apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i rent too and i went with the "i'm going to change out the fan and put back what was there when i leave" option. of course, i've been in the same apt for 10 years and by the time i leave, i doubt that my landlord will even remember the hideous fixture that was there when i moved in. nevertheless, it's stored away til then.

oh, i like the suggestion about the drum shade...that might be a good, inexpensive option until i could afford to replace it with something a bit smaller and more modern.

also, i just have to say that the photo above was taken on moving-in day. im horribly embarassed by how messy and bare the place is! ;)

thanks, Apartment Therapy!!

I wish someone would round up all landlords and give them a class in "less is more." Ceiling fans are great. There's no need to tart them up with contrasting Victorian-look accents and rattan inserts or render them in brushed aluminum for a more "contemporary" look. It doesn't make them prettier or more desirable, it makes them look like they are owned by a person with no taste. I was apartment hunting recently and by the end of the search, I wanted to take a sledge hammer along with me to destroy every bad celing fan I saw in the spirit of public service.

I had the same problem and asked my landlord if I could remove the fan and replace it when I left. She said it was no problem as long as I used their electrician and covered the costs - I think it cost $60 to the electrician and $100 for the new fixture. I also took the opportunity to add dimmers. That was 4 years ago and well worth the investment if you plan to stay in your place for a couple of years.

On a side note, the landlord said that she had never had a reinstalled ceiling fan work properly, so she told me to toss it - I didn't even have to take up precious closet space with a stored fan.

You don't need to pay an electrician to put in a dimmer or change a ceiling fan. I've been changing light fixtures since I was 12 or so. If you can turn a screw driver, and tell the difference between white, black and green (and have a step ladder) then all you have to do is turn off the breaker (turn them all off to be safe), and just do it.

Re-installed ceiling fans will work properly if connected properly (assuming they're well stored and don't lose lubrication). It's not rocket science - the black wire coming out of the ceiling (hot) goes to the black wire on the fan, the while wire from the ceiling (neutral) goes to the white wire on the fan, and green (earth ground) goes to green. Simple.

hey, you guys are awesome!
thanks for the encouragement...i love ceiling fans, but i might take the blades off and try a drum shade first...but if i miss the breeze too much, i'll definiately spring for a new fan. my landlords are pretty relaxed, so im sure they'll give me the go-ahead.

on that note...does anyone have any tips for nice, simple, small-ish, ceiling fans?

If you use the fan, check out the home stores for a more contemporary version. If not, get a drum light fixture which you can find pretty cheaply. I've installed both fan and light fixture in my rental. It's really pretty easy to do as long as you MAKE SURE the juice to the outlet is off AT THE FUSE BOX....

hey dean- keep us posted on what you end up doing and how it turns out!

oh, i will for sure!
and you'll see me in next year's Smallest Coolest, when i'm all settled in :)

mcQuaidLA - you would love the ceiling fan that came with my new place. It has faux granite blades. Yes, faux granite. I put in the contract that the sellers were welcome to take it with them and they declined. :)

AiC: it beats real granite, no? (in that context, anyway!)

Since you're on the west coast, check out Lamps Plus - they have loads of ceiling fans - even nice looking ones. LOL

Their website has more selection than they have in the stores. What I like about them is that if you buy from their website and have a problem, they'll come to your house to bring you a replacement, or you can return it to the store.

This is why I won't do "special orders" from anyone else. Here in Portland there's a big chain called Globe Lighting that I refuse to do business with because if you buy from them and have a problem - it's your problem.

No - I don't work for Lamps Plus, I just like supporting companies that have good service since they're rare these days.

I had a problem with a special order ceiling fixture, so after I sent an email to their main web site I got a phone call - in half an hour(!) from the nearest store. The manager found a demo unit in one of the stored, had it shipped to him, and took off the parts that were needed to fix mine. I've never seen anything like it.

A few years ago, I bought some cool ceiling fans from Target. Unlike the gaudy ones at Home Depot, these were white, streamlined and modern looking. Even better, they were only $50 or so.

update: i found a big drum shade at Target that was missing it's lamp, so i bought it for $2. i took the blades off the fan and rigged the shade around the fixture, and it looks aright! the shade is too small though, and i'd like to find something more proper this week...any suggestions on where i could find big, deep drum shades? and maybe even with a pattern?

Last week, someone on here said that if you replace a light fixture in a rental, the new fixture becomes the landlord's property, and if you switch it back when you leave, they could sue you.... sounded crazy to me, but what do I know?! Has anyone heard of this (or do you remember who posted that)?

cat - check your contract and/or ask your landlord. If it's not in writing in your contract I doubt there's anything they can do provided there no damages, but then I'm no lawyer nor do I play one on TV...

Most places that I've had experience with don't care as long as you leave the place as you found it. I asked before I moved in though.

If what's already installed is really tacky and you want to stay there a long time, and what you want to put in isn't super expensive, I'd just change it and take my chances. if they keep it after living there several years, you got your money's worth.

I tried to install a ceiling fan once, using the the "black, green, white" theory of wiring. When I removed the circa 1940 light fixture there were only thick, black cord-coated wires.

If you're in a older building, you may need an electrician after all.

barbara - in your case it'd be a good idea to hire an electrician.

The color coding I mentioned has been standard building code for decades.

Those old "cord coated" wires are ancient and can be dangerous because the insulation detoriates with age (it actually rots off the wires) and has been implicated in fires. I'd consider moving to a newer building if you're renting!