A growing-family with climbing tots, mischievous young’ins and self-obsessed teens; a pet-friendly environment with chewing pups and windowsill sitting kits; and an open invitation home for friends and family are only some of the everyday-realities that result in durable value often outscoring bankable value. Persian rugs, original artwork, crystal, glass and dry-clean only fabrics are red flags for such a home.

Windows and doors work hard, allowing entry to and from the heart of such a happy home, a home that pulses with the energy of a family enjoying life and being together. However the home that ranks comfort above couture needs not compromise on style when it comes to window and door finishes. AMERICAN shutters’ Decowood range of shutters is the hardwearing, easy to use, easy to clean, steam-resistant and sun resistant solution to the home that is as proud of how it looks as it is of how it feels.

One of our most popular and cost effective ranges, Decowood shutters are manufactured locally from medium density fibreboard, commonly referred to as Superwood. The Superwood used in the manufacture of Decowood shutters is made from engineered wood composite (individual wood fibres) sourced from certified Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) plantations.

“Our Decowood shutters are our most hardworking and hardwearing. They resist chipping, peeling and cracking because of their polypropylene coating and their special UV inhibitor treatment protects them from the harsh African sun,” says Stephen Palmer, managing director of AMERICAN shutters.

Suitable and safe for all homes, they have been verified as environmentally safe, releasing no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) into the air; meeting and exceeding the most stringent international standards.

“They are also our most eco-friendly shutters. Although most AMERICAN shutters’ wooden products are manufactured from raw material sourced from sustainable plantations, what makes our Decowood range so eco-friendly is the fact that the wood composite production involves very little waste with up to 95% of a tree utilised opposed to the only 68% utilised to manufacture solid wood products.”

Decowood shutters are available in 63, 89 or 114 mm louvre sizes, have three tilt rod options: traditional, off-set or secret tilt and offer a variety of frame choices to suit all interior styles. They are easy to clean, maintain and with our three year warranty they are a home, and all who live and love within it’s best friend.

For the latest home home décor ideas and trends, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Founded by renowned South African architect Laurie Wale, the Building Centre offers visitors access to a permanent exhibition of over 200 building products. It’s a well known source of inspiration and product information and is frequented by architects, contractors and homeowners who want to keep abreast of the latest building innovations.

“If you’re planning on renovating a home or building your dream house, the Building Centre in Platinum Street, Northgate Estate is well worth a visit,” says Karina Palmer, our marketing manager, “You will find a wide range of products on display all under one roof which is very convenient. The staff at the Building Centre is friendly and very helpful and if you have any really tricky questions they will put you directly in contact with any of the suppliers there and then.”

Recently the centre moved from Rondebosch to the new building hub of Cape Town, Northgate Estate (next to Builders Warehouse). The Building Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm and on a Saturday from 9am until 1pm. Click here for a map and contact details. To find out more, visit www.thebuildingcentre.co.za

For the latest home home décor ideas and trends, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

This is how it works…

1. Measure the window(s) and then navigate your Internet browser to our online showroom at americanshutters.co.za/online-showroom.php

2. Select either the ‘shutters’ or ‘blinds’ button and decide if you want the shutters to be installed inside your home or outside, if you want adjustable louvres or fixed louvres and select your application accordingly.

3. Decide if you want a sliding bi-fold, sliding bypass or hinged shutters as shown in the explanatory diagrams. Select the option you prefer by clicking on the relevant diagram.

4. Depending on the range you select, you’ll be presented with different finishes to choose from. Then select the colour you prefer and click ‘request estimate.’

5. Now fill in the product specifications, height and width of the window and click ‘Generate Estimate.’

We hope you found this useful but if you’d prefer to chat to a sales consultant, you’re most welcome to call us on 0860 7488837 or send your quote request by email to info@americanshutters.co.za.

For the latest home home décor ideas and trends, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Bold and bright, there’s nothing subtle about the hottest colour on fashion runways and in home décor magazines.

