• Window Treatments to Pair with Shutters

    Among the things that customers tell us they love about our custom interior shutters is that they give rooms a nice clean look. Because they come in neutral colors, they go with any color walls and interior decor. However, we know that many homeowners like some color and fabric on their windows as well. They want the extra coziness and warmth without giving up all of the great practical advantages that shutters offer. You don’t have to choose between one or the other! shutters can be paired with many types of window coverings. Maybe your daughter wants Princess Elsa curtains to match her Princess Elsa bedspread (and rug, and dolls, and pajamas…). Perhaps you’re looking for a deep, textured drapery to give your dining room a little extra elegance. How about a bright window covering to match your newly-painted kitchen? Our faux wood shutters come in three neutral colors that can be paired stylishly with multiple colors and textures of window treatments.

    Draperies and Curtains

    A multitude of styles and textures of draperies and curtains can be paired seamlessly with interior shutters. You can go with floor length for an elegant look in your dining room, living room or bedroom. Window length is often used for kitchens, bathrooms and children’s bedrooms. The great thing about shutters is that they provide all the privacy you need when they are closed. This means that you can go with just side drapery panels for the added color and style.

    Valances or Cornices

    If you’re just looking for a little extra color and fabric in a room, but don’t want the expense or maintenance that draperies and curtains require, you may choose to put a valance or a cornice over a window or door with shutters. Valances and cornices come in a variety of styles, textures, and shapes. Whether you already have interior shutters and just want to spruce up a room or you’re going with an entirely new window treatment, you may want to consider pairing your Eclipse faux shutters with a fabric window treatment. The “Gallery” on our website shows a variety of our shutters without additional window treatments so that customers can see exactly how beautiful they are. However, there are plenty of decorating websites and magazines where you can get some great ideas for pairing fabric window coverings with shutters. Once you start looking at examples of how great they look together, your only problem will be deciding on which one to choose!

  • Ideal Window Shutters for the Healthcare and Hospitality Industry

    Eclipse Shutters makes  interior shutters that are perfect for use in healthcare facilities and hospitality venues like hotels, restaurants and conference centers. They are manufactured for quick installation and maintain their look for many years with minimal care. All have the Eclipse Shutters unconditional 25-year warranty. Our custom interior shutters have the natural beauty of wood and look just like painted shutters. However, they are much easier to care for and more durable. We understand that there are special considerations that are needed for these environments. Safety and health concerns are priorities. They also need to be durable, since they will likely receive tougher treatment than shutters in a home.

    Perfect for Healthcare Facilities

    Eclipse Shutters offer the following qualities:

    • Durability – they will not warp, peel or fade and will never need painting or refinishing.
    • Easy care – they can be cleaned with a damp cloth or soap and water.
    • Mold and mildew resistant – they help prevent bacteria from growing and exacerbating the health problems of people who are already battling illnesses.
    • GREENGUARD® Gold Certified and listed on the GREENGUARD® website for microbial resistance.
    • NFPA701 Certified – this certification is for products that are fire retardant.
    • Cordless design is child safe.
    • Energy-efficient – cellular design maximizes insulation.

    For more details on the sizes and types of shutters we offer and their features, take a look at our Eclipse Shutters Healthcare brochure for our healthcare industry customers.

    Hospitality Industry

    Our shutters are a popular choice in the hospitality industry because they are fashionable, durable, and are incredibly easy to maintain. They add style and sophistication to hotels, restaurants, and conference. All of the qualities listed above that are important for the healthcare industry are also important for the hospitality industry. That’s because many people of all ages with possible allergies and levels of health will be in close contact with them. We also know that hotel guests want to be assured that their children will be safe in their vacation environment. For more details on the sizes and types of shutters available and their features, see our Eclipse Shutters Hospitality brochure specifically designed for our hospitality industry customers.

  • Tips To Effectively Measure Your Windows for Interior Shutters

    Proper fit is essential for your shutters. Measuring the window opening is not difficult, but it has to be done correctly to ensure that the shutters fit correctly and look their best. It is also necessary for them to shut out light and outside temperatures. When measuring, you should always use a steel measuring tape.

    Measuring for an Inside Mount Installation

    Shutters with an inside mount cover only the inside of the opening. To get the width measurement, you will measure between the side window jambs or casings. You should also take a diagonal measurement from the top left to the bottom right. The height is measured from the inside edge of the top casing to the window sill (or floor, if the shutters will extend that far). At Eclipse Shutters, we recommend measuring in three places for both the width and height. Measure the inside width at top, middle and bottom and record the smallest measurement and round down to the nearest 1/8”. Measure the height at left, middle, and right and record the smallest measurement and round down to the nearest 1/8”. If your window is 3/8 inch or more out of square, you likely need an outside mount.

    Measuring for an Outside Mount Installation

    With an outside mount, the shutters cover the entire window opening, including the trim. To determine the width for these, you measure the entire space between the outer edges of the side trim. Measure trim to trim width at top, middle and bottom and record the largest measurements and round up to the nearest 1/8”. Measure trim to trim height at left, middle and right and record the largest measurement and round up to the nearest 1/8”.

    Watch Our Helpful Video

    At Eclipse Shutters, we want to give our customers as many tools as possible to help them choose the right interior shutters. These include helpful videos so that you can watch how the processes are done. One of these videos shows exactly how to measure windows for both inside and outside mount installations. These videos are available on our website. Image Courtesy of: Ashley Pate Designs

  • Benefits of Shutters in the Winter

    With temperatures in the area slowly inching their way downward, it’s time to make sure your house is well-sealed for the winter. Aside from caulking, weather-stripping and adding insulation, perhaps it’s time to consider a more appealing way to keep your house cozy and toasty for the coming cold season. Installing  interior shutters in your home is an effective and eye-catching way to ward off the winter chill.

