Top 5 Ceiling Fans of 2015

Paula Ables Interiors would like to celebrate our top 5 favorite Ceiling Fans of 2015. How did we decide our favorites, you might ask?  We took a lot of key features into consideration:  Color, Texture, Aesthetics, and Function.

#1  Artemis XL5 Fan by MinkaAire

This striking fan is available in a variety of sizes and colors including transparent.  Our favorite is as pictured:  54", 5 Blade fan made from Distressed Koa Wood.  You can get it with or without the light.  A little on the pricier side of things, but we think its unique appearance and balance make it worth the expense.  This fan could be used in your more public spaces such as the Great Room or Game Room or it would be a nice addition to any Master Bedroom.

#2 Haiku Fan by Big Ass Fan Company

The Big Ass Fan Company has added Residential Interior fans to their list of successful and dramatic fans.  This fan is offered in a variety of sizes and color combinations as well.  We think the Caramel bamboo with black hardware (as pictured)give it a dramatic flare.  This fan tops the list as the priciest of the fans listed, but with a name and reputation like Big Ass Fan, I would expect no less.  This fan with its more contemporary, masculine look is great for a Game Room, Man Room or Office space.

#3 Ariel Fan by Savoy House

The Ariel is available in a variety of sizes, but for color, this is it.  We love the unique styling of this fan with the addition of the "winglets" which help to produce 20% more airflow and 205 less energy consumption than comparable fans.  We like to use this fan in smaller rooms such as Secondary Bedrooms and Tv Rooms.

#4 Bristol Fan by Quorum International

The Bristol fan is available in a variety of colors and can come with or without the lower light kit.  We like to see this fan with the light kit as pictured.  This fan is great in kids rooms and baby rooms where a nightlight might come in handy.  The upper area of the fan is a separate light that can be dimmed to a soft glow to provide a warm, cozy feeling to any room.

#5 Gyrette Double Fan by MinkaAire

The Gyrette Double fan is a wind producing machine!  This fan is outdoor rated, so it can be used on your outdoor sitting and dining areas as well as screened in patios.  This fan is also available in a variety of colors.  The individual fan heads are independently adjustable and you can have it function as one, two or three fans in one.  This fan provides hours of entertainment for the remote control lovers in your life.

We understand that choosing the right ceiling fan for your room can be a challenge.  If you are in the market for a new one, check out one or our past blog called: 5 Tips for Picking a Ceiling Fan. There is more to the perfect fan and creating the perfect space than just the look of a fan.  Function is important too.  If you are in the market for adding some new lighting and would like a little help upgrading your room, give us a shout.  We would love to help you out.

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Helen Thompson - "Windows on Our World"

Helen Thompson is an Austin-based writer, producer, stylist and blogger, and she recently featured Paula Ables Interiors in an article! We love the Lake Austin Contemporary project she wrote about, and are so happy to have it published again! You can read the full article here, or on her website.

WINDOWS ON OUR WORLD Posted by Helen: May 11th, 2015

This limestone-and-stucco house by architect James LaRue and project manager Emily Marks is for an active family that enjoys hunting, fishing, swimming, and entertaining. Its location on Lake Austin is ideal for the enjoyment of the outdoors, but LaRue and Marks also created space for privacy. They designed a series of rooms and courtyards, in part to focus the view on the lake, and interior gardens that are extensions of the main rooms. They arranged the most-used spaces—the screened porch, living and dining rooms, and the master suite—to take advantage of the views. Garage and guest rooms were positioned closer to the street.

The exterior walls are made of antique Lueders limestone; stucco from Waterloo Plastering is finished in a putty color.

The house is sliced through by a dog trot, which also serves to point the view to the lake and the nature preserve beyond.

Landscape is by Tim Benton and Ramon Suarez, Land Restoration.

Interiors are by Paula Ables, who used a Radici USA wool rug to anchor the dining table by Lundon Furniture from Room & Board. The McCreary Modern chairs are also from Room & Board. Pendants are by Hubbardton Forge.

The house is linked by steel-gridded Portella doors and windows. Entry floors are ivory travertine; in the dining room they are white oak.

The slate fireplace surround is from Stone Solutions. The American Leather sofa is from Room & Board; the recycled pine coffee table is from Four Hands.

