forgot to mention you have a lovely room.

We have one on a vaulted ceiling in our family room and it is used much as OP uses hers.

Our is all white (it has no lights) so it blends with the ceiling color. We did not want it to be the first thing you notice when you walk into the room. It hangs in the middle of the room, from a huge 6 x 16-inch roof support beam (also white), with a 12-inch down rod. The bottom of the fan is 102 inches from the floor. For me a ceiling fan is not a decorator item and I wouldn't want it to hang any lower.

For resale I think as long as it's not ugly, you'll be fine. Either blended to the ceiling or decorative.

Yours doesn't hang down real low so it wouldn't be the first thing to notice, unless you went too bright or too bold. The wood suggestion is a good one!

Thanks Justgotabme for the compliment - I've been working on it!

Well, we have a split decision - one for wood, one for white and one for either! That's how I feel. I think what got me worried is I was looking online at them, and the wood ones were either really fancy blades, or the blades were a different shade of brown than the base. I couldn't just get a plain ORB metal with dark brown plain blades. I guess I need to look around more.

You can definitely get away with a warmer, rich looking one. In fact, I think it will stick out less than a white one. It could blend right in and pull everything together, making the ceiling less "separate" from the rest of the room. As it is, things feel a little cold in your ceiling area.

I prefer fans that blend into the ceiling. I don't want the ceiling fan to be a focal point in the room.

Another vote for white. Here is our story. About 18 years ago, we remodeled/expanded our home. The designer we worked with recommended the same simple white fan for our bedroom, den, and kitchen. When we asked why, she said it would stand the test of time. Well, she was right. Everything else has changed (slowly) in the house. Shiny brass has changed to ORB. Our color scheme has lightened and cleared. Some of our wood tones have gotten darker. The white fans, though, are still there. Other than needing to be dusted (haven't done that in a long while), I wouldn't change a thing.

Another vote for white - especially if you have resale in the back of your mind. I'm in the camp that feels that the fan is not what I want highlighted in a room. The more it disappears into the ceiling, the better.

I also agree with the above post that the more decorative ones tend to trend out very quickly and are more apt to convey a particular style (Tropical, Tuscan, Old World, Retro, etc.) that may not appeal to a prospective buyer.

Well, I am in the process of getting rid of my white ceiling fans. I should add that they have shiny brass trim. The newer styles just look better to me, but as you can see it is a matter of personal opinion!

I've always loved decorative ceiling fans. I've been having a lot of fun the last few years picking out different fans for each room of the house - and not a single one is white!

Here's an ORB one in my den that might work in your room. It has metal accents on the blades and has a hammered metal body.

Chief,

That's a beautiful piece of carpentry in your den! Love to see what you end up filling it up with!

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I will have to take a look around at what's out there...I know in the bedrooms we'll stick with white. If I get an ORB one for the FR, it will be fairly plain, but if I can't decide, I guess going with white will be safe. We've had a white one in there for 10 years and I never thought - wow, I should change that out to a dark one, so maybe that's telling in itself.

We never use white in the FR...white fans remind me of a baby's room. We put this one in last year:
Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Hunter Stratford -- Bronze!

Have never cared for white ceiling fans. They remind me of white provincial furniture.

With all the wood at the floor level, I think having some balance with a wood ceiling fan would work the best. There are some lovely options available (even through the big box stores) that would dress up your room and give it a little more personality without detracting from the great base that's already there.

I'm with mpwdmom on white fans. They are great for bedrooms (especially childrens) but in a great room like yours white would frankly just look too dull and out of place.

I agree with many of the above- I think one that is more decorative might work better. I am nto one to love ceiling fans and we moved into our house and they are in the EIK/DR are and the LR. They were old but worked well since the house was a vacation home. We took the fan down and sprayed it a hammered bronze. Heres a pic - look a little dark in here.
Old Fan

Caroleoh - I love your curtains in the Family Room. Did you make them or buy them - if made - what is the fabric. I think that is similar to what I've been looking for for my LR.

Thanks - Hope that helps!
Ruth

I like the darker fans, but if you are looking for a cheaper priced fan, then go with white. Many of the ORB or metal fans end up being quite pricey. My walls tend to be darker so the darker fan looks beautiful. The old white fan stood out more.

I would go with white. I don't consider those a decorating asset, and you have so many other things in the room that are worthy of attention, that I would want the eye to just kind of gloss over it and not make it worthy of study.

Since fans don't cool a room or the air, but merely move it around, I would keep it up higher if possible.

For resale, at least for me, I would probably take it down.

Thanks for the new comments...Still haven't made a decision.

Ruth, the fabric is a small stripe, and I was really worried about it when we first ordered them. But, I am happy with them, they're just a bit different being striped and they give some color to the dark brown/gold/beige of the rest of the room.

The fabric is Roanoke Salsa. I had the drapes made by a fabric workroom. You can find the fabric online or I actually bought some to make my pillows with at Joann Fabrics. At Joann's it is a custom order fabric,I think it was $39/yard, but with their 50% off coupon it is fairly reasonable. I was amazed at how expensive some fabrics can be. Several I liked were over $50 a yard, one over $100. I just couldn't even do a pillow out of those. I wouldn't let my kids touch them at that price!! But anyways, the drapes turned out great, so I am pleased!