I love having a ceiling fan in my kitchen. 8' ceilings are not a factor--just get a fan will a shallow drop.

I assume you've used the fan where it is now? Do you like it? Did you ever turn it on? Some people hate them but if you're asking I'm guessing you aren't one of them.

I like fans. There are some great-looking ones out now, modern or vintage style. Make sure you get something with a really good light, and make sure it's dimable in case you get too good a light :P

I haven't lived in the house and I've never lived with a fan in the kitchen so I really have no idea. Installing a dimmer makes sense. Votes are appreciated, any reason why you would vote against a fan in the kitchen?

I find the movement at the top of my view VERY annoying...so distracting. With an 8 foot ceiling, I would constantly be seeing that motion. Most people I know who have them never turn them on.

Why not live with it a few weeks before deciding what to replace it with?

(You can get one that hugs the ceiling more than the one that is there--I know tall people prefer that type on 8 ft ceilings.)

I posted a thread a few weeks ago in Home Decor about getting one for a bedroom. There were over 100 replies and overwhelming love for ceiling fans. Ours is being installed Aug. 9. We bought the MinkaAire.

I would think the fan would make it more comfortable for cooking. I wouldn't count on the light providing much light at all as all the reviews I read said the light is minimal.

There's a lot of information on ceiling fans in general in my thread. You do need a ceiling hugger for 8' ceilings.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4019620/how-much-cooling-does-a-ceiling-fan-provide-for-sleeping?n=110

I have them in every room including the kitchen and I would replace it with another should it break. It's very useful for helping to dissipate smells and smoke and giving some fresh air to a place that can get stuffy fast if you have a lot going on in the kitchen. You said no Ac in the house, another reason that fan is there I would bet. Live with it, change it to one more to your liking, but I vote for the fan.

With no AC, I would expect that a fan would be very nice on warm days--it will pull fresh air in through your window. You can always turn it off if it interferes with your exhaust fan while you are cooking. Only you can decide if you experience the visual interference that rantontoo mentions.

Just a word of caution some ceiling fans can not be used with a dimmer switch so be sure to check before you go that route. It's damaging to the motor, it's not just the light that gets lowered. Some are OK with it you just have to select accordingly.

It may not be "stylish" to use fans in unpredictable spaces... Go for it, especially with no ac. I don't particularly like the lights that I have on my ceiling fans but if this is only the second light source you will have in your kitchen, then use the lighted fan. I like the fan you have chosen. Reminds me of the Minkas.

I'm putting a fan in the master bath of my new house. Should have done it last time.

Glad you asked this! I'm considering adding fans to my kitchen and living room. I'm in a mild climate and love the fans in the bedrooms. Kitchen can get warm when cooking. I had searched gardenweb on this topic, and people were saying not to do it because it would get greasy, but it seems a good vent hood would prevent that.

Mayflowers thanks for the link, I'll check it out. That is a minke, I think. If it's in your thread I'll find it but is 'ceiling hugger' a specific product out just general description? How long a drop should it be (did it come standard with your minke or did you need to special order it)? Thanks everyone for all the help!

They don't have a down rod at all. It violates code for an 8' ceiling from what I read. The bottom of the fan can be no more than 12" from the ceiling.

The MinkaAire Concept II has a remote but you can also buy a wall switch.

Besides the good reviews, I liked that it's a very easy fan to install.

I would think that a fan in the kitchen messes with the exhaust of kitchen fumes into the hood, but I've never had a fan in the kitchen so no real world experience.

Ceiling huggers move much less air than a 4" downrod, which is perfectly feasible with 8 ft ceilings.

ETA With the 4" downrod, the top of the fan body just touches or is an inch or so below the canopy. The fan in the first photo is an 8" downrod.

Hmn, I like the idea of more air being moved if going with a fan, but I don't like the idea of violating code, or 6' people getting their fingers whacked if they raise their hand under the fan so now I'm distressed/confused. This comes with a 4.5" download and is 13.5 inches tall, so it would be an 18" drop - that isn't legal? Or a good idea?

