The history of plantation shutters is a fascinating story of how people have adapted to their surroundings while at the same time bringing beauty and style to their lives. From ancient Greece through the heyday of southern plantations to the present day, plantation shutters have offered mankind an elegant solution to control light and ventilation in their homes while protecting them.
The Greeks
The first buildings were not pleasant places, especially if you lived in a climate that offered some kind of extreme weather. You either had to live in a house with few or no openings, or you had to brave the elements. Glass was not commonly available, so windows were left open with little more than cloth to cover them. That’s where the genius of the ancient Greeks came in. The Greeks discovered that blinds could be installed inside the house to control the available light and the indoor climate.
These proto-plantation shutters were originally made of marble to ensure durability, but the clever Greeks quickly discovered that it was possible to make them out of wood for a cheaper, easier-to-move version that became popular in many older homes.
The French
Over time, the blinds continued to improve thanks to the ingenuity of talented woodworkers. They added movable shades to improve light control and ventilation, creating the prototypes of the modern blinds we all know and love. The French were especially enthusiastic about these new movable shutter blinds. His desire was further incited when King Louis XIV added them to his residence. These new interior blinds brought comfort like never before, and the French just couldn’t get enough of this innovation.
Due to its popularity in France, interior blinds gained more admiration throughout Europe and the world.
The South
Stylish blinds made their way naturally into the New World and found a strong foothold in the sweltering southern summer heat. Although glass was widely available in the 18th and 19th centuries, houses in the South found that the ventilation and shade provided by interior shutters made for a much more comfortable climate. Interior shutters were used so often in the South that they became known as plantation shutters, a name by which they are still known to this day.
It’s only fitting that the name stuck. Well-designed plantation shutters visually evoke the same feeling as their name: a sense of elegance and sophistication for your home. Whether your home is a plantation or not, these shutters add utility and class.