You all know that I travel a ton, and when I have downtime, I dive headfirst into all the DIY projects around the house with Michael.
Our most recent projects have been painting as well as modifying blinds around the house.
Our story today is simple. The current French Door window treatments we have are not effective.
We sought out to find a solution that was a simple DIY, and cost-effective.
What I love is that the DIY I am about to share with you is installable by you and the solution arrives at your doorstep.
In fact, this is the DIY solution you have been looking for to dress the door, trust me.
Not only has it made a difference in privacy, but it has also upgraded the look in our breakfast room.
I am about to reveal the secret to French Door DIY window treatments that you have been searching for and never found until now!
The secret is just a few more paragraphs away.
Your end cost, and ability to install yourself really makes this DIY solution the best.
The Secret to French Door DIY Window Treatments
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The Secret to French Door DIY Window Treatments That You Have Been Searching For.
IF you have French Doors, I am sure you all have had to seek a solution for window coverage.
My secret find is one I want to share with the world!
Until now, I firmly believed that French doors are a blessing and a hindrance in my opinion.
The large door space, allows so much light to filter in, that it makes our breakfast room very welcoming.
However, that grand old light during the day turns into privacy issues by night.
With 3 kids and a cat, and our current, less than appealing the constant jangling of the backdoor opening and the slats moving back and forth really threw me over the edge.
Fauxwood was definitely the answer and the reason for our story!
Here is our DIY installation of French Door Fauxwood Plantation Shutters and why they made such a difference in our lives.
Our kitchen has French Doors with slatted blinds.
Our Current Situation
Before knowing the Secret to French Door DIY Window Treatments this is what our doors looked like.
It is pretty standard for most.
The French Doors lead to our patio.
Currently, the doors have mini blind, 1/2″ slats on them.
See the before and after of our Brick Wall Installation Here.
Every morning I pull the cord to yank them up and they never, ever sit straight.
Just that tidbit is annoying.
Now, to add to the mess, the kids constantly go in and out of the back patio door, so, the blinds have to be up or they will sway to and fro and get caught in the door.
Plus, the cat is insistent on seeing outside. (Bella has a Chipmunk that visits her every morning at 7 am so I have to draw the mini-blinds or she will ram them.
Next, the dirt that accumulates on these tiny little slats needs to be cleaned.
It is time-consuming and really those small slats are a magnet for dirt.
Last, sometimes from opening and closing the door, the top frame on the mini blinds pops off the track.
It’s a hot mess nonstop and I can not take any more of it.
That Moment – Our First Blindster Moment
That was the starting point for our work with Blindster.
As you know we already changed up our sidelight window treatments and it has been the best thing we ever did.
Before we did our own install, we actually had someone come out and quote us a price for both of these sidelights and installation.
What a moron, or maybe he thought we were.
His price was triple what we paid and their Google comments expressed my exact sentiments.
I think he shops at Blindster and gets incredible prices than passes them on as his own with a hefty upcharge.
So guess what? He never worked here, but Michael did and we nailed the installation without any issues.
Why?
Because Blindster makes it easy.
If you can read and have a few simple tools (drill, tape measure, and level) you got this!
In fact, the front has so much more privacy I keep wondering why I did not do this sooner.
This is a quick idea of what we did on the front set of windows.
Make sure to read and see the before and after there, it is crazy great!
We installed fauxwood shutters on our sidelight windows to gain privacy and allow Bella the cat the ability to look outside without ripping down sheers that were hanging there.
Not only did that project turn out well, but it also changed the whole feel of the foyer for the better.
Blindster
How hard is it to order French Door Fauxwood Plantation Shutters?
It is nothing more than a phone call and some planning ahead.
Blindster without a doubt is the best site we have ever found online to work with when it comes to window treatments.
Their customer service is second to none and their knowledge of their product (James is who we worked with) is incredibly detailed and flawless.
Before we go on, I have to show you the before and after because it is dramatic and looks so much better!
Yes, we did paint our kitchen and we are actually putting up a brick wall on the big wall you see with the oval window (that window is next for treatment, too much sun in the morning).
We painted the kitchen and the blinds both the old ones on the big wall and the French Door now coordinate and accent the painted walls, not define it!
Things To Consider
Giving up wood blinds that you pull up by a cord was pretty much a no-brainer.
What I would have, however, would be a frame that encases the windows and shutters that open.
A very different concept. When you draw a blind open, it’s open.
However, with a shutter, you can open the shutters or open the shutter from the frame.
Now you see what I mean when I call it a frame.
Michael worked on this in the evening, and it was a fast install.
