Adding a ceiling fan to our stairwell

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

More than a year ago I mentioned I was thinking about buying a ceiling fan for our front hall. I was hoping a fan might help regulate the temperature between upstairs and down, particularly in the summer, particularly when we’re using the air conditioner.

The feedback I collected and the brief amount of research I did suggested that the ceiling fan might be more helpful in the winter. The fan would push the warmer air downstairs, more than it would pull the cooler air up.

Shortly after those musings, I was in a local store that was going out of business and I spied a basic ceiling fan on sale. I decided I was done thinking. I bought the fan.

But that’s as far as I got. The prospect of installing the fan over our stairwell was not something I was enthused about. So the fan sat in its box on the mudroom landing. For more than a year.

Then summer returned. Temperatures rose higher than ever. The basement was frigid. I really wanted to give the fan a try.

Finally, I had a brainwave. Our electricians were here for the bathroom. I could ask them to install the fan. Problem solved.

The electricians were happy to take care of the fan for me. And I’m very glad I asked them to do it, as install included switching the electrical box with a fan-rated box, something I wouldn’t have known was needed. (Also, there was the whole hovering over the stairwell while holding a large heavy fan over your head thing.)

So we now have a fan in the front hall. I’ve been running it most days. It does move the air around, though I’m not sure I’ve noticed a huge change in the upstairs and downstairs temperatures. The air currents extend into the kitchen, so I feel a nice breeze sometimes when I’m in there.

I’m curious to see if I notice any difference in the winter.

For now, I’m happy the fan is no longer on the mudroom floor and instead on the foyer ceiling as intended.

Are you a ceiling fan fan? Any tips for this fan newbie? Who else has bought something and then gotten stuck on the install?

Foyer lighting options

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

At the start of the week you saw my attempt at a new light fixture for the foyer.

In the comments, you agreed with my feelings that my DIY fixture wasn’t quite right for the space.

Here are two of the other lights I’m considering as replacements.

The first is this hexagonal fixture. It’s a slightly updated version of the chandelier I bought at the thrift store.

HDC Grayton Collection 3 Light Semi-Flushmount

Pros:

The design and the shape are a bit unique. I’ve not seen many fixtures like this around.
It’s the right size and height for the foyer.
It has three bulbs, so it should cast a decent amount of light.

Cons:

The metal is black, and the other lights on our main floor are oil rubbed bronze. I’d rather not mix my metal tones in this space, and I don’t think this piece can be painted easily.

Here’s my second option. I’d been considering a lantern-esque fixture, and this one is an attractive option.

Progress Lighting Antique Bronze 2-light Semi-flushmount

Pros:

The metal on this light is antique bronze, which is closer to the ORB of our other fixtures.
The lantern design feels a little bit country to me, perfect for a farm.

Cons:

I’m concerned this fixture might be a bit too small to carry the whole foyer.
With only two bulbs, it won’t shed as much light as the first fixture or my DIY option.

I have a hard time spending more than $100 on light fixtures (I know, I know, I’m super cheap), and both of these options come in right around this price point.

Let’s put it to a vote.

Please feel free to suggest another option, if you’ve seen something that you think would work better.

Does anyone else struggle with finding good lighting? How do you feel about mixing metals?

DIY light fixture (fail?)

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

I have another thrifted light fixture makeover for you today. Remember this beauty from my thrifting post?

When I was in the checkout line at Value Village, the woman ahead of me said, “What a great find! So classy!”

I said, “Oh, thank you.” In my head I was thinking, “Are you insane? This light is completely 1980s. It will look nothing like this when I’m done.”

My plan for the foyer was to replace the giant ceiling fan with a small chandelier covered by a simple drum shade.

Here was my chandelier.

Here was my drum shade.

It was vintage lighting fest over here.

I took apart the light, took apart the shade, merged the two together and spray painted everything oil-rubbed bronze.

I shortened the shade and added a new fabric cover.

Then I installed it over the stairwell.

Hmmm… not quite what I envisioned. As Matt said, “Woman, what were you thinking?” I stood there and laughed.

Then I got out my glue gun. A couple of daubs of glue held the shade a bit straighter.

I’m still not sure if this is quite what I envisioned. The inside looks a bit rough in some spots, and the ribs of the shade show through when the light is turned on.

Another layer of fabric on the inside might solve both of these issues, but it would also lessen the light. This light is much brighter than the ceiling fan that was there before, which I like as our foyer tends to be a bit dim.

I’m content to live with it for awhile until I make up my mind. Either way, it’s an improvement over the fan that was there when we moved in and the pigtail that we wired up when we were painting.

I’d love to hear your to opinion. Do you think this is a #DIYfail or #victory? Have you ever made over a light fixture?