When I first purchased the Dollhouse, the moment I stepped through the front door, I began dreaming of adding plantation shutters to all the windows throughout the home.
I’ve had shutters in the Georgia house for 30+ years and love them as much today as the day they were installed.
After a lot of phone calls, online research and getting several estimates, I could only find one company in the area that made their shutters the way I prefer—from real wood and with features like rabbeted edges and tension adjustment screws. The Dollhouse would already have shutters in all its windows if not for two large stumbling blocks: 1. The confusing and varied sizes of the windows in the Dollhouse that make it tricky to design, and 2. The company that came the closest to making their shutters the way I prefer, told me that they don’t offer their shutters with a divider rail. More on that in just a sec.
In case you’re not familiar, the divider rail is the stationary wood piece you see across the center of a shutter panel that allows independent control of opening/closing the top and the bottom louvers in a panel. In my breakfast room bay window back in Georgia, I can close the lower louvers for privacy, but keep the top louvers open for light. I love that versatility.
So when I started adding shutters to the Dollhouse, I only added them to the rooms where I needed window treatments right away, and where I didn’t want/need the divider rail feature. For that first order, I added them to the six windows here in the office and two smallish windows in the kitchen. The windows in both of those rooms are fairly short, so the divider rail feature wasn’t something I wanted.
But the time has come to do something about the rest of the windows, starting with the windows in the living room and dining room. The windows in both of those rooms are long enough that I would love separate control of the top and bottom louvers. If/when I add furniture to the living room, it would be great to have the ability to close the bottom louvers in the evening for privacy, while keeping the top louvers open for light.
Same for the two windows in the dining room, as seen in this photo from when the home was listed for sale a few years back.
I have an appointment next week to order shutters for the living room, dining room, guest bath, and Butler’s pantry—if I don’t chicken out. lol Planation shutters are pretty pricey, so it’s nerve-racking to order them unless I’m absolutely sure I’m making the right decision. Again, the company I’m using has stated they don’t offer their panels with a divider rail, but when I visit their website, I see a lot of photos showing them made with a divider rail. I have a feeling the representative who will be coming out next week is probably going to say they used to offer that, but no longer do. That would be just my luck. 🙁
Another decision I’ve made that may sound a bit wacky is though I’m going with 3.5 inch louvers for the windows, as I did in my office, I’m seriously considering going with a smaller louver in the bathrooms that have windows—especially the half/guest bath on the main floor. I will be going with two panels for that window for a traditional shutter look, which is the look I prefer. I don’t like single panels in windows—it makes me think of wood blinds.
Since that room is so small, I can’t envision big 3.5-inch louvers in that little window. I think a 2.5-inch louver will look and feel more appropriate in the bathrooms, and those aren’t rooms where I care about maximizing the view through the window. I don’t care if they look slightly different in scale/size from the other windows when viewed from outside the home. I think I’ll try 2.5-inch louvers here in the guest bath, see how that looks from outside, then make my decision about the other two bathrooms that have similar-sized windows. The windows in the basement bathroom are not the type that need window treatments since they are opaque.
The other room where I plan to add shutters in this next order is the single window here in the Butler’s pantry.The curtains that were there look nice in the photos, but they were quite faded, and were constantly in the way when opening drawers in the desk. I store batteries and other items in the desk, and I was forever closing the curtains up in the drawers since they hung right in front of the drawers.
I finally removed them and added a temporary shade. This is another window where I would love shutters with a divider rail design, since it would be great to have the option to close the bottom half in the evening when sitting at the desk in this room. Not sure how often I will sit there, but my grandsons do enjoy using my computer or their iPad at this desk sometimes. 
So much angst when ordering shutters! Argggh. I’ll give you an update after my shutter appointment next week.
“Rabbeted”. Otherwise they would be really harey.
lol My spellcheck didn’t catch that one. Ha!
I live in Florida and have plantation shutters (finally) whole house. I don’t have the dividers you mention, but in my laundry room the installer offered an option to cut the vane (I think that’s what it’s called – the vertical wood piece that opens and closes the blinds). He had a tool that cut the vane so I could keep half the window closed if desired. Perhaps this option might work for you.
I have plantation shutters 3.5 inch that I got at Lowe’s about 3 years ago. They don’t have the name on them, but each louver moves independently. I can open as many or few as I like. The company sent reps to measure and install them, no subcontractors. There’s no middle bar, but it’s not needed. I’d send a picture but it won’t paste into this.
I just can’t hold back saying, “I ‘shutter’ to think. Seriously, can’t wait to see the end result of your search.
I feel your pain. You know what you like and want and somebody tries to talk you out of it. There is so much room for talented woodcrafters today and hard to find. Years ago I met a man that did all of the fretwork and outdoor trim at downtown Disney World. Best of luck with the estimate.