It was more about getting it level than anything else.
I think that was the most challenging part.
It did take 2 of us at any point in time.
While I took a few pictures Niko filled in and helped Michael with the install.
It was good for him to learn too.
You build the frame, that is super easy to do, all you need is a clear space on the floor.
When you open the shutter, the frame(case) of the shutter will stay on the window.
The shutter will swing out via a hinge to one side or the other.
Luckily we have a wall on one side and one of the French doors does not open.
Here was my first look at it. I was so excited to see this.
It went up so fast and it changed the look of our room immediately.
Therefore, I fell in love with these and can’t imagine how we never had them before.
Do you have 2 doors that open?
Is there a space for the shutter to swing to that won’t interfere with anything going on in that area?
Will the frame interfere with the door handle?
James of Blindster helped Michael with all of these questions/reminders. Then we ordered!
Why Fauxwood Shutters?
First of all, the price difference between a wood shutter to a fauxwood shutter is a game changer!
Second, fauxwood indoor shutters have no boundaries for interior windows.
They are moisture resistant so you can install them in bathrooms and laundry rooms without a second thought.
The slats are so easy to clean, its basically wipe and go! Your Swiffer will be your best friend.
2 Positions Of Our Shutters
As aforementioned, I am in love with these shutters because of their 2 optional positions.
The first way is just letting the slats open.
In the morning if I want the light to come in and Bella is not insisting on my opening the door, I open the slats only.
Doing this, lets me break into my morning easily, letting the light greet my eyes a little bit at a time.
Light filters in and it is lovely.
However, if I want to open the shutters to get more light or to let Bella have complete access to the window, then I open the shutter and let it swing to the right.
Then the frame of the shutter is still there but the shutter is not.
I love this for daytime because it really lets the light in and Bella is really thrilled to see her chipmunk friend. (eyeroll).
You can see here the shutter is open (the slats) but the shutter itself remains attached to the door.
Sometimes I open only the shutter and not the door, and I have to tell you what I found out.
When the shutter is closed it keeps the heat or the cool out of the house.
It’s an added bonus having the shutters on there.
We never experienced this with the wooden slat blinds that we would draw up and down each day!
Also, when these are closed, there is no looking in the sides, they are closed, meaning nothing is able to be seen.
I love this, especially for privacy!
The back door is open to the patio, with nothing clanging against it as I open and shut it.
Bella is thrilled because the other shutter is wide open and she can be Ms. Nosy.
Also because I want to show more than not enough, here is a shot from the outside in.
It is a shot with the slats open, just so you could see. Sometimes it is better to see than to find out later.
The look of the slats of the shutters is aesthetically pleasing both from the outside in and the inside out!
The Best Part
When we open the French door and go in and out, there is no clanging.
I have light in the room because the shutter has the open slats, but the shutter is still in the casement.
When we go in and out, there is nothing loose so there is no nightmare.
The rickety top on the old blinds is not there.
Rather, these frames are solidly attached to the door.
When the blinds are closed, there is nothing coming out of the sides because the frame is tight against the door.
Real Privacy!
How The French Door Fauxwood Plantation Shutters Changed Everything
It’s amazing to see the before and after in the room.
We are working on getting brick up on the one wall, but for now, it is just a painted wall.
The wood slats we have in the kitchen, look so much better with the plantation shutters.
Suddenly the room flows and your eyes are not attracted to the mini blinds that did not match the decor.
Installation
Our installation took about 2 hours from start to finish and I would do it again.
In fact, we are working on our last bathroom renovation and my intent is to install shutters in that bathroom so I can adjust the amount of light in and out of there.
Our Story Is Your Story
Just like all of you, our home has issues that need to be resolved.
I think that sharing our DIY shows you that you too can do it and it shares a great company to use.
We did have a simple set of wood slatted blinds on the door, but that was not the solution.
What we found was a simple DIY installation that was delivered right to our doorstep.
No trips to the store, no worrying about our schedules meeting to make a decision.
We did it all online.
Our secret was finding a great online company that offered shutters.
The next part was easy, measuring, ordering, and working with customer service.
Now we have a DIY that was perfectly doable and makes a huge impact on how the room flows and looks.
Our old blinds were just a bandage along the way.
No more clanging of bulky wood, no more having to open the entire blind to get light. Options are now our friend.
Some light, some opening, it is our choice.
We are in control.
Bella the cat is super happy too!
The DIY solution was fauxwood plantation shutters.
The room is perfectly set for these.
My before and after shows the difference and it really makes a difference.
Here’s to you making your window treatment better for those French doors! ~ DANA XO
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