I've been wondering about painting one. I haven't ever used the metal spray paint but maybe it would be ok? What do you think? Too tacky? But it would still be the ugly NuTone or Broan so what color? Certainly not a color to draw attention? I haven't spent a lot of time on this yet. I got sidetracked with the floor. I wondered too about a box of some sort to cover the outside edges? Camouflage so to speak?

If your ceilings are white, then the "ugly" white ones will probably just blend in and not ever be noticed. Do you really want to call attention to your ceiling heater?

My ceilings are tongue in groove natural pine, they are beautiful. I truly don't want white plastic up there.

Well why didn't you say so! LOL I wouldn't want white plastic on wood ceilings either, but surely one of those companies make a black or brown trim. If not, they should. Maybe painting the trim will work...

not sure about bronze, but have you googled radiant heat ceiling panels? i know those can sometimes be painted with latex paint. they would take up more room than one of the broan products though.

I wonder if you could use one of these.

Here is a link that might be useful: Laurelhurst Fan Co.

Radiant ceiling panel, interesting but wouldn't work for this bathroom. I want a small unit to preserve the look of the wood ceiling.

Love the Laurelhurst product photos, but they look like fans only with no heating capability.

Get a piece of plastic to test on, and spray it with a plastic-compatible spray paint (there are many at HD; i just sprayed my blue plastic rain barrel with hammered bronze paint, it looks great). If it still looks too painted to you or the wrong color, get a little tube of rub 'n buff, which comes in some good metallic tones, and rub on/wipe off color until you get the color/texture you want. When the wax dries, the rub-n-buff won't budge. I used it to adjust the tone of the house letters on my front door to match the antique mail slot, and a year later, the finish is still perfect. So it will stand up to bathroom humidity of it can stand up to a new england nor'easter.

I don't recommend rub 'n buff directly onto plastic, but I believe it will adhere well to painted plastic.

Here is a link that might be useful: rub 'n buff

You can buy Just the grilles at Laurelhurst now. It is mentioned somewhere on the website.

Slateberry, I think you might have the ticket. Your solution sounds logical and doable. Thanks.