Great ideas so far! Our smart pergola by Arcadia has really helped facilitate needs much like yours. We find a lot of our clients hesitant to give up one thing over another due to either the pergola itself, the space, or restrictions. One thing to keep in mind with a wooden pergola although beautiful and helpful is that in most cases it is wooden, and it requires some maintenance over time. You potentially risk the problem of an open flame for a bbq, grill, and fire pits. Another that we encountered was the overall maintenance during the course of seasonal change and climate changes. Rain, sun, heat, and cold weather all take its' toll on wood, even treated wood with oil or stain. We would love to help you create the perfect patio just the way you dream it to be! We invite you to take a look at our page, gather some ideas, and see what the Arcadia Louvered Roof could provide for your home. Our system is completely customizable in color and size, allowing you to keep every possibility available! Our built in gutter system keeps you dry and allows you to provide shade at any time of the day! Good luck and let us know how we can help with your Houzz project! -The Shade Team Shade: Outdoor Living Solutions

Louvered bermuda shutters on the north opening.

You could do IPE that one looks like teak to me a bit impratical since the rain will still soak everything under it. I think if you want a cover then it makes sense to be rain proof to protect the stuff below.

At my old house I had an 5x7 indoor area rug on my front porch mostly to wipe feet on. It didn't get wet from the rain, but I did drag it out to the driveway to hose it off once in a while. I had no problems with it fading or falling apart.