Arched Windows, Specialty Shapes, and Sliding Shutter Doors
Shutters Built for the Windows Everyone Else Says No To.
Sliding shutter doors. Arched and half-round windows. Octagons, angles, French doors, transoms, and full walls of glass. If it has a frame, our California workshop can build a whole basswood shutter for it, measured to the eighth of an inch.
- Built In-House, Not Sourced
- 100% Whole Basswood
- Operable Louvers in Curved Sections
- Measured to the Eighth of an Inch
Elizabeth Shutters manufactures custom whole basswood shutters for arched, circular, octagonal, and angled windows, and builds sliding shutter doors for patio doors, French doors, bay windows, transoms, and oversized openings. Every specialty shutter is measured in your home, milled in our Colton, California workshop, and installed by our own team. Resellers source these shapes from third parties. We build them ourselves, which is why the curved sections have working louvers.
Sliding Shutter Doors
Where Sliding Shutter Doors Work Best
Sliding shutter doors are bypass-track plantation shutters that glide horizontally instead of swinging open. They are the right answer for sliding patio doors, wide openings where swinging panels would block walking space, and as light-controlling room dividers between living areas.
Ours are built from whole basswood, hung on a discreet top track, and configured to match the panel count of the door behind them. Because the panels bypass each other instead of folding, walkways stay clear and the patio stays reachable.
- Built for sliding glass patio doors and walls of glass
- Two-, three-, or four-panel bypass configurations
- Doubles as a room divider between open-concept spaces
- Every Elizabeth louver size, finish, and tilt rod option
Arched and Curved Windows
Arched Window Shutters With Louvers That Actually Work
We build custom shutters for full arches, eyebrow arches, half-rounds, quarter-rounds, and any radius window, with operable louvers in the curved section. Not fixed decorative sunburst panels.
Each arched shutter is measured to the exact radius of the opening and built as a single curved unit or a stacked configuration with a rectangular shutter beneath an arched topper. Operable louvers in the arch mean the whole window works for light and privacy control, instead of the curved portion being a cosmetic frame you cannot use.
Specialty Shapes We Build
Every Window Has a Shape. We Build a Shutter for Each One.
Full Arches
Half-circle tops over standard rectangular windows.
Eyebrow Arches
Shallow curved tops where the radius is greater than the height.
Half-Rounds
Standalone semi-circle windows above doors and in great rooms.
Circles and Ovals
Round and elliptical windows in entryways, stairwells, and gables.
Octagons and Hexagons
Geometric accent windows in baths, attics, and dormers.
Angled and Trapezoid
Vaulted-ceiling windows with one or more angled sides.
Transoms
Long horizontal panels above doors and windows.
Bay and Bow
Multi-panel projecting windows with mitered or standalone shutters.
Specialty shapes are where our manufacturing background matters most. Resellers source these from third parties on long lead times. We mill them ourselves from whole basswood, which is why the shutter fits the opening properly instead of being a square panel cropped to look like one.
Doors and Projections
French Doors, Bay Windows, and Walls of Glass
French door shutters mount directly to each door panel with a deeper frame profile that clears the handle and deadbolt, so the door works normally with the shutter in place. We build the cut-outs to the exact hardware locations and add magnetic catches that keep panels closed when the door swings.
Bay windows take individual shutters in each section, joined with mitered frames at the angles, and bow windows are handled the same way with frames angled to each transition. For oversized openings and walls of glass, mid-rails let the louvers operate independently top and bottom, and bypass or stacking bifold configurations move the panels fully out of the way. There is effectively no opening too large.
| Configuration | How It Operates | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Hinged | Panels swing open on hinges, like cabinet doors. | Standard windows, French doors, smaller openings. |
| Bifold | Panels hinge together and fold against the wall. | Wide openings where the shutter should clear fully. |
| Bypass (Sliding) | Panels slide on a top track and pass each other. | Sliding patio doors, walls of glass, room dividers. |
| Fixed | Non-operating panels mounted in place. | Specialty shapes used as a framing element. |
| Cafe-Style | Lower half only, top of the window stays open. | Street-facing windows: privacy below, light above. |
Straight Answers
Specialty Shutter Questions, Answered
Are sliding shutter doors the same as bypass shutters?
Yes. Sliding shutter door and bypass shutter describe the same configuration: plantation shutter panels mounted on a horizontal top track that slide past each other. Sliding shutter door is the more common term when the shutter covers a sliding patio door, and bypass is more common when describing the hardware itself.
Can you build a shutter for an arched window with operable louvers?
Yes. We build arched and half-round shutters with operable curved louvers, not fixed sunburst-style decorative panels. The louvers in the arched section tilt with the rest of the shutter, so the entire window functions for light and privacy control.
Will a plantation shutter on a French door interfere with the door handle?
No. Our French door shutters are built with cut-outs sized to your door's handle and deadbolt locations, and the frame is profiled to clear those hardware points. We measure each door individually before manufacturing.
What is the largest opening you can cover with a single shutter system?
There is effectively no upper limit. Tall windows are divided with mid-rails for stability and independent louver control, and oversized openings, including full walls of glass, are handled with multi-panel bypass or bifold configurations. Our designer recommends the right division on site.
Do specialty-shape shutters cost more than standard rectangular ones?
Yes, typically. Arches, circles, octagons, and angles require custom milling and individual measurement, so they are priced higher than equivalent rectangular shutters. Pricing is provided during your free in-home consultation, after the openings are measured.
Can plantation shutters be used as a room divider?
Yes. Bypass-track and bifold shutter configurations are commonly used as room dividers between open-concept spaces. They give adjustable privacy and light control between rooms while still letting the spaces open into each other when the panels are tilted or folded back.
How long does a custom specialty shutter take to manufacture?
Lead times vary by project size and configuration. Specialty shapes and oversized configurations typically take longer than standard rectangular shutters because each panel is custom-milled. Your designer gives you an exact timeline at the consultation.
Free In-Home Consultation
Bring Us Your Hardest Window.
Whatever the shape, size, or configuration, our designer will measure it, quote it, and walk you through how we will build it. In your home, at no cost, with no obligation.