Team Ceiling Fan?
The thrill of moving into a new space!
The agony of living with the previous owner’s choices!
Whether it’s a previously owned home, a new construction that you did not build, or a rental, when you move in, you are at the mercy of someone else’s preferences, until time and money permit you to change them. For us, a lot of it has been flooring. The linoleum floor buried under a layer of ‘80s carpet that was concealing a ‘70s carpet (that I actually sort of considered keeping). The green and white kitchen laminate in our previous home that was unfortunately sandwiched between the hardwood in the hall and the beige carpet in the living room. The wall-to-wall carpet that redefines the word drab.
And then there are the ceiling fans.
They’re everywhere. When we moved into our current house, there were seven. (Spoiler alert: there still are). We had more ceiling fans than friends at our new address. They were all the same, every last one of them, and they were laughing at us in all their 1985 glory (the fans, not the friends). But let’s face it, they were low on our list of house projects. First up was getting the kids settled in their new rooms. Then, converting the basement into a kid-friendly space. The painting, the unpacking, you know the drill. Boxes everywhere.
And then the day arrived. The first dreadful ceiling fan was coming down. I had been dying to replace it, much to my husband’s dismay, since the moment we first met (the ceiling fan, not my husband). Having grown up in Atlanta, he appreciates anything that helps him avoid the heat. He is a fan of ceiling fans. And neither of us are fans of spending money on something that is working just fine. As much as I am all about how things look, I’m also practical and save money where I can.
I had visions of sleek light fixtures and vintage light fixtures. Scandi and mid-century. I had scouted a few at the Restore and online, so when the first ceiling fan showed signs of failure, I was ready to pounce. And then something happened.
My husband, bless his hot-blooded Georgian heart, very sweetly asked if we could replace it with...another ceiling fan.
This man does not say much when it comes to what the house looks like. The new sectional, the color of our bedroom, the rugs that came and went. He didn’t ask, I didn’t tell. He lived in a run-down apartment for a year before we moved, commuting on weekends, with little more than a bed, a chair and a tv, and he was just fine. He simply doesn’t pay attention to such things. So when he made a request well within his rights but completely out of the norm and his domain, I paused.
And said OK.
Because a ceiling fan was the thing that was going to make our home feel good for him. And that is everything. Feeling good in your own home. For some, it’s a gigantic dining room table with enough room for hosting holiday meals. Or a hanging egg chair on the screened-in porch. Or a place for all of your books. For my husband, it’s a ceiling fan in the living room...and the bedroom...and the sunroom…
So maybe I’m not actually Team Ceiling Fan. Maybe it’s more like Team Happy Home.
– Carrie + Emily
If a ceiling fan makes someone on your team happy, here’s some to consider:
White:
https://www.lampsplus.com/products/44-inch-fanimation-kute-matte-white-damp-ceiling-fan__82d13.html
Brushed nickel:
Warm wood:
Oil-rubbed bronze:
Matte black:
•Photo sources: Farshad Rezvanian (top) and Michael Oxendine on Unsplash.