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Carpenter Makes Fun Of Ridiculous Window Shutters On This Instagram And Here Are 30 Of The Funniest Pics
Scott Sidler owns a historic window restoration company called Austin Historical in Orlando, Florida. He mainly works on pre-war buildings across the Southeastern United States but while Sidler is returning them to their former glory, he often notices ridiculous door, window, and shutter solutions.
"As a preservation contractor, I was constantly called in to fix mismatched windows and poor replacement shutters and I started taking pictures of the worst offenders to educate people about what a real window and real shutters should look like," Sidler told Bored Panda. "Shutters seem to be the most misunderstood and I see such awful applications that I thought a weekly series of fails would help people understand them better and get a good laugh at the same time."
Thus, #ShudderSunday was born.
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#1
"How is this even a thing? How can someone on this glorious Shudder Sunday think this looks better with shutters than without??"
Sidler has taken about half of the photos he has featured in the series which he shares on his Instagram account. "I get a lot of submissions from my followers. Usually from people wishing to be anonymous because they are taking a picture of their neighbor's house and they don't want to be found out."
The restoration specialist thinks there are so many of these fails because there's a huge misunderstanding about what window shutters are and aren’t. "Most people today think of them as a way to dress up a window like a flower box, and while they do accomplish that, there are very specific sizing and installation positions that people largely have no idea about today," Sidler said. "There are also some architectural styles that work with shutters and some that don’t and knowing when and where they belong makes quite a difference."
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#2
"I think it’s fun when people highlight special small details on their home. I don’t know that I have ever considered a dryer vent worthy of something so grand as it’s own trim and shutters, but hey...you do you!"
Exterior window shutters were originally constructed for light control, privacy, security, and protection from the elements, but Sidler highlighted that he thinks it's perfectly fine if a person wants window shutters just because. However, getting them the right size and installing them in the right locations can really make a big difference.
"In architecture, form follows function and if I can teach people about that in a fun way that gets a few laughs and helps people see the value in historical buildings then that’s a win for all of us."
#3
"Happy Shudder Sunday everyone! When you can’t afford four shutters just split the difference, right?"
#4
"Happy #ShudderSunday and may the Easter Bunny bring you better gifts than these shutters."
#5
"It’s #ShudderSundayagain! This one is personal to me since it’s right around the corner from my house.
I watched a few weeks ago as the owners tore out the original steel casement windows, replaced them with these vinyl monstrosities AND added shutters to “dress it up”. Lesson #1: Don’t replace your original windows. Ever!
Lesson #2: Shutters on corner windows rarely make sense
Lesson #3: Shutters are not two planks of cement board bolted to the cinder block wall."
#6
"Double feature for this week’s #ShudderSunday ! If you’re gonna fail then go big or go home and this apartment complex certainly did. Well done boys, well done!"
Perfumista Perfumista 4 years ago
Shame no one designs shutters for their intended purpose anymore. I wonder if people realize it's to protect the windows when their is a bad strorm or hurricane.
#7
"Happy #ShudderSunday ! I may not agree with this one but at least I understand the logic.
“I bought 2 pairs of shutters and each window only fits one shutter because of this weird entryway roofline. Waste not want not, let’s use the shutters by the front door!”
Please think before you shutter people."
#8
"Ahhhh the rare “under shutter!” So rare in fact that this is one of only 3 examples still in use today! We are all very fortunate to be able to see this stunning example in its native habitat!"
#9
"Because #ShudderSunday is so much fun I thought what the heck let’s do another one today to mix it up!
Being from Florida I love a good pair of flip-flops, but they should never be an architectural detail!
On the plus side, they appear to be properly sized for the windows. Looks like a size 52 to me!"
Elaine Mattingly 4 years ago (edited)
Not every idea is necesseraly a good one but this one is cute.
#10
"Oh #ShudderSunday you never fail to provide me with content! For those wondering, shutters and awnings should be compatible so that shutters could close if wished.
It’s besides the point that these shutters don’t even come close to fitting the windows and they are positioned incorrectly.
Shutter or awning, pick a side because in this case they go together like...cherries and gravy!"
#11
"Which came first, the faux shutters or the gutter? In this case I think we can answer that definitively, but I’m surprised the gutter guy didn’t think this was a bad idea"
#12
"Say hello to “Mega-Shutter”! When a regular shutter simply won’t do Meg-Shutter can help you intimidate all who cross its path!"
#13
"Always make sure to protect the outer 6” of your garage door with vinyl hurricane Shudders like these for maximum protection in a storm"
Harold Summer 4 years ago
Who in their right minds even thinks up the idea of plastering a worthless, decorative shutter by a garage door. Does not compute.
#14
"Happy #ShudderSunday and may we all learn the basics of geometry today! An arched shutter when open will have the opposing arch of the window. Think for a moment how well these shutter would fit if you were to close them."
