Minka Artemis Ceiling Fan is SUPER COOL

**Note ~ the picture here doesn't show the translucent blades, but the model F803TL is the correct one (TL=Translucent). For a good photo of this model, look at Compare Prices!

My husband and I don't always agree on everything, but there's one thing we usually have in common ~ we both have very contemporary taste in home furnishings. So, after 13 years of sweating out short, but occasionally searing Colorado summers in our upstairs bedroom, we decided to purchase a ceiling fan. Our main criteria? It had to be modern looking, and according to my research, it's not easy to find a modern looking ceiling fan. After doing lots of internet searching, we discovered the Minka Aire Artemis Ceiling Fan. The picture alone blew us away, and the price was formidable, but we took a chance and ordered it. We were not disappointed when it arrived ~ it looks even better in person than in the photo!

Description ~ The Minka Aire Artemis has three vanes, which alone give it a more streamlined look than four-bladed types. Instead of flat, straight blades which are common to many ceiling fans, the Minka Artemis blades are contoured and curvy, which lend aerodynamic properties to the fan's operation. You can buy different versions of the Minka Artemis with vanes composed of either liquid nickel, mahogany, maple or translucent acrylic. While each version looks yummy in its own way, we chose the translucent acrylic model because it appealed to our modern taste and looked unique. We also thought it would blend tastefully with our dark, contemporary furniture and not be too prominent in the room.

The fan's crystal clear blades are chic and mesmerizing to watch while the fan is rotating. Another unique feature of the Minka Artemis is its translucent housing. Wow! I just love how my fan looks like a modern art sculpture on the ceiling. Also, the frosted light uses a 100 watt minican halogen lamp (which came with the fan) and really brightens up the room at night.

Installation ~ My husband, a really handy guy, installed the fan himself. Don't worry ~ he has done lots of electrical work before, and he knows to turn off the power at the breaker box while he's making the connection. It took him about an hour, but there were a few tricky issues to address first. Our bedroom has a vaulted ceiling which comes to a point in the center. About three inches from the apex is where our original light was installed. So, we needed to reinforce the beams in the attic above the ceiling in order to make it strong enough to hold the fan's weight. Secondly, I purchased a sloped ceiling adaptor to allow the fan to hang perpendicular to the floor. The 6" downrod included with the fan is a decent length, but I wish I had ordered a longer downrod in retrospect. I think the fan could hang a little lower for more effective air circulation.

Controls ~ The Minka Artemis comes with a sleek touchpad that you install in the wall-mounted electrical box (in place of the light switch). The design is fairly intuitive but a little busy. At least it's easy to figure out the controls without reading a manual! (I have played guessing games with other controls). You can control the speed and reverse direction by pressing different parts of a circular touchpad. Also, the light has a separate on/off button. One thing I don't like about the wall mounted control is that it lights up when the controls are switched on. I really detest things that stay lit all the time ~ they are energy wasters and bother me at night with their illumination. So, thumbs down for that. You can turn off the wall control to extinguish the indicator light , but then you can't have the fan running. Ugh...

A minor issue with the wall control is that it sits in a bank of two switch boxes. I need to buy and install a new light switch (the "decora" or rectangular toggle type) for the adjacent box so that I can put a matching double switch plate on.

So, how well does it cool?

According to the fan's specifications, it runs from 40 RPMs on low speed to 110 RPMs (revolutio ns per minute) at high speed. You definitely feel the breeze from this fan ~ and it's amazingly quiet. You do hear a low whirring sound when the fan is on high, but it's unobtrusive and not much louder than a whisper. I am a stickler for quality, and this fan is built of sturdy brushed nickel (with the exception of the acrylic vanes). And for $429 it better be! Yes, that's a hefty price for a ceiling fan, and we looked at many other models at half the price. But, we splurged on this model because it really meshed with the style of our home, and it's a quality fixture which should hopefully run for decades. This sturdy fixture also has a lifetime warranty, so I'm REALLY a fan of this fan!

The Minka Aire website contains lots of helpful questions and answers about their ceiling fans and installation. www.minkausa.com

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Minka Aire Artemis Features At a Glance
Three Contoured Aerodynamic Vanes Featuring I nfinitely Variable Pitch
58" Blade Span
3 1/2" and 6" Downrods
Full Function Wall Mount Touch Control
Integrated Halogen Light using one 100 Watt Mini-can Bulb (included)
Cap Included for Optionally Installing Fan Without Light
Lifetime Warranty
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