Nightscapes

Are you following us on Facebook? If you are you will have seen the finished product of my front landscaping and outdoor lighting. We rolled our sleeves up at The Cob Collection and really dug into this one. Of course we wanted something that was aesthetically pleasing, without looking like a runway or alien invasion, and we wanted an eco-friendly design that provided optimal lighting using the least amount of energy possible. The final product provides a beautiful view using strategies throughout to enhance colors and plants and to safely light the walkways.

Landscaping Network offers a lot of information on all aspects of landscape design and has a gallery of pictures you can look through too. They suggest the following list of points to consider when choosing lighting for your landscaping:

A lot to think about! You can visit their site for more detailed information on each item.

Now that you know what you want to light you’ll need to think about what kind of fixtures to choose.

Post cap lights
*photo from trex.com

Can you believe there are so many choices?

We added a few special accents to the lighting design of my house. One of them is the two scrolled bollards we used at the entrance to the driveway. They cast a beautiful shadow against the concrete and add a unique touch to the design.

Lastly, we used photocells on the front and side lanterns. They come on after the nightscaping goes off – around 2 a.m.

Here’s a side by side comparison of day and night views.

We recommend checking out Volt Lighting. They have a wide array of fixtures to choose from and they offer a lifetime warranty (20 years) on transformers, photocells, fixtures, wire (unless cut) and led bulbs. Their service is top rated! Get a bad bulb, call them get a free shipping return label, and a new bulb sent out ASAP. They also provide unique lighting for hubs only (hubs are a fused junction point for transformer and fixture wiring. This allows an encased area to splice all wiring instead of using wire nuts).

If you’re planning on adding some lighting to your landscaping be sure to take the time to create a well thought out plan. Putting your house in the best light after the sun goes down not only looks pretty and provides function but adds value.

Need help? Just ask! We’d love to hear from you.

Let’s create great design.