Moving into a new home in the Melbourne suburbs, we faced several choices regarding what to do with our windows. We had chosen the property for many reasons, but one was the enormous amount of light that was let into the living space both downstairs and in the upstairs bedrooms - but we didn’t want it all day, and we were also concerned with nighttime security.
Curtains were one thing, and the wife, who generally dealt with all manner of indoor furnishings, left the subject of blinds and shutters to me. The question was which to choose, either of them. Based on exactly what opening we needed to cover, a combination proved the better option.
Shutters
These are generally made in wood, vinyl and composite and can be fitted to both the interior and exterior of windows. Plantation shutters in Melbourne are essentially slatted blinds that sit inside their own frames and are drilled to your window sill.
Louvre shutters, also known as slats, contain movable blades that provide different functionality to plantation shutters.
Panel shutters, conversely, are built with two solid panels.
Blinds
Blinds are made from fabric, vinyl, metals, and wood. They are an interior window feature and come in several forms, such as horizontal, vertical, or roller blinds. They can provide blackout, be more appropriate for simple light filtering, and add a touch of privacy.
Home Improvements
We wanted to get our main home improvements done before moving in, and thanks to an inheritance, we had a budget for this. We were able to enhance the basic build in a number of ways. We had an extension added out back and some minor alterations to an inside non-supporting wall, providing more space.
We considered that the principal considerations for our windows were as follows:
- Firstly, we wanted more control over the amount of light that entered the property, particularly on the roadside that faced the full force of the sun in the afternoon. Here, we went for both shutters on the exterior and roller blinds on the interior.
- This also afforded the added level of privacy we were after. Motorized blinds were installed leading to the garden for an added touch of luxurious functionality.
- Another critical consideration when dressing our windows was energy efficiency. The company that installed all our shutters and blinds explained that our energy bills would be lower with shutters and blinds than with curtains, and in this day and age, that was a big plus.
- Shutters also afforded a high degree of protection from the elements whether it was sun or rain and they were strong enough to remain solidly fixed in winds.
Finally, aesthetics. We were delighted with how the house looked from the outside with plantation shutters and thrilled with the dark and with the semi-dark effects created inside that truly enhanced the beauty, style and security of our new home with our properly installed shutters and blinds.
