For the bottom floor I like curtains anyways. Top looks fine with the shutters.

We have plantation shutters on most of our windows. In your case, I think the black trim would look nice with white shutters on the interior. For continuity, I'd do full shutters on the interior of each window...top and bottom. Wide louvers are best...at least 3.5" or wider.

Thanks for the feedback! This house also has what I’m talking about but did a nice job of not making it look too busy. What do you think?

I hate plantation shutters they are heavy looking the block view and light and are a PITA to keep clean and IMO have no place in a modern farmhouse interior. Where are the pics of your planned exterior? Waht is the brickandbatter pic?

I like your first picture better. Less shutter panels.... just looks brighter.

I have heard that from many many people.. The plantation shutter look is quaint and traditional but it's like bricking over your windows. One of the reasons you're supposed to hang a curtain rod that's wider than your window is to avoid blocking any of the light when they are open. But plantation shutters are pretty much always blocking the bulk of your light. The only solution is to open them completely if you can fold them back, but you never see pictures of that online because it looks weird and cluttered.

I would use plantation shutters on a side of the house facing an unattractive view or close neighbor.

Casey, the last pic you posted looks good. Just wanted to say the shutters are very easy to clean. Much more so than many other window treatments. They can also really "open" a room making it appear larger. We live in Southern CA where they add value to a home, unlike other window treatments.

Most modern farmhouses I've seen are in dire need of some softness on the interior. Traditional cafe curtains might be a solution. You could also do them in a semi sheer fabric behind widow framing drapes. I like buffalo check for a farmhouse look myself.

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Black window sash and frames leave gapping holes in a house especially where a pair of windows are mulled together with no trim between them. Someone just built a pair of mulled windows across the street from me and it looks like the windows haven't been installed yet. For hundreds of years the tradition was dark sash with the frames matching the trim color. But some manufacturers currently offer frames and sash with different colors.

Here is an explanation and examples from The Old House Guy.

Wow thank you all for your opinions and experience! However I’m still unsure of what to do unfortunately...
If I were to not go with plantation shutters, what window coverings go with those black grated frames?

Get the exterior detailing right and do whatever you like with the interior window treatment; you won't see it with screens in place. Try lower half shutters and half screens. The shutters don't have to be white. Black sash is fine but get rid of the awful black window frames.

I’m having the same dilemma with black windows at a lake house. I want to use plantation shutters in the bedrooms only. No treatment on the rest of the windows. What do you think about black plantation shutters? I’m afraid of them showing dust but I like the look. Or would white look better?

If your going to do shutters I would do white. I have heard shutters make a room darker because they cover some of the window so black would make it even darker

A wood or woodtone window/trim would be my suggestion - It has the “darker” modern/cleaner effect that you may looking for but with a more classic, timeless feel ... and it’s a conundrum with the shutters, maybe worth paying some $ for a one time consultation with a architect/designer , good luck , looking forward to seeing what you decide!