How Plantation and Vinyl Shutters Can Change the Look and Feel of Your Home Both Inside and Out

If you want a great way to change the look and feel of your home both inside and out, consider both plantation shutter for the inside and vinyl shutters for the outside. The great thing about shutters is that they come in a variety of styles, designs, sizes, colors and materials so that it is easy to find exactly what you need and will fit your budget.

Another great option if you live on the coast is hurricane shutters. These shutters can be made to enhance your home’s appearance but can also play a vital role in protecting it against the wrath of a hurricane. The key role hurricane shutters play is keeping your windows in place and in one piece. Every year people get serious injured or even killed by shards of glass from broken windows. They are also an excellent way to protect your home from intrusion while you are away on vacation.

For inside our home, we often recommend plantation shutters to really spice up a room. They can dress a room up or down, that will depend on the look and feel you are after. Not only are they functional and easy to use, they can add style and warmth to a room. This is key when designing the area. They are come in a variety of colors, styles and sizes ranging from smaller louver sizes of 2.5 inches and going up to 4.5 inches. The larger the room and windows, the larger the louver size. You don’t want to put small louvers on bit windows as the look you want to create may be lost.

Plantation shutters are available in real wood, faux wood and vinyl. All have their advantages and disadvantages and cost can come into play here. Real wood shutters tend to be more expensive and can warp and fade when exposed to direct sunlight over a period of time. They do look very nice however and often bring a rich, warm feeling to the room. Faux wood shutters are often guaranteed against fading and warping and are an excellent choice if you want something to last a long time. Vinyl shutters are a great choice for those who live in humid climates. Vinyl stands up well to moisture and again the new designs are very appealing.

For the outside of you home there is nothing more appealing than window shutters. Again you can choose from a huge selection of styles, designs, colors and materials. We always recommend getting something that is maintenance free. Real wood shutters will flake and peel and will likely require painting every several years. With vinyl shutters, you will not have chipping, flaking or peeling shutters. Designs of vinyl shutters offer real wood grain textures along with great color choices.

So if it is time to update the look of your home, be sure to check plantation and vinyl shutters. You will be impressed with the selection, prices and look.

Amy-Jo Strutt is an expert author and regular contributor to http://www.originalwindowtreatments.com/ For more information on shutters, window blinds, curtains, shades and silhouettes, be sure to check out http://www.originalwindowtreatments.com/Shutters.html

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Plantation Shutters Help Make Your House a Home

When you are considering window treatments for your home, it is important to know about many different options, besides curtains or standard miniblinds. As more people are putting money into their homes, it is easy to see why they are opting for something different. Plantation shutters offer many different looks for a home. You can use them to create a very traditional look and feel, but they can also be a more modern touch if you use a colored finish, rather than just a stained wood. There are so many options to condsider when you are choosing which plantation shutters are right for your home.

Once you have decided to go with a shutter, you must decide on which material is right for your home. Wood is very durable, can be painted or stained, and is a renuable resource, for those interested in using materials which are considered earth friendly. These shutters offer privacy, heat insulation, sound insulation and light control. The nice thing about shutters is that you can control, very easily, the amount of light that you let into each room. Also, when your home has an outstanding view you can set up your blinds to allow people to be able to see outside and enjoy the view, while still having some privacy.

The louver size determines how big of an opening you have when the blinds are opened. They can range from and inch and a quarter, to four and one half inches. It is a good idea to look at each of the different sizes and determine which type of opening would be appropriate for each room. A room with a view, for example, would be more likely to have the larger louver size, so that when the shutter is opened you can see out and enjoy the view. A bathroom or bedroom might be a good room to use the smaller louver size. This is because even when they are open, there is still a relatively small opening to see in and out of.

Overall, plantation shutters are a wonderful way to add elegance to your home, while also providing it with some practical uses and wonderful finished appearance. They are a simple way to make your house stand out from the others, and add a personal touch based on the color choices and sizes you choose for your home. Compared to finished product, the cost for plantation shutters is very reasonable overall.

