Unlike many designers, I don't find ceiling fans that unattractive. I buy the ones that are simple and unadorned and that fade into the ceiling. None of mine have lights, but that's because I have enough lamps. On a porch, I can see where you might want to add a fan with lights.

I have the same situation - originally was a carport, resulting in two walls. We extended the floor so that half is an open patio and the other half is covered. It gets so hot and muggy under the covered area due to lack of air-flow. I replaced a single light fixture with an outdoor fan late in the fall when we were doing some vinyl work but haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. I will say it looks much better and I feel that it will circulate and stir the air out of the box'd in corner during hot weather. I'll let you know in July how it works.

I got mine at Lowes.

I DO NOT think outdoor fans are ugly - in fact, I think they impove the looks of outdoor porches. I would go with two fans if I were you - looks like your porch is long enough. Looks like you could use your recessed light wiring - defintely get lighted fans.

I actually love the look of a ceiling fan on a porch. Gives it a coastal living feel.

Here is a link that might be useful: [porch ceiling fans[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/porch-ceiling-fans-phbr0lbl-bl~l_40024)

We had that same situation. We finally realized that it was the vents from the house that were blowing hot air from the attic onto the porch and that the only hope was to place ceiling fans on the porch. It was rather large so we ended up with 4 fans, and an even larger electric bill.

Thanks for the suggestions. I really just want it to disappear as, no matter how I look at them, they don't feel right to me. Coastal would be great if we were in the south, but somehow in new england they just look out of place to me.

Do they come in colors or are they paintable? I'm thinking the white or silver metal would look out of place and the dark brown would really stand out more than I'd want. I guess I'd want something very simple and streamlined like the white one in the link that Janice posted....

Unless I just bow to the obvious, it is what it is, and go for it.....

I have outdoor fans on our porch and we used a dark brown that blends in to our stained tounge and groove ceiling, which is a darker ceiling than yours. I really caution you against using a white fan...they show so much dust.
Will you be using dark furniture out there? Dark fans would coordinate nicely with something like that table you have.

Maybe something with teak blades...and definitely an enclosed light so as not to be a bug catcher....I see they come with remote controls too which would be good if we can't get an easy switch solution....

They are a necessity at our house and we have them everywhere as dh is addicted to fans.

This is going to be my next bedroom fan which I think has one of the most attractive traditional light fixtures I've seen in awhile. But this is an outdoor fan.

Here is a link that might be useful: Craftmade Fredericksburg

I happen to agree with you, I do not like them. In our last house we had a closed in porch that also trapped heat so function over form won and I researched noise level and found one that blended okay. It did help even if I never liked the looks of it.

Hate them, mostly. But not all of them are the nasty '80s fake Victorian box store junk. Check out Mika and Modern Fan. Many are too mod or industrial for your space but some would blend in.

I don't like them either, but on the porch I do. There's supposed to be a little air movement outside. If the porch isn't situated properly to get air, we have to help it. I think you're going to end up liking it.

If I were buying for a porch I might go with some kind of palm-looking fan blades, or, industrial look. (steampunk?)

Have you seen houses with mirrors on the porch. I think that looks cool, too.

I like ceiling fans on a porch. If it gets hot where you're at, so what? You don't have to be on a beach to use them.

Have you considered a tall floor fan that oscillates? You can tuck it away in a corner or something, but near the main seating area. They make some beauties now.

We have a large area on our front porch that's blocked in by three walls, and we intend to either install a ceiling fan or buy a floor fan. Otherwise, we can't sit there in the summer.

I would get teak or brown though, they'll blend in over white.

Bumblebeez, that's a very pretty fan. I rarely like fans with lights, but that one would look great on a covered patio.

Another southerner who will not (cannot?) give up my ceiling fans. Actually I long as I have one in my bedroom, I am okay. It is rare that we do not sleep with the fan on. I supposed we've gotten too used to it. We use an outdoor one in our sunroom - we have the windows that slide open to screens out there - so at certain times of the year, it's nice to have the windows open and the fan running.

Ceiling fans have come a long way.

tina

That's a lovely porch Annie. A nice snoozy couch and a fan would be perfect in summer.

I love them. The feel of a gentle breeze on a warm day is very pleasant. I like simple ones with a separate wall control regulator. Check the noise rating. Also many of them can now be mounted quite close to the ceiling and blend in. Check this link

Here is a link that might be useful: Retracting blade fan from Fanaway

Sunny, I don't get the anti-ceiling fan sentiment either. Maybe someone can explain it?

I don't even notice them anymore unless they're so ugly they stick out like a sore thumb.

Give me comfort over aesthetics any ole day. And if I happen to be a guest somewhere, PLEASE give me a fan at night.

