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fabric_covered_shutters FABRIC-COVERED SHUTTERS
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  • A surprisingly simple idea

    Yet deceptively tricky to measure, manufacture and fit perfectly. Image used courtesy of Overbury Interior Designs

  • A design honed over years

    The fabric-covered shutter’s design has been honed over the years and adapted for different fitting scenarios using widely varying fabrics.

  • Fabric is Art

    Whether the shutters are open or closed, patterned fabric viewed flat looks great.

  • Push the boat out and use two fabrics

    Using two fabrics brings a new dimension. Despite the added cost of manufacture you can sometimes save a good amount on an expensive main fabric.

  • Your Fabric

    You supply the fabric and unique, beautiful shutters are made to fit your windows.

  • It’s all in the pattern matching

    A unique aspect of the fabric covered shutter is the precise pattern matching of the fabric. The transformative reveal when closing the shutters always requires a look back as you walk away.

  • Sometimes plain is more

    Often a lovely textured plain linen is all it takes. A muted mid-tone colour reveals a fabric’s texture better and in this case we’ve added individual decorative nails.

  • Perfect for that awkward window

    We have fitted to a large number of round windows. The shutters bracket the window beautifully when four panels are used.

  • Dormer windows

    The home of the fabric covered shutter.

  • Perfect for that awkward window

    You supply the fabric and unique, beautiful shutters are made to fit your windows.

  • We love a great window

    Our hearts sing when we are let loose on the perfect window. Fabric covered shutters are the new curtains.

  • Staying true to the window

    How else are you going to dress a round window round?

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  • Image used courtesy of Overbury Interior Designs

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Although we may still be proved wrong, we believe we are the only company providing a dedicated service manufacturing fabric covered shutters. It’s a surprisingly simple idea that’s very tricky to manufacture and fit perfectly. The fabric-covered shutter’s design has been honed over the years and adapted for different fitting scenarios using widely varying fabrics. You supply the fabric and unique, beautiful shutters are made to fit your windows, it’s as simple as that!

About

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.

Unique upholstered window shutters

Simple, timeless and aspirational style.

Browse project folders

All 13

FCS, Faringdon

Bridport

HMF

Worcester

Wallingford

Wilcot

KRDC, Romsey

Katie Rapp Design Consultants

BRS, Bristol

HHF, Fernhurst

CC, Swallowfield

CF, Fernhurst

Syd, Sussex

OC, Salcombe

CLICK FOR MORE IMAGES

Our instant calculator

Input all dimension in millimetres.  1″ = 25.4mm

Window Dimensions – The size you wish the entire shutter assembly to cover.

Panels – The number of panels in total. For example, one panel opening to the right and one opening to the left would be 2 panels.

Fabric Width – The total width of the useable area. The information should be on your fabric sample.

Fabric Repeat – The repeat of the print should again be detailed on the fabric sample.  Leaving the repeat at “0” infers that you are using a plain fabric; plains are easier for us and will be quoted at the base price. It’s important to note that a stripe fabric, whilst technically having no repeat, will be classed as patterned fabric upon final proposal.

Shaped – If you would like round, oval or arched shutters they are all “shaped”.

Two Fabrics – This gives you the option to have a different fabric on the reverse. However, please be aware that which of the fabrics is displayed, when open or closed, works out differently depending on the number of panels you choose. This can work in your favour or can throw a spanner in the works. Please ring and ask us to explain.

Studded (nailed) – Using decorative nails to the front and/or the back. This covers “close nailed”, “space nailed” and “nailed on braid”. We use individual nails (not on a strip). Nails are included, braid is NOT.

Measure and Fit – This covers two visits, firstly to measure and secondly to fit. The first window costs 180 and each subsequent window measured/fitted at the same time costs £60 (updated 01/03/25).

Upgraded Hinges – The regular hinges are coloured steel and are great and often preferred. But sometimes you want that little bit extra so we now offer a solid brass option.

VAT – Because shutters are highly labour intensive our annual turnover is below the threshold where we are required to charge vat.

Expertly placed to help you choose fabrics

Fabric Covered Shutters is underpinned by Katie Rapp Design Consultants. KRDC is a maker company of prestigious and bespoke furnishings made to the highest levels, the company was established in 1993. As a customer of Fabric Covered Shutters you have access to this wealth of knowledge, skills and contacts, thus helping you to make important design and fabric choices. KRDC holds accounts with many of the most prestigious fabric companies in the UK, Europe and America

Expertly placed to help you choose fabrics

Fabric Covered Shutters is underpinned by Katie Rapp Design Consultants. KRDC is a maker company of prestigious and bespoke furnishings made to the highest levels, the company was established in 1993. As a customer of Fabric Covered Shutters you have access to this wealth of knowledge, skills and contacts, thus helping you to make important design and fabric choices. KRDC holds accounts with many of the most prestigious fabric companies in the UK, Europe and America

How to proceed

  • Measure your window

    Measure your window; or more precisely the area you want the shutters to cover. Use millimetres.

  • How many Panels do you need.

    The number of panels effects how far they will project from the window when open. We are always aiming for 4 as its the best all-round solution. We use this very quick calculation.

    (window width – 100mm) divide by the number of panels

  • Use the Calculator on this website.

    To make sure they are on budget for your project, quickly pop the measurements you have taken into our calculator to instantly give you an up to date price. The buttons within the calculator can be selected and will show you how the choices you make effect the price.

    If you complete the fabric details within the calculator it will also tell you roughly how much fabric you need and adjusts the price for patterned fabric.

  • Take a photo

    Take photos of your window/s. We are interested to see how the window fits and are there are any obstructions or significant unevenness in the walls or ceiling of the window’s reveal. We are also looking how we can fit to your window.

  • Send us an email

    Send us an email with all the details…..we will review the information and get back to you with a yes/no and a price.

Placing an order

  • Confirm the fabric

    Is the fabric suitable?

  • Pay the Deposit

    The Deposit is 50%. Once paid the clock is ticking

  • We will schedule a visit to measure.

  • Shutters are manufactured

  • Fitting

  • Final balance is paid

Contact Us:

t:07903500190
e:katierapp100@gmail.com

Pidgeon Box Farm
Rodley
Gloucestershire
GL141QZ

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