Just keep in mind the maintenance; i.e., dusting. Not positive what you're describing but I know the more stops and starts you have the more a pain they are to clean.

I don't find it is a big deal to clean shutters or wood blinds - I just run the vacuum duster brush over them! Much easier than fabric curtains that hold dust!

I think the opening depends on the functionality you want - how are the windows configured in the way, surrounding furniture, how often will you want to open them completely, etc.

I just removed 11 shutter treatments from a customer's house. They were installed 8 years ago. Whew, they were dirty and yellow. She gave them away on CL.

"I just removed 11 shutter treatments from a customer's house. They were installed 8 years ago. Whew, they were dirty and yellow. She gave them away on CL."

Was she a smoker? Around here, Florida, Plantation shutters are one of the standard treatments in a lot of homes. I've never seen them discolor, the only dirty ones are in houses that aren't too clean. A quick swifter duster dusting is pretty easy.

OP, can you pot a picture of your windows? I'm having a hard time picturing it in my head.

Shutters for all our windows was the first improvement we did when we moved into our house 15 years ago. They are extremely popular in my area (so cal). I love them. They have not yellowed at all. Like everything else in a house, they will get dirty if you don't clean them. ;-) I use a swiffer duster and it's quick work. When I do my spring cleaning, they get a more thorough cleaning with a damp microfiber cloth and then dried. With the OP just needing 3 shutters, I don't think cleaning will be much of an issue.

My windows are wide so each window has two bifold shutters. If you have furniture close to the windows, you will have to consider the amount of room needed to open the shutters to access the windows. Personally, regarding the option to open just the top or bottom panels, I don't think that's necessary, especially since your windows aren't that tall, and as you said, the single panel will look cleaner.

I love shutters too, have had them in almost every home we have owned. Get good quality shutters if you intend on staying in the house for long. Ours are guaranteed for 25 years against yellowing, cracking etc. They are the only window covering that adds value to your home for resale.

I would get as simple a shutter as you can get, so the lines are simple and clean, your windows are big so less clutter.

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!

I wanted to add that I'm looking to buy Bali window treatments through Costco. I've done that once before, and got wood blinds for the room just above this rec room, with the same window configuration (although taller on second floor).

I'm happy with the Bali blinds, and saved a lot of money. The downside is that it's hard to field all the decisions!

I wasn't judging the housekeeper or the blinds, just sharing my experience.

The blinds were dirty. Perhaps raising 4 kids took priority over blind dusting. Maybe. The yellow side was on the exterior only, so I associate the yellowing with UV degradation, not smoking or lack of housekeeping.

BTW, if you open your windows for fresh air and gentle breezes, blinds get dusty and dirty, regardless how good you are at housekeeping.

I'm coming over with my white gloves. :)

We have quite a bit of custom plantation shutters, and I really wish we had the bi-folds on the windows. Shutters, even while open, still darken a room.

I love the look of bi-folds.

BTW, if you open your windows for fresh air and gentle breezes, blinds get dusty and dirty, regardless how good you are at housekeeping.

True that! Shutters do need frequent dusting because there is nowhere for the dust to hide.

Oakley, what is a bi-fold? I agree that shutters do darken a room so not sure I'd want them in a basement with limited light. They do a good job at blocking light and glare from the TV, though.

If you all are referring to my comment about "keeping in mind the maintenance; i.e, dusting" I just meant that I would try and go with shutters that have longer runs rather than a bunch of individual sections. I've seen both types. I was comparing the amount of dusting from one type of plantation shutter style to another type of plantation style not a different type of window covering material all together (like curtains or something). If you weren't referring to my comment then never mind ;)

Sorry, bi-fold was the wrong description. They're tier on tier shutters. As the OP described, you get 4 panels to a window.

Here's a short description: These cover the whole window, but the top and bottom can open independently of one another.

I really wish I had put those on my two large windows.!

I'm up north and need more light than shutters will provide so I'm not a fan. We recently stayed at a B&B where the windows were covered with wooden shutters that would not stay open. Fortunately the room was full of books to read and I found a paperback of the right size that I had to shove between the slats to keep the shutters open. Without it, they were "self closing". So annoying!

I hope to meet with a designer from Graber soon (through Costco) and wanted any opinions on inside or outside mounted plantation shutters?

I'm leaning towards one bi-fold panel for each window.