Starting to build out HA System, need ideas

[Klooney]

I asked this question a little more than a year ago to get some ideas but never got around to building out my system. Now a year plus later I'm ready to start designing/building/putting it together. I purchased a house with an Ademco hardwired alarm system built in. I would like to utilize the hardwired alarm system only if it will work with my setup. 
Current Hardware I would like to incorporate: Nest thermostat, a few Philips Hue bulbs, Ademco alarm system
New Hardware I plan on purchasing: Light Dimmers and Light Switches (leaning towards z-wave) and remotely operated garage door.
 
The hard part, trying to figure out how to tie it all in together. I really like the Revolv due to its simplistic GUI and easiness of use however, there currently is no support for any type of interface from the Revolv to an Elk or similar box to tie in the alarms. I could spend the extra money and purchase z-wave windows sensors, proximity sensors, etc but I like the reliability of hardwired sensors. I would like system that's able to have programmed rules (turn lights on and off at certain times of the day and/or in response to who is or isn't home). 
 
Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[az1324]

Vera?

 

[pete_c]

hard part, trying to figure out how to tie it all in together

 
Welcome to CocoonTech Klooney.  Lots of information here relating to what it is you want to do.
 
Your statement / preface is something I am sort of achieving in "vivo" or live; but its a DIY of sorts.
 
Many times the expectation of an automation vendor/mfg is to "tie it all in together" using "our" stuff only.  "Our" being the one vendor / mfg.
 
You can though make one product work with another and even tie them all together to one interface or console.  That is prevalent here on the CocoonTech.
 
You can look at this doing a mix and match of hardware and software. 
 
Hardware being embedded with flexibility like the Elk or Leviton Automation panel using widely utilized and "accepted" or standard means of security, HVAC, Lighting stuff.
 
Software which can talk to say less than 20 analog to digital devices or 30 different types of analog to digital devices.
 
The console or interface can be anything these days; PDA phone with "buttons" or "Widgets", a little wireless hang on your keychain device, your IPad or Android table or Wintel tablet, a touchscreen tabletop tablet or an inwall touchscreen or a keypad; doesn't matter these days as its your personal preference.
 
Have a read here; ask a lot of questions.  You will get a lot of answers. 
 
Many folks here have been using stuff that has been around now for 30 years and newer stuff that's barely a year old.  You will get viewpoints and comments relating to the why and what of this or that. 

 

[Klooney]

Would the best recommendation be to install an Elk at 500-1k and use vera as the controller? Or are there better more inexpensive options? I'm not interested in proprietary control systems that have to be programmed by local installers, I would like to do everything myself.

 

[az1324]

You can buy an elk if you want or you may be able to interface your existing panel to vera with a serial or network adapter (nutech?) and the appropriate driver.  Or if you want to use Insteon you can do similar things with ISY.

 

[Klooney]

Interface would be much more cost effective. Do you have to have the installer code for the ademco vista in order to use the interface with Vera?

 

[signal15]

+1 on the Vera.  It interfaces with all of the equipment you listed, and there are some good phone/tablet apps for it.  I've got one interfaced with an Elk and some other things.