The first ever window Toronto shutters came even before the glass windows was in use. Five centuries ago during the time of Henry VII in Tudor England and that of Elizabeth’s I reign, it was already common among English homes to have shutters. The window shutters were made of solid wood. If it were used today, it would be a little bit odd since they were made to cover the lower half of the window only. During those times, having a glass window was considered luxurious. It was difficult to acquire one since it was expensive so people only use glass pane for the upper part of their window. The window shutters are opened partially to allow light and air to stream in when wanted. You need only to simply fold the panel against the wall. In most cases, a bar is placed across the panels when it is shut to ensure security.
During the 17th century people began to apply two sets of glass windows and were hung like the Federation style. During this time, the improvement shutters cover the entire length of the window opening. In those times, buildings were still made of stone and had very thick walls and it was too deep to reach and secure the panel inside the room. For this reason, it was common to have the shutters inside the homes.
In the late 18th century, during the era of Queen Victoria, a lot of houses were structured out of timber and employed techniques that resulted to walls that are now thinner. It was during this time that people began to place window shutters outside their homes.
Through time, shutters were used more and more for cooler visual effects and to have a distinct functionality. It also has practical functions such as it controls air and light and shelters the inside of the house from elements. During the invention of steam engines and the increase of industrialization, Victorian woodworking mills came into the picture. This improvisation brought a whole new level of revolution and sophistication to the window shutters. With the new method employed, shutter blades can now be made out of horizontal slats angled well to deter rain from entering instead of blocking the elements completely. This feature allows some daylight to stream into the room and therefore provides adequate ventilation. This style is still seen among houses in Australia. There are many Georgian or Tuscan styles that use this exterior slat feature.
Window shutters have come a long way and many of the styles today are clearly influenced by the past. One can only marvel and appreciate its long history.