The ceiling fan in the living room was pretty bad too. Like the fan upstairs, it was a two-tone brushed silver with light colored plastic "wood" veneer. However, while it still looks like an airplane propellor, its streamlined shape suggested art deco. This photo was taken before we moved in.
While I was painting the walls, I decided to try to salvage the fan. I had read of other people painting their fans (here and here) with success, so I decided I didn't have much to lose. I would either end up with a beautiful fan that I'd be happy to continue to use, or a still-ugly fan that I would still want to toss. I got a can of metallic paint (in oil rubbed bronze) a small sponge roller and some foam brushes. (I painted the fan after painting the ceiling; I kept the fan wrapped up in plastic while painting the ceiling to keep drips off.) I didn't bother taking the fan down or taking it apart. I just took the glass shade off the light kit and cut the power off at the circuit breaker while I worked.
After two coats of the Rustoleum and 24 hours of drying in between, I've got this:
Not bad, right? I think this one's a keeper. I painted the ceiling hooks that a former resident installed in front of the windows too. I'm thinking of putting up a hanging plant or pendant light over there. As of Sunday night, we still have a lot of work to do, but at least we have a functioning living room again.
