I saw a faux beam in an HGTV show and it looked fantastic. You could not tell the difference and it was very easy to install because it weighs almost nothing. You can also see pictures in Google-images if you search for "faux beam kitchen".

There is no easy solution. You can try to keep as much of the sand as possible from entering your house (e.g., mats at all entryways), and try to pick up as much as you can with filtration systems, but the stuff is still going to be there. For cleaning dust around windows, I prefer using a vacuum cleaner and the round brush attachment. The ideal solution would be a whole house vacuum sytem. With a whole house system, you move from room to room with the hose and wand, switching between the floor attachment and the round brush for the blinds and window sills. You can do the same with a canister vacuum. One thing that will make the work go faster is not placing furniture in front of the windows. If you have to move anything so that you can get to the window to clean it, you have added significantly to the time you spend cleaning.

Brickeyee- I was thinking of using the fiber board or bead board as the ceiling attached to the joists. Then to buy the faux beams from someone like www.fauxwoodbeams.com and placing them on top of the board. I have no idea who makes the best faux beams, so any insight there would be helpful!

i have had both too... the faux were less expensive, but my faux looked faux- no mistaking that they weren't wood! they were also very heavy to lift up and down- i always felt like the cords would break when i raised and lowered them! the cords never broke, but i got rid of them after about 5 yrs. i very much prefer my wood blinds- i have some painted as well as stained... i wouldn't get faux again unless i could see them and try them in a store first- i don't remember what brand they were- maybe S&N? i got them online ~ 12 yrs ago- maybe some brands 'do faux' better...