Lighting Blog and Ceiling Fan Brand Review - How to Buy or Install

Why Consider a Minka Aire Ceiling Fan?

2008-06-24T00:00:00-05:00

Minka Aire Ceiling Fans are made from a variety of high quality materials and are built for excellence. Minka Fans have won numerous Good Design Awards from the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization. Minka aire ceiling fans are beautiful, whimsical, contemporary and modern.

Minka quality is unparalleled within the ceiling fan industry. Minka Aire utilizes the talents of many of today’s leading designers. Minka aire ceiling fans have been engineered for superior performance and to provide maximum comfort in even the largest of rooms.

Attention to detail is representative of the Minka name. This attention is visible through the vast line of Minka Aire fans that are exquisite, beautifully designed, and last a lifetime. Add a Minka-air fan to any room as a focal point that is something to talk about.

Minka Ceiling Fans fit Today's Varying Lifestyles

Every Minka Aire ceiling fan combines form and function with quality craftsmanship to provide the utmost in comfort and style to any room in the home. From classic to contemporary, there is a minka aire fan to fit every style and budget.

For style on a budget, a Minka Aire fan is the way to go, and with prices ranging from well under $100 to over $600, there is a Minka fan to fit any budget. So whether you are looking for a fan for a small home or a large estate, Minka is sure to have something to fit your lifestyle.

For the Traditional style, Minka Aire offers many fans that are sure to compliment the décor and add comfort to any room.

Traditional Minka Aire fans include:

the Vivaldo Fan which features salon scavo glass and detailed scrollwork available in a sterling walnut or a rich Florence patina finish

the Napoli Fan which features refined details paired with 2 very popular finishes to choose from—Sterling Walnut or Tuscan Patina. This fan offers intricate style that is sure to compliment a traditional décor

For a Transitional Look:

the Adare Fan by Minka Aire is a great choice. This Minka fan features faux pen shell shades which are beautiful accents against a Dark Restoration Bronze Finish

Minka Aire also offers fans that fit the following styles:

Contemporary
Outdoor
Energy Star
Hugger Fans for smaller spaces

Minka-Aire Fans have Exclusive Designers

Minka-aire was one of the first manufacturers to take the traditional style of ceiling fans and turn it around. Minka Aire has teamed up with some of the most influential designers in the home furnishings business to develop a whole family of products throughout the Minka product line.

With a Minka fan, you can create just about any look you want with the forward looking designs that are offered by these recognized designers at an affordable price. The designer collection at Minka Aire includes the following designer brands:

Cristina Saralegui
George Kovacs
Hearst Castle
Jessica McClintock

Cristina Saralegui

Cristina Saralegui is a Cuban American journalist that grew up in Key Biscayne, Florida. Today she is recognized as one of the most influential Hispanics in America by Time Magazine. Cristina Saralegui is the inspiration behind the popular Casa Cristina collection at Minka.

The Casa Cristina Collection was launched in 2005 and is inspired by Cristina’s personal tastes. Styles within the collection range from Euro-Mediterranean to Pre-Columbian and Afro-Cuban tastes. Much of the Casa Cristina line is inspired the style and décor of her childhood memories and her home in Miami.

Traditional Spanish style can be seen in every Minka-aire fan that is included in the Casa Cristina line. Such is noticeable in the Habana Breeze Fan which features Habana Washed Glass and a rich Habana Night finish. Other Casa Cristina ceiling fans are inspired by elements such as tropical bays and the Caribbean Islands.

George Kovacs

George Kovacs was a contemporary product designer within the lighting and ceiling fan industry for over 50 years before his death in 2007. The well known designer influenced many contemporary designs over his years including unique and practical lighting and artistic ceiling fan designs.

George Kovacs formed a design partnership with the Minka group in the 1960’s and has since designed lighting and ceiling fan products under the George Kovacs name for Minka. Throughout Kovacs design clean lines and curves create sophisticated geometric designs that are one of a kind, whimsical, and fun.

Minka Aire ceiling fans from the George Kovacs Collection include the Artemis, the 1950’s, and the Cirque Ceiling Fan. The designs are one of a kind and every one of the George Kovacs Collection Minka fans is something to talk about. From contemporary to modern, Minka Aire ceiling fans from the George Kovacs collection are designed with a retro twist.

The Cirque ceiling fan combines form and function creating the look of a sculpted piece of art. This high performance Minka fan has earned the prestigious recognition of the Good Design award. The Cirque is just one of many designer ceiling fans from the George Kovacs Collection.

Hearst Castle

The Hearst Castle brand originated from the 1865 land purchase by a wealthy miner named George Hearst. Hearst purchased 40,000 acres of “ranchland” and left it to his wife Phoebe Hearst. In 1919, George Hearst’s only son, William Randolph Hearst inherited the land from his mother. At this time the ranch had grown to 250,000 acres.

