Made to measure, fitted by a carpenter, built to last decades
Plantation Shutters In Kent
Plantation shutters are the louvred shutters you see on the inside of a window, with a row of tilting slats set into a solid frame. Tilt the slats and you control how much daylight comes in and how much of the room people can see from the street. Close them fully and you get privacy, warmth and a quieter room. They are made to fit your exact window, so there are no gaps at the edges and nothing rattles. We make ours in Kent, in six styles, four louvre sizes and any colour you like, and we fit every one ourselves.
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The parts, the names and what they do
What Plantation Shutters Actually Are
The name is older than the product. Plantation shutters get their name from the large houses of the American South, where wide louvres were used to let breeze through a room while keeping the sun off the furniture. The idea travelled, the slats got tidier, and today the term simply means an internal shutter with adjustable louvres.
Every shutter is built from the same handful of parts, and it helps to know them before you start choosing.
The frame is the outer surround that fixes to your window. It can sit inside the recess, or on the face of the wall around it, depending on how deep your reveal is.
The panel is the section that swings open on hinges. A window might have two panels, four panels, or one, depending on its width.
The stiles and rails are the vertical and horizontal timbers that make up the edge of each panel. A mid rail can be added part way up so the top and bottom sets of louvres tilt separately.
The louvres are the slats. They pivot as one group so you can angle them up, down, or flat.
The tilt rod is what moves them. A central tilt rod runs down the middle of the panel and is the traditional look. A hidden tilt has no visible rod at all, because the mechanism sits inside the stile, and you simply move a louvre with your hand.
That is the whole product. What changes between a shutter that looks right in ten years and one that does not is the quality of the timber, the accuracy of the measurements and the care taken during fitting.
The small decision that changes the whole face of the shutter
Central Tilt Or Hidden Tilt
A central tilt rod is the traditional arrangement. A slim timber rod runs down the centre of each panel and is fixed to every louvre. You move the rod, the louvres follow. It is period correct, it is what most people picture when they think of a shutter, and it is the sturdiest of the two because the load is spread across the whole rod.
A hidden tilt has no rod on the face at all. The linkage sits inside the stile at the side of the panel, so all you see is a clean run of louvres. You tilt them by moving any single louvre with your fingers. It looks more contemporary, it gives you a slightly better view out, and it is easier to clean because there is nothing in the way.
There is also an offset tilt rod, which does the same job as a central rod but sits at the edge of the panel rather than the middle. It is a useful middle ground on wide panels.
Hidden tilt carries a small extra cost. On tall panels we normally recommend a mid rail with it, so the top and bottom halves can be set at different angles. That is how you get privacy at eye level while daylight still comes in above.
The three materials we build in, and where each one belongs
Timber, MDF Or ABS
The material affects the price, the weight, the finish and how long the shutter survives in a damp room. All three of ours are good products. They are simply built for different jobs.
Sustainably sourced hardwood. The premium option. Real timber takes a paint or stain finish beautifully, and the grain shows through on stained finishes. It is light for its strength, which matters on tall panels, and it can be made in larger panel sizes than the other two without sagging. Choose hardwood for living rooms, bedrooms, bay windows, period properties and anywhere the shutter is a feature of the room.
Engineered MDF. A dense board with a painted or wrapped finish. It is the most cost effective way to get a painted shutter that looks identical to hardwood from a metre away. It is heavier than timber, so panel sizes are a little more limited, and it is not the right choice for a bathroom. Choose MDF for painted shutters in dry rooms where budget matters.
Waterproof ABS. A solid polymer that does not swell, warp or rot. It handles steam, splashes and temperature swings without complaint. Choose ABS for bathrooms, en suites, shower rooms, kitchens above a sink, utility rooms and conservatories.
Every material comes in the same colour range. You can have a standard white, one of our stock shades, a wood stain, or any bespoke RAL colour matched to your walls, woodwork or kitchen units. If you bring us a paint tin at the survey, we can match it.
How It Works
3 Steps to Your New Plantation Shutters
Choosing a window covering should feel reassuring, not high pressure. Our process is designed around genuine advice and careful craftsmanship, from the first phone call to the moment your new shutters or blinds are fitted.
Book a Free, No Obligation Home Visit
We travel to your home anywhere in Kent, take precise measurements, and bring a full set of samples so you can see materials and finishes in your own light. A typical survey takes 10 to 20 minutes, and you will have a detailed written quote in your inbox the same day.
Choose Your Style with Unbiased Advice
We guide you through every relevant option, from louvre sizes and timber grades to fabric weights and motorisation. Because we do not work on commission, the conversation is entirely about what suits your home and your living space, not what we want to sell.
Precision Fit with a Carpenter's Attention to Detail
Barry and the team install every shutter and blind with the fine finish you would expect from a cabinetmaker. We protect your floors, tidy up as we go, and back every installation with a two year fitting warranty on top of the manufacturer’s cover.
OUR PRODUCTS
Our Complete Window Covering Offering
If you are searching for the finest kent shutters, The VIP Shutter Co offers a complete range of made to measure plantation shutters that combine architectural elegance with proven, measurable performance. Independent testing has shown that a well fitted shutter can reduce heat loss through a window by up to 52 per cent, which is why so many homeowners now regard them as an energy efficient upgrade as well as a design choice.
Every shutter is cut to your precise sizes and finished to the colour, stain, or bespoke RAL shade of your choosing. We offer six classic styles, each available in sustainably sourced hardwood, engineered MDF, and waterproof ABS, with louvre sizes of 47 mm, 63 mm, 76 mm, and 89 mm, and either central or discreet hidden tilt.
why choose us
Why Choose The VIP Shutter Co
Choosing a made to measure window treatment is a long term investment, and the company you trust to deliver it matters just as much as the product itself. Here is why Kent homeowners, from period townhouses in Rochester to coastal properties in Folkestone, continue to choose The VIP Shutter Co year after year.
