American Shutters - Your Window To Design

Cosy country patio design guide

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:18:15 +0000

One of our Summer Temptation competition finalists posed a patio design dilemma to us – how to turn a bland patio into an inspiring outdoor space that could be utilised throughout the year.

There were a few obstacles, including a dog that is seemingly intent on sabotaging any efforts to establish a patio garden. Fortunately Karina Palmer, interior designer and marketing manager of AMERICAN shutters, has years of experience in creating fabulous spaces! The following design advice has been adapted from the customised design guide created to help turn Karen’s patio into a cosy country-style outdoor space.

The inspiration…

The design challenge …

“I purchased and renovated a very old house,” says Karen, “I needed help with the outside, which I gutted to a bare shell after removing an unsightly, rotting pergola that served absolutely no purpose.”

The garden beds were bare, so she planted flowerbeds. Unfortunately the flowerbeds also happen to be her Staffie’s favourite sun-tanning spot. Karen planted a lime tree, purple lobelia, roses and herbs in pots around the patio – all of which lend themselves well to a country-style patio we have envisioned.

The design advice…

The following minor building alterations would soften the straight continuous lines of the low garden wall, create more shape to the area and incorporate the pool…

Build a timber slatted alcove bench on the left-hand side of the steps and decorate with colourful scatter cushions.

Widen the stairs leading up to the pool area to make the change in level appear less steep and improve the flow between the patio and pool.

Remove low exposed brick wall down the side of the patio and replace with various height tropical plants, planted from the patio towards the boundary wall with lowest in front to create depth and contain the edge of the patio and dining area.

Enclose the front of the braai area with low wall, just high enough to contain coals, return the wall at full pit height, 90 degrees to divide braai pit into two areas. Use one side for braaing and other for feeder log fire. Build supporting pins into the brickwork at various levels so you can position the braai grid at different heights and have custom made braai grid manufactured for an exact fit. Incorporate handy fitted slatted timber trays on either side to make outdoor cooking a breeze.

Repaint the house wall and garden wall a warmer shade of white, the stark white is very reflective on sunny days and appears too clinical.

Renovate the concrete floor and stairs with stained paint effect in either a cool or warm coloured stains to either complement or contrast the freshly painted exterior of your home. You can find useful DIY instructions by clicking here.

Patio furniture and garden

Shade the patio with white umbrellas and illuminate at night with tiki torches, candles or an umbrella chandelier by suspending tea light candles or glass solar jars.

Image credits: Consol Glass, Martha Stewart and Shutterstock

Plant ‘robust’ tropical feature plants around the braai area and do away with tatty garden fencing thus liberating the Staffie! Install latte fence to obscure Wendy house and contain this side of the patio.

Add an untreated oak table and a loose bench and leave to weather naturally. Offset the outdoor dining area against a backdrop of plants enclosed with a random branch fence to protect the garden from the Staffie and create a cosy eating area. Delicate plants could be planted in protected area behind the seating.

Position the potted roses and lime tree to disguise ugly downpipes or replace the two downpipes with ‘rain chains’ on either side of the house. Replace the hosepipe with a spiral hosepipe that recoils for easy and neat storage.

Reposition loose wooden benches at latte fence and use colourful scatter cushions to decorate it. Position a small low table in front of the bench to create an area for drinks and easy braai time chats.

Image credits: Shutterstock

For the latest home décor tips and trends, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. To find AMERICAN shutters or blinds for your home, visit our online showroom and request a quote online.

Turn up the heat with Fauxwood blinds

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:53:26 +0000

Pots bubble on the stove and delicious aromas waft through the kitchen. A few metres away someone is soaking in hot bath. Steam fills the bathroom and for a few moments it’s as though the world disappears.

Soul-soothing activities, like trying that new recipe or soaking in a hot bath undisturbed, make it good to be home. However, while you’re cooking a scrumptious meal or soaking stress away, your window treatments could be warping, buckling and starting to fade.

Fortunately our Fauxwood blinds are guaranteed against fading, warping, yellowing or bowing. The award-winning Fauxwood blinds are the perfect choice for high heat and humid environments because they’re made from durable PVC-foam (PVC Synthetic) yet they have an authentic wood grain appearance.

