Thanks but I bought some yesterday at Lowe's. What I got was a set of 5 xenon pucks that came w/ a 3-position, touch dimmer. The nice thing about that is that I don't have to install a box or switch - the little button just sticks to any surface. I like the fact taht it is all made to work together and I'm not "rigging" anything. I have used Pegasus products before, though. Bill/Memphis

Thanks - I found the manual. Since there is no door on the "alcove", looks like we're okay as far as reqs but still going to be a big job to get those babies out of that closet when their time comes. Still thinking.. Manual says not to put machines on a "platform" which is what I was thinking of. In a post somewhere else, a "motion platform" was mentioned which looked exactly what we need and looks like good ones aren't cheap but I'm still concerned about vibration which the manual mentions. Don't want them to go out before their time. Thanks again for the info.

Hmmm. Good thoughts all. Many thanks. This is a perfect example of the usefulness of this forum, because even though I thought we'd collected all possible alternatives, you all offered two quick new ones I hadn't considered. I don't think moving the steps into the garage will work, because of space & cost. The roll-up door seems crazy at first, but I sort of see where you're going, since it would seal off the garage but avoid possible conflict between the swing of the two doors in the alcove. At this point, I'm leaning toward just putting a solid door in the same spot it used to be: on the left side of the photo, with a swing into the alcove. That will keep vermin out of the garage. We can live there for a while and see how we use the entrance post-renovation. Since not much else is dependent on this door, we can make adjustments in a year or two when we're more informed. Thanks everyone!

Since your alcoves are above the TV hutch, which also looks like it has some items on the shelves, I would keep the items in the alcoves very simple. One fairly substantial item per shelf would look better IMO. I would wait until you get the rug and then use at least one or two items that pick up the color you want to use as an accent, such as a large vase or bowl, plate or a piece of art on an easel.