Recently a lovely BNOTP reader asked what my goals or plans were for the Ohio cottage, aka, the Dollhouse, this year.
I do have quite a list of things I would like to accomplish this year, starting here in the kitchen. Last year I replaced the ancient refrigerator that had multiple broken shelves and a non-working icemaker. One appliance down, three to go! All of the other appliances are very old, as well. The microwave would not work at all right after I moved in. Neither my son nor I could get it to heat. Somehow it magically healed itself and started working, although it’s not great. It creates hotspots in the food, so you never quite know how your food will come out. If I were at the Dollhouse right now, I’d take a photo of the stove cooktop to share. It’s all scratched up—like it’s been scrubbed every day for the past 20 years, which it probably has since the kitchen was last renovated around 20 years ago. Thankfully, it still works. So I want to replace the microwave and stove this year. I’ll be going with a double oven like I have in Georgia, although I’m not sure which brand.
The other appliance that badly needs to be replaced is the dishwasher. It is very stained-looking inside, I refused to wash dishes in it the first few months after I moved in. Since the stains appear to be discoloration of the plastic interior itself, I decided to go ahead and use it since I was tired of washing dishes by hand. But there was another problem—most of the buttons on the control pad were completely unreadable. The buttons have a vinyl covering and over the years it appears the vinyl (or whatever it is) has separated from the underpart that shows which button does what. The first time I attempted to use the dishwasher, I had to search online for an old picture of my model dishwasher so I knew what buttons to press. 
This was the photo I found online. I’ve been using the “Smart Wash” button on the far left, although it’s completely unreadable on my dishwasher. So, I think the dishwasher is going to be the next appliance I replace if I can ever make up my mind on which brand/model to buy.
The issue I’m having with choosing a dishwasher is I do not want a third rack and almost all dishwashers made today come with a shallow, third, top rack. I don’t need it since I always wash little things like lids and such by hand. Plus, with so many of the dishwashers that I’ve seen that have the third rack, the bottom rack is practically on the floor. Apparently, if you have a third rack, all the other racks move down some.
I loved the 25+-year-old KitchenAid Superba dishwasher that’s currently in my home in Georgia. Since it has two, large, full-size racks and no third rack, the bottom rack is higher up so I don’t have to bend over so far. I have found a few 2-rack dishwashers online, but finding them in a store where I can see them in person is pretty much impossible. So, that’s my hold-up, the reason I haven’t already replaced it. I need to work on that this year. Let’s keep a running tally: new dishwasher, new microwave, and new stove—guessing that will run around $3,000 easily, probably more with today’s prices.
Another major goal for The Dollhouse in 2025 is to add plantation shutters to all the windows throughout the home. I currently have them in the Georgia house—have had them there for over 25 years, and still love them today as much as the day they were installed, and they still look as nice as the day they were installed, unlike curtains/draperies that often fade or go out of style. I’m not against draperies, I love how they look, but I like to start with shutters that offer privacy and sun control, then move on from there adding curtains/ draperies later if I feel it’s needed in a room.
So far, I’ve added shutters to two rooms: my study and the kitchen. Those were an immediate need since the study has windows down both sides of the room, thus is super bright. I knew the light would fade any furniture or rugs I added to the room. Plus, all that light made it difficult to see my computer monitors in the morning and eveningtime. So shutters were an immediate need for that room. 
I went way outside my comfort zone, going with 3.5-inch louvers for the Dollhouse since I wanted to keep the view as much as possible. I have mixed feelings about that because I still love my 2.5-inch louvers back home in Georgia. The 2.5-louver size is a bit more traditional, and since the Dollhouse is a traditional cottage-style home, 2.5-inch louvers would have also worked great in this home.
But since the windows are nice and deep, I decided to give the bigger/deeper louver a try. One thing I’ve noticed about the larger 3.5-inch louver is when I want more privacy or light control in this room, I have to tilt the louvers upward a lot more than I do with the 2.5-inch louvers I have in the Georgia house. I guess it’s because the louvers are further apart, creating a larger gap between the louvers. With 2.5-inch louvers, a slight tilt gives tremendous privacy…just something to note about larger louvers.