Available in two slat widths, the standard 50mm and the large shutter-like 63mm, a choice of five shades of white and eight wood grain finishes, our Fauxwood blinds offers a classic window treatment option to suit most décor trends.

To find out more about Fauxwood blinds, you are welcome to email info@americanshutters.co.za or call us on 0860 748837.

Win tickets to Decorex Cape Town

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:36:56 +0000

Win a set of double tickets to Decorex Cape Town by simply posting a comment below or sending a tweet!

Post a comment or send the tweet below from your twitter account and you could win a set of double tickets to Decorex Cape Town!

Tweet this: “I’d love to win tickets to @DecorexSA in #CapeTown with @WindowtoDesign www.americanshutters.co.za/blog”

We have five sets of double tickets to giveaway! The winners will be contacted via email and will be announced on our Facebook page. Terms and conditions apply.

Decorex Cape Town takes place from 26 – 29 April 2012 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This year the theme is ‘real’ and reflects the trend towards living a purer, green life while celebrating bespoke design. For more information, visit www.decorex.co.za

Competition Terms and Conditions…

AMERICAN shutters’ competition is open to all South African residents over the age of 18 years and limited to one per person.
The five winners will be chosen randomly. Competition closes at midnight on 24 April. The judge’s decision is final.
Winners are responsible to get themselves to and from Decorex Cape Town.
Entrants agree that their names may be used and published by AMERICAN shutters for marketing and promotional purposes in any form of media without restriction.
In the event that any winner cannot be successfully contacted following all reasonable attempts to do so, AMERICAN shutters reserves the right to disqualify such winner from the competition and to draw another winner in his/her stead.
The prizes are not transferable, non-refundable, non-exchangeable (where applicable) and cannot be redeemed for cash.
AMERICAN shutters reserves the right to terminate this competition immediately and without notice. In the event of such termination, all winners agree to waive any rights that they may have in terms of this competition and acknowledge that they will have no recourse against AMERICAN shutters, its advertising and promotional agencies, distributors and their respective employees.

Boys will be boys

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:28:12 +0000

If you’re often nagging your son to tidy his bedroom, it’s time to for a change. Here a few ways to create a cool space your son will want to keep clean…

Decorating boys’ rooms – Image credits below

Making the play

Set up play areas in your son’s room, ideal for gloomy days when he’s stuck indoors. While sports might seem like the only thing your son cares about, encourage his creativity and academic aspirations. You could set up a reading, music or art nook in a corner of his bedroom for example.

Calm and classic

Children need bedrooms where they play and sleep. It’s a challenge because when it comes to improving the quality of your sleep, experts recommend removing distractions from the bedroom. With children’s rooms it’s all about finding a balance. Ideally the décor should inspire a feeling of calm and great storage systems should hide distractions.

Pick a serene neutral base colour for the room and accessorise the room with one or two of your son’s favourite colours. Both blue and green are colours associated with relaxation and peace, ideal choices for a boy’s bedroom.

“Shutters and blinds, with their horizontal lines have a calming effect,” says Karina Palmer, interior designer and marketing director of AMERICAN shutters,” And when you choose wide louvres you get a clearer view out and maximise natural light when the louvres are open.”

If your son struggles to sleep, consider installing privacy premium custom-fit blinds which offer exceptional light block-out due to their slot free louvres and tight louvre closure. Classic and versatile, white and wooden shutters and blinds complement all colour schemes. Let’s face, your son is growing up and will eventually want to change that super hero duvet set. And when he does, at least you won’t have to change the window treatments.

Store and score

Boys have lots of toys, from building blocks when they’re little to electronic devices and sports equipment has they grow older. Bedroom cupboards don’t always offer enough space and without adequate storage space, a bedroom soon appears chaotic, cluttered and messy. Consider roll-out storage drawers for under the bed for shoes and sports equipment’s. Baskets and boxes in book shelves or on top of standalone cupboards make great hiding places for gadgets and gizmos.

