With spring and the promise of warm weather on the way, many homeowners will be looking to complete home improvement projects left unattended during the winter. A new local business is gearing up to help give homes a boost through the addition of window treatments.

ShutterSouth, Inc. offers all the latest in window treatment designs, including plantation shutters, blinds and shades. The company goal is to provide the Triangle with the largest selection of high quality window treatment options, offering name brands like Hunter Douglas, Eclipse, Classic Custom, Comfortex and Norman International.

Cleveland resident Monique Neville started the business in January. Neville has a decade of experience in the industry, having held positions in both wholesale and retail, from sales territory manager to factory measurer. She eventually branched out with her own business, Classic Shutters & Blinds in Cary, which she owned for four years. After selling the business to a friend and deciding to create ShutterSouth to service the Johnston County area, Neville enlisted the help of husband and wife team Chris and Bobbie Brees. Chris does installations while Bobbie handles designing and decorating aspects of the business.

“I think the experience we have sets us apart,” said Neville. “I’ve seen it all, done it all and installed it all.”

Although they hope to have a storefront in place by the end of the year, for now, the entire process can take place in the comfort of the customer’s home. Team members will bring samples to clients’ homes to find the best fit for their needs. Everything is custom made for the windows and comes with a lifetime warranty. For example, if a few slats on a shutter break, the company can replace them without having to replace the entire shutter. Blind orders arrive in about two weeks and shutters in about four. A professional installer will put the treatments in place. According to Neville, some treatments even qualify for a federal tax credit because they cut down on the amount of energy a household uses.

Neville says ShutterSouth works hard to be environmentally friendly, providing products made from recycled materials that are GREENGUARD certified. They will also recycle old blinds for free.

ShutterSouth can install window treatments for any type of building, whether it’s a home, church or commercial business.

“I’ve installed everything, from plantation shutters in trailer homes to faux wood blinds in million dollar mansions,” said Neville.

She added that they can work with any customer’s budget.

“We can beat almost anybody on price,” said Neville. “Nine times out of ten, we will even beat the home improvement stores’ quotes.”

But not every cent goes to the business. A portion of every blind sale goes to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. Neville and her team also participate every year in the Bike MS, a two-day bike ride to raise money for multiple sclerosis research. They also compete in local races and are active in the community through their churches and children’s schools.

“We’re very involved in the community,” said Neville. “I think it’s just the way everybody should live. We live here, our kids live here, and we want to be as involved as possible.”

For more information about ShutterSouth, visit www.shuttersouth.com or call (919) 805-1898.