Austin Plantation Shutters, The Texan Answer To Window Dressing

It was during the Civil War when we got our first look at plantation shutters. The durable window coverings have morphed into window decorations that will fit the taste of people in the 21st century. These wooden window dressings in the 17th century were made from solid hardwood with no moving parts that let the outside light and air into the house. They were solid because they were placed below windows where there was no glass. They have been modernized for the modern house, and Austin plantation shutters have been a part of that streamlining.

These wooden shutters or louvers were used mostly because they lasted forever and they were maintenance free. The same characteristics hold true today, but they have also become very stylish. The origin of louvers could go all the way back to ancient Greece, where the louvers were immovable and made from marble. Eventually they were made out of wood and the louvers opened and closed to allow air and light to enter a house.

The Spanish brought them to the New World and the southern cotton and sugar plantations made their louvers wider and used them on every window they could. This is how plantation shutters got their name. At the time of the Civil War, only the well to do southerner could afford the louvers.

Today you do not have to be wealthy to own these window coverings. They are still very durable and maintenance free, but instead of wood, some are made out of vinyl. They can always be simply painted or custom made with a different finish or texture. The ability to customize them means that they can perfectly fit any sized or oddly shaped window.

Louvers are composed of very dense wood, which is why in many houses you will not see curtains hanging with the louvers. They are dense enough to keep the light out and to provide very good insulation.

These heavy duty louvers have stabilized in price so much that they are no longer used by only plantation owners, but by anyone who wants a classic window treatment in their home and a DIY talent to install them yourself.