This is part 2 of a 2 part series. Click to go to A Glimpse into the History of Shutters, Part 1

15th Century Europe: Previous to the 15th century, the popular house designs throughout Europe had gone through several changes. During the Medieval period, solid shutters (normally with iron bars) were used as a means of protection from unwanted intruders. Another advantage of solid shutters during this time period was that they provided a significant amount of insulation, which was very important during times of bad weather. Once the Tudor and Elizabethan periods arrived, glass windows were introduced. However, due to the high cost of glass, only the top of the windows were actually made of glass, while the bottom half was still covered with a solid shutter.

It wasn't until the 15th century that hinged glazed sashes began appearing throughout Europe. Most experts agree that this was a turning point for window shutters because it was the most significant period in which they transitioned from strictly functional to a decorative accessory for homes. As time progressed, the construction materials used for building homes moved from stone and brick to wood. As this transition continued, exterior shutters became a part of more and more homes (this was due to the fact that the thinner wood walls actually allowed people to access their exterior shutters from within their home).

17th Century France: Although this story is another shutter legend and not shutters history, it is still a very interesting read. - According to folk lore, shutters were actually invented in France during the 17th century. As the story goes, Louis XIV was extremely fond of watching various women bath in the ponds that were spread throughout his gardens. Although Louis XIV was more than happy to spend his time watching these bathing women, he was less than thrilled to find out that many of his guards were spending their time doing the same thing (while they supposed to be keeping watch over his court and estate). In order to prevent them from continuing this practice (while allowing himself to partake in the viewing at any time), the tale says that he had movable louvered shutters installed all the way around the walls of his magnificent gardens.

Old South: During the time of plantation area of the American South, wealthy landowners built giant mansions to live in. To decorate (and ventilate) their giant homes, cotton landowners used shutters, which became known as "plantation shutters." In addition to being painted white, plantation shutters also had wider louvers than previous shutters had featured (most of the shutters found in the New England states fall into the category of possessing a narrower louver because the got their inspiration from the original English shutters).

Modern Times: In today's world, shutters are an essential window decoration. Whether you are looking to increase the value of your home by making some real estate improvements or simply want to give your house a make over, any respectable home design consultant will tell you that one of the best ways to accomplish this is with new window shutters. Of all the shutters that are available, plantation shutters are one of the most popular. Not only are plantation shutters considered more contemporary than traditional shutters, but they also offer a large amount of flexibility.

Whether you are looking to spruce up your living room, bathroom or virtually any other room in your home, plantation shutters are almost always a quality option. As discussed earlier, plantation shutters give you almost total control over the amount of light that enters a room. When the louvers are closed, plantation shutters can block out almost all of the light that could enter a room. However, the louvers can be easily adjusted to allow sunlight to fill an entire dining or living room. And, because they are wooden shutters, you can rest assured that they will look brand new for many years to come.