By 1947, William Hearst had built a dream estate that included 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways. The entire estate was furnished with art treasures that William Hearst had collected over the years from Europe. Every room of the Hearst Castle features unique artifacts such as antique furniture, ceilings, mantels, doors, paintings, sculptures, bas-reliefs, textiles and tapestries.

It is this blending of architectural style and European and Mediterranean elegance that prompted the Minka group to introduce a collection of designer lighting and ceiling fans that are inspired by the wealth and style of Hearst Castle. Minka aire ceiling fans from the Hearst Castle Collection are reminiscent of the diverse collection of decorative art that fills the Castle.

Many of the Minka aire ceiling fans from the Hearst Castle Collection feature unique glass and finish combination that are sure to please the eye. The Abundancia Ceiling Fan features Venetian Scavo Glass and a warm Tuscan Patina finish that is representative of Mediterranean style. This traditionally Gothic brand is both awe inspiring and beautiful.

Jessica McClintock

Jessica McClintock has used skills that she learned at an early age from her seamstress grandmother to build a premier design company that is focused on all things romantic. She is a fashion icon who has continually created innovative designs.

Jessica McClintock exclusive collection of Minka fans, lighting, accent pieces and decorative accessories. Her passion for the romantic lifestyle is showcased in Home the Premier Collection at Minka features an each of the Minka aire ceiling fans that are included in the Collection.

The Salon Grand Fan was inspired by Jessica’s love for the romantic lifestyle. The Florence patina finish is both elegant and stylish. This Minka-aire fan features delicate vine carvings that circle the rim of the lamp just below French curls that support the fans blades. The fans romantic features are sure to be the perfect finishing touch to an exquisite room.

Minka has an Outdoor Ceiling Fan for every Style

Minka Aire ceiling fans are available in both wet and damp location rated models that are perfect for outside the home. These models are specifically designed to prevent rusting and electrical shorts when exposed to moisture or water. With a Minka Outdoor fan, style does not have to be sacrificed due to the weather.

Whether your style is tropical, traditional, or contemporary, there is an outdoor Minka fan that will compliment your space.

For a tropical style, the Gauguin Outdoor Wet fan from Minka Aire is perfect for a pool deck or patio area where the fan will be directly exposed to water. This fan is also great for salt water areas as it is UL Wet rated and can easily be hosed down to prevent salt corrosion.

Looking for a more simplistic and traditional style, look no further…the Sundowner ceiling fan was specifically designed with function in mind. This model was built to withstand all types of weather conditions at a very affordable price.

To add contemporary style to an outdoor space, the Concept II Wet is an excellent choice. Not only does this fan require less time and labor to assemble, but it also offers a unique look into the future of ceiling fan design. Although the style is simple, it is sure to evoke comfort and a sense of style in any room where it is placed.

While Minka continues to define the ceiling fan industry, why not add some style and comfort to your home.

Read About the New Liquid Nickel Artamis Ceiling Fan from Minka Aire

Minka-Aire and Minka Lavery Combine with Elegance

2008-01-23T17:28:00-05:00

The Minka Group was founded in 1982 by Bill and Marian Tang. Then a tiny company that made glass shades for ceiling fans and lighting fixtures, it has grown into a lighting industry giant which includes the brand names Minka-Aire, Minka Lavery, Ambiance, The Great Outdoors, Metropolitan, and George Kovacs as well as many nationally recognized private label brands.

Minka products are sold in over 2,000 showrooms nationwide. Products are made from a variety of high quality materials such as wrought iron, wood, resin, cast aluminum, and solid brass. Minka products are distributed from service centers on both the East and the West coasts. This spread of distribution centers helps the Minka Group lower costs and keep delivery times low as well.

The Minka Group produces every kind of indoor and outdoor lighting for residential homes from simple fixtures that cost only $19, to elaborate chandeliers that are fit for a mansion’s foyer that cost $10,000. The vast collection of lighting and ceiling fans that are offered by the Minka Group represent the most diverse and cutting edge styles.

President of the Minka Group, Kurt Schulzman, attributes the success of the company to its continued entrepreneurial abilities.

He says “I have the freedom to make decisions quick enough to keep pace with fast-changing trends in home décor.”

It is the freedom to change rapidly with the changing trends that make Minka Group the leader in the lighting industry.

Spotlight on Minka Lavery Lighting

The Minka Lavery lighting lines are both affordable and stylish while maintaining great quality. Minka Lavery lighting features urban lights, traditional lights, transitional lights, contemporary lighting, and everything in between. Fixtures include chandeliers, wall sconces, pendants, table lamps, vanity lights, floor lamps as well as a variety of other fixtures that are sure to make a wonderful accent to any lifestyle.

Spotlight on Minka Aire Ceiling Fans

Minka Aire continues to define the ceiling fan industry. All Minka Aire ceiling fans combine form, function, and design to offer the best in quality and workmanship that a ceiling fan has to offer. Minka Aire fans come in both traditional and contemporary styles, many of which are Energy Star Approved. There is a Minka Aire fan that is sure to compliment any décor.