As mentioned, the other room where I’ve added plantation shutters is here in the kitchen. I needed them here right away for privacy since there’s a home next door that’s on a slightly higher elevation. I’m sure they have way more to do than look into my kitchen window at night (lol) but I felt a bit like I was on stage once it was dark out. Again, I went with the larger 3.5-inch louvers and just placed one panel in each window for maximum view. I don’t mind the one-panel design here in these two windows, but I much prefer two panels per window whenever the window is wide enough for that to work.
Two panels per window (to me) is a true “shutter” look where a single panel per window looks a lot like blinds from both inside and out. If you like the one-panel look, please don’t take offense, it’s strictly a personal choice. The shutter company I used to work for could have designed this window with 4 panels that met in the center over the center molding, thus making it where the two panels on the left and the two on the right could bifold back whenever desired. They would have easily cleared the faucet, too. Would I have opened them from time to time? Not sure, but I would have had that option available if I had wanted it.
See that window at the end of my upstairs living room in the Georgia house? That’s really two windows but I designed it with bifold shutters that meet in the center. The two panels on the left will fold to the left and the two panels on the right will fold to the right. Later on, I added electric wall sconces on either side of that window, so it’s unlikely I would open and fold them back aginst the wall, but that made more sense to me than having two panels in each window that opened in the center and banged into each other. Either way is fine, though—it just depends on how you wish to use the window.
So a goal for this year is to add plantation shutters to the rest of the house, which is going to be very expensive, especially since I’m going with all-wood shutters, as opposed to Polywood. The next windows I plan to add shutters to are the four windows here in the living room…
…and the two windows here in the dining room. (Photo is from the real estate listing a few years back.)
I’d also like to add them here in the powder room…
…and to the window here in the Butler’s pantry. That will finish out the downstairs except for the sunroom. (Photo from real estate listing.)
But I have run into a huge dilemma, which is the reason the living room and dining room still do not have shutters. The only company that I can find in my area that makes wood plantation shutters, does not offer them with a divider rail. The divider rail is that piece of wood that runs horizontally across the panel. It serves two purposes: 1. Allows the bottom louvers to be closed for privacy while keeping the top half open for view/light. 2. A divider rail hides the sash of the window. Again, it’s a very traditional look for plantation shutters.
It’s a feature that I use all the time in the Georgia house, especially during the fall/winter when the temps start dropping outside. Shutters add tremendous insulation to a window, so that really helps in the wintertime. In this photo taken by a neighbor a few years back, the panels are closed on the bottom half of all of the windows, upstairs and down. I love that feature so much and use it almost on a daily basis, even during the spring/summer. It’s nice to have dinner in the dining room and have complete privacy while dining, yet retain the view and light coming in through the top half of the window.
Unfortunately, the only company near me that makes wood plantation shutters, refuses to offer that feature. They will not make shutters with a divider rail. Instead, they only offer a split pull rod which means they install two pull rods on each shutter panel, one on the top half of the panel and one on the bottom. That gives separate control of the top and bottom louvers, but I’m not crazy about how that looks. The pull rods can sometimes be facing/leaning in different directions (I think) would drive me crazy. Plus, I just prefer the look with a divider rail.
So, do I go with panels that have no break/no split pull rods and sacrifice the ability to close the bottom half in the evening for privacy when sitting in the living room and while dining in the dining room, or do I go with the split pull rod on all the windows? I’m going to revisit the shutter company/factory showroom once I’m back in Ohio to refresh my memory of how the split pull rod looks. It makes me sad that I can’t get the look I want, but it’s one of the issues of buying a house in a smaller town. It’s also an issue with just having fewer choices in today’s world than we did in the past. Sometimes I feel like we’ve gone backwards when it comes to home building and furnishing our homes.
I should mention that I consulted the largest company I could find in Cincinnati, but their representative said that almost all of their business is Polywood shutters, not real wood shutters. He visited and showed me samples of the Polywood shutters, and I didn’t care for how they looked where the panels closed. There was this weird vinyl flap thing that stuck out on the edge of each panel that interlocked when the panels closed. Thankfully, it wasn’t visible when the panels were closed, but it looked like it would eventually age and crack (as vinyl often does) with the extreme temperature changes that windows go through. I could just see that vinyl/plastic strip yellowing and cracking with time.