Light the way

If there’s a hanging light in the room, remove it and replace it with down-lighters which fit neatly into the ceiling. Not only will it make the ceiling appear higher than it is, it will reduce the chance of an accident when your son decides to practices his golf swing or soccer skills. It’s bound to happen sooner or later, why wait for it?

We hope you’ve been inspired but before you start, remember this project is about getting your son to love his bedroom so involve him in the process. Let him choose his bedding, new blinds or shutters and decide how best to rearrange bedroom furniture. Our bet is if you can impart the love for clean design with your son, you won’t need to nag him to keep his room clean.

Image credits: Shutterstock and 71 toes

Create an inspirational workspace

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:22:20 +0000

Beat the boredom of admin by transforming your home office. We found inspiring home offices and investigated how ancient feng shui principals can be used to improve productivity.

Stylish workspaces’ image credits below

Successful positioning

According to the principals of feng shui, a desk should be positioned in commanding position. This means that when sitting at your desk, you should not have your back to a door or face a wall.

If you have to face the wall, mount artworks or a world map on the wall which will, according to feng shui, help make the wall ‘disappear.’ It’s also a great way to create a focal point and add interest to what could otherwise be a boring blank wall.

Let the light in

Working in poor light is enough to make you feel drowsy not to mention how it strains the eyes! Ensure your home office is well-lit and where possible, optimise natural light with blinds or shutters. To cut glare on a computer screen simply redirect natural light by adjusting the louvres of shutters or blinds.

If you’re a photographer or often use your home office as a make-shift photography studio to photograph products, you’ll love the soft diffused light created by our translucent cellular shade blinds. Working late? Block harsh security spotlights from shinning into your home office with our day and night cellular shade blinds which allows you to choose between complete block out and a soft diffused light. Read more about cellular shade blinds here.

Create order

Create a productive and stylish office by decluttering your workspace. If you feel like you’re drowning in paper, tackle your filing, recycle what you don’t need and consider electronically filing instead of printing documents out.

Breathe in green

Stay alert by ensuring a flow of fresh air in your home office. Open windows and adjust the louvres of shutters or blinds to optimise ventilation throughout the room.

You may want to add air-purifying plants to your office. A two-year study by the Agricultural University in Oslo found that people experienced reductions in fatigue, sore/dry throat, coughing and dry skin when plants were introduced into their offices.

A Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is beautiful addition to an office and it’s also one of 15 indoor plants recommended for improving air quality. NASA found that peace lilies remove three of the most common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.

So whether you trying to build a successful business from home or simply want to update your office, take the time to transform your workspace and who knows, admin may not seem quite so tedious when you’re sitting pretty!

Sources: About.com, House of Plants, Mother Nature Network, and Traditional Feng Shui

Image credits: 1. Chalkboard office via Martha Stewart 2. Nina Holst’s office via Stylizimo 3. Leslie Shewring’s office via decor8 4.Emma Reddington’s office via Design Sponge, 5. AMERICAN shutters & 6. Shutterstock.

Small world, big value

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:32:53 +0000

With information and news from around the world just a click away, we are fast becoming accustomed to the ever-blurring borders between South Africa and the many countries from which we have learnt and adopted product throughout history.

Shutters are one such product. In 1985, after completing his studies abroad, Steve Palmer and his wife, Karina, who had been working as an interior designer returned to South Africa. Along with the international experience and inspiration they had gathered, they brought with them a love for custom-made adjustable louvre shutters, and the rest, as they say is history. Although it was in fact history that gave their subsequent business its name; AMERICAN shutters is so called because the shutter’s introduction to the New World is mostly recognised for keeping mansions in the cotton plantations of America’s South cool.

The AMERICAN shutters’ legacy of taking the best the world has to offer and bringing it to South Africa, lives on today with many of our products being imported from overseas.“We continually invest time and money in sourcing and selecting the best raw material and products from around the world, ensuring that they meet the demanding quality standards AMERICAN shutters has become renowned for,” says Steve Palmer, managing director of AMERICAN shutters.

