We've had ceiling fans in 2 houses, one with 7'8" and another with 7'6". My husband is 6'4" and he has no problem with them hanging over his head. One was over a dining table, I have one over the island in my kitchen, and a small one is in my son's room. They all have hanging lights. I confess I don't care for the look of the lights on them, but we have no AC and they certainly help keep our rooms more comfortable in hot or muggy weather. Of course, S.Carolina gets a lot hotter than Maine.

Actually, most ceiling fans (not huggers) are made to be installed on 8 foot high ceilings. It's only when a ceiling is lower than 8 feet that you need a hugger fan. As long as the blades are 12" or less from the ceiling it will be up to code. Here are some other important considerations: 1) Outdoor areas require more airflow than indoor areas because they are not confined spaces and the open air takes away from the intensity of the breeze since there are no walls for the air to bounce off. 2) When the blades of a fan are less than 12" from the ceiling, the amount of airflow it produces is reduced dramatically. Hugger fans may move as much as 30% to 50% less air than a fan that is hanging from a short rod where the blades are 12" from the ceiling. 3) It is better to use 2 smaller fans than one bigger fan, particularly outdoors. Smaller fans spin at a higher RPM and typically will produce a stronger breeze, but they produce that breeze in a smaller area, hence the need for two of them. So, two 52" to 60" fans is better than one 72" to 84" fan. 4) Don't just pick a fan by it's looks. Be sure to check out how much air it moves (CFM) and how fast it moves the air (Windspeed in MPH). The most important consideration is the wind speed because ceiling fans cool you off by creating a wind chill effect that is directly related to how fast the air flows, not how much air is moved. Larger fans move a larger volume of air, but at a lower speed. Even the best typical size fans (52" to 60") can only produce wind speeds close to 4 MPH. Lower end models may only produce 1 to 2 MPH. So look for fans as close to 4 MPH as possible. 5) Ceiling fans with the newer DC motors use about 75% less electricity and are typically better quality than the common AC motor fans. Here's a link that filters: DC outdoor ceiling fans with Wind Speed Close to 4 MPH Greg Tillotson Ceiling Fan Expert Hansen Wholesale https://www.hansenwholesale.com

Eight-foot ceilings in a home that does not already have architectural features are better left alone, without trim. I would choose a softer ivory white for the trim and use that color for the ceiling also.

good point. Not a big fan of edison bulbs , and not very familiar with the light they cast. The brass one shows up often on pinterest, but I can't find anything like it in retail. yet ;) The attached photos show a fixture that has adjustable arms for different directions. If we could have an electrician mount it without the extending poles from the ceiling, we'd have the clearance we need. It would be more like semi flush height The bulb covers (?) are smoky glass and can hold 60 Type A - so, dimmable, regular bulbs, led bulbs..whatever works, I'm guessing. Shame that you can't tell the light you'll get without have it hard wired first. Thanks for your reply