Los Angeles Shutters

European Louvers

Elliptical louvers

They come in sizes from 1-1/4”, 1-3/4”, 1-7/8”, 2-1/2”, 3”, 3-1/2”, 4”, 4-1/5”, 5”.

To decide, you need to take into account the look you want to achieve, the depth of the window, the view, the architecture of your home, etc.

The size of your home and windows, the style and the views all need to be considered when deciding which of the louver sizes and style is the best choice for your interior shutters. Also you need to consider the depth of the window, and the architecture and interior design of your home. Louvers come in a wide variety of sizes, styles and shapes.

Traditional louvers are 1-1/4” inches wide and come in two shapes (flat or standard).

Plantation style louvers can be Elliptical louvers, Flat louvers, or bevel faced European style louvers. They come in the following sizes:

1-7/8”, 2-1/2”, 3”, 3-1/2”, 4”, 4-1/2” and 5-1/2”

The traditional louvers are used when matching existing shutters. They do not allow much light in, so we can design a double hung system where the top portion of the shutters opens independently from the bottom section.The 2” and 2-1/2” louvers are the smallest of the Plantation shutters available in Los Angeles. The short length of the louver and space between each louver allows more privacy when open than the wider options, making them ideal for highly trafficked areas where privacy is important, such as a home office or baby’s room.

The 3” and 3-1/2” louvers are commonly known as California or Los Angeles shutters. They are not quite as busy as the 1-1/4”, 2” or 2-1/2”, but allow a simple elegance and practicality to the window. Because the opening between louvers is 3” apart, they are ideal because the visibility is greater, or where the window opens up to a beautiful view, but some privacy is also desired.

These medium width louvers allow for increased visibility and views than the smaller traditional shutters. When the louvers are in the closed position, complete privacy is achieved.

The 4” and 4-1/2” louvers are best when the windows open to stunning views. Naturally the visibility is even greater than the previously discussed louvers as each louver is spaced 4” apart. When they are completely open, you sometimes forget there is a shutter there at all, as the view is unobstructed and open. Also with these larger louvers, when the louvers are in the closed position, complete privacy is achieved.

The 5-1/2” louvers have a dramatic look with unobstructed views, however a tall window is usually required so as to accommodate a string on louvers. The depth of the window will also be a deciding factor.

Finish: Shutters should not only be built to your exact specifications, but should be finished to your specifications as well. Are the shutters going to be painted to match your moldings and décor, or stained to match your floors or furniture? Do you prefer the smooth finish or the textured sand blasted look? The company you choose should use exclusively furniture grade nitro cellulous non yellowing lacquer paints with UV inhibitors, any color with free custom stains and paint matches – no water based paints.

Wood: What species of wood do you want to use? Most painted shutters are made from Basswood which we comes from mills in Wisconsin. Shutters can also be manufactured using Oak, Cherry, cedar or any other wood species that will match your home decor. Engineered material, veneered, pressed or finger joint material which could later show through the finish should never be used, but should be made using the same craftsmanship and attention to detail as fine wood furniture. However, unlike your furniture at home, much of which is likely constructed of a substrate material, veneered in only a thin layer of wood, pressed or finger joint material, our shutters are all 100% solid wood. Enjoy the energy efficiency as well as the beauty that wood shutters add to your windows.

 According to the National Association of Home Builders, “windows are the largest source of heat loss in the winter and the greatest culprit of heat gain in the summer, due to their low insulating ability and high air leakage rates. Windows are typically energy losers, and can be responsible for losing 25 to 50% of the energy used to heat or cool homes.”

 Panel Thickness: How thick do you want the shutter panels to be? This is usually dictated by the window depth. Shutter panels can be ¾”, 1-1/8”, 1-3/8” and 1-3/4”.

How do you want the shutters installed?

Do you prefer a picture frame style where the shutters are mounted outside the window or do you want to show your existing moldings and mount them inside? Your decision will be determined by the size of the louver and panel thickness that you have decided on.

 How big or small do you want the stiles and rails? Every step should be custom made to your specifications. Don’t use a company that carries an inventory of ready-made panels or components. Instead, you want each shutter fabricated to your specifications and no stock pieces are used. Are you aligning the stiles and rails with the existing window mullions? Do you prefer small stiles so as not to block light? Do you prefer the look of a flush rail shutter to match your French doors, a drop rail or a chamfer design. It all depends on your decor and your preference.

How do you want the panels to open and how many panels do you want to see?  Four panels or two? Bi-fold or French door style? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Is there furniture close to the door or window making a sliding design more manageable? Are you going to design the panels to align with the existing window mullions? Do you open the windows often? Is the door used often for egress?

