Each timber finish offers a different mood — from light and tonal to rich and grounding.
Craft
Handcrafted in Cape Town
Each Sky Fans piece is shaped by hand, from carefully selected hardwood through to final assembly. The Original Paddle Fan® was developed over hundreds of hours, refining proportion, balance and performance until the result felt effortless.
No two fans are identical. The natural variation in timber ensures each piece carries its own character, while precise craftsmanship delivers a quieter, more considered movement of air.
Heritage
Designed in Cape Town, in 1997
Sky Fans began with a simple ambition: to create a ceiling fan that was both functional and visually refined. At the time, the market was dominated by imported designs that were ornate, overworked and lacking restraint.
In 1998, the Original Paddle Fan® was introduced. Its clean lines and understated form offered something different; a quieter, more architectural approach that quickly found favour among homeowners, architects and designers.
29 years on, that same design still defines our brand.
Why it matters
A Considered Alternative
Sky Fans are built with longevity in mind. Materials are carefully selected, finishes are developed over time, and each component is assembled with precision.
The result is a ceiling fan that doesn’t just perform, but endures. Quieter, more refined and designed to sit comfortably within your space. For those looking beyond mass produced imports, it offers a more thoughtful, lasting solution.
Designed and handmade in Wynberg, Cape Town.
About Us
It began more than 21 years ago with partners who shared a vision for handcrafting a uniquely styled hardwood ceiling fan, and in 1998 the Original Paddle Fan®, by Sky Fans, made its first appearance in print.
Our initial focus was on commercial Cooling and Ventilation, including retailing various well-known brands of imported fans. We identified a potential niche market for a simple and elegant ceiling fan, something of superior quality which could grace the most elegant homes.
We searched far and wide but could find nothing suitable ‘out there’: everything looked like more of the same old-style ceiling fans, lots of gold trim, bells, baubles and whistles, no fresh new classic styles or classy designs, nothing which came even close to our dream of simple yet sophisticated style with superb craftsmanship.
So we went to the drawing board and got creative: after many long nights we narrowed down our concepts to one beautiful design, and our Sally-Anne (Designer) concentrated on refining and polishing the rough ideas and sketches, which resulted in the design of our award-winning Original Paddle Fan®.
Featuring an expertly hand-turned hardwood motor cover, with multi ply hardwood paddles, the Original Paddle Fan® soon found a home among quality conscious Home Owners, Architects and Designers who appreciate genuine handcrafting and slick styling. Creating and handcrafting a beautiful ceiling fan with simple, aesthetically pleasing lines, and a reliable tried-and-tested ceiling fan motor, took hundreds of hours of development.
Many tweaks and little adjustment and refinements took place in our small workshop, en route to the superbly finished end result: The Original Paddle Fan®, since 1998. We were thrilled to receive the House Style Award 2000 for our Original Concept and Design back in the year 2000, it still makes us smile! Our Sky Fans Designer has a critical eye for detail and it shows in every aspect of our beautiful handcrafted ceiling fans: unique form and reliable function combine to set Sky Fans apart.
Our superior quality finish is achieved by taking time to focus on the little things that make the difference. Timber is a wonderful medium to work with, as no two pieces are identical, each piece of wood is unique, and it continually inspires and challenges us to seek new finishes in exotic timber and select hardwood for our Original Paddle Fans®.
21 Years on, and our range of Original Paddle Fan® finishes now includes timber options to complement most Interior Designer’s specifications, including our ‘custom’ finish option where we match the finish you specify. Sky Fans, Better and Better!
Our studio workshop is situated in Wynberg Cape Town, with a view of Table Mountain.






