Okay then, high ceilings are definitely one way to deal with the light issue, I am good with that, think they are lovely on a porch. But...doesn't having a high ceiling compromise the amount of shade you can get under the porch? I mean, the sun has to get at a much higher angle for there to be shade under a porch with high ceilings, which translates into less time with shade under the porch, right? Or do I have that backwards? I am building in the deep South here guys, so I am walking a fine line trying to balance the very real need to have porches/overhangs for shade to minimize heat gain with my desire for natural light inside (some of my problem would be taken care of with the right kind of insulated windows, I guess). Guess you can't have both light and long hours of shade under the porch, I just want every damn thing, lol. But ah, the skylights are a great idea! Just one or two, though. Gooddogs, I am still thinking about that inspiration picture you posted above. I think...if my back porch were as big as one section of the porch in the picture (from one set of double posts to the next only, this must be a very wide house in your pic), with one of those skylights, then that would be just enough of a dream porch for me, would not need to change a thing from the way it is pictured. There is a great example of my dream front porch, it is in a BHG home ideas mag from a few years ago, but it doesn't seem to be online, so I am going to scan it in so you guys can see it, it is so gorgeous. Be back soon with the pic....

Based on my experiences with my own I'll try and answer some of your questions. First of all it is critical to decide how you want to use the space and what you intend to grow. That will dictate how it has to be built. Based on your description, you will need more glass area to grow anything year round. Think about how the sun moves through the seasons as far as angles. Low in the sky in winter and high in summer. Having the glass true south is a must, that is a mistake I made, and now I have to supplement the sun to get enough direct light for some of my plants different times of year. You can grow tropical plants without heating the space if done correctly. I grow citrus in mine and it is a passive greenhouse in zone 5 outside Denver, CO. As far as material I personally would stick to mold resistant woods and stay away from metal completely. Humidity is a real issue in the colder months, especially if you want a tropical feel. My interior is sealed cedar with no problems thus far. There is however some issues with the sealed steel holding retaining walls. As for company's, books, advise, etc., there wasn't much out there when I was researching. Although my greenhouse is not what you are talking about building, I will attach a photo to give you some idea of some of the remarks. This is 16x32, 28' tall at crest. It has a 8x32 heat sink at 8 feet.

Thanks for explaining the install, olychick. It sounds like a great option for other folks. We get wind even on sunny days. When I read the reviews, several customers in colder climates had problems with the motors freezing and icing, rendering the shades inoperable until the sun had a chance to defrost the units. That's a no-go. I could see those being awesome in other locations, though! Maybe someone else will be inspired. : ) Thank you so much fun2Bhere for posting those pictures and for the explanations! That's very helpful. You have a beautiful location, too. : ) Wait a minute, where's the other picture? I wanted to show DH what was visible through the shade in that one. Is there any chance you can add it back?? It showed more of your landscape than the sunny pictures. We aren't on water, but we have lots of landscape to enjoy, so that picture might help him, too. I'm pretty sure we're going to go for solar shades in 5%. I just have to make up my mind which color to get. I like how the white shades would blend into the molding when rolled up, but it looks like the white has the poorest view of all the samples I got. But, the dark roll might really bug me. Hrmmmm...

IMO your plant looks ok. I would suggest bright indirect light. Anytime my pilea leaves get direct sun, even for an hour, they get little brown burnt spots. Do you rotate your plant? I find the leaves are always reaching towards the light so I rotate mine regularly. That might help with the drooping/lopsided-ness.