How about this configuration?

Our thought, as of this morning, is to do 12' sheets of drywall in the center section of the vault, with hollow beams where the thickened red lines are located, then shorter sheets of drywall at each end. For the sake of expedience, DH would like to forego planking the ceiling. We will still have beadboard walls, though.

What if we did 2 fans (54"?) with light kits hung from the "beams", and then the three sconces along the right hand wall where the red dots are drawn? Will that be enough light? Will it look ok? We will not be able to do can lights in this ceiling.

I'll just sit in a corner and have a conversation with myself tonight, lol. Here are fans attached to a beam:

Living Room · More Info

I'm glad to hear two fans work so well, Tish. I think that's what we'll do, too. This room is the hardest to regulate temperature-wise with all the glass and full exposure to the elements on three sides. We won't hang the fans too low; I don't want to scalp anyone! ; )

It's very interesting to hear you say that more beams would make the off centeredness of the picture window less noticeable. I mentioned the same idea to DH, but it was helpful for him to hear it from someone besides just me. : )

*How many beams do you think we need? Would 5 be be enough?

Im still trying to think through the lighting. We can't do cans. Maybe track lights along the beams, but not near the fan blades, so we avoid a strobing affect when the blades are spinning and the lights are on? I'm underimpressed with the lighting options that are attached to fans in the reasonably priced models. And now that I want two of them...

Are you going to put in recessed cans? I definitely would. I prefer them to the fixtures and the lights on fans. If you are remodeling anyway, I would put in can lights. Maybe 6? And, definitely do LED. 2700K would be my suggestion. We have them and love them.

Be VERY careful with recessed cans and ceiling fan placcement. When we bought this house, we had a central ceiling fan in the family room with 6 recessed cans -- the center two pointed right at the fan. It was fine in the winter if the fan wasn't on, but in the summer, it created a terrible strobe effect. We changed out the fan to one that had a light kit so we could have general lighting with the fan on. Until that fan died. That helped, but it was still limiting. If we needed more light, we had to turn the fan off.

We now have an Emerson St. Croix that has dual motors with the fans in a vertical position. The center cans now shine toward the center post and no strobe. The air is pushed gently out, creating better air circulation without blowing papers around. Something like that might work well in your room, but I would think about howw you will use the room. The photo with the beams looks great in part because the two fans are set above two seating areas. Form doesn't have to follow function (though it usually does for me), but they do need to be related.

We are doing no cans whatsoever. I've experienced that strobe effect, and I agree it's awful. Your vertically oriented fan sounds so nice. It's interesting to know that it doesn't blow papers around. Since our vault will be relatively shallow, I don't think the vertical style will work for us, but who knows who else might be helped by those details. : )

If we do 5 beams, it puts the outermost beams at the far edges of the room. Does this work?

Yays or nays needed, please! I'd like to go shopping tomorrow and get our fixtures and supplies for this room reno.

Here are the fixtures I'm thinking of buying:

1. 52" ceiling fans (2)

2. Sconces (3), 14" high, 9.25" wide

Here are my inspiration photos:

(Possible wall color, overall style.)

(Possible wall color. Maybe.)

We'd love to do a blend of rustic and refined, style-wise. This is our dining room:

An outdated picture of our kitchen (Easier to post than getting the kitchen photo ready at the moment...)

Our living room curtains (temporarily displayed here), couch, and end table:

*Do the fans and sconces look like a good fit for us?

Big nay on the ceiling fan. I think the sconces could work, though.

I prefer fans that blend more with the ceiling instead of the contrast of dark against light.

I found this one, but I can look for a fan that blends with the ceiling better, too.

I think that one is better. As far as blending with ceiling, if you put in beams, will they be stained or painted? If stained, I think a wood grain fan is fine. If you are painting the beams white, perhaps a lighter color.

I'm almost positive we're painting the beams. The only white one I've found so far that I sort of like is this one. But, won't that seem odd with the dark sconces?

Do you use the overhead lights? Or do you prefer lamp light?

We use lamp light, but sometimes we like to have more light than that. The fan lights will be the only lights in the ceiling, other than the sconces. I'm not sure the sconces would be enough light...

I like the simplicity of the white fan. I don't see that the heavy, ornately-carved Victorian style relates to your inspiration photos.

I love the sconces. I don't know anything about the ceiling fan lights ((sorry)) but the sconce is awesome.

If you go with white fans with a light kit, I would use a schoolhouse light or some type of single fixture instead of one with 3 individual lights.

Thanks for weighing in, all! I was trying to find a fan that worked (matched) with the sconces, but it sounds like letting the fans blend into the ceiling is a better way to go. The Victorian style light might be a hangover from the previous owners, since that was more the direction they were taking this house when they replaced things. The house has a few victorianesque details, but when I look up true (heavy, dark) Victorian, it's too oppressive for me.

I'll double check, but DH seemed to think maybe the sconces and table lamps would give us enough light. If that's so, then we wouldn't need the light kits at all. I would appreciate the simplicity of that visually! (Unless I can't see to appreciate it 'cause it's too dark in here, LOL.)

I'll be heading to the stores around 10 a.m E.S.T. today. If you have any last words of wisdom to send me off with, please do so. : )

Two candelabra bulbs will provide ambient light. They come in 40W and 60W bulbs. We have a 5-light over our table in a small dining room and I'd like more light than it provides.

I had another thought. If we get fans that accept light kits (are there ones that don't?) then we have the option of adding the lights later if it feels too dark without them.

You can absolutely forego a light kit right now. I do not care for overhead light in the living room so our fans are lightless. The only thing is to make sure it is wired for a light switch. You could also just wire the spot for the fans and not install them right now, giving you a chance to come back and install them when you find "the" ones. We did that and just had a metal plate over the spot and since it was on the ceiling, it was not a big deal.

Please excuse most of my kitchen sitting in the living room. New countertops being installed today. (That's another story).

Our LR is 30x15. 17' ceilings. We have two 52" fans and use them often. We also use the now-outdated-but-they-work lights fairly often. We never use the track light. It was put up to spotlight the antique quilt and stairs. We use lamps mostly.

I know you said no can lights but I saw a very cool flat LED light being used on TOH. No air leakage and run on remote switch. Something to think about

The most comfortable rooms have layers of lighting. We also have some under cabinet lighting along the top edge of the bookcases.

We use 2700k in LR and 3000k in kitchen.

Here's the pic showing our ceiling fans.

Prairiemoon's generosity shamed me. I did not offer to show you the 2 fans and beams in my living room because my kitchen has been disgorged as DH tiles our countertops. It is somewhat strategically angled to show just beams and fans.

Lol, how well I know strategic camera positioning...and throwing piles of stuff behind the couch to take a picture. ; ) What about this fan? Barn-y looking?

I think that one is closer to the feel you have going on in the room. It is not as overwrought as the first one you posted. The first one it seemed like the designer decided to do "something" to every surface whereas this one is simpler.

Thank you for the pictures and help in decision making. I hope your projects go smoothly and you'll be feeling all put together again, soon! I got the last fan(s) that I posted, and was able to get the sconces as well. They were all for great prices at Lowes, which was a nice perk.