A few weeks ago I started a new series called Residential Architecture 101 and the first item we reviewed was material transitions in exterior applications, and yes, it was mind-blowing!! (read it here) Today, however, I would like to take a look at exterior shutters, which are very common and frequently the target of DIY’ers and weekend warriors.
Technically a shutter is either a solid or slanted window cover. It is believed that the first shutters originated from Greece and that they were originally designed for light control, ventilation and protection from the elements in a tropical environment. Pretty standard stuff really and I think we are all familiar with how they look but I don’t think people are familiar with how they work. I say this because most current shutters don’t perform any of these tasks – they don’t even to pretend to do any of those things. One of the very basic premises that all shutters should have is that they look like they could actually protect your windows. That means that if they could be closed, they would cover the window. Many houses are designed with windows that were never intended to have shutters but people will stick them on there anyway.
Now I don’t want anybody calling me a snob based on the first set of pictures I am going to show you. Just because these are all amazingly beautiful and well-designed houses does not mean you have to live in a mansion to have proper shutters. AHEM … If anything, this is a testament to working with an architect because we think about this sort of thing. (climbing down off soapbox). We are going to start off by looking at shutters that were designed properly. They are all operable, they have been sized appropriately, and they look like they are supposed to be there. I also drive past these houses on my way home from work and I don’t have time to be running all over the place looking for examples to photograph…
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Neoclassical style house – a fine example with the windows on the 2nd level adorned with shutters that are both operable, appropriately sized. I have enlarged an image of the shutter to the right.
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Tudor style house – in this example, the shutters are solid but still sized so the shutter could cover the window when closed. I appreciated the fact that this style of shutter seemed a better fit than a louvered style.
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Italian Renaissance-style residence – in the enlarged portion I can’t find any real evidence that these shutters actually close but the fact that they sized to fit above the window sill and below the cornice trim – along with the catch to the side – give the appearance that they could close. Good enough for me.
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Greek Revival style house – just one more example of shutters that are appropriately sized and operable.
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Now let’s take a look at what I like to call “shudders“:
What!? Is that??! Why is it so far…??!?!
What is going on in this picture flies in the face of all that is decent while breaking all sorts of common sense rules – including material transitions that we covered earlier. All that really needs to be said is – that’s nasty.
This is a terrible photo (collected under cover as I was driving by at 20 MPH). This is a good-looking house with some crazy sized shudders. Looks like they were sized to allow two to fit between the adjacent windows … yikes!
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This photo was sent in by loyal reader Preston who took this with his camera phone while walking his dog. Yes, you are seeing shudders on a bay window. rtjdhruhhkjva-08yah akl;oah;o … sorry, my head just hit my keyboard.
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This picture make my face hurt – but in an entirely different manner than some of the others. Despite the half-moon window (almost always a no-no) the shudders on the window on the left are actually sized properly and could actually function as real shutters. They even cut into the stucco feature above the window to allow these shutters to close. So what happen to the shudder on right? Since there isn’t any hardware shown attached to the wall (that should be visible when the shudders are closed) I am feeling confident in saying these are impostors. I don’t always hate fake but let’s see some consistency.
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Here is an example of shudders to either side of a recessed set of doors. I assume they are supposed to be shudders although it really looks like pieces of fencing leaned up against the house. It was quite unnecessary for these to be added and I would argue that things would have been better if they had simply been left off the building.
What I hope you have learned from this post is that shutters weren’t always about adornment and decoration – that they served a purpose. It is that purpose that should guide you when deciding to add shutters to your own home so that they look like they are supposed to be there. Sizing them correctly so that they look like they could actually do the job is all I am asking for – it’s not so much to ask, is it? Yes, this does mean that those plastic beauties on aisle 12 of your local BuyMore big box home improvement center should stay on aisle 12.
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Nice work and examples. Hopefully this post will stop a few shutters from being tacked onto another suburban saltbox.
There are many other non-superficial ways to accentuate and detail a window – use wider trim..add an accent color to the trim…box it out…use creative brick detailing…or call an architect (heard you from the soapbox). Have you considered a follow-up in this series to showcase creative window trim/accent ideas without using stick-on shutters?
To be honest I haven’t thought about a follow-up post. Not sure if I like the idea thought … it sounds like a lot of work on my part 🙂
Thanks Ryan – as always
Here in not so sunny England, shutters are often on the inside of the house to help protect us from the cold, rather than stopping the sun, as with you lucky folks. And depending on the window width the shutters consisted of two, three or four leaves which fold back into the window reveal. The outer leaves are often panelled, whilst the inner one or two are plane. There is some suggestion that in the 18th century there was such demand for shutters that the panelled leaves were mass-produced in standard sizes (sound familiar?), leaving adjustment on site of cutting and inserting the plane central leaves.
So Bob, the question is – have the designers forgotten to add the extra leaves, or is it simply appalling detailing? Save your breath, I know the answer to that one.
