Openings for light in early castles, says www.castles-of-britain.com, were either loops or windows. Loops weren't great viewfinders and windows were good for enemy target practice. As you can imagine, the first floors of most castles had no windows and few loops. On the second and third floors, the windows would be closed with wooden shutters or parchment, and some with an external iron grill, imbedded into the masonry. (These iron grills are still popular in some dicey neighborhoods today.) Window shutters have indeed been around for centuries and the general purpose has not changed, although the material, manufacture and look of them have. Shutters can darken a room and offer a lot of privacy or open up a room, letting in as much light as desired. Standard-size shutters are generally suited for smaller rooms and look great with country-style interiors. For larger eclectic or contemporary-style rooms, wide plantation shutters, from floor to ceiling, can make quite a dramatic statement. A great place to buy shutters in San Diego is family-owned and operated Shuttermart. Not a newcomer to the business, Shuttermart has been manufacturing shutters in its local factory for 60 years, doing its part to keep San Diego working. Shuttermart shutters are custom-made to fit your windows perfectly, designed to last and backed by a lifetime warranty. The shutters are built on-site from start to finish, and that kind of quality takes longer to manufacture than mass-produced shutters. Every shutter panel installed is designed according to the customers' exact specifications and delivery usually takes about four to six weeks. At Shuttermart, owners Tom and Carol Beard, together with their daughter, Jamie McBride, not only care about selling you great-looking shutters that will make your home look updated and well-designed, but also about your health, the environment and energy efficiency. Shuttermart vinyl shutters are hypoallergenic, and the experienced designers use only the finest environmentally-safe paints and stains on the shutters made from basswood. Shuttermart Poly shutters are energy efficient and can be installed in 7-15 business days guaranteed! If you've made the decision to buy new shutters, don't think that you have to wait until after Christmas - if you call Shuttermart before Dec. 8, you can have your new shutters installed before Christmas, and in any case, Shuttermart is offering 25 percent off all orders placed by Dec. 24. All installers are factory trained and work for Shuttermart - there are no subcontractors. Call for a free in-home design service or visit the local showroom and factory, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 10373 Roselle St., Suite 160 in San Diego. Call (619) 276-6722 or (800) 417-4888 or go online at: www.buyshuttermart.com for more information. Every Saturday in the Union-Tribune, look for "Furniture Focus" where you'll learn about San Diego's home improvement and furniture market - the latest trends, the stores, the events and the people.Our custom wood shutters easily add affordable elegance to any room in your home.