The fabric you saw was probably something you would have to get from a designer. I've seen some great ones at the merchandise mart. Sounds great for a deck or patio. The big metal grommets (2" DIA.) are quite expensive as the equipment to set the grommets is about $200, and the grommets are about $1 each. If you are going to do it yourself I'd suggest getting the standard grommets at HD -chrome or brass- and using picture wire, attached to the wall with eye screws, instead of a rod. I love the idea, let us know what you do.

We have a huge screen porch in TN and love it. Screens on 3 sides, skylights on top. The screens are not really that distorting of the view IMHO. We essentially used 4X4 posts 4' apart and installed screens in single pieces framed by 1X2 pressure treated wood. Works great. ON the lower level we put in pickets to prevent our small kids and pets from breaking the screen. We did cut interesting designs, swirls, hands, lightning bolts, moons, etc in the pickets to make it interesting. We used 1X4 pressure treated for pickets with 1.5" of spacing and made a 2X6 shelf all around at waist level to support the top of the pickets. EVERYONE who comes by to see it loves it. Things get buggy here and it is really nice to snooze on the porch and not worry about blood being drained.

I grew up in a very rural area, and I remember visiting older family members and old, old houses. I remember clearly the "working screen porches", where people'd sit and string beans or slice apples for drying. Details I remember: - They were always rectangular because that provides for better furniture placement. - Yes, always a spigot. Never attached to the house; rather, a pipe sticking straight up through the flooring, always near the main screen door. - The floor was always wooden, and it always slightly sloped downward towards one corner. In that corner was a hole (approximately 2" round) with a removable plug. When the floor was scrubbed, the lady of the house used a stiff push broom to push all the water towards that corner, and she could push the water out through the hole. - The porch always had shelves for large enameled bowls and food waiting to be processed. - Many people had porch swings inside the screens. - Most people had a porch of this description on both sides of the house. Why? So the lady of the house could always work in the shade. I think I got off topic, but I remember spending so many hours on those porches.

you know your kids...so obviously take that into account, but every time I thought I had "safety-proofed"" something in my house, my oldest child (my only climber) would figure out some way to scale it. That is my kids too. I think at their current ages if they want to climb they will find a way regardless of the railing. I can see them going to get the ladder themselves and trying to sneak it through the house. Maybe I'll make the porch for adults only. LOL! What about samples, and I am not talking about the railing. Mark, I usually have an idea of where you're headed with the cryptic messages, but I'm not following this one. Can you explain what type of samples your referencing? @Doc5md, I'd love to see pics if you get a chance to post them!