Interior Design Trends for 2021 Predictions

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2020 has been a long year, so we have good reason to look ahead to a new year, a fresh beginning and interior design trends of 2021.

From the growing importance of sustainable materials to celebrating uniqueness, if you’re looking to refresh your home for the year ahead, look no further than these unmissable interior design trends of 2021.

Indoor Escapes

Following 2021, when the world was turned upside down, more people will be creating a place where they can escape and rejoice in their home.

We predict people will be wanting to create an open space indoors, bringing the outdoors in, with open windows, fresh air, greenery and beauty.

We also believe beautiful outdoor garden spaces will become a must-have, with the same level of consideration as indoors, with styled furniture and accessories.

Unique Flair

After a terrible year to many businesses, we believe more people will be choosing to support local and small independent stores. By doing so, we believe, homes will begin to incorporate a unique flair into their interior, creating diversity in every property.

Plantation Shutters

Design trends come and go, but something that will never lose their appeal is plantation shutters; the must-have window dressing of 2021.

Plantation shutters allow you to enjoy the outdoors while ensuring maximum privacy. They are stylish, adding kerb appeal, sustainable, helping to keep the energy bills down and help to add an extra layer of security to your property.

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If you’re looking for plantation shutters in London, surrounding areas and the UK, support your trusted local supplier, Totally Shutters. For more information on made-to-measure plantation shutters, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963 to book your free no obligation in-house survey. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

What to Consider When Installing Window Shutters

At Totally Shutters, we offer a discounted price to those looking to measure and install their window shutters themselves. However, when installing window shutters, there are a few things to consider:

Only buy from a reputable shutter company

The first and foremost thing to consider is to only buy your plantation shutters from a reputable shutter company that you can trust, such as Totally Shutters. Further, your shutters must be made-to-measure, not only to create the desired look but also to benefit from all the advantages that they give, such as insulation, light and privacy control.

Beware of companies that sell shutters in stock and cut them to fit, as these will never give the same quality look as made-to-measure shutters.

Do your research

Do your research in shutter styles and shutter materials to ensure you have the right option for you and your property. Only choose hardwood or UPVC and avoid pine shutters as they are a softer wood that tends to bleed sap, spoiling the overall look of your plantation shutters, and will need replacing down the line.

Ensure all renovations are carried out

If renovating your window area, it’s essential that any replacement windows, plastering, painting, wallpapering and tiling are completed before measuring your window area, or arranging for your Totally Shutters free in-house survey.

Even the smallest changes can alter the configuration of your made-to-measure shutters, resulting in an imperfect fit.

Why choose plantation shutters?

Plantation shutters are an investment. They are versatile and look stunning at every window and property type. They are also child and pet friendly and extremely easy to maintain. They add kerb appeal to your home and value to your property.

As plantation shutters are considered to be part of the fixtures and fittings of your home, it’s vital that they function as well as they look. We recommend that you have a professional measure and install your plantation shutters, to ensure a perfect fit.

 

For more information on made-to-measure plantation shutters, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963 to book your free no obligation in-house survey. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Plantation Shutters for the New Year

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Winter is just around the corner, and the countdown to Christmas is on. As we get excited for spending quality time with our nearest and dearest, you may be thinking about sprucing your home up for 2021, and what better way to spruce your home up than with the gift that keeps on giving – plantation shutters.

Plantation Shutters Will Be Your Best Investment

As we spend more time at home, it’s the place where we feel safe, kick back and relax, and in some cases, work. Plantation shutters provide the perfect backdrop for spending quality time with your family. They give maximum light and privacy control, and an extra layer of security, making them the ideal window covering for working from home, relaxing and feeling safer at home.

As plantation shutters have excellent insulation qualities, they will help keep your home warm and cosy in the winter months, while helping to reflect sunlight and glare in the summer months. Plantation shutters help lower your annual utility bill, and add value to your property, should you decide to sell.

Plantation shutters really do add the finishing touch to your home and are the perfect New Year investment.

 

If you are looking to have made-to-measure plantation shutters installed in 2021, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963 to book your free no obligation in-house survey. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Choosing the Right Plantation Shutter Material for your Window

Often, some customers feel overwhelmed by the many plantation shutter solutions they’re faced with, which is perfectly normal when deciding the best solution. But, Totally Shutters are on hand to help walk through the entire process one step and one decision at a time.

In this blog post, we will discuss the different plantation materials that we offer, each possessing its unique advantages. The two materials that we offer for our plantation shutters are Paulownia hardwood and waterproof UPVC:

Paulownia Hardwood

Our Paulownia Hardwood shutters are a great choice if you’re looking for a particular colour of shutters, as they can come in a wide range of colours and stains.

Paulownia is a strong and lightweight hardwood that comes from a sustainable source. Boasting an engineered core, Paulownia offers excellent dimensional stability, reducing the possibility of warping.

Paulownia offers exceptional stability which is perfect for high access areas. Due to its engineered core, Paulownia offers excellent dimensional stability which hugely reduces warping.