Tangerine Tango has an exotic appeal which encapsulates the sense of a summer island holiday. But this isn’t just a summer fling; the versatile colour has longevity and will add warmth to spaces as we edge towards shorter days and cool nights.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy. ”

For over a decade the Pantone colour of the year has been influencing home décor, fashion and product development. The colour of the year is selected after intensive research of new colour influences in the world of entertainment, art, design, technology and travel.

If you want to give your home a sensational update, add vibrant bursts of Tangerine Tango to neutral rooms with soft furnishings, accessories and art. Feeling brave? Paint a feature wall in in the shade for an unexpected burst of colour.
We hope you’ll enjoy spicing up your home with this year’s hottest hue!

Make sure you’re the first to know about home décor trends, ideas and inspiration by following us on Facebook or Twitter. And if you’re looking for shutters or blinds to add timeless style to your home, regardless fashion, visit our online gallery, showroom or call us on 0860 7488837.

Image credits: Fashion runway,  Tropical lounge, Bathroom, Bowl, Frames and  Kitchen

However, since not everyone comments, we took a look at our blog statistics and uncovered the top 10 blog posts of the year. It’s fascinating to see which blog posts got the most attention so without further ado; here are the posts that topped the charts in 2011…

1. Style your Christmas

2. Blissful bathrooms

3. Recipe for a delicious kitchen

4. Create a luxurious love nest

5. Summer Temptations: Vote and Win!

6. Fall in love with spring home décor

7. Head turning Normandy shutters

8. A place to play

9. Cosy lounge updates

10. Designer Cedarwood shutters

We’re planning the blog schedule for 2012 and would love your input. If you have suggestions, questions or requests, post a comment below and if it inspires us, we’ll do the research and write a home décor blog post just for you!

Her summer temptation, ‘Picnic under massive oak trees. Running with rolled up jeans through slips and streams,’ inspired this home décor inspiration board…

If you love this inspiration board, learn how to get the look by clicking here. And if you want to be one of the first to know about our future competitions and promotions by joining our Facebook fan page or by following us on Twitter.

Images 1 – 5 credited below

Give these Christmas decorating ideas a try…

Fill small terracotta garden posts with florists’ oasis or soil, secure a white candle in the middle of each one and decorate with long-lasting greenery, small pine cones, moss and twigs.

4.

You could line windowsills and the fireplace mantle with these rustic Christmas arrangements for a striking but sweet impact.

Instead of artificial wreaths, we love living succulent wreathes! You could hang it on the front door, display on a coffee table, outside in the patio or incorporate into the Christmas dinner table décor.

2.

This lovely wreath was made by Jaime of The Prudent Baby. If you’d like to make one, click here to see her tutorial.

Fill glass hurricanes a quarter of the way with acorns, add a white pillar candle in the centre of each one and cluster the hurricanes together for a fast, festive décor update.

6.

While walking the dog or out in the garden, look out for twigs (this could be a fun game for children). Once you’ve collected a few, place and secure them around a clean glass jar or tumbler with strong craft glue. Pop a candle in each one and light in the evening for a beautiful, natural Christmas glow. Click here for a tutorial.

7.

Swop store bought Christmas tree decorations for natural decorations like pine cones. Glue or tie a ribbon to each pine cone and, if you’d like to, add some glitter before hanging them from the Christmas tree. We love this tutorial.

8.

If you like these Christmas decorating ideas and country-inspired home décor, you’d love our Cedarwood shutters. Naturally red-brown in colour with a delightful warm woody aroma, Cedarwood shutters are the ideal window treatments for a country-style home. Read more about Cedarwood shutters here.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas from all of us at AMERICAN shutters!

Follow our home décor ideas and trends via Facebook and Twitter. Click here for more Christmas home decorating ideas and if you’re looking for shutters and/or blinds, get a quote from our online showroom.

Images 1. Sweet Paul, 2. The Prudent Bay, 3. Perfectly Imperfect, 4. Hege Greenall-Scholtz, 5 Room to Inspire, 6. Favour Creative, 7. Fossil and 8. Room to Inspire

Cast a vote for your favourite summer inspiration board and you could win a subscription to a home décor magazine!

