>>>You need an inverter, batteries, switches, wiring, and some place to stick the whole business that won't look too horrible.<<<
Forget batteries. They are too expensive, and too much of a headache. Rather, oversize your system to where the excess energy is "sold back" to the power company on "good days", and used up on "bad days".
For the purpose of this post, "sold back" means your power meter runs backwards; "good days" means days with lots of direct sunlight; and "bad days" means days with little or no direct sunlight (e.g., cloudy).
Note that if you want to be completely off the grid, you will have to use the battery method. Plan on an expensive system. It is better to stay on the grid.
I confess I haven't looked closely into that, but I think you're right.
Also, I wouldn't need to sell power back to the company, probably. As long as it was cheaper, I'd be happy simply to reduce my electric bills rather than eliminating them. We have a socialist system in Vermont, where the first kilowatts are actually cheaper, and then if you use more than the minimum, you pay more; the reverse of what is normal from an economic standpoint. So small houses benefit and larger houses with kids suffer.