Windows are meant to deliver light into your home’s interior, but they can also provide an unwanted view into your home. That’s why almost everyone wants and needs some form of window covering in their home (unless you live in the middle of nowhere or don’t care about privacy). Although window treatments vary greatly in style and function, I think the best kind are the ones that ensure privacy while still letting in light — and ones that you can make in your shop.
This interior shutter project has a lot going for it, including excellent light transmission that doesn’t compromise privacy and simple modular construction. You can use almost any wood for these shutters, but typically it’s best to either match or complement your existing woodwork. I used vertical-grain pine that has a naturally attractive ribbon pattern and a medium ivory color. It’s also easy to work and relatively inexpensive. A translucent shoji-style fiberglass material works well for the screen, but there are a number of other materials you can use (see final caption, page 35), such as rice paper and plastic-coated paper. Keep in mind that this is a millwork project, so it doesn’t require quite the high level of workman-ship you might devote to a furniture project.
