When I first viewed our house, it had louvered shutters closed across most of the windows with the slats angled horizontally, which made it feel a bit like a prison. I fully intended to replace them with softer, more textural treatments, but after living with it for a while, I have to confess that (although I'm not obsessed with the look) the functionality has won me over.
Light pours into the house from both sides, which can feel a bit like living in a greenhouse on summer afternoons. The louvered shutters do a great job of screening the sun at its strongest, while allowing the sea breeze to cool our interiors. I leave them open most of the time to avoid that slightly oppressive barred-window look, but I've grown fond of the comforting 'clunk' when you close the window treatment at night.