[https://www.houzz.com/products/light-wave-fan-distressed-koa-prvw-vr~21242628[(https://www.houzz.com/products/light-wave-fan-distressed-koa-prvw-vr~21242628)

Oh, and can the light be switched on independently of the fan or are they linked in these light/fan combos? (Might be annoying if they are linked )

And I guess the other factor I need to consider is that the only other light in the kitchen would be the pendant by the window and under cabinet lighting (which I also have no idea what to buy for that, either).

My ceilings are 8'. I have a Harbor Breeze fan in my kitchen. The top of the body of the fan is 9-10" below the ceiling. The blades are 14" below. The bottom of the lights is 19-20". I have had many people in my home with no issues hitting the light or blades. Check to see what code is in your area. All the fans I have had come with two chains hanging down--one for the light and one for the fan. Depending on your wiring you will end up using one, both or none of the chains. I will attach a picture below. The light fixture on mine takes 4, 60 watt fan bulbs which provide good general lighting and supplement to the stove light and the over the sink pendant.

Do you have pets? If so, all that ceiling fan will do is blow all the pet hair all over the kitchen. Don't ask me how I know this...

Would you consider something like this?

The fan is contained and safe for fingers and it provides quite a bit of light. We have this in my sons room and love it. Lowes, Allen + Roth.

I don't find my dog's hair all over my kitchen. Don't know what makes the difference.

Here's my living room with 8 ft ceilings back when I was moving in. I replaced this fan with a less ugly one, but the drop is the same. No problems in 9 years living here and I have ceiling fans in every room but the kitchen and baths.

ETA Sorry for the ugly beige walls but I was renting then.

BTW, I would have had one in the kitchen if it were possible.

I had this fan in my kitchen prior to a remodel and kept it. Ceiling is about 8.5 ft. It stays on most of the time at a low setting (hardly generates a breeze) and I'm convinced it keeps the kitchen cooler in summer and warmer in winter. I find I don't need or use the light much, so if you need light more than a fan, I'd go for a light and skip the fan. The blades are a bit of a nuisance to clean :)

Silver Spring - Transitional Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Since you are not experienced with ceiling fans you may not know that most have a switch which allows you to change the direction of the blade angle to either pull the air up or push air down.

We have minka Aires in our bedrooms. I used to be anti-fan, but I LOVE these fans! I strongly recommend you get white with simple lines that blends into the ceiling. as much as I love the feeling of fans, I don't like the look of them. Especially in a kitchen.

heres a quick pic of one of ours. We got them from Lamps plus:

John, that's a cool looking fan! Benjesbride, is that a ceiling hugger? So many decisions, guys! Thanks.

I don't love the look of fans either but I sure do like the air movement. The Minka's are nice.

yes, Johns that fan is cool.

I don't remember. Hmm. I know it was on lamps plus' website and came in two sizes. Bought them spring 2015

That's the one we ordered from Lightingdirect a few days ago. We got the 44" for a small bedroom, in white. It's a ceiling hugger. It doesn't light up a room from what I've read. There's 200 reviews on Lightingdirect.

We add fans all over the place, just did not add one in the Kitchen, wife veto'd it.. lol.. but I would think it would be useful as that can be one of the hottest places in the kitchen and can really help keep the smoke down.. not that we ever burn anything.. lol

R

I had to look it up... Ours is a minkaAire Concept 2. that lens at the bottom is a light. It takes 1- 100W mini-can halogen bulb.

ETA: its rather dim and unpleasant light. We have cans, sconces and lamps throughout the bedrooms, so the fans' lights aren't used very often.

We have a ceiling fan with lights in our kitchen, because my husband really wanted it. It does help keep the kitchen cool, but I am having a hard time finding another flush mount ceiling fixture that goes with it. 3 yrs now and I still haven't found the right one. I think we are going to have to do cans, which is complicated by the fact that the ceiling is insulated and there is no access from the floor above it. I know there are cans made for this, just have to bring DH around to seeing that it would make a big difference. Too many other projects going on right now, so it will have to wait.

I had two ceiling fans in my kitchen and eat-in area. I switched them out for regular light fixtures and bought a Vornado room fan for the space. We do have central air, but I still find my kitchen gets warm.

Everyone has been so helpful on this fan question, thank you! Please help with my window trim! I have to decide by Monday, (before the fan) ...

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/help-choosing-window-trim-please-im-stuck-dsvw-vd~4056784