Outdoor Illumination

Intracoastal Waterway Estate, Wilmington, NC

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:37:56 +0000

Yet another great partnership with Landscapes Unique. They gave us the palette, we went to work. There are so many great features to this estate that we have to go back to do a second photo shoot! Some of the things you’ll notice is a bronze osprey statue that sits on top of a column along with her young babies sitting on top of the opposite column in a copper basket. We used rope lighting to light the babies and then shot the osprey with a miniature MR 8 bullet light, about the size of a small LED flashlight, that we hid behind the babies nest. For the rest of the estate, we used three underwater lights at the pond to light the waterfall and planters, well lights to light the arbor and a series of uplights and path lights to light the dry creek and birch field in the front. The first bench is lit from above using a hand-carved copper hanging light that comes down from a branch in the mulberry tree. The second bench is lit from a small tree that sits off to the side of the bench and the palms. Have a look at the magnificent crape myrtle in the backyard. It is one of the oldest in all of the Wilmington area. There are over 100 lighting fixtures used on this project and we are extremely proud of how this turned out. More importantly, Outdoor Illumination has another very satisfied client!

Landfall Estate

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:15:12 +0000

This beautiful home is sitting on one of the nicest waterfront lots in Landfall. We were called in by our great partners, Landscapes Unique, to develop a nighttime lighting plan that would complement their amazing landscape design. Featuring everything from a grove of wax myrtles at the entrance to a bed of river birches and a dry creek running around it, we spent hours and hours developing the plan of action. As the pictures hopefully show, we think we got this one right. And fortunately, the client agrees!

Olde Point

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:48:33 +0000

Here is a project that we did that is close to our hearts as it is also close to our home. This beautiful estate is on Olde Point Golf Course in Hampstead, NC. This was another one of our partnerships with Landscapes Unique and once again they helped to provide quite a palette to work with. Obviously a favorite feature here is the pergola in the backyard which we lit using brass well lights that have been carved into the stone floor. We created a little tunnel of light that leads visitors from front to back down a beautiful walkway which we lit with both path lights and our moonlighting technique from large oaks above. The big reveal comes at the end of that path as visitors are greeted at night by the pergola which sits right beside the golf course. Other soft lighting is used throughout to give a foresty feel to this magnificent property.

Hampton Suites, Swansboro

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:48:18 +0000

The brand new Hampton Suites hotel in Swansboro, NC opened in July of 2011 and Outdoor Illumination was there to light it up. The owners asked for a subtle approach to the lighting and Outdoor Illumination delivered. Most hotels use glaring, intense high voltage lighting but we went with a different approach. We used low voltage lighting which lowers monthly electric bills coupled with infra-red lamps which provided the necessary lumen output to reach up the four-story columns of the hotel. The finishing touch was put on the pool area by installing low voltage column lights around the pool. