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THE INTERIOR VIEW
September 2010
Greetings from PRO Interiors of Cape Coral! Finally, we are feeling a bit of
relief from summer heat and it is a wonderful time to tackle some of those
home improvement projects before the holidays.
We hope you will enjoy this monthly article about Interior Design trends and
products that are great for SW Florida homes. ~ Val
Question: What is the one Window Treatment that
actually INCREASES THE VALUE of your home?
Interior Shutters!
Interior shutters have always been one of the most popular window treatments. They go
especially well with Florida decor, can fit virtually any window, and are excellent for
controlling heat and light.
Quality shutters will maintain their value better than any other type of window covering.
In fact, they actually add to the Appraisal Value of your home because they are
considered an upgrade of the house's architecture!
MATERIALS
HARDWOOD shutters are still the benchmark for quality window coverings. For a warm,
authentic, traditional or contemporary look, wood is a great choice. Shutters can be
fabricated for wide, tall and irregular windows, and can be used in any room. They can be
either painted or stained to virtually any color desired. Quality custom wood shutters are
designed to last the life of the house, and usually carry a manufacturer'slifetime
warranty.
VINYL or "hybrid" vinyl/wood composition shutters are worth consideration for some
applications, such as near showers, sinks and the swimming pool. They won't crack, peel,
fade or deteriorate in heat/humidity. They are also flame retardant, easy to clean and
won't show dents or scratches, which makes them ideal for children's rooms. However,
they are normally made only in white and off white colors, and panels cannot be made in
large widths because vinyl may bow or warp over time.
STYLES & FINISHES
Traditional style uses a narrow shutter panel with 1-1/4"louvers. Plantation types are
generally wider with 3" to 4" louvers. The number of panels across the shutter is
determined by the shutter style and the width of the window.
If the window is tall enough, you may want to consider a two-tier shutter unit that uses
one set of shutters at the top and another set at the bottom. You can also have a horizontal
divider rail that creates a top and bottom louver section within a single panel.
Wood Shutters can be stained or painted; stain will help enhance the wood grain, paint
will give a smooth, even color. Synthetic and wood composite shutters canft be stained;
paint colors generally include a variety of whites and lights.
CUSTOM OR NOT?
Custom Made Shutters made of high quality basswood or solid core vinyl are designed
and fabricated to fit perfectly and proportionally on various sized windows.
Customized Shutters start as pre-built stock size panels, which are then cut down and
hinged together to achieve a desired size. These shutters often fit poorly and depending
how much was trimmed, the panels themselves may also be compromised.
Many "budget" vinyl interior shutters are cheaply made with poor quality materials,
and pre-made stiles, rails and louvers cut to size for quick production. This can result in
improper fit and components that aren't in proportion to the window. The low cost may
be a poor investment when compared to the long-term value of quality wood shutters.
Shutters come in a wide range of prices, depending on the material and finish used. When
you are considering INTERIOR SHUTTERS for your home, please contact us for a
Complementary In Home Consultation.
Happy September! ~ Val
PRO Interiors is in downtown Cape Coral at 1113 SE 47th Terrace #7 in Palm Plaza.
We offer very affordable interior design for projects large and small, including
Commercial, Residential and Real Estate Staging.
Contact Val LaMar at (239) 542-2122 or (239) 810-4433 |
The burrowing owl, unlike most owls, lives in underground burrows instead of nesting in trees or elevated locations. Also, they hunt during the day instead of nocturnally and dig their burrows in flat, open areas with low grass so they can watch and protect their nests. Frequently you will see tee perches have been placed near the burrows to allow them a better vantage point while watching for intruders.
In the previous two issues we looked at the conventional short sale process and while the advantages may be obvious, so are the downsides. For many buyers and sellers, the long time frames become burdensome. Buyers seldom want to wait six months or more to know if they've bought a house and they frequently purchase something else during that time. Sellers have typically been dealing with their own financial issues and just want the process to be over with. Part of the problem has been the lack of a uniform procedure as well as the need for lenders to maintain communication with their investors in the secondary market.