The representative said that he could order premade wood shutters in standard sizes if I really wanted to stay with wood shutters. He later texted me a photo of how those look and I hated how they were designed with a bulky piece of wood right down the center, probably to hide the inevitable light gap since they aren’t truly custom-made for each window. What has happened to plantation shutters?! I don’t know if I could ever get used to seeing that chunk of wood down the center. Plus, they were insanely expensive! Even their Polywood shutters were expensive, as much as the wood ones I have in the office and kitchen!
When plantation shutters are custom-made for a window, you don’t get that chunk of wood down the front where they come together to close. Sometimes I wish I didn’t know as much about plantation shutter design as I do. That’s what happens when you’ve worked for a plantation shutter company in the past that made true custom plantation shutters.
So all this is to say, I will be making tough decisions about plantation shutters this year with the goal of adding shutters to all the windows throughout the house, starting with the downstairs. I’ll probably stay with the 3.5-inch louvers. That’s what the local plantation shutter company is recommending. He rarely does 2.5-inch louvers now, but I still do love how they look. I think in some ways they look more graceful in a window than a larger louver, at least in traditional cottage homes. I would feel differently if this home had huge windows, high ceilings, and really big rooms, or was located in Florida. Ha! But the rooms in the Dollhouse are small to medium in size with 8-foot ceilings. There really isn’t a wrong or right way when it comes to choosing a louver size, it’s just personal preference. I’m sure the next person who buys this house would probably love the larger 3.5-inch louvers, and it probably does bring in a bit more light which would be great for this side of the house.
So add another $8,000 to our previous tally and that brings us up to $11,000. Actually, it’s more like $14,000 if I add shutters to the sunroom windows, too. I’d love to do that since that’s a super sunny room with windows down two sides. But we’ll stay with $11,000 for now.
Another goal for 2025 is to have custom glass-paned doors made for these shelves here in the dining room. I have no idea what that’s going to cost since I haven’t gotten any quotes yet, but I’m guessing around $2-3000. What do you think that will cost? So adding that to our $11,000 tally, we are around $14-15,000 now. For that amount, I would have window treatments in all the windows, which I really want/need, the dining room would take a big step up with the glass doors, and I would have clean, modern, working appliances in the kitchen. I think that’s probably all I will shoot for in 2025 since I also have some goals for the Georgia house this year, mostly a lot of interior painting and possibly some bathroom updates.
The thing I most want are the shutters, well those and the dishwasher. Did you know that you can see straight through woven blinds? I had no idea! Ever since moving in, I had been completely relying on the woven blinds (that were already in the windows) for privacy in the evening here in the dining room and kitchen. One night I was walking back from my son’s home and I realized I could see every single thing in both the dining room and kitchen, just as if the blinds were not there at all. So currently I have temporary shades over those windows and they never get raised. I’m really getting tired of not having any view or light coming in through any of the windows because it’s such a hassle to raise and lower temporary paper blinds on a daily basis. So it will be time to make shutter decisions when I’m next back at the Dollhouse.
Do you have any big renovations or updates planned this year? Any thoughts on my plantation shutter angst? Hahaha! I’ll be back at the Dollhouse in mid-March so I’ll try to go by the shutter shop then and make a final decision. I’ll have to break up the cost, doing the downstairs first, I think. I can’t wait to get all the windows done, though! Did I mention that none of the windows in this house are the same size? The challenges of old houses! 🙂
Lovely home(s). Such great taste you have in furnishings!
Thanks so much, Diane!
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Your attention to detail is amazing!
Wendy
Aww, thanks Wendy! I wish sometimes I didn’t notice all the details. lol
I love the chairs in your office. Especially enjoy how the patterns differ but coordinate. I think because the rug is so beautifully vibrant you could try a vibrant throw on your chair. Maybe sapphire?
I am enjoying all the pictures of your Doll House. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Deborah! I bet you’re right, I should try that!
Hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
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If you have room in your budget for dishwasher drawers, I highly recommend them! We usually use the top drawer but having the bottom is ideal when we have dinner parties or at the holidays. We’re seniors so having everything at waist level is great. The washer easily has enough room for service for 6 in just the top drawer and we run it about twice a week. We have used drawers since 2008 and I put them in 2 remodels. Ours are Fisher Paykel but I think there are other brands out there. Good luck with your plans!