How do you want the louver string to be designed? Do you want to see the tilt bar, or do you prefer the hidden tilt bar? We have a metal tilt bar for painted shutters and make a custom wood hidden bar for your stained panels. Do you want a divider rail so you can close the top and bottom sections independently? Where do you want the split? Perhaps the cut tilt bar with no divider rail so that when both top and bottom louvers are in the open position, there is not a blank spot in your line of site. It all depends on your preferences.

What kind of tension system do you prefer? They should offer a tension screw, a tension pin or both. Self-lubricating nylon pins are used on all louvers to allow for smooth opening and closing.

Next you need to decide on the finish. Will you be offered selected colors for you to choose from or will they match your existing paint or stain colors. If you give them the can you used for your existing moldings or a draw from the cabinet you are matching, they should custom match for the perfect look using exclusively furniture grade nitro cellulose non-yellowing paints with U.V inhibitors. (No water based paints).

Now that you have decided on the color, what color hinge do you think will look best? Do you want the hinges to contrast with the panels, match your existing door or window hardware, or disappear with a matching color? They should offer many different hinge finishes including powder coated to match paint colors, antique brass, bright brass, polished chrome, nickel, oil rubbed bronze and others.

Interior shutters can transform your ordinary Los Angeles windows into designer highlights for your home. Although interior shutters are appropriate for any type or style of house, the term Plantation shutters evoked the elegance and grandeur of southern mansions and so the name Plantation shutters stuck.

Serving the Los Angeles and Orange County Communities

Agoura 91301 · Agoura Hills 91301 · Agua Dulce 91390 · Angelino Heights 90026 · Arcadia 91006 · Arleta 91331 · Atwater Village 90039 · Baldwin Hills 90008 · Baldwin Park · 91706 · Baldwin Village 90016 · Bel Air Estates 90077 · Bell 90201 · Bell Gardens 90201 · Beverly Glen 90210 · Beverly Hills 90210 · Brentwood 90049 · Burbank 91501 · Cahuenga Pass 90068 · Calabasas 91302 · Calabasas Highlands 91302 · Calabasas Park 91302 · Canoga Park 91303 · Canyon Country 91351 · Carson 90745 · Castaic 91384 · Century City 90067 ·Chatsworth 91311 · Cheviot Hills 90064 · Culver City 90230 · Eagle Rock 90041 · Encino 91316 · Fair Oaks Ranch 91387 · Fox Hills 90230 · Gardena 90247 · Glendale 91201 · Glendora 91740 · Granada Hills 91344 · Hacienda Heights 91745 · Hancock Park 90020 · Hermosa Beach 90254 · Hidden Hills 91302 · Hollywood 90028 · Hollywood Hills 90068 · Hollywood Riviera 90277 · Holmby Hills 90024 · Huntington Park 90255 · La Canada Flintridge 91011 · La Crescenta 91214 · Lake Balboa 91406 · Lakeview Terrace 91342 · Lancaster 93534 · La Tuna Canyon 91352 · Los Feliz 90027 · Malibu 90265 · Manhattan Beach 90266 · Marina Del Rey 90292 · Mar Vista 90066 · Miracle Mile 90036 · Mission Hills 91345 · Montrose 91020 · Mount Olympus 90046 · North Hills 91343 · North Hollywood 91601 · Northridge 91324 · Pacific Palisades 90272 · Palisades Highlands 90272 · Palms 90034 · Palos Verdes Estates 90274 · Paramount 90273 · Park La Brea 90036 · Pasadena 91101 · Playa Del Rey 90293 · Point Dume 90265 · Porter Ranch 91326 · Rancho Palos Verdes 90275 · Rancho Park 90064 · Redondo Beach 90277 · Reseda 91335 · Rolling Hills 90274 · Rolling Hills Estate 90274 · San Fernando 91340 · Santa Clarita 91355 · Santa Monica 90402 · Saugus 91350 · Sherman Oaks 91403 · Silver Lake 90026 · South Pasadena 91030 · Stevenson Ranch 91381 · Studio City 91604 · Sunland 91040 · Sun Valley 91352 · Sylmar 91342 · Tarzana 91356 · Toluca Lake 91602 · Topanga 90290 · Tujunga 91042 · Universal City 91608 · Valencia 91355 · Valley Glen 91401 · Valley Village 91607 · Van Nuys 91401 · Venice 90291 · Warner Center 91367 · West Hills 91307 · West Hollywood 90069 · Westlake 90057 · Westlake Village 91361 · West Los Angeles 90025 · West Toluca Lake 91601 · Westwood 90024 · Winnetka 91306 · Woodland Hills 91364