Like
the elaborate ribbon that transforms a plain box into a
gift envied by all, exterior wood shutters can turn an ordinary
house into the best-dressed home on the block. Shutters
add texture and depth to a flat façade and provide an opportunity
to let your individuality shine through by adding a punch
of color. But perhaps most important, they can create one
of the most meaningful phrases in a Realtors vocabulary:
curb appeal.
When a major renovation isn't in the budget,
replacing or adding shutters is a relatively low-cost solution
for the home in need of a face-lift. And if you have an
older home that previous owners have stripped of original
details, shutters can help restore some of that lost character.
Historically, shutters were used to shut
out weather and intruders, a function far removed from their
current aesthetic one. But while the multilayer glass of
modern windows takes care of climate and security concerns,
shutters still can be an integral part of a home's appearance.
"No one needs shutters anymore," says David Rosen of the
Rosen Group, an architectural and design firm in Summit.
"They're just an anachronism from an older style of house.
But we still expect them to be there. If you don't have
them, the house looks incomplete."
Today's choices include lightweight and
maintenance-free plastic and vinyl styles, but there's still
nothing like quality, durability, and beauty of wood shutters.
And for those aiming for historical or architectural accuracy,
plastic just won't do. "There's the real way of doing it,
an then there's the cheaper, less authentic way of doing
it," says Rosen. "When you screw vinyl shutters into siding,
the shutters don't stand away from the house properly, there's
no hardware, the shutters are too thin, they're usually
an inappropriate size for the window, and even for people
who don't know what they're looking at, it doesn't look
right. For someone who know what they're looking at, they
just look terrible."
Russell Dreyer of Dreyer's Lumberyard
in Chatham reports that New Jersey homeowners are demanding
the higher quality offered by wood shutters. "Seventy percent
of the shutters we sell are wood," he says. "We offer pine
shutters, which we keep in stock, and then there are the
custom cedar shutters, which are preferred on high-end jobs.
They're architecturally correct for this market, and it's
the look you need for older homes."
The professionals all agree that wood
shutters have a look that's incomparable. They "are a reflection
of an owner's commitment to the authenticity and quality
of their home," says Rich Heggs of Timberlane
(800-250-2221); www.timberlaneshutters.com) a Pennsylvania-based
custom-shutter manufacturer whose products can be seen all
over New Jersey. "When these shutters are hung on a home,
you can see the difference. They are crafted by fine woodworkers
with the same skill and finesse that is used in making high-quality
wood furniture."
Another reason custom shutters look better
is that they fit properly, Heggs says. Stock shutters come
in standard sizes, usually in four inch increments, which
means that the shutter may be too long or too short for
your window. Custom shutters are made so that when they
close, they meet perfectly in the middle, and louvered styles
can be fully operational, allowing you to open and shut
them. "This authenticates the design of our shutters and
makes them historically accurate for the preservationist
in all of us," Heggs says.
Timberlane offers four basic
shutter styles-paneled, louvered, board and batten, and
Bermuda-with many variations. Cedar, strong and rot-and
termite resistant, is the wood of choice. Mortise-and tenon
joinery and hardwood pegs ensure that the shutter never
sags or falls apart, which can happen to lower-quality shutters
that have been stapled or screwed. And there are endless
hardware options to authenticate the look: hinges and pintles,
"shutter dogs" (holdbacks), and bolts, all representing
a different style or period. "Hardware allows for a completely
customized look to match any exterior style," Heggs says.
You also can incorporate cutout designs in your shutters
for a client's house on Hemlock Lane in Short Hills. You
could add pineapples to welcome your guests, maple trees
if you house is in Maplewood, or anchors for a cottage at
the Shore. And since custom cutouts can be created from
your imagination, your options are limitless.
When deciding on shutters, you need to
consider the style of your home. Is it Colonial, Victorian,
Georgian, a ranch, a Cap Cod, or another type? "Generally,
customers provide us with exterior shots of their homes,"
Heggs says. "We consider the home style, the state and town
when it's located, and the period in which it was built
or designed to look. Then we suggest shutter configurations,
hardware, and overall styles."
And don't forget color. This is your chance
to brighten up a conservative color scheme. "Shutters and
the front door are your opportunity to use stronger colors,"
says Rosen. "They're an accent color an otherwise monochromatic
house."
While custom shutters aren't cheap, each
individual shutter costing around $300, they're an investment
that can increase you're home's value. "Custom wood shutters
with real hardware can be as significant as a really nice
paint job," says Rosen. "They absolutely add value when
done properly. A big part of a decision to buy a house is
made before you open the car door. And shutters are part
of the overall impression of a house."
And with proper maintenance and care,
quality wood shutters will last for generations. "Forget
Grandma's cameo pin," says Heggs. "Who gets the shutters
and the hardware?