I would love those! Amazing that they hold that much, I had no idea! That’s great! Unfortunately, the Dollhouse kitchen is very small so not sure they would fit in. I would love to do a full kitchen renovation at some point, so that would be a great time to try and add those. I’ll make a note of that brand…love that idea! I don’t like bending way over either, I’m spoiled by the dishwasher I have here in Georgia, it’s feel much higher up whenever I load it, but DW drawers would be even better!
Susan, no worries about having to change your kitchen! The specifications for the double dishwasher drawers are the same as the standard dishwasher space. It’s an easy switch for the cabinetry and the plumbing. You can get them in stainless or panel ready. I’ve had both and prefer the stainless.
Really! Ohhh, I’m intrigued now. Will def check on that! Thanks, Janet!
Have you thought about having the tilt rod placed on the inside of the shutter? We are currently building a house here in GA and the shutter companies I have spoken with can place the tilt rod on the street side of the shutter so the rod is not visible from the house or the street. They can also do 2 tilt rods per shutter so the top half can be left open for light while the bottom half of the shutter can be closed for privacy. Lots of options for certain and a big decision definitely.
Surprisingly, that is a feature the shutter company I’ve been using for the Dollhouse does offer, but I really like a very traditional shutter look, so I actually like the look with a pull rod. He does do that split pull rod, but just not sure I would like it. I just wish I could have a divider rail, it’s just the look I love.
Thanks for that suggestion, Pamela…appreciate you mentioning it.
I too live in Ga below the airport and I am not on city water and have a well that is hard water. When I moved in the dishwasher was orange from high minerals and my toilet tank was brown with a settament in the bottom. I buy only stainless steel appliances. Dishwasher Bosch or kitchenaid and a stainless steel sink. Also I use iron out in toilet tanks or wink for rust and I have a stainless steel 80 gallon hotwater heater and filter treatment tanks in my well house . I use metro water in Tucker and they check twice a year. They might know someone in your Ohio area. Problems solved.
My Georgia house doesn’t seem to have any issues with hard water, at least not that I’ve noticed. Yeah, I only buy stainless interior appliances, too. My KitchenAid Dishwasher is stainless inside. It’s over 20 years old and still works great! They really built great appliances back in the day.
Thanks for that info about the hotwater heater, Carol!
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THANKFULLY…NOT. Last year was a doozy w/total garden landscaped & two, TWO bathrooms updated ( quartzite shower wall, clawfoot tub w/quartzite wall, 1800s fireplace surround refurbished…YIKES) IF you took “exact” measurements…would your Georgia Company do custom… ❤️ what you want.
franki
Unfortunately, they sold the company to a young couple who were awful, not customer service oriented at all. After just a few short years, they were out of business. I don’t think I’ll ever find a company that focused on quality the way the company did for the 10+ years they were in business.
At this point Susan, have you considered flying the Georgia guy out to the dollhouse for the shutters you really want ? Are the people you worked for still in business ? No, I am not kidding.
The dollhouse looks so much bigger now.
When you took the wicker table to the dollhouse, did you replace the table in Georgia ?
If all else fails, buy the lottery ticket.
Sadly, that company is no longer in business now. That was over 25 years ago when I purchased my shutters from them.
I haven’t replaced it yet, but I’m sure I will at some point. I’m tempted to buy the round version of the table I purchased for the Dollhouse. I love how it looks and I think the size would work. I should probably go ahead and do that.
Have you thought about a carpenter? or an Amish carpenter? I believe Ohio has Amish communities. they do absolutely amazing work. If you could find them around. Here in Middle of Michigan they have contacts who will provide transportation for them. Not sure if this is a possibility but maybe worth investigating?
You know, I think you’re right. I need to do some research and see what’s available in that area.
You’ve already made such great updates to the Dollhouse and what you have planned for this year sounds great! I agree 100% with you on the shutters and hope you can find a way to get what you want.
On dishwashers, I replaced my 20 year old GE a couple years with the newest GE. I’ve regretted it ever since. My old GE was fantastic, but I could no longer get parts for it. The new one doesn’t do nearly as good à job at getting things clean as the old one. I wish I’d gotten a Bosch. Everyone I know with one raves about it, and you can get them without a third rack (though my third rack is one of the things I do like on my dishwasher 🙂 ).
Can’t wait to see the new 2025 additions to the Dollhouse!