#15
"When you only have room for 1 shutter then you actually have room for NO shutters."
#16
"In this episode of #ShudderSunday it’s another case of things that make you go...hmmm.
They only sell shutters in pairs so you know that extra shutter is hiding somewhere in the basement.
Really though, if both shutters don’t fit, just don’t install them!"
#17
"There are 2 things this photo makes me want to do...1) Restore those gorgeous windows 2) Tear that awful shutter off the bay window. Glad to know that even seaside Maine has shutter problems!"
#18
"Whyyyyyyyyyyyy??? Normally a garbage can in the way would make the photo unusable, but in this case it actually improves the most horrendous shutter-trocity I have ever seen!
.
“This garage door looks plain. How can we dress it up?”
“Should we paint it? Nah.”
“I know!! Let’s glue some vinyl wings on either side so you won’t notice the ugly garage door anymore and instead will cringe at the power of misappropriated shutters!”"
#19
"One shutter on each window for the finished project on a whole house remodel? We’re counting on you guys to show us the right things to do!"
#20
"Clearly the bottom sash is much more valuable than the top sash on these windows. It deserves the extra protection that 1/4” thick vinyl provides!"
ebony1k124 touch 4 years ago (edited)
Welcome to Doug's Window Saloon were everything is half off.
#21
"Somehow I am still amazed at the depravity of humanity when it comes to window shutters.There is so much wrong with this picture I can’t even begin. Happy Shudder Sunday!"
#22
"3 strikes and you’re out! There are 3 incorrect uses of shutters in as many windows in just this one photo.
I really can’t believe the level of design disdain going on here.
1. Shutter missing on left side of window
2. Shutter on bay window (incorrectly sized at that) with a missing shutter on the other side of the bay!
3 Shutter on the front door. I can’t see the other side of the door so I can’t even be sure that there are two shutters on the door.
I may retire after this one!"
#23
"This one is tough! A beautiful house with a very nice original steel window and a cute shutter design to boot, but...
You can’t shutter a corner window this way. Where is the shutter for the other side? How would it close over those big hinges? Why is it too narrow? And why is that paint bubbling so much?
All reasons this attempt get a #ShudderSunday honorable mention. Not as bad as it could have been but still no cigar."
#24
"This #ShudderSunday is a very rare picture of the childhood home of Tammy Faye Bakker.
Please be mindful of the “weeping shutters” that are maintained by the docents with weekly fresh coats of mascara"
Luna Lovegood 4 years ago
These shutters aren't the worst. They look fine, actually. I think if you pressure wash the house it'd look just fine.
#25
"Not sure what is happening with this window grouping in the first place but the shutters are not helping matters."
#26
"I finally found a solution to shutters that are too short for their windows!
I’m excited to announce the Over-Under Shutter!!
Purchase any height shutter and simply install our newest shutter over or under the window to make your shutters a perfect fit every time!"
#27
"The ”power shutter”! When your windows are a bit small and understated you should upgrade things and go with a power shutter that is twice the size of the window!
Of course these shutters are so powerful that the house can only handle one per window!"
#28
"Those pesky power meters! If only they could move this then they could bolt another vinyl shutter to the siding 5 inches too far away from the window, but I guess this will do.
Bonus is it saves money since they used the second shutter on on a corner window across the house!"
#29
"I was so taken in by the horse and buggy detail that I almost didn’t notice these shutters were about 1/8 the size they should be."
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What do you think ?
bryguy 4 years ago
Fake shutters just don't look good. Many countries still use real shutters and they look great, and functional. On another note, I can only read "FAIL" so many times... we get it.
Troux 4 years ago
On most US houses (and most pictured in this thread), shutters are purely decorative. It's basically just a fixed piece of wood trim that's mimicking an old functional design - and they don't look functional. So with that in mind, it's not really incorrect to place pieces of trim wherever you like them.
Guy MacGregor 4 years ago
Old design ? It's largely used all over the world. Never been obsolete at all.
Load More Replies...
Jessica Cole 4 years ago
Great... Now I'll be looking at people's shutters for the rest of the week.
bryguy 4 years ago
Fake shutters just don't look good. Many countries still use real shutters and they look great, and functional. On another note, I can only read "FAIL" so many times... we get it.
Troux 4 years ago
On most US houses (and most pictured in this thread), shutters are purely decorative. It's basically just a fixed piece of wood trim that's mimicking an old functional design - and they don't look functional. So with that in mind, it's not really incorrect to place pieces of trim wherever you like them.
Guy MacGregor 4 years ago
Old design ? It's largely used all over the world. Never been obsolete at all.
Load More Replies... Jessica Cole 4 years ago
Great... Now I'll be looking at people's shutters for the rest of the week.
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