Minka Lavery and Minka Aire Share Design Features

Today, in keeping up with the latest and greatest, Minka Lavery offers lighting fixtures that share design qualities with Minka Aire ceiling fans. The two sister companies now offer lighting and ceiling fan lines that share finishes and glass types so that matching products may be used throughout the home.

Coordinating Lighting and Fan lines include:

The Treville lighting and ceiling fan collections features the warmth and beauty of the European countryside with a Tuscan Patina finish that is hand applied to each piece by old world artisans.

The Treville Collection features antiqued glass and embroidered shades that are sure to enhance the fixtures.

The Salon Grand collection from the Jessica McClintock Home line features beautifully hand sculpted leaf designs throughout an array of coordinating lighting fixtures, portable lighting, accent pieces and ceiling fans. All Salon Grand light fixtures and ceiling fans share a rich Florence Patina finish. Many feature Salon Scavo Glass.

The Lineage collection features architectural inspired elements as well as simplicity inspired by Mission artisans. The Lineage collection has an iron oxide finish and also features Venetian Scavo Glass. This extensive collection includes chandeliers, island lighting, floor lamps, vanity lighting, table lamps, ceiling fans, wall sconces and pendants.

The Belcaro lighting collection features southern Tuscany inspirations with the craftsmanship of Old World materials. Crafted with master carvings and inspirations from the 17th Century Farmhouse Style, the Belcaro collection features details that replicate the work of the Old Masters. This collection features a walnut finish on its ceiling fans and lighting fixtures. Hearst Castle collection fans by Minka Aire also feature the Belcaro Walnut finish.

Other Ceiling Fans with coordinating features include:

The Adare ceiling fan (model number F706-DRB) from Minka-Aire features a Faux pen shell glass housing and shades.

Minka Lavery, Ambiance, and Metropolitan also offer lighting fixtures that feature the pen shell glass.

The Jessica McClintock Home Romantic Breeze fans by Minka Aire also coordinate with many lighting fixtures that are available through Minka Lavery, as well as Ambiance.

The Arles Gold finish is the most popular.

The Minka Group has brought quality, elegant lighting and fan products to the home for the past 25 years. The addition of lighting and ceiling fan collections that have finishes that correlate with one another make a home come together. With trendy innovation such as this, it is no wonder why the Minka Group is said to be the leader in the industry.

What makes up Pen Shell Lighting and Ceiling Fans?

2007-07-24T14:05:00-05:00

The pen shell is a brown fan shaped bivalve shell fish first discovered in the Mediterranean in the 1700s. The pen shell is mainly found in coastal areas in waters from 2 to 30 meters and is usually burrowed into the sand covered in turtle grass or other sea flowering plants. The pen shell meat is edible and has been known in rare occasions to harbor a valuable pearl with in its shell. The pen shell was almost extinct some time ago due to the decline in ocean conditions, anchoring boats, pollution, over fishing development in coastal areas.

Pen Shell lighting and ceiling fans have created there own little niche in the lighting and ceiling fan industry. Lighting and ceiling fan manufactures have figured out how to refine and polish these fan shaped mollusks into small tiles then using a resin based cast form them into decorative housings that make up these beautiful gems.

The Minka Group has a wide variety of Pen Shell Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

The Adare ceiling fan from Minka Aire Fans utalize the pen shell to create a beautiful ceiling fan housing and light fixture. The Adare fan includes dark walnut blades for a total blade span of 60 inches, uplighting, four light down light fixture and a wall control.

The New Liquid Nickel Artamis is Finally Here!

2007-05-26T11:54:00-05:00

The long awaited arrival of the Minka-Aire Fan Artamis in the liquid nickel finish is finally here. Minka-Aire fans are especially known for their unique contemporary ceiling fan designs and the liquid nickel Artamis proves it. The Minka Group wanted to introduce a super high end contemporary ceiling fan design with an untouchable finish. The packaging alone proves the quality of this product. Check it out.

Minka-Aire Fans create the First Liquid Nickel Ceiling Fan

About a year ago Minka-Aire introduced their new liquid nickel Artamis prototype ceiling fan at the Dallas Market Center Lighting Show. This fan went through many stages of development to finally reach the proper packaging, price and finish quality. We received the first three about 5 days ago and have been very impressed with the final product quality.

As you can see the liquid nickel finish is amazing!

The Minka-Aire liquid nickel Artamis has such a sensitive finish all of the blades were wrapped in foam padding and then placed in cotton sleeves for added protection.

These cotton sleeves were of the same quality as you would see covering very expensive glasses.

Minka-Aire even included cotton gloves for the installer so there would be no damage to the finish. This attention to detail is what makes Minka-Aire fans one of the leading ceiling fan manufactures.