Carpenter Led Installation
Our founder, Barry, is a qualified carpenter with more than 25 years on the tools. Every shutter is scribed, shimmed, and finished to a cabinetmaker’s standard, which is an attention to detail that mass market shutter companies rarely match.
20+ years of experience
We have fitted shutters in every style of Kent home, from Medway terraces to Tunbridge Wells Victorians. We know what works and we will tell you if something does not.
Demonstrable Energy Efficiency
Independent testing has shown that a well fitted plantation shutter can cut heat loss through a window by up to 52 per cent. For a family with large bay windows or a period home with single glazing, the savings on heating bills can be considerable year on year.
Genuinely Local, Not a National Franchise
We are a small family team in Rochester who have measured, fitted, and serviced thousands of windows across Kent. We understand period sashes in Faversham, conservation area rules in Tunbridge Wells, and the particular demands of coastal properties from Whitstable to Folkestone.
solid panel SHUTTERS
Perfect Rooms for Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters work in every room of the house, but the best choice of style, material and louvre size changes from room to room.
Living rooms. Full height hardwood shutters with 63mm or 76mm louvres. Tilt them up during the day to bounce light onto the ceiling without putting the room on show to the street.
Bedrooms. Full height with a mid rail, so the bottom half stays closed while the top lets morning light in. If a properly dark room matters more than daylight control, look at solid panel shutters instead.
Bathrooms and en suites. Waterproof ABS, every time. Steam is what kills a cheap shutter, and ABS simply ignores it. Cafe style works well here if the window looks onto a neighbour.
Kitchens. ABS or painted MDF above the worktop, because they wipe clean. Avoid stained timber directly over a hob.
Bay windows. Hardwood, with each section measured separately and the panels hinged to fold back neatly against the angles. This is where a careful survey earns its keep.
Conservatories. ABS handles the heat and the cold better than timber, and tracked panels suit the long runs of glass.
Street facing ground floor rooms. Cafe style or a mid rail gives you privacy at head height while the room stays bright.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Most Kent homeowners pay between £200 and £400 per square metre fitted, with painted MDF at the lower end and hardwood at the upper end. The final figure depends on the size of the window, the material, the style and whether the shape is standard or bespoke. We give you a detailed written quote after a free home visit, so you know the exact cost before you commit to anything.
Plantation shutters is simply the common name for internal shutters with adjustable louvres. Almost every shutter you see inside a modern British home is a plantation shutter. The main alternative is a solid panel shutter, which has flat wooden panels instead of slats and blocks light almost completely when closed.
High-quality solid panel shutters made from hardwood can last 20-30 years or more with proper care. At The VIP Shutter Co, we use premium hardwood and protective finishes that help our shutters withstand daily use and weather conditions. Regular cleaning and occasional maintenance will keep your solid panel shutters looking beautiful for decades.
63mm suits the majority of windows and is what we fit most often. Go down to 47mm on small or cottage windows where you want a more traditional look. Go up to 76mm or 89mm on large windows, bays and patio doors where a wider slat looks better in proportion and gives more of a view out. We bring samples of all four sizes to the home visit so you can hold them against your own window.
Yes, as long as they are made from waterproof ABS. Timber and MDF can swell or blister in a room that gets steamy every day. ABS does not absorb moisture at all, so it stays flat and keeps its finish for years. We fit ABS as standard in bathrooms, en suites and shower rooms.
A well made hardwood shutter that has been fitted properly will last 20 to 30 years or more. The parts that wear are the tilt mechanism and the hinges, and both are replaceable. Keeping them clean and avoiding forcing a panel that is sticking will get you the full life out of them.
Toggle ContentThey do. Independent testing has shown that a well fitted shutter can reduce heat loss through a window by up to 52 per cent. The panel creates a still pocket of air between the shutter and the glass, and that layer is what slows the heat escaping. The effect is largest on single glazed period windows, which is why so many of our Kent customers notice the difference straight away.
Yes. Alongside our stock whites, off whites and wood stains, we can match any bespoke RAL shade. That means you can pick up the colour of your skirting, your window frames or your kitchen units exactly. Bring a paint tin or a colour code to the survey and we will match it.
Yes. Bay windows are one of the most common jobs we do, and each section is measured and made individually so the panels meet cleanly at the angles. Arched, circular, triangular and gable end windows are all possible as custom shaped panels. Awkward shapes need a longer survey, but they usually end up being the best looking shutters in the house.
A typical order is measured, made and fitted within six to eight weeks. Bespoke shapes and unusual colours can take a little longer. We confirm the lead time in writing with your quote, and we tell you if anything changes.
They are one of the safest window coverings you can fit. There are no cords, chains or loose pulls, which removes the risk that comes with corded blinds. Hidden tilt shutters have no rod at all, so there is nothing for small hands to pull off.
A dry duster or a soft brush attachment on the vacuum, run along the louvres with them tilted flat. Every few months, wipe them with a barely damp cloth. Do not use bleach or solvent based cleaners on painted or stained finishes. ABS shutters can take a stronger clean if they need one.
They are a fitted, permanent feature rather than something you take with you, so estate agents tend to list them as a selling point. Buyers see a room with quality shutters as finished, which helps a house show well. They also cut heat loss, which matters more to buyers now than it used to.
The VIP Shutter Co
