Have you ever thought about floating shelves? I think pairing a few floating shelves together would look great and would free up space in your living room. I really like the Eugene floating shelf from Bryght and I think it would compliment your existing pieces. http://www.bryght.com/product/160/eugene-cocoa-shelf

Hi drmdilip -- While I waited for my trumpet vines to fill in sufficiently to provide summer shade, I sewed three matching striped shower curtains together, using the button holes on each end to tie it in place. I did this because as the vine was growing new, each thin runner would drop between the rafters rather than grow straight across. After a few years now, those thin runners have become a massed layer of thick vines, all of the new growth is straight up and by the end of summer I'll be able to easily remove my temporary support and have a roof of vines. It's not rainproof though -- for that, polycarb is practical, and I love the copper above!

Sujithra, Everyone has their own costing formulas. Due to professional courtsey we wouldn't want to compare/comment on that. However, BWP ply and PVC sheets base cost is similar. Just changing carcass material the reduction in cost may not be substantial. Thanks, Nitin Cornerstone Designs Bangalore.

Why would you not want to use glass in those tall openings? It may be the main source of light for the interior of the building during the day. Unless you really can't bear so much sunlight or you are concerned about the lack of privacy at night. In which case you can use frosted glass instead of clear upto the top of the second slab level. Above that level you will get three vertical rectangular frames. You could commission stained glass panels for those. Alternatively, below the stained glass panels you could used wooden slats with gaps in between