12-27-2025, 02:26 AM
I've recently moved into a mid-century modern house with a large, south-facing picture window that gets intense afternoon sun, and I want to build a custom, floor-to-ceiling wooden screen to act as a passive solar shade and privacy filter. My budget is around $250, and I plan to use sustainably sourced cedar slats, but I'm struggling with the engineering of a freestanding, non-permanent frame that's stable enough not to tip over in our occasionally windy region, yet lightweight enough for me to move alone if needed. The window is 8 feet wide by 6 feet tall, and I'd like the screen to be about 2 feet deep to allow for air circulation, but I'm unsure how to design the joinery and base to achieve both stability and a clean, minimalist look that complements the architecture. I need to complete this before the peak summer heat arrives in about six weeks.