Advances in technology, style propel ceiling fans
Homeowners in the market for ceiling fans these days are most interested in finding stylish, durable and quiet fans with great airflow, said Jessica Malik, co-owner with her husband, Craig, of FanCFans in Schaumburg and Glenview.
"I always ask customers if they want the fan to blend in or if they want an interesting piece that will become the main focus of the room. In other words, do they want the room to revolve around the fan or (for it) to blend with the ceiling?" she said.
"In order to make the best recommendations, I also want to know the dimensions of the entire room, the height of the ceiling and whether they are more interested in the look or the function of the fan. Is it desperately needed for cooling or not?"
Malik said the stores carry fans for every style home.
"We have ornate ones for historic homes; bronze-trimmed fans, which are most popular in transitional homes; nickel-trimmed fans, which look just right in contemporary homes; and much, much more," she said.
A third-generation family business, FanCFans has been supplying ceiling fans and, more recently, lighting to homeowners in the Chicago area for 85 years. During that time, Malik said, styles and preferences have certainly changed.
"Today, people are looking for furniture quality, carved-wood blades in woods like walnut. And they prefer up-lights, which create a warm glow on the ceiling," Malik said. "Many are even using their fans as accent pieces, like another piece of furniture."
Dark colors are most popular, she added, like oiled bronze, brushed nickel, brushed cocoa and distressed brown, but matte white is also popular with those who want their fan to blend into the ceiling.
"Generally speaking, homeowners prefer low profile, sleek fans with integrated lights that are subtly hidden behind a glass dome instead of hanging from the fan," she continued. "These work particularly well with lower ceilings."
More unique fans like those with blades made of woven bamboo for a tropical look are still available, but not as popular as they once were. Instead, manufacturers and buyers alike are gravitating toward fans that are basically hidden inside of light fixtures.
The Fanimation "Beckwith" model, for instance, features a three-speed oscillating fan inside a light fixture. You would never know the fan is there unless you get right under it, Malik said.
Ceiling fans have also evolved mechanically. Newer "DC" motors, with power many fans, use 70 percent less energy than older models. A DC motor uses less electrical current by utilizing powerful magnets of opposite polarity. Internal magnetic force helps rotate the inner workings of the motor, resulting in a significant energy savings, Malik said.
Regency even offers a fan with both a DC motor and dimmable LED lights so it consumes even less energy.
When choosing a ceiling fan, it is important to consider ceiling height and room size in order to determine the appropriate blade size and drop. FanCFans carries fans ranging in size from 18 inches to 96 inches in diameter. The rule of thumb, Malik said, is you want a 50- to 52-inch diameter fan for a 12-square-foot room, a 30- to 44-inch fan for a 10-square-foot room and a much larger fan for bigger rooms.
Blade pitch, brand name and motor strength are also important considerations, she said. A minimum blade pitch of 14 degrees is important and the best names in the business are Casablanca, Regency, Minka Aire, Emerson and Fanimation, she said.
Homeowners must also decide if they want computerized controls in a remote control, or a wall switch, or if they just want to use pull chains.
FanCFans carries fans selling for as little as $69 up to $1,000. However, most of the nice, quality fans range from $200 to $500, she said. Choosing among them is where the staff of FanCFans comes in. Employees can offer guidance, in-home consultations, installation and repairs.
"We are all about customer service at FanCFans," Malik said.
Craig's grandfather founded FanCFans on Fullerton Avenue in Chicago about 85 years ago. Jessica and Craig Malik completely took over the family business from Craig's father in 2008.
The FanCFans locations are 1073 N. Salem Drive, Schaumburg, (847) 882-7667; and 1492 Waukegan Road, Glenview, (847) 724-5557. For more information, visit www.fancfans.com.