Ann, I so sympathize! Nothing seems to be made with the same quality now except for Speed Queen washers/dryers which are made right here in Ripon, Wisconsin.
I have heard good things about Bosch and my son/DIL love theirs. I’m not sure if they make a 2 rack version which is what I would want. I need to check into further.
Thanks! Looking forward to sharing some updates in the future!
I did get a Bosch a few years back and it washes my dishes amazingly well. It is so quiet too. And I do love the third rack also. Wasn’t sure I would like it at first and my husband said it was easy to remove the top rack and reposition the rack in the middle if I wanted it that way. My daughter just bought a Bosch without a third rack so they are certainly available.
Virginia, would you mind asking her for the model #. I would love to know which one she purchased. I’m going to look into the separate dishwashing drawers, too…I’m intrigued by those.
Hi Susan, I love your little Dollhouse and I know it will be just perfect when you are finished with it! I live in Virginia and had my entire house of shutters made in Georgia, however, that was 20 years ago. You might want to call your shutter company and see if they have a representatives in Ohio. you might also call a couple of interior designers to see if they have other shutter sources.
Good luck and I hope you can find exactly what you want.
Sadly, they are no longer in business now. They used to have a location in Virginia, but they are all closed now. I’m so glad you found a great company! That’s wonderful!
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I love what you’ve done with both your homes and I’m looking forward to your choices. I learn so much on your blog. One thing to think about would be that you’ll want to be able to service any appliance you choose with a local contractor. I had a neighbor who purchased a “top of the line” dishwasher and when it needed work, she couldn’t find anyone who worked on her brand (had to buy new). You might want to check with your favorite repairman to make sure he works on your choices before you buy. One recommendation I have is to get a variable power microwave. Many microwaves really only cook on high power. When set to 50%, they simply cook at full power only 1/2 of the time. Variable power actually cooks at 1/2 power the whole time.
Thanks so much, Margaret! That would be awful to have that issue. Oakwood isn’t too, too far from Cincinnati and Columbus, so I think I’d have someone who could do it, but that is a very good point to remember before I choose. I didn’t know about the variable power microwave…how interesting! I will look into that!
here is an idea why not take the dishwasher that you like from your house in
Georgia and put it in the house in Ohio and just buy an inexpensive one for the the Georgia home which will most likely be replaced anyway by whoever buys your house????
I thought about that but I decided to go with all stainless appliances in the Dollhouse since I’m not sure how long I’ll own that house and stainless finishes seem to be more popular these days. I have all white appliances in the Georgia house, so my dishwasher wouldn’t match, unfortunately. Speed Queen needs to start making dishwashers. lol
I think I would really like to have the drawer version of a dishwasher. I don’t know anyone who has one, but they just look so practical for a one- or two-person household.
I hope you have quick success with the appliances; I fear that prices will really jump before long.
I want to check into those…I agree. I could wash dishes more often and only use one drawer. Love that!
Don’t rule out Columbus as a possible source, Susan. We’re only an hour and a half away and this is a large city. Love all your plans and attention to details. I love the look of plantation shutters in the DH.
I hadn’t thought about Columbus. I will check to see what Shutter companies are there. Honestly, I’m shocked that there’s a company making real wood shutters just 10 minutes from my house. If it weren’t for him, I would probably have to go with Polywood. Thanks, Michele!
With Plantation shutters do they open and fold somehow or are you always looking at the view through the slats?
It depends on how they are designed. Check out this previous post that I wrote a while back. It shows a lot of ways to design them to have them open the way you want/need.
https://betweennapsontheporch.net/plantation-shutters/
I really think you should ask the Georgia people to make you some shutters for the Doll house. Surly a girl with your expertise could install them! That way you can get what you want and know with out a doubt that they would be correct! As for the dishwasher I have never seen a Drawer type, but that would probably be the answer for you. I would check into the shutter place you used before, don’t settle for something you really dislike, as you will always hate the end result, and wish you had gone with something else! Either way do the windows first, that way you get the privacy your wanting. You can always wait another year to do anything else to the Doll house.
I wish I could but unfortunately, they are no longer open. That was so many years ago that they did my Georgia shutters. Yeah, I def want to check on the drawer style. I have a feeling those are very expensive but worth a look.
That’s true! I really want the shutters done more than anything. I agree, I need to really like them for as expensive as they are! Thanks, Cindy!
