Thanks for the replies, I appreciate them. I ended up buying what T8 32w fluorescent tube I could find, which was 5000K in color temperature. I'll see how that does with my succulents. It's very intense light with the 2 bulbs vs. the old 1-bulb fixture, and the fixture is very handsome. I got a 4' black steel "shop light" by Lithonia at Home Depot. It has to be ordered online. It doesn't look like one of the classic white shop lites, it's very sleek and futuristic in design, with a shiny reflector inner surface. Here is a link that might be useful: Shoplight

For your lighting control system, it would be expensive but possible to make every fixture independant. Group the light fixtures as it makes sense. Each independant fixture or group will be wired to a remotely mounted dimmer or switch. Some systems have multiple dimmers and switches in a single device called a module. The systems can be programmed to operate as you suggest with group A, B etc., controlled by individual buttons or by current use of the room which is actually easier to deal with in large rooms with lots of zones of light to manage. Button 1 is for reading, 2 is for TV, 3 for movie, etc. A combination of these two button designs can be most effective. Wall washing (what you had) is a bit different than more intensly focused accent lighting which is what normally one thinks of when displaying paintings in a home. Narrow hallways full of small family photos could be a good use of wall washing. Gallerys that tend to change paintings often might flood an entire wall but some galleries move their more precise accent lighting at every show. Halogen is a popular lamp choice. For smaller fixtures and precise beam conrol use MR16 lamps. Par 30 lamps are lower cost per fixture. The size and placement of paintings would be helpful to know for whomever is laying out the lights. Step lights add more visual drama. I'm not convinced that they add any safety unless if in the riser they are in each one. Anything else is just for effect. If in the side wall then you have to know what fixture you are working with. It sounds like you are tackling the job of lighting designer with little experience and need to be good at it by morning. Good luck. No pressure there at all.

Hi I had my house done in a foam stucco about 10 years ago. It was done in a light beige color with the trim in a light cream. Well its time to freshen it up. Its very dirty and has some green algae stains on one side that doesn't get a lot of light. So my first question is does it need to be cleaned first? I'm scared to power wash it and damage it? Can I use a chemical and spary it on? Or should I use a good primer and then 1-2 coats of paint. Also what type of paint should be used? Is there a special type needed? I really want to use a good quality and not have to worry about painting it for another 7-10 years as it is a rental property. The first floor of the house is brick and the stucco portion is on second floor. Would it help to go darker so that it hides dirt better ? Thanks

Yah, that topic has been hashed over dozens of times. Basically just get a 4' shop light with T8 bulbs in the "Daylight" spectrum of around 5000K. You can add more shop lights as needed depending on how many and the size of your plants. I made racks to hang them from out of PVC pipe which is super cheap. The chains on the lights can be lowered and raised as needed that way. No need to spend a hundred dollars on a fancy lighting system to grow a dozen or so plants. If you grow the plants in a cool area, like a basement, you might want to invest in a heating mat. They especially help with germinating. But again, not necessary. I start my seeds in mid February for planting out in mid to late May. Don't start your plants too early or you will have trouble with room by the time they are ready to go outside.