John,
If it is a small repair, you may want to test out a product at Lowes. Homax ceiling texture. I'd suggest trying it on a scrap piece of drywall (make sure it's at ceiling height for testing). ... read more
I second the suggestion for the Eze Breeze panels. Great product and our clients love them! Here are a few pictures of a nice porch we completed a few years ago using this product.