Okay - so before I can automate (and I have plenty of ideas for that) I need to finish the deck-work. The design for the 2009 layout looked something like this:
Although the actual layout was somewhat different.
Currently, this is all on a 2x4' sheet of plywood with 1/4" rubber feet. To make room for the electronics and wiring underneath, I need to lift it up onto a base - but it also needs to be able to come off the base again for storage. (And "storage" means "in a protected spot where neither cats nor children nor spouses nor self will smash the landscaping".) The best idea I've been able to come up with is this:
There are a number of advantages to this design: it will hide the Arduino and the wiring, the feet will be easy to remove and store, the inset front means it will fit on the bricks in front of my fireplace, the cut out in the back will fit around the projecting knobs on the fireplace, and, most importantly, I have a bunch of 1'x4' and 2'x4' strips of plywood left over from cutting the original layout.
The downside is that I don't like the way it looks very much. Since this is going to be displayed in the living room I'd like it to look as nice as possible. Anyone have any better ideas?