To ensure that the products are suitable to the South African conditions, all the timber used in the manufacture of AMERICAN shutters’ products is hand selected and dried using a specialised Prescription Wood Conditioning technique which emulates the environmental conditions of the location where the shutters are to be installed, thereby reducing post installations shrinking and swelling. Significant to South African conditions, the timber is also guaranteed to be resistant to beetle attack.

As a result of our long-standing international partnerships, manufacturing facilities, equipment and technology, our processes are world-class and internationally benchmarked. The timber we use is quarter-sawn giving shutters remarkable strength and stability. Mortise and tenon joints are used to withstand stress and twisting forces, our exclusive core-reinforced engineered stiles ensure robustness and durability, the rabbet stiles offer extra light control and marine grade stainless steel is used for tilt rod connectors.

“Our manufacturing and installation processes are streamlined and cost-effective earning us the position of industry price leader,” says Steve. “It is this international best practice and the quality of our raw material and finishes that enable us to offer standalone product guarantees on all our shutters.”

AMERICAN shutters’ love and appreciation for our country drives our ongoing quest to source and learn from the global industry and then integrate this knowledge, technology and skill into South Africa. “Our Decowood shutter range is our most popular, eco-friendly and cost-effective range of shutters. Initially we imported these shutters, now we manufacture them locally, creating employment opportunities and boosting our local economy,” concludes Steve Palmer.

This is the perfect case study to demonstrate how AMERICAN shutters brings the best the world has to offer and customises it for our unique local conditions and styles; adding value to properties nationwide.

Win tickets to Decorex Durban

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:40:55 +0000

There are a few home décor exhibitions that stand out on the calendar and Decorex is one of them! Win a set of double tickets to Decorex Durban by simply posting a comment below with your contact details.

For an extra entry, you’re welcome to post the following tweet from your twitter account…

“I’d love to win tickets to @DecorexSA in #Durban with @WindowtoDesign www.americanshutters.co.za/blog”

We have five sets of double tickets to giveaway! The winners will be contacted via email on Friday 16 March and announced on our Facebook page. Terms and conditions apply.

Decorex started in 1994 and attracts over 100 000 visitors annually! This year the theme is ‘real’ and reflects the trend towards living a purer, green life while celebrating bespoke design in an era of mass-production. We can’t wait to see what the show will hold this year! Of course we’ll be there so pop in and visit the AMERICAN shutters stand at…

Decorex Durban 21 – 25 March 2012 at the Durban Exhibition Centre
Decorex Cape Town 26 – 29 April 2012 at Cape Town International Convention Centre
Decorex Joburg 8 – 12 August 2012 at Gallagher Convention Centre

For more information, visit www.decorex.co.za

Competition Terms and Conditions…

AMERICAN shutters’ summer temptation competition is open to all South African residents over the age of 18 years and limited to one per person.
The five winners will be chosen randomly. The judge’s decision is final.
Winners are responsible to get themselves to and from Decorex Durban.
Entrants agree that their names may be used and published by AMERICAN shutters for marketing and promotional purposes in any form of media without restriction.
In the event that any winner cannot be successfully contacted following all reasonable attempts to do so, AMERICAN shutters reserves the right to disqualify such winner from the competition and to draw another winner in his/her stead.
The prizes are not transferable, non-refundable, non-exchangeable (where applicable) and cannot be redeemed for cash.
AMERICAN shutters reserves the right to terminate this competition immediately and without notice. In the event of such termination, all winners agree to waive any rights that they may have in terms of this competition and acknowledge that they will have no recourse against AMERICAN shutters, its advertising and promotional agencies, distributors and their respective employees.

White Teak shutters and blinds

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:39:52 +0000

We’re delighted to add White Teak shutters and blinds to AMERICAN shutters’ product range.

Made from lightweight but extremely strong timber known as White Teak, the shutters and blinds are a natural warm cream in colour but can be customised in a number of beautiful colours and stain finishes.

“One of the most appreciated design aspects of our products is that we offer complementary blinds made in the same timber and to the same specifications as our shutters. Therefore ideal to install in spaces with both windows and doors,” says Karina Palmer, interior designer and marketing director of AMERICAN shutters.

