Friday, July 3, 2020

Dealing With Ceiling Fans

My Bathroom with Westinghouse Ceiling Fan

So let's keep it real. Ceiling fans are ugly. But they are a necessity in the South and in the tropics. They save on utilities and improve air circulation. They are a necessary evil.

My advice. Make them disappear as much as possible. Do not try to make them chic. They are not. If your ceilings are white, get them in white to make them blend in. Or paint them white.

I have inherited in my new house white ceiling fans with the dreaded glass shades and lights. And to make them uglier, the owners put in those hideous spiral lightbulbs. Talk about ugly!

My highest priority is not spending a couple grand to replace all the fans in my new house right now. So I am removing said bulbs and shades and replacing them with oversized frosted globe bulbs. Sans shades. Luckily the ceiling fans (except one) are white already.

The incredibly talented Jenny Komenda of Juniper Home did this and posted photos.

Juniper Home

I think it looks fresh and modern and I love the idea. If this doesn't float your boat, let me show you a fan that I have used everywhere here and love and it is so well priced. BTW, it does not reverse, so it is for us hot weather folks.

Westinghouse Industrial Fan in White

The prices on Amazon are always going up and down - this is $71.00 now in white and $73.00 in nickel which I also have and love. I bought them both for about $60.00 a few months ago. But these are very well reviewed, very sleek, modern, and not obtrusive.

For the lanai, I used palm ceilings fans in dark bronze because the lanai cage is dark bronze as is all the lanai furniture and they look amazing. Palms fans are also easily found in white.

Lowe's Harbor Breeze Palm Ceiling Fan

They are on sale for $70.00 - you will not believe how gorgeous these are and a steal as well.

23 comments:

  1. I've never thought that all ceiling fans are ugly, although some sure are, but you're correct about them being wonderful at cooling and circulating the air. Since they are a necessity in hot climates, one would think they could be a little creative and design fans that were more attractive. I'm still obsessed with that ceiling fixture in the Amanda Lindroth bedroom. It looks like a fan, but is it actually a light fixture? It would make a wonderful ceiling fan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you see Delta's idea of painting my Harbor Breeze ceiling fan in coral pink or parrot green and that it will look very similar? Fabulous idea!!

      Delete
  2. Love Lowe's Harbor Breeze fan IF you painted the whole thing, say coral or "parrot" green or any color that fits the room. It can end up looking like that Amanda Lindroth chandelier that kinda looks like a ceiling fan. Oh, that would look good! Otherwise, I agree with you, make them disappear as much as possible..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now that's a neat idea. Perhaps for the lanai in the new house. They are a great look for the money and painted could be really good. Thanks!

      Delete
    2. Do you have the Lowe’s Harbor Breeze? I’m looking @the 30” but I’m afraid there won’t be enuf light for my kitchen..?

      Delete
  3. If your blades are flat, you can also cover them with fabric or wallpaper that you love. The idea behind it here: (the choices are ugly but this is more about the technique) https://www.hometalk.com/44235348/update-your-ceiling-fan-with-contact-paper-from-the-dollar-tree-for-1

    https://www.hometalk.com/15455892/cheap-and-easy-ceiling-fan-makeover

    https://www.hometalk.com/3198083/ceiling-fan-make-over

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One more how to paint a fan, blow by blow. Busy work but worth itto get a custom look.
      https://www.prettyhandygirl.com/update-your-ceiling-fan-with-paint

      Delete
  4. I fought the battle of the ceiling fan. My husband evolved from a St. Bernard I tell him, because he is so adverse to heat. We haven't moved to the south, but with changes in climate we are having hotter summers here in Kansas. During our remodel, I got rid of several, but kept the two upstairs. One is a Casablanca. One is a Hunter. Both are very quiet and stable. They are not modern!!! When I was going to create an office for my husband (now to be my dressing room!!!), I was going to use a Matthews Fan. Co. industrial style there. Some of their fans are rather stunning!
    I think you hit upon a solution that works for you: minimum, efficient and forget about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like the sleekness and simplicity of the industrial style.

      Delete
  5. Amen! Certain "necessary evils" just need to blend in or disappear altogether. Do you really need anybody leaving your dinner party to say,"OMG did you see her ceiling fan?" Same goes for kitchen appliances-they are seen but not seen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true - this house I am about to move out of has a massive Sub Zero fridge/freezer and it really dominates the room. And they cost a fortune.

      Delete
  6. You know what Mario Buatta said: "If you can't hide it, decorate it".

    ReplyDelete
  7. I had a ceiling fan in my great room, and replaced it with a light fixture that I painted. But I don't need a fan here, I live in the great Pacific Northwet (spelling intentional!). I have one to replace still in the master bedroom. The high (18ft) ceilings make it a little trickier.
    Such fun seeing your choices! Thank you for sharing this process with us. It's so interesting. Your tastes are very different than mine, but so is my area of the country. When do you take possession? I'm so excited for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for following. Yes, the whole Tropical Chinoiserie look would be a bit of a stretch there. I close this coming Wednesday.

      Delete
  8. I totally agree with your analysis of ceiling fans, especially living in Florida. Lighting on fans is just the very worst. I chose simple fans, Hunter and Casablanca in bronze as they tend not to show dirt and dust. Very practical here and adverse to lots of clean-up although I have an amazing housekeeper who cleans them often for me! I have a huge Fanimation Odyn fan with 72" blades in my Great Room which is awesome; many mistake it for a Big Ass Fan.

    Best of luck on Wednesday; you are well on your way to occupying your house!

    best,
    teaorwine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. This has been very stressful living conditions to say the least. I love the Fanimation Odyn - very sleek and modern.

      Delete
  9. Good call on the industrial ceiling fans. They do disappear and if you do notice them, you see sleek and modern.

    Love the palm frond one for the lanai.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like that the industrial look like propellers. Delta suggested painting the palm one - that could be interesting.

      Delete
  10. Moving from Alexandria, Va to the Treasure Coast, I was perplexed by ceiling fan adoration. While dated, at least there were all white. I removed them from several rooms where they provided little comfort. My lanai has the same Lowe's Harbor Breeze. It looks perfect with the haint blue ceiling. Continued good luck in finding tasteful white fans.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That palm fan with the haint blue ceiling sounds beautiful.

      Delete
  11. Some fun options here...have you checked out this site? https://www.tropicalfancompany.com/index.aspx

    ReplyDelete