Due to the hardwood construction, Paulownia shutters aren’t as waterproof as our UPVC shutters.

UPVC shutters

UPVC shutters are sturdy and immune to damage from water. If direct water contact or moisture is a concern, UPVC shutters is the perfect choice.

UPVC shutters are most popular for kitchens and bathrooms. They look great behind your sink, where there is always potential for a splash, or in a wet room where they will get direct contact with water.

Not only that, UPVC shutters are our most affordable shutter material and come in a number of different styles.

 

For more information on finding the right plantation shutters for your home, or to book your free, no obligation in-house survey, contact Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Planning a Loft Conversion? Get Your Window Dressing Right

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A loft conversion is the most cost-effective way of increasing the square footage to your home and the resale value of your house. However, a loft conversion is a huge job and there are lots of things to consider, and it can all get a little overwhelming.

When it comes to your loft conversion windows, Totally Shutters have you covered. We’re here on hand to make sure you choose the best loft shutters for your new space.

Why Loft Shutters?

In loft conversions, the windows are often the main attraction, so choosing the correct window dressing is paramount. You wouldn’t want to design a beautiful loft, only to choose the wrong window dressing that is bulky or blocks out the sunlight.

Plantation shutters are bespoke and made-to-fit so will your loft shutters beautifully. They’re incredibly versatile too and are great for all kinds of windows such as bay, dormer, Velux and even special shapes. This versatility means they will blend seamlessly with any decor.

Plantation shutters are the most practical choice for loft conversions and all rooms when compared to other window coverings. They offer maximum light and privacy control, they are great heat insulators, help to keep out draughts, and take up less space than curtains.

Choosing the Right Colour for Your Loft Shutters

Choosing the colour for your loft conversion comes down to a matter of personal preference. While our white shutters are our most popular choice, we have a range of different paint colours and wood stains available. We also offer a custom colour service where we will match your loft shutters to virtually any colour.

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For more information on plantation shutters for your loft conversion, or to book your free, no obligation in-house survey, contact Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All loft shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

DIY Shutters: How are Plantation Shutters Installed?

Although we do not usually recommend fitting your shutters yourself, in these uncertain and worrying times, we understand you may feel more at ease measuring and installing your plantation shutters yourself.

Unfortunately, installing plantation shutters can be a very tricky process. To get a product that fits perfectly and operates smoothly, you’ll need to make sure that you have the skills in DIY required, but also an attention to detail in both measuring and installation.

What you will need:

  • Exact measurements
  • Totally Shutters phone number
  • Correct tools for the fitting
  • More than one person for larger installs

How to measure for plantation shutters

We advise to measure in at least three places for every side of the window, to check that the window is square and the dimensions are consistent. Always use the largest measurements, as they can be reduced via a sander if needed.

For a standard rectangular window, you will need to:

  • Measure the width and height of the window – this will need to be inside or outside the recess depending on how you are planning to fit your plantation shutters.
  • Measure at least three different points for the height and width.
  • Note the dimensions you find.

For other types of windows, such as special shapes and bays, other steps will be required. We advise in speak with one of our shutter specialists to ensure you get the measurements right.

Once you have the dimensions of your window, call Totally Shutters on 0203 960 6963 and we will craft and manufacture your made-to-measure shutters.

How to install plantation shutters

You will need the correct tools to install and fit shutters:

  • Power drill
  • Hammer drill
  • Electric planer
  • Spirit level
  • Screwdriver
  • Tape measure
  • Stanley knife
  • Masking tape
  • Silicone

The steps to install plantation shutters:

  • Assemble the frame – depending on the access to the window itself this could be in one piece or assembled within the recess itself
  • Install the frame – attach at a few fixing points inside/outside the recess as guided by the frame type
  • Attach the panels – drop the hinge pins into place
  • Check movement – panels and louvres should be able to move easily without any obstruction
  • Amend if necessary

 

To guarantee a perfect finish and correct operation, it is highly advisable to use a shutter expert to fit your made-to-measure plantation shutters. However, our shutter experts are on call to help you through each process. Call 0203 960 6963 to discuss your plantation shutters requirements.

What Does Our 5-Year Shutter Guarantee Cover?

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At Totally Shutters, we understand that purchasing and installing made-to-measure plantation shutters in your home is a big decision. That’s why our shutter specialists are here for you from start to end, from initial quotation to installation.

What’s more, with our 5-year guarantee as standard with each of our plantation shutter options, we offer a no-hassle replacement in the rare case of any manufacturing defects.

Quality plantation shutters you can trust

One of the biggest concerns we often get asked is what if the material starts to crack or fall apart, and will the colour will fade over time.

At Totally Shutters, we only use the finest materials and the best techniques, so you can rest assured that this will not be the case. Our wooden plantation shutters are made from 100% solid hardwood that will never hollow or composite, and our polyvinyl plantation shutters are solid with a reinforced aluminium core that will last for years to come.

All our plantation shutters are treated with a UV protectant and sealant that’s applied in layers for a long-lasting beautiful finish that will not yellow, fade or peel, even in high heat and direct sunlight. Our polyvinyl plantation shutters are waterproof, withstanding warping in wet or humid conditions.

