I too am from the south & have often wondered why we don't have the same type of windows & shutter system that I found all over Germany. I don't know what they are called but the system is wonderful!<BR><BR>Your window is basically a "door" that has 3 positions. Closed, open (swung like a door) or tilted back to allow air flow. They also have doors that use this same system, including the shutters.<BR><BR>They also have the neatest "shutters". They are built into the wall & disappear until they are needed. They have a strap that is on the inside that you pull to lower the shutters, sort of like a window shades. Once they are lowered you can adjust them for air flow & to allow some light in or for total room darkness, like louver blinds!<BR><BR>The shutters are not the prettiest thing but very functional. I was told that they were strong enough to be a strong deterent for burglars.<BR><BR>I have seen these windows demonstrated at home shows but not in an actual home. Hopefully they will catch on soon.

I know it is very strange to have houses with fake shutters just for looks, but in So. California that is what we have. <BR>After one trip to Europe I went to a giant hardware store to get hinges to hang shutters that closed, and not even the head manager could envision what I was talking about.<BR>We are shuttered deprived around here.<BR>So it is nice that you all have informed me of shutter etiquette.

Now I am confused, do we leave the shutters open at night, can't people crawl in? We have fake shutters where I live too.

Everyone, beware the shutterslut in Florence or she'll give you her eye. Lovely.

Tracy, which one of the above it the shutter slut?

Funny, but I was scolded by the manager of my hotel in Sorrento for leaving the rolling shutters open in the day. We had opened them in the afternoon then gone out for the rest of the day, and there was a note saying to keep the shutters closed. Our room was hanging over a cliff, so nothing could in, so we were puzzled too. I hadn't thought of this until I read this thread.<BR>Any ideas?

I'm one of those with fake shutters in Co Cal. I actually added them as it dresses up the house rather then just plain painted stucco. Many of the types of windows and screens would not allow being able to close the shutters unless you went outside.<BR>BTW I did say it ten times without a problem. <BR>Try &quot;One smart feller he felt smart ten times&quot; though.<BR>

I love to take pictures of windows in Europe. My favorite pictures of windows are with shutters. They are so &quot;romantic&quot; in a photo. I don't know what it is about an old building with a shuttered window but it is almost like looking into the eyes of an old person with a very long and interesting history. By the way, we left the shutters open during the day in our Rome hotel with no problem.<BR><BR>

My friends in provence close the shutters day time to keep the sun out in order to keep the house cool and also to protect them from the Mistral when it rages.

The apartment we rented in Paris had metal rolling window covers (I don't know that I would call them shutters but they served the same purpose). We rolled them down to keep out the sun when we left in the a.m., and rolled them up for light and air in the evening. I thought they were wonderful and would love to have some at home to keep down the costs of the AC.

The built-in blinds with the strap inside are called Rolladens and are absolutely wonderful. Beats the heck out of any kind of light-blocking blind in the States. Excellent for security too.<BR><BR>Also, the windows that Tutter described are the greatest; to the extent that we are considering taking enough home to replace those in our house back in Seattle.