See if you can find a skeleton of a market umbrella and cover it with the shade cloth or buy a light colored one if you can find one. You do not want to totally block out the sun. I think that would work and not look too wierd.

X

I think your problem is more about "not looking tacky" in front of the house, than the actual structure.

If it's a CA type wood house like mine up here north of SF in Sonoma, you probably want wood uprights..that means rotting in a year or two. If you could stand the idea of metal I've seen metal fitting for sale in hardware stores that appear to fit electrical conduit (EMT) as the long elements....sorry that is not at all clear. The metal fittings are corners and Ts that use a thumb screw to attach them to the EMT (like thin pipe). You can then build a "cube " and cover the roof with shade cloth..use black cable ties...cut them free in the winter and pull the structure out of the ground.

Perhaps painted?

Or hey, maybe copper pipe with the fittings just slip fitted together would hold up? You cold darken the copper pipe and have it not look like a escapee from a remodel.

Hey, free advice is worth what you pay for it huh?

Hello "Clavero" and "Xeramatheum"!
THANK YOU for your great suggestions! Both are do-able... now we just need to find the parts and see what will work best.

The maple tree is in our front lawn, and there's probably no way of avoiding it looking tacky or obvious, after all. We also want to ensure that the sun-shade is stable and does not fall over in a strong wind. THANKS again - have a great day!
MarcyG/San Jose, CA

morningglory or silverlace vine on thin wire trellis maybe two and string fishing line between the two as needed.by the hottest part of the summer you should have protection and some flowers.

A simple latticework on a wood frame would be alright. It would look like it had a reason for being there. You could put a bench, some potted flowers, vines and make a sitting garden.

-Ed