Retro Tropical Rattan Ceiling Fan

28 inches and five blades, which is a deliberately old-fashioned specification. Modern fans go wide with three blades; this one goes narrow with five, the way fans were built when they hung in colonial hotels and on verandas. That is what gives it its period character before you have noticed anything else about the fixture at all.

The detailing carries the tropical half. A woven rattan shade covers the light, the blades carry a walnut wood effect, and a deep green tropical leaf print runs across them. That is a lot of decoration for a ceiling fan, and it works because the elements come from the same reference rather than being assembled from different ones. Nothing here is accidental.

The small span suits a bedroom, a study, a covered veranda or a compact living room, where a 52-inch fan would simply be overwhelming. Installation should be carried out by a qualified electrician, and the ceiling fixing must be rated for the weight and movement of a fan. Indoor and covered use only, out of direct rain, since rattan absorbs moisture; dust the shade dry and check the fixings periodically.

• Span: 28 inches
• Blades: five, walnut wood effect with a green tropical leaf print
• Shade: woven rattan
• Style: retro tropical, resort, vintage
• Suited to: bedrooms, studies, covered verandas, compact living rooms
• Safety: install via a qualified electrician; the ceiling fixing must be rated for a fan's weight and movement
• Use: indoor or covered outdoor, out of direct rain
• Care: dust the shade dry and check the fixings periodically