If you’ve ever been awake at 3 a.m. flipping through television channels, you might not have failed to notice the horribly pedestrian (yet functional) retractable awning.

And though it may be true that you’re in need of some shade, this never seemed a viable option. A pergola dripping with flowering vines offers a lovely alternative, but you need a green thumb, or an excellent landscaper-and should you live in the desert or the city, your flora choices diminish quickly. But there is hope! Get the shade (and privacy) you desire with UB Arts’ Copper Sunshade, created by Boulder, Colorado artist Uriah Bueller.

The sunshades, offered by Parasoleil, UB Arts‘ subsidiary company, are available in five patterns or as custom orders that make any design possible. Parasoleil explains that its patterns are “inspired from iconic designs across the world and patterns embedded within local and exotic cultures.” These patterns take the best of ornament from broad historical and cultural design, making the repeated motifs timeless: Continental Flower features diamonds and ovals that create leaf and floral patterns; Flanigan uses curvilinear arabesques reminiscent of the wrought iron gates found in Barcelona; Kenyan accentuates tribal shapes; Lemon Drop plays up diminishing sized lemon shapes in a circular design; and Onion stresses onions in sensuous dome-like bulbs. The ready-made panels measure 36″ x 96″ of +90% recycled copper, which is bendable and maintenance-free (for its lifetime). In humid climates the copper will patina to a shiny green much faster than in dryer regions, where the copper will remain russet for quite some time before aging slowly into a cooler hue. The patterns let light in without allowing the sun to take over your outdoor living space. Better still, the filtered rays create dancing shapes of light that change as the daytime sun shifts-making Parasoleil’s claim apt: “It’s about design. It’s about being green. It’s about the shadows.”

Uriah Bueller’s sunshades have been featured in Architectural Record, Architecture and Design of the West, and Colorado Homes and Lifestyles. But don’t let Parasoleil’s Colorado roots limit the copper sunshades’ design possibilities. Custom gates, shutters, and railings make great privacy screens in smaller spaces, such as Manhattan and San Francisco balconies. Commercially, the copper sunshades work beautifully in hotel courtyards and pool areas, as well as bistro and pub entrances and patios. Since the copper is thin (.021″), the copper sunshade can be shaped, molded, and curved, broadening its possible applications even further. And since it’s green-certified, you can admire its beauty AND its environmental footprint while you enjoy its maintenance-free longevity-in the shade, of course.