To enhance your shutters, you can create a Louvre effect by adding corrugated cardboard.
Start by finding corrugated cardboard that is the right scale. Corrugated paper or cardstock from craft stores works well, especially if the ridges are small. I found suitable cardstock at a local café, which generously let me take some. Fast food places often use this type of paper to keep sandwiches warm or for microwave use, so keep an eye out there too. Prepare all parts of the shutters as usual, then trace the openings of the shutter trim onto the corrugated paper, ensuring the ridges are straight. Avoid placing the corrugated paper between the shutter trim and the shutter, as this will flatten the ridges and disrupt the look. The ridges should fit between the openings of the shutter trim.
Once you have cut out the corrugated paper to fit, assemble the shutters as you normally would. Paint the cutouts in your desired color to match the shutters. Apply glue and insert them into the openings of the shutter trim, making any necessary adjustments with scissors for a proper fit. After that, touch up any paint as needed.
If you're using S hooks for your shutters, glue them in place, ensuring they all face the same direction since they are not finished on the back. These molded plastic hooks come pre-painted, but you can repaint them or apply a coat of flat black paint for a non-shiny finish.
For added detail, consider adding a middle mullion piece like those found on real shutters. Look for the thinnest trim at your craft store — thinner than a toothpick. Paint it to match your shutters, cut it to fit the openings, and glue it over the corrugated paper. Finally, install your finished shutters on your windows so they rest on the window sill and overlap with the window trim. This creates a more realistic appearance and adds depth to your dollhouse. You can position them slightly angled toward the wall or keep them straight.
Double Window Shutter
A common question regarding the Beacon Hill Dollhouse is how to properly place double window shutters. While I've seen many Beacon Hill Dollhouses, I've only encountered one with a complete set of shutters that fully covers a double window. In that case, two shutters were placed on each side of the window and another pair in the center, which blocked part of the middle window design and made the shutters protrude significantly. After consulting with members of the Greenleaf Forum and researching Victorian shutters online, I figured out how to install double window shutters correctly.
You should place two shutters on each side of the window and another pair that fits snugly against them to create a full shutter that can close over the double window entirely. In reality, these shutters would be hinged together for an accordion effect. The dollhouse design allows enough space between the window and corner trim for this setup. If I had realized this earlier in assembly, I would have added hinges to make them movable. However, since my first set of shutters was already installed without extra hinges available, I positioned them against the window trim and sill without slanting them backward toward the wall. This allowed me to angle the second pair backward slightly, creating an illusion that they are hinged. Given that these window shutters occupy significant wall space in my dollhouse, I’m pleased with all the details I added. Now, instead of discarding the extra two shutters included in the kit — as many do — they can be used effectively.
