Posts Tagged ‘Ceiling Fans’
An unfortunately large number of consumers are under the mistaken impression that ceiling fans are not items that product designers spend time creating in a fashionable style. In fact, hot green site Treehugger recently posted an article actually calling all ceiling fans “fugly”. The post’s author says that even though ceiling fans are great for their affordable house cooling effects, they are almost all aesthetically unappealing in terms of design. We disagree. We have seen many terrific ceiling fans with modern gorgeous designs that would fit right into any number of twenty first century homes.
Here are seven ceiling fans we love, each from a different brand and in a different style.
1. Fanimation FP2120WA Enigma Metro Gray/Walnut Ceiling Fan. If the contemporary gray finish combined with the attractive walnut blade on this ceiling fan doesn’t make you swoon then perhaps what you’ll be attracted to is the unique design of a single-blade fan. Don’t let that one blade fool you, though; this is a fully functional ceiling fan that offers three speeds operated by remote control.
2. Casablanca’s 86U89M Wilderness Textured Matte Black Unipack Ceiling Fan. If you want to keep things simple with this great ceiling fan then you’ll just enjoy the lovely decoration of its five wooden blades ensconced in textured matte black blade holders that look like gorgeous wrought iron. If you want to dress things up, you’ll add on the removable silhouette display of trees and animals to create glowing warmth for the room the fan is in.
3. Justice Design’s KID-6305 Kid’s Room Cow Over Moon 14″ Fan Light Kit. Can a ceiling fan have a modern design that is young and fresh enough to be suitable in a child’s room? Justice Design thinks so and this ceiling fan is a great example of how right they are. The “cow jumping over the moon” theme that plays around the light on the fan is a great design for kids to fall asleep looking at. They are able to do that in part because of the cool glow in the dark features included on the white swirl glass of this creative ceiling fan. How fun – and definitely not fugly!
4. Maxim’s 89930SN Super-Max Fan. The reversible wooden blades of this contemporary ceiling fan are covered in brushed nickel to create a metal appearance that is absolutely modern. Because the blades are fairly thin and in a standard shape, this ceiling fan can easily look great in a modern room without demanding to be the center of attention. It is remote control adaptable and there are optional light kits available for this ceiling fan so you can personalize it to suit your needs. That’s something important to most homeowners today.
Ceiling fans have come a long, long way since they were first invented in the late 1800s. Although they’ve been around for well over a century, it took the energy crisis of the 1970s to make them popular with homeowners. But despite their contribution to year-round energy-efficiency, what they lacked in looks made them an unpopular choice among interior designers.
Today, however, things have changed. Ceiling fan design has improved in leaps and bounds over the last decade, and today’s fans not only function more efficiently than ever, they also come in a wide range of designs and finishes to match almost any décor, making them a must-have item in warmer climates where cooling bills tend to run high. Even in cooler climates, they’re catching on, thanks not only to their newfound aesthetic value, but also to their ability to reduce heating bills by up to ten percent by preventing warm air from pooling uselessly on the ceiling.
How do you know which ceiling fan is right for you? There are a few things you should consider before purchasing ceiling fans for your home. One of those things is quality. Although you can find inexpensive fans, they tend to shake and make a lot of noise at high speeds, and their fan blades are more prone to warping over time, lessening their efficiency. It’s worth it to make room in the budget for a quality fan with solid construction, self-cooling motors and balanced blades. Some top of the line fans even have built-in air filters that improve the quality of the air that they circulate. That sure beats trying to sleep under a noisy, rickety fan that shakes so much you lose sleep worrying how well it’s bolted to the ceiling.
Today’s fans also come with options. Where twenty years ago you could only find down-rod, pull-chord fans with four down lights, today you can find fans that mouth flush to the ceiling, and fans with remote controls that operate not only the fan’s speed, but the brightness of the lighting. More importantly, the lighting options on today’s fans are almost endless, with single dome lights and up lights being popular options. Many modern fans have lighting kits that can be swapped out for something else if you grow tired of your current selection.
Finally, the style options of today’s ceiling fans are practically limitless. Where before your choices were between five or six wide blades, brass-and-wood or all white, now your blade options are almost as broad as your finish options. For modern décor, you could choose a sleek and narrow three-blade metal design with a contemporary, industrial feel. The blades can be thin and straight or curved for optimum efficiency. More traditional homes still have a choice of wooden blades in almost any finish, as well as brushed metal, pewter, canvas, bamboo or even molded plastic. Metal finishes go far beyond the brass fixtures of old to include brushed steel, copper, verdigris or bronze.
With so many options, you’re certain to find a fan that blends in perfectly with your home décor and that contributes to a comfortable, efficient and temperate living space. Happy hunting!