Simon Harris writers about Plantation Shutters at http://www.shutter-world.com

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Top River Walk Hotels in San Antonio

The river walk in San Antonio is lined with luxurious hotels especially along the downtown area. The city has a lot of festivals and conventions that attract many visitors.

They have a month-long Holiday River Festival in December. In April, the feast of San Antonio is being celebrated by most Mexicans.

Here is a list of top hotels along the riverside of San Antonio:

Fairmount Hotel
Fairmount is known as the jewel of San Antonio because of its Victorian elegance. The hotel was established in 1906 in a riverwalk at 401 South Alamo. It was renovated several times since 2006, but still retains its original charm.

Fairmount only have a limited number of decorated rooms and suites. Weddings can be held in this hotel. They have a wedding planner, limousine service and in-house restaurant (Sage Restorante) for the reception.

There are three meeting rooms for business gatherings. The fitness center can be used to workout. Laundry services and high-speed internet are available for minimal fees.

Hilton Palacio Del Rio
Hilton Palacio is surrounded by Texas downtown attractions, being only two blocks away from Alamo. It is the longest recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award. They offer extensive services and amenities.

Hilton Palacio del Rio is the only hotel that features a private balcony in each room.

Room Features:
- Spanish décor
- Standard Rooms - South-Texas style
- Spacious rooms
- King bed or two full beds
- Cable television and in-room movies
- In-room dataport
- Dual-line telephone with voice mail.

Durty Nelley's Irish Pub, Rincon Allegre Lobby Bar, Tex's Riverwalk Sports Bar & Grill and Ibiza Riverwalk Patio Restaurant & Bar are restaurants inside the premises.

Nearby attractions:
- Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
- Hemis Fair Park
- Arnesan River Theatre and La Villita

La Mansion Del Rio
La Mansion Del Rio was first opened in 1968 along the banks of San Antonio River at 112 College Street. It is the most elegant hotel in San Antonio, offering deluxe accommodations and world-class dining. The hotel is best for weddings, meetings and banquet. The hotel also features an onsite restaurant called Las Canarias and spa treatments in Mobil Four Star Spa.

Watermark Hotel & Spa
Watermark is one of the luxurious hotels in downtown San Antonio, having 99 rooms and suites. It is a seven-storey structure that replicates the Rennaissance Revival facade. The hotel has a 4,478 square feet meeting place, 190-seating capacity restaurant and a 16,592 square foot spa.

Hotel Valencia River Walk
Hotel Valencia is a contemporary and stylish hotel with 213 rooms. The building structure and design combines the elements of a modern conceptual design and an old world palazzo. The hotel can accommodate big and small gatherings in their function rooms.

The hotel has an open-air courtyard.

Amenities:
- 18-foot ebony solid wood credenza
- Designer throw- Faux mink
- Elegant plantation shutters
- Five suites (includes a Presidential suites)
- Custom designed Hotel Valencia beds
- Leather down-wrapped club chair - Ottoman
- Daily maid service
- 300-thread count designer Egyptian cotton linens
- Table Clock Radio - Tivoli
- Complimentary high speed internet access (wired or wireless)
- 27" color television with remote control
- On-demand pay-per-view movies with VCR

San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
The San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter is a 38-storey building with 86 suites and 915 guestrooms. The hotel has a smoke-free policy. There are many shopping areas, dining and entertainment places around.

Room Features:
• Telephones, voicemail, and speakerphone
• High-speed internet access
• Spacious work desk
• Marriott's Plug-In technology
• Cable TV, pay per view.
• VCR player - available upon request

Attractions
• Alamo
• Sea World of Texas
• Riverwalk (Paseo Del Rio)

For more information on San Antonio River Walk Hotels and San Antonio Five Star Hotels please visit our website.

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