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Windows Design Dilemma Exterior

Shutters or no shutters? Help me decide!

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Replacing all windows on the house, and need to decide what to do with the shutters.

First photo is the house before, with all shutters attached.

Second photo is the house currently, during window installation. The blue frame around the windows is flashing, and will not be visible after the windows are fully installed.

I think the shutters look silly, since the windows are large and the shutters are tiny, but maybe that fits the style of the house? (Related q: what would you call the style of this house?)

Other houses in the neighborhood are split about 50/50 on the shutter issue.

Our contractor said he can add 1-to-3-inch-wide trim around the windows on the top floor.

Featured Answer

groveraxle

5 years ago

No shutters.

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Comments (17)

Susan Davis
5 years ago
Skip the shutters trim out wide trim around windows. Personally I would have hired an architect to design a new facade with more on trend windows. The windows have a horizontal vine and longer narrower windows would change the look significantly. Not being rude, just making a comment you might consider for a different look on your home.. pricey but dramatic change. Something Joanna Gaines does when she remodels homes.
millworkman
5 years ago
Shutters need to look like theey good actually be used as a shutter. No way those look realistic, skip the shutters.
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Wow! Sorry I've been away - had a surprising week. Just found out we're going to have a third baby, and that made me forget all about this post :) Thanks so much for all those photoshops, Squirrel! Honestly, your photoshops really sell the yellow for me. I know so many people don't like painted brick, and if our brick wasn't an orange brick I might like it a little better. We do plan to build a portico over the front door (though now with another baby that project might get pushed WAY back). And funny enough we have planted a crepe myrtle in the front. I do agree that a darker roof would look better, but the sellers replaced it not long before we bought it two years ago. KSWL - we thought Hawthorne Yellow was going to be too loud too, but after painting giant swatches of several colors and putting them outside in the light, it gets really washed out. Some of the paler yellows actually looked cream. I'll check out Essex Green, too. Thanks Molly!
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Actually her shutters might be large enough to look functional, even if they aren't functional. OP, please take a moment to read this very brief article on shutters: https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/ Insp pic for functional or functional looking shutters with hardware: However, I think main issue here is the landscaping and the walkway and potentially the front door. The landscaping is not inviting in it's current state. It looks more like plants plopped in front rather than a comprehensive landscape design. The bushes are plopped in exactly the wrong spot - blocking windows and blocking the entrance to the porch. All of those bushes need to go. For better advice on a master landscape plan please post in the landscape subforum here on Houzz for some help from those great landscapers. As to the walkway, It needs to be widened so you have a 'welcome home' entry. Let me post an example. Insp pic for wide walkway to front door I can't see the front door. That is a major problem when you are wanting to have a welcoming entry. Normally you would have 3 colors on a home: siding color, trim color and accent color. It's difficult to see what colors would work as the pics don't really show the house well. Can you take more pics and post them here in the comment section? Daylight pics so we can see the whole house and then a close up of the porch and door area.
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Love that your shutters ARE fully functional with dogs!!! I would keep them on the lower, porch windows. Don’t mess with your upper windows. They look beautiful as they are. No tinkering with trims, etc. I’d keep your shutters and paint them a light color. A pale taupe, a soft green, a faint blue. Or white. Very soft. Just a hint of color. Your home is absolutely beautiful.
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chloebud
5 years ago
Definitely not the house and windows for shutters. Each shutter should be half the window's width, so you can see the problem with that here. Do a wide window trim instead.
sweetverve
Original Author
5 years ago
Susan - given unlimited funds, I'd love to redesign the facade :) I am not a big fan of the boxy nature of the house, both inside and out. Unfortunately, it's just not in the budget for this round of reno.
0
Jennifer Svensson
5 years ago
I like the boxy nature, but not the shutters. Keep it simple. :)
tatts
5 years ago
Oh, god. Save us from Joanna Gaines and her disciples.

The shutters don't work. One thing that would help those windows is to frame them in beefier trim. Right now they just look like holes cut in a wall. Is that why the siding has been cut away around the windows? If so, good call--I'd do larger than 3", though. Wait for that to go in (and I'm guessing you'll paint to cover the shutter shadows).
sweetverve
Original Author
5 years ago
groveraxle, thank you! The black trim makes me happy, and also makes me want to paint the house white.
0
User
5 years ago
I think your house in white would look great
0
groveraxle
5 years ago
White is a little harsh. How about cream?
sweetverve
Original Author
5 years ago
It's currently a cream color, but yes, stark white is not a good look. When we finally pull the trigger on exterior painting, I'll have to explore all 50 shades of white to pick a good one :)
0
PRO
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Definitely ditch the shutters, for many reasons. Also, I would take note of the extra updates groveraxle did that really take your home's curb appeal to the next level; new garage door, and entry door in addition to the paint.
User
5 years ago
I would also paint the brick to give the front a more uniform facade
Bette P
5 years ago
If your roof is brown tile, is it?, you might want a dark brown/black rather than a stark black on your trim. No shutters. Maybe those fan grills will pop off the garage windows. Note both the entry and garage doors in groveraxle's photo, very nice when the budget allows. If you even think to 'paint' the brick, look for a product like Romabio that is specific for masonry/brick, lets it breathe. Romabio.com
houssaon
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
The last cream that groveraxle posted looks great. The house looks so much better. Either a dark black brown or charcoal black would be an option for the trim. Don't paint the brick. It is nice brick and echos the tile.

Must mention the new garage door groveraxle added, perfect for this updated contemporary vibe!
sweetverve
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks, everyone! Looks like the shutters are coming off.
0
threers
5 years ago
I'd like to see the window treatment in each window be the same, blinds, bamboo shades or drapes.
0

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