The green chairs in the living room are a pop of color taken from the homeowners’ favorite tapestry, hanging above the fireplace (see below).

Pendants are by Kichler Lighting. Rug is by Stanton Carpet.

Kitchen, dining, and living room open on to each other—the view of the pool and nature preserve are the focus of the room.

Another good view—this house borders on a drainage ditch on one side and has encroaching neighbors elsewhere, but LaRue focused every room on the assets of the lot and the nature preserve across the lake.

The pool makes a visual connection to the lake.

Tropitone chaises are ready for lounging.

The connection between indoors and outdoors is seamless.

The screened porch (on the right) is faced with Spanish cedar siding and is connected to the main house by a roof that creates another outdoor space.

The garage is on the left; guest suite on the right. Landscape is by Tim Benton and Ramon Suarez, Land Restoration.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DROR BALDINGER

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5 Tips for Picking a Ceiling Fan

5 things to consider when looking for the best ceiling fan for your room:

Ceiling fans...are they a necessary evil or a stylish accent to the room?

We all know how hot it gets in the Texas Hill Country summers!  To get some relief, many of us rely on ceiling fans to keep our homes comfortable.  Running a ceiling fan can make a room feel about 5 degrees cooler than it actually is.

If you are ready to upgrade your existing fan or looking to add one, here are 5 things to keep in mind before you make the purchase:

1. Size of your Space

It is easy to underestimate the size of the fan you need.  A 48" fan may sound big but if you install an undersized fan you won't get the air circulation you need to cool off.

A good rule of thumb is:

• Rooms less than 150 sq. ft. - Use a 42-48" diameter fan
• Rooms 150-350 sq. ft. - Use a 52-56" fan
• Rooms greater than 350 sq. ft. - Use at least a 60" fan or you can purchase 2-48" fans

Below is an example of a large open-concept living, dining & kitchen space, where this 8 ft. Big Ass Fan serves as both a cooling unit and a WOW factor.

2. Ceiling Height

When selecting a fan for your space, know your ceiling height.  If it is an 8' ceiling, your best solution is a ceiling-hugger style fan.  If your ceiling is 10'+, you may need to add additional down rods to accommodate the extra height.

The typical rule of thumb is for the blades of your fan to be 8-9 feet above the floor. As you see in the photo below, we added a 12" down rod to our fan to accommodate the 10' ceiling--placing the fan at the perfect height for this bedroom.

3. Type of Installation 

Another critical factor to take into account when shopping for a new fan is: sloped or flat ceiling?

Some fans include adapters for sloped ceilings, but not all have this capability. Some adapters can be purchased separately, but can have restrictions on the angle it will accommodate; so it is important to know these details if you have a vaulted or sloped ceiling.

Sometimes the best solution isn't a ceiling fan at all. In the image below, we used a wall-mounted, oscillating fan to blow the smoke away from the bar-b-que area.

*Make sure to look for a damp or wet rated fan if installing outdoors*

 4. Lighting

Light kits have gotten a bad wrap over the years and for the most part we agree.  Lights on fans are usually unattractive.  This being said, the fan companies have heard our plea.  Many have begun integrating lights into the fan itself making for a more complete and attractive look.

Which look do you like the best?  If you know you want a light, certain fans have customized options for you to pick the shape and globe style you want. Also, some fans that do come with a light, come with a cap in case you decide you do not want to use the light kit.

In the living room pictured below we capped the light because we loved the fan design, but the recessed cans in the room provided plenty of general lighting.

5. Style

Just like light fixtures, there are a wide variety of ceiling fan styles. To start with, there are contemporary and traditional fans. There are fans that have multiple blade material options--from clear acrylic, all the way to woven rattan.

Many times fans blend in to the ceiling because they are thought of as utilitarian, but there are plenty of styles that can take your fan from Blah to Tah-DAH.

Below is a unique example of a ceiling fan we used in a bedroom that is just as much art as function.

What ceiling fan is right for you?  What will fit best in your space?

Do you want to go from Blah to Tah-DAH with your lighting in a new or existing space?  We are here to help with great ideas and friendly purchasing advice.  Give us a shout to help transform your space.

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