wood rather than white. We do not plan to hang draperies with these shutters.

Our question is how to finish the woodwork around the shutters.

A smaller window in the kitchen is framed in natural cherry to match the cabinets that are within a few feet of the window. We are hesitant to use the same natural cherry around the large shuttered window, however, because the shutters will not be made of cherry and we don't want the adjacent woods to clash. This window is on a wall by itself at a distance from other windows or cabinets.

Options:

1) paint the window woodwork to match the straw-colored walls so that you won't really notice it.

2) use the same natural cherry that trims the window on the other side of the room even though that trim probably would not match the shutters, themselves.

3) wait until the shutters are installed and then do our best to match the stain. We were really hoping to have all of the woodwork done before shutter installation, but that may not be realistic.

My husband is designing/installing the woodwork. He did a beautiful job framing the other window, but we are stuck on the design of the trim as well as the color

It would be helpful to see pictures of other people's shutters and the woodwork surrounding them.

Thank you.

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Comments (6)

texashottie
16 years ago
Did you already have someone consult you on the shutters?

Typically, there is a frame around the shutter and it makes a trim for your window. You pick out the profile of the trim that you want for your shutter. It looks very nice.

I don't think that you can install a shutter without the trim---? But in any case, I would wait on the shutters before altering your window, and for sure to match paint selections.
emagineer
16 years ago
I'd wait too until your shutters are installed. You didn't mention if the shutters are inside mount or outside mount. The frames and installation will determine what trim may or may not be added. And as Texas mentioned, color selection for match....after install.
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Great question, actually, and one I asked here myself not long ago. I think the shutters will look better if they match your woodwoork. We're going with Shutter Classic for our shutters. They will custom paint their basswood shutters free of charge, and they will also custom match stain colors for a one-time $125 charge, no matter how many sets of shutters you order. I am posting details below from their site. Our shutters will be custom painted to match the trim in our home. Shutter Classic has been extremely easy to work with so far, although the shutters are still on order and won't arrive for another few weeks or so. They also have some standard stain colors you could check out (and order samples) to see if any match your woodwork. Here is some quoted information from the Shutter Classic web site for their basswood shutters: Custom Stains - You provide us with a physical sample of the stained wood that you want to match. We then do a custom stain match and ship samples of our custom stain match to you for approval. If the stain needs adjusting, we take another pass at it until we get it right. Once we receive your approval, we stain your shutters with the custom formula. There is a $125 one-time flat surcharge for this service for our Basswood shutters. No matter if you order one shutter or an entire houseful, the surcharge is only $125. Include your name and mail your sample to: Attn: Custom Color Shutter Classic 1408 N. Fillmore St. Suite 16 Arlington, VA 22201 Click Here for details on custom paint colors and stains for Crestview, Classic Line, and Alder Plantation Shutters. A few words about wood shutters: Due to the fact that wood is a natural product, wood grains and color tones vary. This is what makes wood stains so beautiful. Stained shutters will have similar variations in color tone and grain pattern - which of course is why people love stained wood. Your shutters may also have these variations from the samples you receive. Here is a link that might be useful: Shutter Classic Web Site
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Thank you for your replies. It's very interesting to read your experiences with shutters, particularly in areas where they are popular and truly functional given the intense sun. Here are my rec room windows: So, the bottom sills are about at ground level. We have camellias in front of the left and middle window, so there's a good deal of privacy (plus the fact that we're sunk down in that room). Opposite the window wall is our tv. The pleated shades allow glare on the screen, which is about a 5/10 as far as being bothersome. Newer flat screens handle glare so much better these days. One issue that's become a concern is getting inside mount shutters which would block the tilt-in function of these relatively new windows you see. Outside mounting- I don't know how that works when the trim is uneven (in a decorative way). Also, we have the issue of the far right window butting up against the wall, which is just a really bad design flaw. I really like the option of getting great light and views with louvers open, and sun-blocking action with louvers closed. But, I'm having my doubts that this can work. Thanks again!
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gk5040
16 years ago
It really depends on how the shutters were ordered. I would check with your installer.
dibgar
Original Author
16 years ago
Really hoping for some pictures, please!

I'm sure the shutters are designed as an inside mount. When the man came to measure, we focused on the width of each panel, but we did not discuss how the frame of their shutters will work with the moulding my husband has already installed around the window opening.

The frame my husband installed is not conventional. He considers it a "design element", but I think it looks odd. He thinks we can solve the problem by painting the moulding to match the walls so no one will notice it. I think we may need to start over with new woodwork to frame the window.

If I could see pictures of typical woodwork around plantation shutters, this will help our debate.
gk5040
16 years ago
We live in Florida, the windows on this home had no molding around them. They do have marble window sills. When I ordered shutters, they used what they called a "z" frame which included case molding. The new case molding frame does not go below the window sill. Sorry the picture doesnt look clear, its clear on the camera and computer but looks blurry in this post.
When we lived in Charlotte, the windows all had case molding around them, which was installed by the builder. The shutters came with a 1/2 inch shutter framed that was set inside the window area, not on the case molding. (Kind of looked like what sits on top of my marble window sills). It made a box around the inside off the window area. That was screwed into the window frame and the shutter was hinged and screwed into the shutter frame. Hope that makes sense. I dont have a picture of those shutters.
dibgar
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for the picture. It helps to see how the woodwork fits around the shutter frame. I will share this with my husband. I will also ask the shutter company if they make a "z" frame. I think it would look better than our original design.

Woodwork around plantation shutters--need advice and pictures

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texashottie

emagineer

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Woodwork around plantation shutters--need advice and pictures

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texashottie

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