What Are Shutters?

What Are Shutters?

An elegant alternative to blinds and draperies, interior shutters are the window treatment of choice for discriminating homeowners. What are they, how do they differ from blinds and what are their advantages? Read on to find the answers below.

A Definition

Shutters are a type of window treatment consisting of wood or faux wood louvers mounted in a solid frame. The louvers are manipulated by a tilt rod hidden at the back or in the middle of the shutter. 

Shutters Vs. Blinds

While they do share similar characteristics, interior shutters are worlds apart from blinds. Blinds can be manipulated to control the amount of light and air coming into a room just like shutters, but they offer little in terms of insulation because of the material that they are made of. Our high-quality interior shutters are durable and built to deliver maximum energy savings. Their construction reflects intense heat out of the window during the summer and keeps warm air inside during the winter. This can lead to lower utility bills each month, leaving more money in your pocket.

The Advantages

Interior shutters are easy to maintain. A regular wiping down with a damp soft cloth is all that is typically needed to keep your shutters looking new. shutters also give homeowners near-absolute control over privacy and air flow. Additionally, their classic design complements a variety of home decor, making them a favorite design element of both interior designers and homeowners. Eclipse Shutters is a shutter manufacturer that you can trust to deliver products that will enhance the beauty of your home. We are so confident that you will use and enjoy our products in your home for many years that they come with a 25-year warranty. This is all part of our commitment to quality and to our customers’ complete satisfaction.

How to Incorporate Shutters into Modern Design

How to Incorporate Shutters into Modern Design

We’ve often talked about how shutters are perfect with literally every design aesthetic, but there are still some doubters who don’t believe us. We want to take this blog post to explore how shutters work within the realm of modern design, a design school that is typically very difficult to match to window coverings.

Focus on Clean Lines

One of the most important elements to modern design is the effect that clean, stark lines can have on a space. These lines are used to create drama, tension or unity within a room, and they are a crucial focal point.  Fortunately, the clean, sharp lines of each louver of your interior shutters complement this design element perfectly. Whether you want to use bold contrasts or focus on parallel surfaces throughout the space, the clean lines of shutters will provide you with the modern look you seek.

A Blank Slate

The definition of what constitutes “modern design” can vary pretty drastically from one designer to another. However, that doesn’t actually matter when you install indoor faux shutters. The simple neutral color and clean design of your shutters provides you or your designer with a totally blank slate that can easily fit with any decor decisions they may make.

No Unnecessary Details

The form of your Atlanta shutters directly applies to their function. They have no unnecessary details or accessories to distract from the modern design elements you have used in your space. The straightforward construction includes just the shutters themselves, their louvers, the louver shaft to move them and attaching hinges — anything else is your choice to add or leave off. We truly believe that the timeless design of shutters can work with any design style. We encourage you to share how your custom-made Eclipse Shutters work with your personal design aesthetic, especially if you love modern design.

Why Are Shutters Great for Bathrooms?

Why Are Shutters Great for Bathrooms?

Once you experience a bathroom with shutters, it’s likely that you will wonder why there are some bathrooms in the world that don’t have them on their windows. You’re not alone; it baffles us too. Here are a few of the reasons why shutters are so perfect for bathrooms.

Guaranteed Privacy

The thick louvers and sturdy build of shutters means that once they’re closed, you have complete privacy in your bath. Even if you are trying to bring in fresh air from outside, shutters have a sturdy build that will not budge, meaning you will never be exposed in some of your most intimate moments.

Easy Ventilation

With shutters, it’s easy to ventilate the bathroom and maintain your privacy. Simply open the window and close the shutters. This ease of ventilation is also very useful on cleaning day when harsh chemicals can build up in the tiny bathroom space.

Moisture Resistant

Bathrooms have naturally high humidity levels, which means wood and cloth window coverings can be at risk of growing mold and rotting. Our custom indoor shutters are made of a moisture-resistant material that is made to look and feel exactly like wood — but without any potential to rot.

Fits with Any Decor

Atlanta shutters have endured through the ages because of their incredible utility, but they have also endured because their classic, clean lines are able to fit in perfectly with any decor. Many people like to use their bathroom decorations to create an escape, and whether that escape is to the mountains or to a Tahitian spa, the timeless elegance of shutters matches just perfectly.

Customized to Your Needs

Shutters are also customized to your exact specifications, so you have more flexibility with how your bathroom windows are covered. Many of our customers prefer to only cover the lower half of their bathroom window set so that they can let in natural light while maintaining their privacy. Whatever you choose, we can custom make it at Eclipse Shutters.

