Shutter details...tiebacks & locks

A classic example of tiebacks and a lock.  The tiebacks, secured to the wall or window sill, simply keep the shutters open by mechanical means.  There are many tieback designs available including 'S' hooks, rat tails and flowers.

Lock designs are more straight-forward, but their positioning is critical...even if you never intend to operate your shutters.  Notice on the above photograph how the shutter panels and lock are designed so that the homeowner could lift the bottom window sash, reach out to grab both shutters right below the check rail (where the top and bottom sashes meet...sometimes called the meeting rail) and slide the bolt to lock the shutters.

So when designing your next pair of shutters, make sure that the lock (or shutter rail that the lock would have been mounted to) can be mounted just below the check rail of your double hung window.

Shutter details...hinges

Here is a great example of hinged shutters...this one is really cool because the top and bottom half can be closed or opened independently.  Notice how the back side of the shutter (that would lay against the wall) is just the negative of the front, but provides some interest when in the closed position.