Yes – I’m afraid that you do know the answer to that question. The real issue probably isn’t a matter of cost, it’s simply asking the question in the first place.
Bob, I have some photos of horrid homes I took with you in mind, actually, hoping you might find them useful for your deconstructions. And now that I think of it, I have a few nice ones that might be useful as well. What’s the best way to get them to you?
The first shudder is my fave!
That’s great! You can email me at
bob (at) lifeofanarchitect (dot) com
For me, if shutters aren’t meant to be functional they don’t belong on a house, so don’t ask me to put them there because I won’t. Nope not now, not ever, no thank you, keep moving along nothing to see here. :-
The recessed door and the single “shudder” 18″ off the window are the best…need to frame those and hang em on the wall!
Those are some hall of fames ickies for sure. I have a copy of ‘Louisiana Houses by A. Hays Town’ which if you ever wanted to know the proper way to use a shutter, this is the guy. His work is incredibly incredible.
Great little post, have seen plenty of those ‘shudders’ and always questioned them the same way you did lol! Good point by McCArch too about the angle of the louvres and hanging backwards, a nice observation!
I have long wanted to do a series on “what NOT to do” in residential design/remodeling – examples are endless! But in the area in which I live I’d probably end up offending far too many people. Love the “shudders” term, reminds me of “remuddling” aka remodeling . . .
Somebody beat you to it, but another book like this would be great.
http://www.amazon.com/What-Not-Build-Exterior-Design/dp/1580112935
Ha! I haven’t ever heard of “remuddling” – that’s a good one. Yes, I think I am on thin ice a little because I would be mortified if anybody actually found their house up on display here. I like to play nice and while I fall short of the “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”, I am only trying to bring a topic into focus a little so that other people can think about the topic.
Thanks for commenting Pat, I appreciate it.
My husband sent me this because I go on very long rants about this very problem. I found the post funny and very informative. I completely agree and honestly if they are not going to be used why put them up? Be practical! There are many different things that can be done to complete the exterior of a home and why I also agree that architects should be brought because like you said they think of these things! Thank you again for a great post! It rocked!
Thanks Ayleen – glad you liked it and I hope I can count on receiving more comments from you in the future!
I have to go out and take some pix to send you Bob, so you can be in pain with me. You know, misery loves company.
Brenda Lynn
I keep asking for people to send in photos of terrible construction or design. I will find a way to use them – my inbox is always open.
Not a single photo of a ‘shudder’ covered mobile home? I will check my archives…
Please do – If I was really dedicated to the cause I would venture out north to suburbia where the builder home is King Almighty. Although the photos I could find in those locations might be confusing to the readers because there are so many issues going on – it would be hard to focus on one specific item.
Thanks Chuck – hope things are well.
Hey Bob:
In total agreement with you on this, but you left out one part of the discussion. Real working louvered shutters, when closed, shed water away from the interior as a result of the angle of the louver. The problem with that is that whe. Open, they shed water into the wall behind them…which isn’t a great thing on a clapboard or shingle house. As a result, most shutters are hung backwards today, since they aren’t really meant to be used.
That is an excellent observation and point. Yes, there are many things I didn’t go into – just trying to get things going so I can let edumacated readers like you play the heavy (these are my neighbors after all).
Thanks for taking the time, I appreciate it
I hate shutter when they are used just as decoration as shown in many of your examples. Is just silly ornamentation.
I couldn’t agree more. Of course after looking at these “shudders” my head hurts and I need to go lay down.
I was debating posting a few pics of my neighbors houses for mocking but was unsure if it was appropriate. But now since you’ve done it that means I can too! Hooray for mocking! No hoorays for fake shutters. *shudders*
Shudder indeed. Hopefully it is obvious that I try and hide the house of the icky stuff since I am not trying to call someone out, just using them for their unfortunate circumstances.
Obviously I had no problems showing the really nice houses though…
Shudder indeed. Hopefully it is obvious that I try and hide the house of the icky stuff since I am not trying to call someone out, just using them for their unfortunate circumstances.
Obviously I had no problems showing the really nice houses though…
Great article & pics Bob – remind me one day to send you one of my favorites (ok the one that grates on my nerves the most) – the 2/3 shutter. It is a nice looking 1 story house with brick on the bottom half – shutters are basically sized properly except for 1. Yep you got it, they decided to raise the level of brick up and used a window for the transition area & installed a 2/3 shutter
Yes – you need to send me that photo! I will come back here and amend this post to include it. Sounds fantastically terrible.
And which of those mansions is yours? None of them look like the pictures you’ve posted before so it makes me wonder if you might be a squatter. Wait, maybe you’re a shutter squatter. Yeah, that’s it.
Yes – these house are just a wee tad out of my price range. Since I can’t afford to buy one, I choose to live near them. Makes me all tingly on the drive home.