Susan,
I have 3.5” 25 year old wood shutters in my whole house. The small pool bath has the same.
With all that said, I recently installed 3.0” plastic shutters in my guest house. Four windows. They don’t make wood anymore. And no more center rails although they do work independently as if there were rails.
My wood ones now need painting. I’m liking the plastic more than I thought.
If you need photos I would be happy to provide. I visited the shutter company more than once! Made sure to confer with the owner. They had samples there. There is more to learn than one would think!
Hi Susan
I’ve got plantation shutters too, and have loved them in three houses now! Our last sets were installed 6 years ago and I have a divider bar for the upper area. I live in Cincinnati, so I think the shutters/blinds guy would be willing to travel to Dayton. If you’re interested in his name,let me know. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching all the progress on the Dollhouse! It’s beautiful!
Terri Solomon
Just FYI I have Plantation shutters throughout my house with NO divider rail but I can operate the top & bottom sections separately. We are in SW Florida and the company is in Ft Myers, FL so is probably not helpful for you Everyone at the company was GREAT to work with from our sales guy, Joe, to the employees who came out to measure, check and / or install. What a treat working with people who show up and do what they say they are going to do.
Paradise Plantation Shutters!
Susan, you are such a thorough researcher and have such good reasons for wanting/needing the type of shutters you have in the Atlanta home, that I think I would keep looking for a company willing and able to provide exactly what you want for the Dollhouse windows. As you said, shutters are very pricey and I just don’t think you’ll be happy without the center rails. It’s so frustrating to know what you want and not be able to find it in your area. I wish you all the best with your sales rep meeting. I hope the company can get exactly what you want!!! Don’t settle or you’ll be disappointed! Just my two cents worth! I love keeping up with all of your wonderful updates at the Dollhouse!
That’s a lot – good luck, Susan. Hope it all works out for you.
Susan, Who did you get your shutters from in Atlanta? I have been wanting some for three windows in my kitchen. Just like the great screen door you found, someone out there must make what you need. Keep researching!
Hi Susan, When the gentleman comes to your home for the shutters, if he says, as you suspect, that they do not make them anymore the way you want them, I suggest you do as I have often done with frequent success. When a salesperson tells me no, or that they don’t do something, I very politely and sweetly ask, ” Well, could you this once?” It has been used successfully to start a sale early for me, or to extend a return period where I had missed the deadline, among other times. My request usually goes to a supervisor, but hold firm but polite. If the answer remains no, perhaps advise that you will have to think about it “because that is really not what I want” and perhaps they will come around when you check back with them in a week and ask for the owner to discuss it. It obviously is very important to your enjoyment – perhaps let the owner read your post describing how much you love the shutters “your way”. Perhaps the owner will think enough about the publicity that he will relent. Expect of course, that the cost may be a bit more – which is better than grinding your teeth everytime you can’t close the bottom and open the top – also great for airflow in the evening in the warmer months. Good luck!
why can’t you have a contractor measure the windows and have the people in Georgia make them for you and then you can bring them up and have a contractor install them?
Unfortunately, they are no longer in business. I wish they were!
We just got our first plantation shutters in NE GA; they were thru Home Depot but an independent rep came out and met with my wife and measured and gave the option of poly or wood, shutter sizes, we did 4”, got the divider rail at 3/4 of the way up for two bathroom windows; only two week in but very pleased;
We are building a new house near Athens, GA and just ordered 3.5” wood shutters. Although I didn’t want a divider rail, the company offered that option. I got quotes from 3 other companies who offered the same option. Shutters from 3 of the 4 companies were made in the USA by well known manufacturers. My point being, I cannot believe there aren’t those same options in Ohio. I have to believe you have not found the right company yet. You are right, shutters are too expensive to not get what you want. Good luck in your decision process.
You lucky duck.
I’m looking forward to hearing about the new ones. Keep us posted. I’m not planning on checking into them until probably late July. We’re remodeling our kitchen in late May, which will take awhile.
Thank you for sharing all your updates.
I am happy to see this post and look forward to seeing the decision and installation. They are a big investment. I have the wider shutters on my windows and love them, except when I need to dust! I would like to add some window treatments to the living and dining room windows to soften the look. Good luck with your appointment and can’t wait to see the doll house with her new shutters.
I love my top-down bottom-up shades. Did you look into them? Easy to clean just vacuum.
Your dollhouse reminds me so much of our house we live in now. I’m so glad I didnt have to agonized over the decisions you are now. Our previous owners did that. I will say this – both our bathroom toilet closet and one small side windows in our bedroom still have the 3.5″ shutters. I wouldn’t have thought twice about that, but again, someone else did the agonizing for me. I hope you get what you want and will love. Good luck!