This article has a LOT of excellent information about BP's....from how big you can expect them to get, to most of your different options in caring for them:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=59

There are many methods to choose from...it'll be up to you to figure out what will work best in your particular situation. I'll offer this bit of advice though....if your home gets really chilly in the winter and you don't want to go with a plastic tub as a home....I'd spring for a professionally built enclosure designed specifically for snakes with the heating elements and t-stats already installed. It's an expensive way to go, but you get an attractive enclosure that you can be reasonably sure will keep the snake's environment at the appropriate levels. (Glass tanks would be VERY hard to use given the conditions you described)