That's what we did as well...just bought a timer. I started getting way too confused with all the cell chip stuff plus it started getting pricey. My husband isn't here so I don't know the exact one we have but it looks like this and is inside the garage. He bought it at HDepot and installed himself. Here are several. http://m.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Dimmers-Switches-Outlets-Timers/N-5yc1vZc334?&cm_mmc=SEM%7CTHD%7Cgoogle%7CD27E+Electrical&mid=sbfCfeEI2%7Cdm_mtid_8903o6225187_pcrid_169928974502_pkw_%2Bhome%20%2Bdepot%20%2Blight%20%2Btimers_pmt_b_product__slid_&gclid=COjOmdbul9QCFUIfhgodEHILFQ

As you make your final lighting choice, remember that getting extra light and air flow can work both ways. Are you considering something other than clear glass? Perhaps stained glass for the window pane: something else you might consider is paying more attention to the stairwell side of the window -- perhaps having the window from that side appear to be framed art with a light over it with the switch for the light inside the new office w/loft.

I like the idea of a pergola too. If you cantilever it off the wall, you can avoid having a post in your walkway. Make it deeper and use it as a shaded living area. There are lots of possibilities for that wall in addition to the ones already mentioned - an outdoor kitchen, a place for lounge chairs or a group of chairs around a propane fire pit... You mentioned the area where the salt bags are placed is the optimal place for sunbathing so are you saying you'd like to fit lounge chairs there? Your seating looks to be pretty far off of your retaining walls, if you wedged the grouping closer to the door and retaining walls, it would open up and maximize the largest part of the hardscape plus create a path so you can place some lounge chairs by the pool and then slide them back toward the retaining wall in the cold season. You did a great job on the remodel, especially your stairs.

Is that real brick? It almost looks like some kind of panel made to resemble brick. If it is real, often they just did a thin veneer of brick on only a portion of the house to save money (as if we'll never see the house from the sides? what were they thinking?) Either way they can be removed/ replaced with more harmonious / congruous siding.... whenever it comes time to paint, not right now. If you do a pergola or new porch, keep it simple and in harmony with modest post WW2 1950s style. Your house is not the early 1900s or craftsman-esque style pictured above, and houses start looking like frankenstein houses when they have too many styles from different eras cobbled together. You should find that a lot of contemporary style will mesh quite nicely with your house - since it draws so heavily from that era. The conventional wisdom is to live in the house for a year before doing anything irreversible, but I dont that applies to tacked-on temporary things like awnings and such. Have fun!