Speaking of...when I stayed with a friend a few weeks ago, her patio is so large..LR, DR, full kitchen, FP...she had 4 ceiling fans. I noticed them only because of their beauty and my jealousy. lol. We sat outside in freezing weather, and then she flipped a switch and this big ceiling heater turned on. I never even noticed it but boy was it cozy! And then I got jealous again. :)

We love our fans in the south, and I'm not giving mine up for aesthetics:) I have friends who haven't turned their fans off since 1985 (ok kidding). To me there's something about a ceiling fan whirring on low to add a little life to the room. Anyway, I'm with Fun2behere - I always choose a very basic looking ceiling fan. This way they don't become dated as fast. A simple fan in the same color as your porch ceiling might blend in and not stand out too much.

Please be aware that there are outdoor fans rated for use in damp or wet conditions. Very nice patio!

We have two ceiling fans in our living room that I hate. DH argues with me every time I talk about removing them. Worse yet, they have 4 lights each - ugh. I do live yor porch, Annie. I think a fan out there would add to the charm, but I would skip the light fixture

The model I have on my covered porch is Jasper. I purchased from Lamps Plus. I love it because it looks like an outdoor fan , it has faux stone on it and a little bit where. The blade attaches to the housing. I'm using my iPad and have no idea how to insert the site picture. It really is a nice quiet fan!

I love my patio ceiling fan. I only wish I had put 2 instead of one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Regency Bimini Ceiling fan

Are they all pretty quiet? Or should I pay attention to noise ratings...or is it a function of how they are installed and balanced?

My daughter's fan literally fell off the ceiling. Apparently it was just too heavy because it was installed correctly. I think it was Hampton Bay (possible Harbor Breeze - I get them confused), the kind the sell at Home Depot. So don't get that brand, in addition to it being scary and dangerous their customer service was awful.

When I was looking to replace it, I went to some local lighting shops and found Craftmade. Totally changed my opinion of fans! They are 1000% better looking. Not to mention the quality is so much better. I love my daughter's new fan, and before I just thought fans were kind of ugly. Hers now has thick blades that are carved. It's just so much nicer looking and completely silent. You can check them out online, but if you can go look at them you can get a much better idea about the quality.

Ours is super quiet.

We have a variety of fans including Craftmade and Hampton Bay and they all run the same and are the same level of quiet. Proper installation and balancing is most important for a quiet fan. Heavy fans need additional bracing in the attic.
The Hunter fan in the bedroom has run every night for 13 years with no problems ever.

we put a fan in our gazebo ~ 8 yrs ago... it isn't beautiful or even attractive, but we love it. the breeze of the fan helps keep away bugs, so we don't have to keep the screens in and i put a bug lightbulb in the light which helps too i guess... would prefer a fan without a light, but that was our only lighting option there with the fan...

When I was a Yankee, I loathed them. Now that I live in the South, I would never be without them. They are not necessarily unattractive. Our porch fans have dark wood blades that blend in with the porch ceilings. I don't notice them, other than the breeze when they are on. If you can commit to cleaning the blades regularly, I'd look for a gray to blend in with your outdoor ceiling. Otherwise, go dark. I have a weird hankering for those palmetto bladed ones, but they'd look dumb here, unfortunately.

I have friends who haven't turned their fans off since 1985.

ROTFLOL

Here is a link that might be useful: Fanimation

This post was edited by kitchendetective on Sun, Feb 3, 13 at 10:00

I think ceiling fans look nice on porches. Sure there are ugly ceiling fans but there are plenty of nice ones, too. Maybe those decorator shows influence people into thinking they aren't stylish. I don't know anyone who doesn't have several.

I agree about getting two fans for your porch. If you want them to be less noticeable get simple white ones.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I almost like the Bimini posted by pps7, but it's hard for me as I don't like them at all...at least not for here. It certainly looks better to me without the light than with. So definitely 1 will be more than enough for me, though for you in warmer climes, I can see where more than 1 would be welcome. Mother had them in all the rooms in her FL house, but even there, we rarely used them.

I'll have to touch base with our remodeler and have him come and measure and look over the installation site to see what needs to be done and how feasible it is. It would be nice to have before summer hits though....nice to think about seeing as we had snow last night. Brrr.

The attitudes toward fans do seem geography-driven. Here in soupy Georgia, we also have them practically everywhere, including 2 on our back porch. Whereas in New England and New York they have been much less appropriate because relatively seldom needed--and, let's face it, a chandelier of any type is usually more attractive for anyone who wants something hanging from the ceiling.

Now, given climate changes, we'll probably start seeing more appreciation up there for fans. Funny how wonderfully attractive they can look as one comes in practically dripping with what's supposed to be a dainty "glow." :)