Ontario, There are two types of keypads for vantage. One type of keypad (a regular keypad) communicates with the central processor and does not have a lighting load wired directly to it. The other keypad is called a "scene point" and has a single lighting load connected to it, and also communicates to the central processor so it can control any lighting load that is on the system. We did this so we could the save the cost on adding another central processor as each processor can have 48 loads connected to it. I think we actually have 90 loads on the system so we would have had to buy two processors and a big bulk of the cost is in the processor. The only regular switches we have are basic lutron motion switches for closets, and then regular lutron maestro dimmers in a couple of guest bedrooms. These regular lutron switches/dimmers are completely separate from the vantage system. Wiring diagram for main floor: If you are doing 48loads are less then you do not have to worry about using "scene points" as I described above. You can just use a single central processor and then the normal keypads in each room. If however, you are doing more than 48 loads but less than 96loads then the method I described above will save you many thousands of dollars. Hope this helps!

As a perpetual tourist (I live here), here's my take: 1) STATUE OF LIBERTY. This is an all day trip. Go early. Book your tickets ahead of time on the Internet. Pack a lunch. The kind of food they sell on the island is the kind that gets you sick on the ferry going back. You can go to the highest point, the crown, if you go on the first boat of the day. But it's not worth it (tiny little room, tiny windows, crappy view, horrific climb up corkscrew stairs to get there). The rest of the day, you'll go to the base, which has a great view. There is also a fantastic museum IN the Statue. You can buy combo tickets for the Statue and Ellis Island, but even if you whiz through the Statue, you will end up with about an hour to spend on Ellis Island--if you are really interested in Ellis Island, think about making it a separate trip. 2) I third the STATEN ISLAND FERRY. Here's what I usually do with my guests. Find out when sunset is (check the paper's weather page or the Internet). Make sure that you are in the waiting room for the Staten Island Ferry 15 minutes before that time. Get on the ferry. Watch the sunset of the Statue of Liberty. When you get to Staten Island, get off the ferry and get on the next one going to Manhattan. If you are in the front of the boat, facing Manhattan, you will get a postcard view of downtown Manhattan all lit up. Did I mention that this trip is FREE??? As I think of more, I'll post more.

Just to toss out another idea to ponder. If you live in a area with a strong regional style, I think it's okay to decorate with a nod towards that style, even if it isn't strictly appropriate for the house itself. My 60s phony colonial tract home resides in a lovely part of Connecticut with many beautiful historical homes and many excellent historical reproductions. To me, the 60s tract homes in my development seem out of place. They don't relate to the area and have an anachronistic feel. My neighbors have maintained their homes well. But some of the modernizations, especially of the interiors, strike me as off -- you just don't get a sense that you live in Connecticut. Everybody loves living here because of the historical charm & the abundant natural beauty, but walking into some of these homes, you might as well be in Des Moines. Or Provence. Or the Upper East Side. Two years ago we needed to sink money into the house as most of the original materials and mechanics were failing. I thought about the inappropriateness of some of the changes we were making. Was I trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear? (Yes) Could I successfully transform a 60s house into a genuine colonial style? (Not really) Would I be destroying the architectural integrity of the home? (A purist would think so). These houses were never plumb & square anyway. Mine sags in the center even. Why try for spit and polish, or even maintaining the 60s feel, when rusticating it could blend in the quirks and flaws? Low unlevel ceiling? It's a feature! So we went ahead with the changes: shingles that mimic the historical houses, traditional colors, native stone. We got rid of the triple track windows with the hideous aluminum storm covers, replaced the skimpy moldings with wider ones, replaced the flush doors with 4-panels, banished the bright brass with black iron or ORB, ripped out vinyl flooring and put in stone-like tile, replaced shiny for rustic, sleek for textured, contemporary for old. Eventually we'll put in wide plank pine flooring in the family room. On the whole, nothing could be mistaken for antique or genuine. It's more a nod to the past with modern materials. So yes, the house is still a 60s phony colonial with a too flat roof and asymmetrical window placement, but at least it now feels like a Connecticut home. It seems to relate to the area better, both in looking at the home and in looking out of it. (Maybe that's something I missed having lived in 2 contemporaries with big, low windows, that sense of connecting with the outside.) By trying to nudge the house towards a more historical, local, true colonial feel, I did all the "wrong" things, but the house seems more right for it.

The balcony on the right is the neighbor's the townhomes are set up as grouped duplexes. We also have an equally large balcony on the back overlooking the pool. A lot of space to fill! These balconies are not really convenient to use because we have sheers in the bedroom windows that we keep closed for privacy, so we have to battle through those, and the balconies are much more exposed so less pleasant to sit on. We have a large patio out from and out back, both of which are much more private and have shade, so we have no shortage of sitting outdoors space. I would have been happy with no balconies and just some railings with window boxes or something! Yes HOAs can be limiting but to be honest I am glad, when you live in close quarters you don't want to have everyone putting up random stuff everywhere or storing junk on the balconies. Also the HOA is responsible for painting and repairing balconies so they want to ensure that plant pots are not sitting in water rotting the deck etc.