I'm also interested in the answer to this. I have Sillouette blinds in my formal living and dining room and pleated blinds in the rest of the house. I'm being encouraged to put a cornice and drapes in the formal dining room but am concerned that by doing this I will make the rest of the house look like it's "undone". The dining room has hardwood floors with a rug but it a bit echo prone - which is why I even considered this. VERY EXPENSIVE to add a cornice and simple panels on each end.

I look forward to the replies on this post as well. I have planation shutters throughout my open concept home but am thinking I need something more on the dining room windows to give it a formal feel, but it is very expensive. I paid enough for the shutters.

IMHO, no, no you do not need window treatments at all with plantation shutters. Or, you can have them if you want. Just depends on the look you are going for. In my former, former home, I had window treatments in the bedrooms over the shutters, and in the formal living and dining room, I did not. I really think you can go either way. Just my two pennies.

pup

I prefer plantation shutters without extra treatment. I have them in my daughter's room, den and entry. They are outside mount so they are already finished all the way around with a frame.

I think the shutters are the window treatment and all that is needed.

I love you guys! I bought my house with plantation shutters on all of the upstairs windows. I love the look almost as much as I loved not needing to buy curtains! People keep telling me that I need panels in my living room to finish it, and I just simply don't want them!

Does anyone have any other sort of decorative things to put around the windows to make them look finished? I found a long metal cherry branch (I think) decoration at Pier One that I believe was meant to be hung vertically. I hung it horizontally over the window in the kitchen, and I think it looks great! I'm trying to think of something similar to do in the living room.

We have plantation shutters in our living room and dining room, and we really like how they look without panels/drapes. They are 'outside' mounted, so they look finished to me.

I feel the same. I hate curtains. I have kids and pets. And I have LOTS of sunlight, so I'm glad to see I'm not alone. I really didn't feel like spending money to make my house look "finished" with curtains; I think my house looks finished without them. It's just not me.

Thanks for the reassurance.

I don't like curtains either - I have shutters in my living room with no curtains - I love it. You can open them up all the way, or just open and close the louvers. You have complete privacy.

agree, one or the other. having both is a bit 'overkill' IMHO.Plantation shutters are substantial on their own, much more so than curtains which can allow a shade or maybe half shutters or bamboo. Pretty houses on display here. Happy New Year!

dabunch- Could you tell us your paint color, please. Lovely.

I HATE curtains and drapes. I don't like clutter so love the clean lines of shutters or blinds without drapes. And yes, sometimes I think, it doesn't look "finished" but then I remember -- SO WHAT... WHO CARES.... I'm happy. ;-) I've since put in a large area rug but am too lazy to take a picture. lol

When I bought a new home 3 years ago, I knew I wanted plantation shutters but worried about color and composition. I had a local vendor come to my home and he showed me actual shutters in place and that was so helpful. My walls are a creamy off-white and the shutters match beautifully. I got the poly design without handles. I love them!!! I keep all the lower ones closed the the upper ones open and angled up. My house is filled with light and looks classy because it matches throughout. Mine are inside mounted and I feel no need for drapes. I feel the shutters blend in so well they don't serve as decor, I am able to use accents in the rooms for decor. The shutters are easy to clean and really do a great job of insulating the house.

I have fireplace on South wall with windows on each side. The west wall is a window and then two sets of french doors. I wanted a movie theatre feel so we did panels on each side of windows with valance across the top. Same with doors. Panels on each end, two in middle to close up to keep glare off tv as needed. It really looked nice. Then it started to bug us. Took all down and now we have only the outside mount 4" shutters. It looks so clean and almost spa-like. Sometimes I wish I had some color but the clean look is just so refreshing. I have decided that the color will be in the furniture and artwork.

In an area where both rooms are open to each other it is best to put shutters in all the windows. If it is not in your budget and the room windows are on opposite sides of the house, you can get away with doing a horizontal blind in the other windows. I am going to suggest a 2 or 2 1/2 faux wood since something like Silhouettes would cost as much or more than shutters.