Deep in the heart of Austin, Texas, Hunter Fan Company teamed up with the Southern Living Idea House 2018 to help stage an ambitious Huntervention. Hunter fans were used throughout the home renovation to complete its "Old Southern Charm meets Modern Flair" transformation. The project began with a 3,500 square-foot home with a solid foothold in the 1980s. This residence was more than ready for its fair share of TLC.
Southern Living selected acclaimed interior designer Meredith Ellis, of Meredith Ellis Design and founder of JAMES textile showroom, to fashion its classic and graceful appeal. The result? A perfect marriage of southern style and fashionable function. Hunter contributed to elevating the new look.
The original house had plenty of available space, and even more potential: Create better functionality, make the home feel more comfortable, bring in more natural light, and reconnect the indoor spaces with the outdoors.
“The interior was dark and the layout was bad, but I saw the potential,” said Ellis, “I knew that adding skylights in the den and opening up the kitchen and family room to the large southern facing windows would improve the light downstairs and flow of the home.”
Meredith was inspired by the charm of English country houses. “They are really relatable to the way we live in Texas. This house is more formal in layout, but I’m pulling grass rugs, layering patterns, fabric lampshades, art, and some antique textile pillows to make it more casual and inviting. Artisanal hand blocked or screen-printed fabrics, give the house more character and a little bohemian spirit.”
This spectacular transformation features a classically inspirational setting, with the help of modern yet timeless fans from Hunter. The Southern Living Idea House 2018 features six Hunter ceiling fans in different styles, each one serving a different purpose depending on the space. For the designer, it’s important for every piece to work in harmony with the rest of home. “What’s great about these fans is they seamlessly integrate into the style of the home while performing the important function of circulating air throughout, making the home more comfortable.”
Front Porch
Designer Meredith Ellis describes the home with its wide-open front porch: “It’s intangible Southern sensibility. I loved that this house had a very Southern feel to it with a Low Country charm and large front porch.”
The porch features two Hunter Original® fans, in a bronze finish, placed just above two sets of antique rockers. Ready to roll in summertime with cool beverages and refreshments. Hunter Design Director Patrick O’Connell says “It’s really the traditional design. If you’ve got a great traditional space with the gas light lanterns like they do out here it really is the best ceiling fan to go with that décor,” says Hunter Design Director Patrick O’Connell.
Master Bedroom
Ellis loves the classic style of the Brunswick in the master bedroom. Turn-of-the-century industrial design inspired Hunter’s designers to create a ceiling fan with a cast iron inspired housing, but Ellis used the fan in a room with floral design elements giving the fan’s housing a different vibe. Hunter Design Director Patrick O’Connell noted, “What I love about it in this room is the flutes on the housing and the blade irons that have an industrial feel to them in other space here take on an almost tropical vibe that look like bamboo caning.”
Ellis chose to install the Brunwsick without the light in the master bedroom to complement the canopy bed and the recessed lighting in the small room. However, the Brunswick Collection comes with a variety of lighting options, sizes, and finishes to complement any room in your home. The 60-inch Brunswick is also equipped with SIMPLEconnect™ WiFi® technology to help you connect the big ceiling fan with your smart home applications like the Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Amazon Alexa.
Kid’s Bedroom
The Signal SIMPLEconnect™ WiFi® ceiling fan sits centered above the upstairs kid’s bedroom, below a simple semi-gloss beadboard ceiling. The Signal makes this casually refined room feel unequivocally cooler with its elegant appeal. The polished industrial look and heavily-grained wooden blades add a sophisticated statement. “The fan coordinates perfectly with the rest of the room. She chose the warm oak blade side that goes perfectly with the furniture and accessories. The brushed nickel on the hardware coordinates with the hardware in the room and fixtures in the bathroom,” says O’Connell.
It’s also a savvy design choice: The Signal is compatible with smart home applications. Your phone can adjust your comfort. Or simply ask Alexa to do it for you.
Sunroom
At the back of the home is a fully enclosed sunroom. It’s filled with lots of warmth and plenty of sunlight from the added skylights above that open up the room. French doors lead out to the porch and allow sunshine to filter in. The Bennett’s renewed classic look in matte black adds flair to this traditional living spaces. O’Connell noted, “The Bennett is the perfect complement to this room. The Edison bulb especially gives this kind of casual vibe that goes well with the rest of the tropical, casual look.”
O’Connell added that the Bennett ceiling fan with Edison light bulb complements the recessed lighting in the room, giving a ton of options for creating the perfect mood. This five-blade design will also keep you cool on the hottest of Texan summer days.
Back Porch
A picturesque setting perfectly outfitted with ample outdoor seating, skylights, and a dining setting. Meredith’s view: “It’s on a corner lot that rests above the backyard giving you the feeling that you’re perched in the trees.” Of course a Southern porch isn’t complete without a cushioned wooden bench porch swing for sipping iced tea and taking in a classic novel.
Above the porch are two Cassius modern ceiling fans. “I love the size of this patio and that it has room for two Cassius ceiling fans: one above the seating area and another above the dining area. It has a stately presence because it has two skylights, two ceiling fans, and these great copper lanterns on the back,” says O’Connell.
The Cassius ceiling fan is also damp-rated, meaning it can stand up to the elements on a covered patio like moisture and sunlight. That means no droopy blades, the finishes will stand the test of time, and the motor will keep running.
Hunter’s fresh looks and modern innovations complemented this glamorous makeover. “What is nice about Hunter fans is that they have a variety of options that can fit a multitude of needs and have real aesthetic appeal.” says Ellis. “I’ve had Hunter fans in my homes my whole life, so from the houses growing up to the houses I design today, I’ve always used them.”
