Modern alternative to lattice

Does anyone have any suggestions for an alternative to lattice? We need to block off a couple of areas under our deck (while still allowing ventilation), and although lattice is the natural solution, we don't really like the way it looks. We would like something more modern-looking. Any ideas?

OK, here is what I was attempting, and maybe something you can execute much better. I went down to Lowes and bought acrylic sheet, frosting paint, and basically tried to execute the tempered frosted glass look in an effort to try to modernize my regular house/deck. (Luckily, we have a contract on a true MCM and I won't have to pursue that any longer). First off, this is an EARLY picture in the project, and it really came out looking much better than what you are seeing now. Second, I made several big mistakes doing this, one of which was not cleaning good the powder residue left after peeling the protective film off the acrylic before frosting it. This really spotted my frosting, as you can see. Then, I installed one piece, with the frosted side out ward, and not the glossy side. Still, in the end, after the garden spot came in nicely, (the stones were just there to hold the line, until I put down cut stone later) the project looked pretty good. This could be done beautifully. Think about it, despite what you see in this pic.

If the stuff you don't like is the big-box lumber store stuff with the diagonal slats, you could think about making your own out of thin strips of ipe mounted horizontally with small gaps (a little smaller than the strips) on pressure treated 2x4 verticals, spaced about every 2', and hung from the deck. Still a lattice, but you wouldn't see the verticals very much and the overall impression would be cleaner. Plus these materials might last longer.

Have fun,
-KP

What a great question! I have been wondering this myself. I planning to use perforated metal or woven metal from the local metal supply. Ipe might actually look nicer with a wood deck, as kp suggests.

If you go to [url href=http://www.mcmaster.com/]McMaster-Carr[/url] and navigate your way to:

Raw Materials and Springs---then---perforated metals, you should find it.