Best Window Coverings for a Lower Energy Bill This Summer

Best Window Coverings for a Lower Energy Bill This Summer

We all want to do what we can to save on our electric bill, but it’s impossible to deny the urge to turn on the air conditioner when the summer heat starts to find its way into our homes. Fortunately, you can help to keep all of that wonderful cold air inside and keep the sweltering sun out by using the right window coverings: custom shutters.

Luxury Innovation

The UltraSatin finish of interior shutters is UV resistant and energy efficient, which means that you don’t have to worry about discoloration or high bills.

Perfect Sun Blockers

While we all love the summer sun when we’re outside, when it steams through our windows into our homes, it heats things up. This can make your home feel like a greenhouse, and your air conditioning unit is forced to struggle to keep up with the rising temperatures.  You can help to reduce your AC’s load by keeping the sun’s light from entering. Closed interior shutters help to physically block the light, and their light color even bounces the incoming light back out the window.

Easy to Ventilate

During more temperate summer nights, shutters make it easy to turn off the AC altogether. You can open up the windows and let the cooler night air come in to your home without losing privacy. Simply open the louvers of your shutters enough to allow for air flow, but not enough for someone to peek through, to let the soft breezes in for an AC-free cool.

Balance Between Privacy and Light in Your Bathroom with Interior Shutters

Balance Between Privacy and Light in Your Bathroom with Interior Shutters

When windows are present in a bathroom, privacy becomes much more of an issue than in some other rooms of the house. While privacy is paramount, it is important to never go overboard. The goal is to strike a balance between privacy, light and decor. Keep in mind that natural light is also a major plus for small bathrooms in particular, as it makes the space appear larger and less restricted. The need for full control over how much light is allowed into the space (as well as the degree of privacy) means some window treatments are automatically better suited for the job than others. Shades, shutters and blinds are usually the best choice for the bathroom. Our interior faux wood shutters can be custom-fit, look stunning and give you the option to install the treatment on the lower sash only. Since Eclipse Shutters can custom-manufacture shutters to fit any window size and shape (extremely beneficial for smaller and/or irregularly shaped bathroom windows), you never have to worry about compromising on privacy. The “one sash only” option that we offer on interior faux shutters is guaranteed to keep your bathroom activities private while letting in the most natural light possible. Practicality aside, you will not find a better-looking product than shutters on the market. They look amazing, are highly energy-efficient and are very easy to clean and maintain. Contact us today to learn more about striking the perfect balance between form and function in your bathroom with our custom interior shutters.

Redefining “Neutral” in 2014 Interior Design

Redefining “Neutral” in 2014 Interior Design

Here at Eclipse Shutters, we know that after a long day at work, the first thing you want to do is kick back and relax. Everyone unwinds in their own personal way, but the color of your home’s walls can have a significant impact on how you get to this state of mind. This is no trade secret; many studies have been conducted on the psychological impact of the color spectrum. Bright, bold shades like yellow and green are motivating, uplifting and energizing, while more neutral earth tones are praised for their tranquility-inspiring powers.

A New Approach to Neutral

Armed with this knowledge and a desire to give their customers complete control over how to craft a unique living space, Benjamin Moore has recently launched a new neutral color palette for its 2014 paint inventory. These swatches illustrate an emerging trend, one that focuses more on the experience you get when you walk through the door. Your home is your sanctuary, and these neutral tones were created to make this part of your life stand out and be noticed in a subtle yet captivating manner. The shift away from bold and daring to beautifully humble is here. These colors instantly set the mood and complement existing room decor like our shutters and other window coverings. The neutral palette is organized into four broad color sections. The first is the “Greens and Earthy Neutrals,” and they range from the brightest Van Alen Green to the darker Sparrow. This color scheme is ideal for people wanting to craft a warm and inviting atmosphere. As such, they are recommended in rooms that are meant to be a source of comfort rather than stimulation (e.g. bedrooms, restrooms). The “Plums and Lavender” section is comprised of five tones (Lavender Mist, Super Nova, Nightingale, Black Satin and Iced Mauve). Formal living spaces and master bedrooms are where these colors shine. Purple is a naturally feminine tone and is a great way to add a touch of flair to a much-needed space. Black Satin is the darkest shade on the new neutral palette (some may consider it outside the spectrum) and should be placed in larger rooms when the goal is to direct attention or to form a dramatic focal point. The “Blue Family” is light, cool and airy, but also features some darker colors as well (Van Deusen, Flint and Normandy). The last group is the “Pinks and Neutrals,” which includes Light Peach and Coral Essence.  Every shade in Benjamin Moore’s 2014 collection is intended to mesh well with home furnishings. Neutrals go perfect with artwork, pottery, textiles, carpet and especially your interior shutters from Eclipse Shutters.