Trust your choice of wood shutters. I bought the vinyl coated shutters for our laundry room & downstairs half bath. Over time they both have yellowed. My wood shutters look like they did the day they were installed. If you find a shutter company in Atlanta with the style of shutters and quality you like, they can make custom shutters for the cottage. Find a woodworker/cabinet maker in Ohio and have them measure your windows and install as the shutters arrive. My husband is a wood worker hobbyist and it is incredibly detailed work. This person could also design and install your doors over the shelving unit. Make your new home as stunning as your Georgia home.
Oh, no! How long is the warranty on those, Kathryn? I wonder if they have a lifetime warranty? I’ve heard of vinyl siding doing that too. I would love to find a great carpenter here, there are so many projects like that that I need done, including replacing molding around two doors that are damaged from chain locks hanging against them.
Thanks, Kathryn!
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Those seem like good goals and I bet getting those done will make the Dollhouse feel more like home.
I love the third rack in my dishwasher and never noticed the bottom rack being any lower. We missed the one we had in Chicago and replaced the dishwasher in our Georgia home because we missed that third rack so much. I find it particularly useful to get measuring spoons clean.
I suspect your plantation shutter difficulties stem from the fact that they’re not as popular in the North. I can’t think of a single friends’ home that had them installed in Chicago. We had things like Hunter Douglas Duette pleated shades instead. We had loads of options when we put plantation shutters in our new home. We have the wider slats and a single shutter per window. We’re very happy with them, and good to know yours are still great all these years later!
Thanks, Karen! Karen, what brand dishwasher do you have? I’m curious about the height from the floor. I just measured mine and from the floor to the top surface of the door when it’s open is 12 inches. From the floor to the top edge of the bottom rack is 19 inches. Could you measure your dishwasher in those two spots and let me know what it is?
My son/DIL have a Bosch and there’s seems so low every time I open it, like the door is so close to the floor. I always place my stainless steel measuring spoons in with the regular flatware. I love how my KitchenAid has the flatware basket at the front with a handle, so it’s easy to place flatware in (not being on the side) and easy to empty it once cleaned since the basket lifts right out.
The thing I really dislike about pleated shades and woven shades (really shades of any type) is how they completely block the view through the portion of the window they cover. Shutters and blinds don’t do that, but give privacy and sun control. I feel like I’m inside a box when I’m in a room with shades of any type…it feels suffocating to me. I really dislike losing the view out of the top portion of the window, but I know they are popular.
I think plantation shutters will forever be my favorite window treatment and I love how they look surrounded by draperies.
I have a KitchenAid. The top of the door is 8” from the floor, so it is lower. I just never noticed!
I am definitely a Plantation Shutter convert!
The Dollhouse is wonderful. There are so many choices out there now. It will make your eyes glaze over. I desperately need to replace some window treatments in my house, but am indecisive about whether or not to go with shutters, or drapes in one upstairs master bedroom. You seem to have had a lot of experience with shutters, Susan, and I have none. Can you elaborate a bit on why you prefer wood over composite?
I don’t know what your budget is, but a few years ago I purchased a Bosch dishwasher for my kitchen, after the old one died. It’s fabulous, and I highly recommend it. I also looked at the Miele, but it was 50% more money, and I couldn’t see any real difference between the two.
Thanks so much, Lisa! I know, I went into a Best Buy in Ohio a while back to look at stoves and was completely overwhelmed.
I prefer wood because it’s considered the top-of-the-line material for shutters, or at least it used to be. When I was working for a shutter company many years ago, all the companies that made shutters from plastic/PVC had terrible quality issues, like the louvers becoming loose and hanging downward with no way to tighten them back up. I used to work with clients who were having to redo all the non-wood shutters in their home because the louvers were not staying open anymore or had other issues.
I’m not sure about the current Polywood shutters and how they hold up, but I can say that they wood plantation shutters that I have in my Georgia house look and work just as well today as they did when they were installed around 30 years ago. I would love to see some long-term reviews of Polywood shutters and how they hold up. You may want to do some research into that before you decide what to go with for your windows.
