Solution: Fabric covered shutters were designed originally to solve a problem window when we were working alongside the designer Mr. Dudley Poplak. Since then it has been mostly used to resolve the constantly recurring problem of what to do with a dormer window. There are three ways of decorating a dormer window – curtains, louvered shutters (plantation shutters) and roman blinds. Each has problems to a varying degree. Curtains always look cluttered and block out the light. Whilst blinds and louvered shutters are chic but minimalistic. Katie Rapp (www.katierapp.co.uk) has been an interior designer for classic and contemporary homes since 1994 and has battled at length with this very problem. Her solution is the fabric-covered shutter.

Scenarios: The shutters have been progressively developed for virtually all scenarios and can offer solutions that any other fabric window dress cannot. Bay windows however are not currently supported.

Construction: Each shutter panel is constructed using ultra-light fibreboard to withstand warping. All the fittings are glued and screwed into place for extra strength. The originals have been in-situ for over 6 years. On some of the photos within these pages you will notice that the hinges are visible on the open edges, this is no longer the case and all hinges are hidden.

Displaying fabrics in a new way: The upholstery method has been honed and updated three times and is a closely guarded process. The result is a fabulously neat and precise finish. The assembly is carried out in such a way that no braid is needed along the edges to cover up any unsightly staples. Bespoke variations are always welcome. The wonderful thing about these fabric-covered shutters is that our shutters display fabric flat, like a piece of artwork, resulting in added visual value of an expensive fabric. The positioning of the fabric on the window which, like curtains, gives colour when opened or closed. The shutters have excellent blackout characteristics (compared to blackout curtains or blinds) and of course can be used on any type of window. If you have a tape measure to hand and few minutes to spare, you can get an instant idea of how much fabric covered shutters are going to cost with our online calculator at the bottom of this page. This service exchanges no information with us.

Thermal qualities: Whilst currently unqualified by independent testing, there is no doubt that our shutters form a significant thermal barrier to the chilliest of windows, a point that will be supported by many of our customers. We hope to have this claim verified so that we can gain an official accreditation supporting their energy saving characteristics.

Blackout qualities: Our shutters are not sold to block light from a bedroom. However, depending on the fitting scenario they do do the job very well. We always assume that you are wanting shutters for the aesthetic qualities and therefore if you are wanting your bedroom to be dark, please make this point known at an early stage.

Costs: These shutters are made to fit your individual window and are unique to your project. The cost of the shutters is comparable with real handmade curtains. A lot of time goes into their creation, from our initial visit, the time spent placing the fabric and upholstering the panels and lastly the second visit when we fit your shutters. As the panel size is not proportional to the time required to produce them, there is an economy of scale. Therefore, medium to larger windows are definitely more cost effective. You can use our calculator at the bottom of this page to work out the cost of shutters for your window.

Measure/Fit: There was a time when we offered our shutters on a mail order service. It became immediately apparent that the only way to be aware of the pitfalls when measuring and fitting was by making mistakes. For a couple of customers this proved very expensive, so we made a decision that we only measure and fit the shutters ourselves.

Fabrics: It’s your choice of fabrics. You can supply the fabric You choose and if we can supply it, you get a discount equivalent to 15% of the fabric cost. We can help you choose (see our design service)

Lead time: Lead times can change dramatically and are currently 8 – 10 wks.

Drawbacks and possible issues: If you are considering shutters for your bedrooms and sleep with your windows open you need to be aware that shutters when closed can restrict airflow or even prevent the window opening….there is no current fix for this. In a bi-fold situation the shutters can be blown open by gusts from an open window…..this can be resolved with the addition of magnets on the closing sides to hold the panels in there open state.

Choosing a fabric: It’s also important to choose the right fabric; overly thick or thin materials can be problematic, especially thick, heavily sculptured fabrics which may create uneven light chinks between panels and compromise the overall finish. You should always send us a sample before buying your fabric.

Locations covered: We try hard to operate a broad reach service. Most of our work is in and around London so here we are able to respond very quickly. We also travel throughout England, Scotland and France. We also supply to the USA. But always feel free to ask if you are further afield….we like an adventure.