You can go ahead and put a patio cover! I think its the best idea! I had one installed in our house! I googled it its an adjustable Patio cover. www.patiocover.us Its a patio cover made out of aluminum, you wont need a fan or anything, its 100% ventilation, and you can choose how much sunlight you want in. I think its good! I loved it in our house! Can we post pictures here? I have no idea how to do this!

Stay away from Smith and Noble. Stay far, far away. I ordered 6 shades. I paid Smith and Noble to come measure. When the shades arrived, 5 of the 6 were about 1/4 to 1/2 inch too wide for the windows. I asked to return the shades to get my money back. Turns out their "satisfaction guarantee pledge" means that they won't give you your money back, no matter what. They insist on coming back to re-measure, but a) I can't take time off from work again for this, and b) why would I want to run the risk of further screw ups and hassle? Their customer service staff come across as Soviet-style bureaucrats. Evidently, Smith and Noble could care less about disappointing their customers and engendering ill will. I guess my next steps are to file complaints with the BBB and my state's attorney general, as well as dispute the original charge with my credit card company. I'll probably send the shades back to the company's president for good measure. Keep in mind that Smith and Noble's "partner sites" (i.e. sister companies) include Ballard Designs, Grandin Road, Garnet Hill, TravelSmith, Frontgate, and others. You can rest assured that I won't be giving any of them my business in the future either.

Good points, all! I agree, the price is too high for anyone who can sew a straight seam. I, at least, can do that much. Great idea abut finding a good price online, Bodica. Thanks! Your idea about using velcro is a good one, too, Threegrad! That stuff is a godsend to people like me who love to design, but hate to sew. ROFLMAO Carole! But, you make a good point about trying to sew that stuff. I still have nightmares about sewing a chenille pillow for my DD! Squirrelheaven: thank you :~) Good point about obscuring the view with netting. Hmmmmm Jen, I've always wondered what it would be like sleeping with mosquito netting on beds. I hadn't even considered air circulation! My walled garden can get pretty hot during the summer. This is something I really need to think about. Thanks for mentioning it. Polly & Cooperbailey, yikes . . . those mosquitos sound horrid! I feel for you both. I don't get bitten very often when we're vacationing in Michigan, but my DH and kids get big welts from them. Well, again, thanks for all your thoughts on this thing. You've given me a lot to think about. If I do decide to try one, I'll be making my own. I'm too frugal to spend that much for one myself. Lynn

Can't you just put up more glass? if not, I'm sure the clear poly or acrylic type of material would work. they make them w/rivulets so the water will run if you're replacing it, why don't you just leave that 1/3rd open? do you get that much rain that you have to spend the money to have the small portion covered? (I have two similar patio covers but we hardly get any rain so I just have it covered w/the black garden fabric)