The Cape Town HOMEMAKERS Expo is a highlight on the calendars of designers, home renovators and design enthusiasts. The expo takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), from 3 to 6 September and of course we are here to show you how you how wooden shutters and blinds update could add timeless style to your home and value to your property.

Visit out our Twitter profile, Window To Design, or our Facebook fan page, to find out how you could win HOMEMAKERS expo tickets (worth R 50 each).

‘Take nothing but photographs. Leave nothing but footprints.’

At AMERICAN shutters ecological sustainability is as important to us as classically beautiful wooden shutters and blinds. If you love the warm and welcoming effect of wood in your home, you will be pleased to know that wooden blinds and shutters leave a light carbon footprint. Because the production of wooden blinds and shutters requires little processing it is energy efficient and therefore has a low carbon footprint.

The 1st of September is ‘Spring Day’ and the start of the South Africa’s National Arbour Month. Arbour Month, which aims to create awareness of the need to plant and maintain indigenous trees. We’ve made an investment in 100 trees to be planted within disadvantaged communities in Cape Town.

Trees provide oxygen, water vapour, food, shelter and fuel; all basic elements of life. According to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, the intention of Arbour Week is to promote a better understanding of trees (particularly indigenous trees), highlight the important role trees play in sustainable development, livelihoods of people and their environment, while encouraging communities to participate in various greening activities within their communities.

The trees we have purchased will be planted by Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) in disadvantaged communities here informal housing clutters dry barren landscapes. These are areas where children do not have trees to climb and people walk along hot dusty roads in summer, instead of shaded tree lined lanes common in many suburbs only kilometres way.

“Trees are resources we need to actively renew and by supporting Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) we do just that, improve how communities live and increase awareness of the value of trees,� says Stephen Palmer, managing director of AMERICAN shutters.

FTFA, the Section 21 social enterprise which facilitates tree planting in South Africa, also have checks and balances in place to ensure the trees planted are properly cared for to ensure they reach maturity.

“Sustainable business practice is imperative to the success of our business at American Shutters, and we understand the value of trees as we use only the best wood in our shutters and blinds,� says Palmer, “We are proud to support Food & Trees for Africa and encourage other businesses to support the initiative to green our country.