1, 2, 3 and 4

How to vote:

Or

See the finalists’ inspiration boards and find out how to get the look…

1. Karen’s Summer Temptation: Sizzling lime and orange
2. Hanneleze’s Summer Temptation: The natural flow
3. Rabelani’s Summer Temptation: Ice-cream dreams
4. Brandon’s Summer Temptation: Powder white and gold

The finalist with the total most ‘likes’ on Facebook and comments on our blog, will win. Voting closes on 30 November 2011.

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.
• Voting closes Wednesday, 30 November 2011 and the summer temptation winner and winner of will be announced on Friday, 2 December and notified via email.
• The winner will be chosen by public voting. The judge’s decision is final.
• Votes can be cast by commenting on a finalist’s blog post or ‘liking’ a finalist’s summer inspiration board on our Facebook fan page. Only one vote on Facebook and one on the blog per person will be permitted.
• The spot prize home décor magazine subscription will be awarded to one voter and will be selected randomly.
• Entrants agree that their names and profile picture 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.

If you think this inspiration board is sweet, vote for it and you could win a subscription to a home décor magazine!

Summer temptation inspiration: “Ice-cream cones and bright summer dresses” – Rabelani Mutondwa

The result…

Get the look:

• Bright but soft and sweet, this is a lovely look for a little girl’s bedroom and our cordless cellular blind shades fit the bill perfectly!
• If you would like a room to ‘grow up’ with your daughter, opt for a white base in walls, blinds and shutters, and accessorise with the summery ice-cream colours. As your daughter gets older, change the theme or colour scheme by simply by updating soft furnishings and accessories.

Get the AMERICAN shutters’ product: Cellular shade blinds

• Made up of two or more layers of material which are joined at the pleats, cellular shade blinds have honeycomb shaped compartments which trap air and thereby increase both heat and sound insulation.
• Cordless cellular shade blinds are ideal for children’s rooms because, as every parent knows blinds’ cords are tempting for little hands and accidents can happen in a matter of seconds!
• Available in a wide range of colours, these shades suit not only nurseries and children’s bedrooms, but are perfect for most living spaces.
• Click here to read more about Cellular shade blinds.

Did this summer temptation speak to you?

Vote for this inspiration board by commenting below or by ‘liking’ it on our Facebook fan page. You could help Rabelani win R5 000 worth of AMERICAN shutters and/or blinds and you might win a subscription for a popular home décor magazine! Terms and conditions apply.

Click here to see the other finalists.

If you love this inspiration board, vote for it and you could win a subscription to a home décor magazine!

Summer temptation inspiration: “Picnic under massive oak trees. Running with rolled up jeans through slips and streams.” – Hanneleze Kruger

The result…

Get the look:

• Create a sense of serenity by arranging seating to maximise comfort while allowing for a visual flow throughout the room.
• Complement a dark wood and white room with nature-inspired soft furnishings in light brown, sand, cream and a light watery blue.
• Soften the look by adding natural textured accessories like woven mats and baskets.

Get the AMERICAN shutters’ product: Decowood shutters

• Made from engineered wood panels, known as Superwood, the Decowood range of shutters are AMERICAN shutters’ most eco-friendly.
• Coated with a patented polypropylene finish, the shutters are extremely durable and 100% environmentally safe.
• The UV inhibitors protect the shutters against fading and yellowing.
• Available in 3 louvre sizes – 62, 89 and 114mm – and with 3 tilt rod options – traditional, offset and secret tilt and a variety of frame choices, the Decowood shutters finish off any space in true customised style.
• Decowood shutters are well priced and an excellent choice when the budget is stretched.
• Click here to read more about Decowood shutters

Did this summer temptation speak to you?

Vote for this inspiration board by commenting below or by ‘liking’ it on our Facebook fan page. You could help Hanneleze win R5 000 worth of AMERICAN shutters and/or blinds and you might win a subscription for a popular home décor magazine! Terms and conditions apply.

Click here to see the other finalists.