When you’re designing a room, there’s something so fun about watching it all come together. You start with one idea, then another, and before you know it, the colors, patterns, and textures are all playing off of each other in a way that just works. It’s one of my favorite parts of designing a space – letting the room evolve as you go. Our home’s exterior renovation was a little different. Every decision had to do more than just look good. We had to think about how each element would function, how it would hold up over time, and how it would all work together as a whole. There wasn’t room for a choice that was purely aesthetic, which made the design process both more challenging and, ultimately, more rewarding. You can read more about the entire exterior renovation here, but today I want to get into the story behind one of the choices that truly elevated our curb appeal: our Bahama shutters!
The problem with our old awnings
When we first bought our home, it had the original metal awnings – which, don’t get me wrong, carried some vintage charm, especially when we painted them navy with a white detail. The real issue was that the awnings were rusted and falling apart and were definitely ready for a farewell. Once the awnings came off during the exterior remodel, we decided to replace our outdated windows as well. Here in Florida, however, we face hurricane season every year, so we had to make a pricey decision when it came to choosing just what kind of windows.
The $15,000 question
Our insurance requires that we have some kind of protection for our windows (in case of hurricane damage). This left us with the option to get impact-grade windows OR have some sort of exterior protection… like the awnings we had just removed. After doing some research, we found that the impact-grade windows would have been an additional $15,000 which was just a huge number on top of the roof, gutters, paint, etc. Fortunately, the answer to this question solved our problem and also fulfilled a dream of mine.
From an aesthetic standpoint, I’ve always loved the look of Bahama shutters, and there were plenty of examples saved to my Pinterest… So when we opted to just get regular windows and save some coin, we needed shutters for protection and voilà!
choosing bahama shutters
The Bahama shutters are one of the most noticeable things about our house now, and for good reason. The bungalow is small and somewhat boxy, so I love the way that the shutters add architecture to the exterior – giving the whole house more visual appeal and character. The function of the shutters is also incredibly practical for everyday life: because of the way they are hinged at the top and angle outward, you’re able to easily adjust their height to allow more or less light inside. I assumed when initially considering Bahama shutters that they would block too much light and make it dark inside, but we actually get so much natural light through them, along with some added bonuses…
While the inside of the house still gets all the natural light it needs, it’s filtered through the shutters, which really helps to mitigate heat and keep the house cooler. They also really help with privacy without needing to keep our blinds closed or use curtains all the time, which is a major win for us in a somewhat compact neighborhood.
the color choice
Part of the reason I’ve always loved Bahama shutters is how they naturally exude this very “Florida feel” without giving beach-rental vibes. Leaning into that, we made very intentional choices when it came to color. For the shutters, we chose Sherwin-Williams Rice Paddy. When I stood in the front yard and looked at the house, I really wanted the exterior colors to feel connected to the landscape rather than competing with all the natural greenery, and I feel that the greenish-yellow tones reflect just that! Doing the window replacement gave us an opportunity to add trim to the windows, so we chose a similar color to the shutters in a slightly darker shade. I love the way that the two colors coordinate and add another layer of dimension while defining the windows. And for the utilitarians out there, they are powder-coated, making them super easy to clean.
when pretty meets practical
The outdoor transformation on this small, coastal bungalow is one of my favorite updates we’ve done so far—and in my opinion, the Bahama shutters were really the cherry on top. They actually changed the shape of our home without adding a single addition. Not only are they visually beautiful and impactful with their coastal charm, but they serve a really important purpose: keeping our home safe during Florida storms. They serve us both inside and outside by lending shade and privacy, which are hard to come by on a small lot. Choosing Bahama shutters answered many questions and needs for us all in one… and let’s not forget, they saved us $15,000 in the end!
Proof that practical doesn’t have to mean boring! We’d choose our Bahama shutters all over again.