    Energy-Efficient

    Our interior shutters for windows are designed to eliminate solar heat gain in the summer and provide efficient insulation during winter. We achieve this by building pockets of air into the louvers and frame parts of all our shutters. Indoor heated or cooled air is prevented from escaping your house, while exterior hot or cold air is blocked from penetrating your home. Your HVAC system ends up using less energy to maintain your desired temperature inside your house. This results in a safe and comfortable indoor home environment for you and your family as well as lower utility bills for you to pay each month.

    Private

    If you’re like many Georgia homeowners, you spend more time indoors during winter. With  shutters, it’s easy to keep prying eyes from invading your privacy. The easy-to-use tilt bar gives you complete control over your privacy. If you angle it just right, you can get a clear view of your immediate exterior environment without being visible from passers-by outside.

    Easy To Clean

    The last thing you want to do in the winter is worry about your window treatments. With the holidays coming up, you will likely be hosting relatives and friends over for parties or attending quite a few yourself over the season. Our interior shutters are a breeze to keep clean. No need to take them down, haul them to the cleaners and put them up again afterward. A soft cloth and a light wiping down is all you need to keep your shutters clean for winter or any time of the year. Custom interior shutters beautify your home and increase your enjoyment of your private indoor space. With top-quality shutters from Eclipse Shutters, you will also protect the value of your home and make it more attractive to potential home buyers should you decide to sell your house in the future. Don’t just settle for ordinary interior shutters from some unknown shutter company. Here at Eclipse Shutters, we offer a 25-year warranty on all our products. Our commitment to quality is your best guarantee of a superior product for your home.

  • Winterize Your Home To Save Money

    Winter brings with it not only cold air and the holiday season, but also bigger utility bills. This is especially true for homeowners whose houses are not properly winterized. Our  interior shutters go a long way in giving you a comfortable and safe indoor environment. They help maintain your desired temperature by preventing heat and air from escaping. Below are other practical steps you can take to both save money and enjoy a toasty and cozy home this winter season.

    Control Your Thermostat

    Set your thermostat at 68 degrees when you’re home. If you find this on the cold side, wear a thin sweater and socks. Keep in mind that for every degree that you lower the thermostat in your home, you can save up to 2 percent on your heating bill. Lower the thermostat when you go to bed or plan to be away during the day. You can save as much as 10 percent on your fuel bill every year by lowering your temperature settings 10 to 15 percent for eight hours each day.

    Seal Your House

    Caulk and weather strip all windows and doors. Make sure you have sufficient attic, basement and wall insulation, and reduce air leaks wherever you can. This would include places such as ducts, vents, floor boards and electrical outlets. Close the flue on your chimney when you don’t have a fire lit. If you have south-facing windows, keep window treatments open during the day to permit solar heating, then close them at night to retain heat.

    HVAC Maintenance

    Regularly clean or replace the filters in your furnace, and make sure you have your HVAC system professionally serviced at least once a year. A well-maintained system will function more efficiently and consume less energy to keep you comfortable. This will result in lower utility bills. Don’t place furniture in front of the radiators or heating vents in your house. This impedes heated air from circulating freely in the room. If you’re looking for both energy-efficient and stylish window treatments, consider installing shutters in your home. Our interior faux shutters are crafted to last and designed to please even the most discerning homeowner. Install our indoor faux shutters on your windows and see what a difference they make in the value of your home. Don’t go to just any shutter manufacturer. Come to Eclipse Shutters for friendly, helpful customer service and beautiful products.

  • Understand the Anatomy of Your Window

    Windows are one of the most common elements in homes and buildings. Today, modern manufacturing technology allows for the production of a seemingly unlimited array of window sizes, styles and designs, including faux shutters and other specialty window coverings. Although customizing your windows has become a popular practice, each window is mostly comprised of the same set of parts, or components. Understanding what these are and how they work is essential when it comes to repair and replacement projects. All it takes is a bit of technical know-how to be able to handle most basic home improvement jobs, including those concerning windows. You can save yourself a lot of time and money by becoming familiar with the individual pieces of your window.

    Windows 101

    The vertically running side pieces on the frame that support the glass are called the stiles. The sash refers to the entire frame, including the stiles along with the top and the bottom-situated rails. The glass insert is held in place by the sash. Muntins are the grids that prevent the glass from falling out, and they range from simple snap-on inserts to decorative sections (also known as lights) that are designed in various patterns. This part can be found on the interior or exterior of the window, though oftentimes the muntins are situated on both sides for extra support. On high-end, thermally insulated window types, the grid is installed between the glass panes, making for easier cleaning and overall window maintenance. You are probably familiar with the term glazing, but what most people fail to understand is that this does not refer to a procedure, but rather the number of panes a window has. Double-glazed windows consist of two glass panes and triple-glazed have three. Understandably, the more glazing a window has, the higher its energy-efficiency and subsequent R-value (the ratio at which heat dissipates through the glass). Aprons are the horizontal boards that lie beneath the windowsill and are attached to the wall. The stool, or sill, is the window’s protruding shelf-like section located on the interior side. Other parts include the side casing, head casing, jambs (side pieces that hold the sash), rails (vertical and horizontal frame pieces), operator (cranking mechanism) and the latch (the locking device). Now that you know more about your home’s windows, you can knowledgeably shop for Atlanta shutters. Eclipse Shutters offers a number of interior shutters with multiple design options to enhance the look of your windows and the overall interior design of your home.