Lisa, I just found this interesting discussion about wood vs Polywood. https://www.city-data.com/forum/home-interior-design-decorating/110553-poly-vs-wood-interior-shutters-blinds-2.html
When I was working for a shutter company, Polywood didn’t exist yet. It seems to have a better reputation than the PVC shutters I used to see that didn’t work properly. So Polywood may be a good option today, just not sure. Apparently, they are just as expensive as real wood shutters.
I noticed they say that wood shutters sometimes have to be repainted. I have never had that issue with my interior plantation shutters, the paint still looks great. I did have the shutters in the garage repainted, but that was only because the painter (when painting the garage walls/ceiling) got some type of primer that he used on the ceiling, all over the shutters, so they had to be sanded and repainted. Normally, people do not have their interior shutters repainted.
Do you have a Lowes Home Improvement store in your area? I have Grabber wood plantation shutters from them and they have a break in the middle, so that you can operate the top and bottom of the shutter independently. Lowes does run them at a discount from time to time. Hope this helps and have a wonderful day!
I just received an email with a 10% off offer for custom wood shutters from Arts and Crafts Home magazine. It is for a company you may already know about called Shuttercraft. Maybe they can help!
I think you’re right about having too much info on shutters after working for a shutter company. lol I have three windows across my desk area and used the thin old-fashioned wood shutters with the rods. They have cute little knobs and locks (which I never use). I went cheap with the fake wood shades on the rest of my windows with roll up hardware. I made a mistake where I have two large windows together and bought a shade the width of the windows. What I should have done is buy a single valance but individual shades for each window. The shade is very heavy to pull up and down and now it doesn’t work properly. Anyone else done that? One window I have I use a regular roller canvass shade with a scallop on the edge. No problems and so easy to wipe clean. Which brings me to a question on how to keep shutters clean. Wood stoves/ash do not go well on flat surfaces. As for dishwashers I’m on my third one which is a Maytag. I’m noticing burnt off covering on some of the racks’ tines. I have stainless steel inside. I notice your “relic” is a Kenmore. I don’t believe they make them now. (I have a Kenmore freezer) And another question, has anyone cleaned their dishwasher filter? There is a filter buried down underneath the bottom arm. In looking at all your pictures Susan I really like how your new dining room table and chairs look! When you get the glass cabinet fronts for the shelves it’s really going to be fabulous.
When are you going to just forget all the details. Just be happy with what you have. Just live life. I had to tell myself this and now I am so much at peace.
Never! Details matter. Just because I pay attention to quality or details doesn’t mean I’m not happy or peaceful. Not sure why you would jump to that conclusion. Ila, I think you’re projecting onto me how you feel and what brings happiness/peace into your life. I’m glad you are at peace, that’s wonderful. Keep up whatever you’re doing that makes you happy and at peace, and I’ll continue to do the same.
Hi! I considered shutters for my Georgian colonial home but didn’t like the shutters not aligning with the panes of my windows. I think you GA house shutters solve that problem. But, I urge you to get the shutters you really want. You will forever be unhappy by settling for shutters you know now that you won’t like. Perhaps the GA shutter company can show you how to measure – smartphones have measuring apps. BTW, I think we have the same crystal chandelier but mine was from eastern Europe. It takes about 45 minutes to clean thoroughly but I don’t mind, it is so beautiful. I added a ceiling medallion which just made it “to die for”. Best wishes for your shutters but don’t settle.
I know what you mean, but unfortunately, there’s no way to really line up the mullions of the window panes with the louvers. Plus, depending on rather you’re standing or sitting in a room, that perspective would forever be changing…they would never be aligned for long.
Sadly, my original shutter company is no longer in business. The owners retired and sold to a young couple and the company didn’t last too long after that. If it were still in business, I would def want them to make my shutters and I’d find someone to install them for me. They were great!
That is so cool that we have similar/same chandeliers, Catherine! I so agree, it’s worth the time it takes to clean it occasionally. ♥
I would highly recommend Bosch dishwasher. They are so quiet you have lean down to see if they are running. (There is a red light on the floor that tell you if it is running) They clean like a dream. The one I have is my third. We have moved and had to leave my other washer, but got a Bosch as soon as I could.
Bosch dishwashers are great! Ours has been doing well for 7 years since we bought this house. We have pleated shades that are “top down.” Privacy on the bottom and view/light on top. Raise or lower as needed. Shutters wouldn’t look right on our 60’s rancher.