Now I finally know what it looks like to be on the other side of one of those "scary" (when I was a youngster) grates that were in downtown sidewalks
That's an ingenious perma-temp solution while you mull things over. I took the leftover square cutout (for the skylight) from that section of grey foamboard I used to cover the Air-con insults to the overhead carpet and if/when the sun is right overhead I use a couple of pieces of blue tape to stick it to the garnish. there is a slight gap all the way around the perimeter so it kind of works like your louvers (but with less of a view). I tend to be parked in the shade when the sun is directly overhead, but it doesn't always work out that way. September through April-ish the sun is low enough in the sky even at noon that I don't do anything. Taking inspiration from your photo, I think I'm going to make a square out of Phifertex shade cloth and then replacing the four corner screws in the garnish with snap studs and then I can snap the shade cloth up when I want to. Then I will get the nifty filtered light like you do during the high-noonday-sun season when not in the shade.
Speaking of the "bruised" overhead carpet (thanks, Air-con
), as shown previously in the thread, I found some grey patterned foam board that looks pretty decent up there. However, I have in the past thought about filling in that whole "top tier" overhead section on the inside with something like semi-gloss whiteboard. I would fill in the areas that don't have that extra ~1/2" of depth* with something like extruded foam board to make it all level, and then just do the whole thing. I like lots of reflected light, and the carpet kind of soaks it up. Plus then I would have a washable place to swat mosquitoes
BG
*Not sure if all are the same, but in my overhead there is an additional ~1/2" of added thickness in the area that has the Fantastic vent, forward light, and [former] Air-con, then another little section under the rear light (the one just ahead of the stove/sink). This is all in the uppermost tier.