Your 5-year shutter guarantee

Your 5-year shutter guarantee starts from the day your window dressings are fitted and extends up to the fifth anniversary of your fitting date. For a nominal call-out fee, we promise to repair or replace any faulty shutters completely free of charge.

Our exclusions are:

  • Shutters are used for the purpose provide
  • Altered products are not covered
  • The shutters are for internal use
  • Normal wear and tear is not covered
  • Fading is excluded beyond 1 year

For full terms and conditions on our plantation shutters 5-year guarantee, contact Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963.

Give Your Kitchen a Restaurant Feel with Shutters

For most people, the kitchen represents the hub of their home; a place where family and friends gather to enjoy home-cooked food and good conversation. For this reason, it’s never been more important to create the right atmosphere and ambience in the kitchen.

So, why not bring a little style to the heart of the home and simulate a 5* dining experience the whole family can enjoy with plantation shutters?

Add style to your kitchen

Made-to-measure plantation shutters are incredibly stylish and with a range of styles, colours and finishes to choose from, are adaptable to suit all kitchen interiors, both contemporary and traditional designs.

Plantation shutters really do set the mood and create the perfect kitchen ambience. You can open the louvres and flood the room with as much natural light as possible while tucking into a delicious eggs benedict on a beautiful Summer’s morning. During the dark, winter months you can shut your kitchen off from the outside world, light some candles and enjoy a tasty three-course meal without leaving the house.

Kitchen shutter styles

Cafe style shutters are a great choice for kitchens and dining rooms, instantly creating a cosy, picturesque look. Solid panel shutters are great for separating a kitchen and dining room. UPVC waterproof shutters lend themselves to kitchens as they are resistant to moisture and have an excellent temperature operating property that prevents warping, peeling and flaking.

With our custom colour scheme, we can match your chosen shutters to the decor of your room or coordinated to match your kitchen units.

 

For more information on kitchen shutters, or to book your no obligation in-house survey, contact Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Designing a Family Games Room with Plantation Shutters

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Whether you are designing a children’s game room, games room for entertaining friends and family or a man cave, it’s a task that requires careful window covering consideration as these types of rooms need to be comfortable and enjoyable as well as being functional and practical.

Getting the right lighting with plantation shutters

Lighting has always been one of the most important aspects of interior design and if used well, can completely transform a room, making any space seem larger and brighter. At the same time, if used wrongfully, it can spoil the whole design and comfort of the room.

With your games and entertainment room being a special part of the family home where you can escape and have fun, it’s important to get the lighting and ambience right.

Generally speaking, the more natural light the better, but windows can pose a problem since reflections and glare on a TV screen can ruin the whole viewing experience. Plantation shutters stop glare while letting sufficient light in, or they can completely block out all light for the ultimate cinema-like experience.

Gain privacy and keep the sound in

Games and entertainment rooms are used throughout the day and night, so the correct mix of privacy and light is essential to make the room look and feel how you need. Many families have snooker tables, table tennis, entertainment systems and TV screens with games consoles in their games room.

Plantation shutters are great for gaining privacy in your games and entertainment room. They also act as a sound barrier helping keep sound and noise in, helping avoid annoying the neighbours.

Plantation shutters also help to insulate properties, keeping the room warm in the nights and colder months, as well as allowing the louvres and panels to be open in the summer months when airflow is required. Meaning your games and entertainment room can be used all year round, in summer and winter.

 

For more information on plantation shutters for your family games and entertainment room, or to book your no obligation in-house survey, contact Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Secure Your Home With Aluminium Security Shutters

All plantation shutters supply a source of security and privacy, but Porchester Aluminium Security Shutters enhances both of these features, especially security.

With a key and lock design, a double key turn locking system and an intruder resistant system, Portchester Aluminum Security Shutters add an extra layer of security to your home.

If you want to have some and peace of mind in your home, here are three reasons why you should invest in Porchester Aluminium Security Shutters for your home:

A stylish security solution

The days of putting up security dressing window gates and guards that convert your home into looking and feeling like a prison cell are long gone. Porchester Aluminium Security Shutters secure your home while adding a touch of style and sophistication to your interior and exterior. These shutters work well in every room from the living area to kitchen, bedroom to the bathroom.

Look just like wooden shutters

Our Porchester Aluminium Security Shutter range looks very similar to our wooden shutter range, allowing you to dress vulnerable windows with security shutters and the other windows in your home with wooden shutters helping to maintain a consistent scheme throughout your home. Available in full height, bi-fold and by-pass, security shutters operate like wooden shutters.

Tried and tested

Portchester Aluminium Security Shutters have been one of the most popular forms of window and door security around the world for many years, and are increasingly gaining popularity in London and the UK. Manufactured in South Africa where security is taken very seriously, the Portchester Aluminum Security Shutter range defends your home without sacrificing style.

 

For more information on our Porchester Aluminium Security Shutter range plantation shutters, or to book your free no obligation in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.