Available in either hinged, by-pass or bi-fold, White Teak shutters swing, slide or fold away to allow maximum access, light and ventilation indoors and uninterrupted views of the outdoors. The louvres are easily tilted to adjust and regulate light filtration and ventilation on both the shutters and blinds, which have a unique wider slat to mimic the shutter appearance, another feature that makes them perfect companions.

“Our White Teak shutters and blinds are manufactured to the same exacting standards and their effectiveness in light and ventilation control is only matched by their ease of use,” says Karina.
For more information about White Teak shutters and blinds, contact us on 0860 748 88837 or email
info@americanshutters.co.za. Follow our home décor tips on Facebook and on Twitter.

Three ways to make an entrance

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:09:46 +0000

Setting a tranquil tone in a home starts with the entrance way. There’s nothing quite like opening the front door onto a beautiful organised space, no matter how big or small.

Image credits below

We found three examples of beautifully balanced entrance ways which suit three different types of homes. Find one that suits your lifestyle and read our accompanying home décor tips to recreate the look in your home.

Elegant entrance

To create a grand and elegant entrance way, start with a large, glamorous mirror. It will reflect light and serve as a strong focal point. Add a beautiful console table directly under the mirror to ground the space.

1. Elegant home entrance way

As Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” so decorate the console table sparingly with classic pieces. Soften the look by incorporating natural elements like lush indoor plants in hand-woven baskets.

Family first

A family home entrance way may feel more like a train station than anything else, with children’s playmates arriving, teenagers waiting for lifts and school bags being dumped at the door. To calm the frantic pace in a home, create an organised entrance way to best serve you and your family.

2. Family home entrance way

A built-in bench is the perfect place for anyone to catch their breath while jacket hooks on the wall and baskets under the bench provide neat storage space.

Small and stylish

If your first apartment or house is short on space and lacks a formal entrance way, create a stylish ‘landing pad’ by installing a shelf. Display framed artworks and photographs on the shelf for eye-catching detail that won’t take up valuable floor space, and add practical hooks under the shelf for jackets, bags, keys and hats.

3. Stylish home landing pad

Whether you have a large house or a small bachelor pad, at the end of a long day it’s a welcome reprieve to go home to a space where you’re proud to hang your hat!

Image credits: 1. Elegant home entrance way, 2. Family home entrance way, 3. Stylish home landing pad

Go big and go home!

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:53:16 +0000

Big on style, big on privacy, big on customisation and big on light and ventilation control; our range of Privacy blinds is stand-alone in the South African market.

With unique slot-free louvres and improved louvre closures, this range offers unprecedented light block-out and privacy when closed and when open, the wider louvre width allows more light and ventilation into the indoor space.

Blinds are a popular window finish because of their architectural quality, ease of use and their longevity due to how well they complement any and all décor styles.

We have become spoilt for choice in terms of the material and finishes of blinds, however in many cases, their degree of customisation is limited due to the fact that most suppliers and import their products in a made-up state, and then cut to size locally.

Although offering a quick turnaround time from order to installation, this presents challenges. Unequal spaces between the ladders, rough edges where the product has had to be cut and uncomfortable finishing at the bottom of the blinds resulting in compromised light-block and privacy are the consequences.

The attention to detail in the customised-to-order manufacture and installation of our Privacy blinds suffers none of these challenges. “The ladders are consistently positioned equidistant from either side of the blinds, the edges of the slats are finished off to match the blinds and the bottom rail is chamfered for additional light-block,” says Stephen Palmer, managing director of AMERICAN shutters.

In addition to the above, this range offers exceptional light-block and privacy control thanks to slot-free louvres and tight louvre closure. It is also available in a choice of 50 standard colours and wood finishes (compared to the industry standard of 10), six valence options, 18 varieties of decorative tape and a choice of pull and tilt cord positioning finishes.

But the most impressive feature of the Privacy blinds is the fact that in addition to the 50mm louvre width, a shutter-look 63mm wide louvre is also available, creating a statement of quality and style surpassed by none in the market.

In fact the only choice our Privacy blinds do not offer is whether to go big or go home; when you can do both.

To find AMERICAN shutters or blinds for your home, visit our online showroom and request a quote online. For home décor tips and the latest trends, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.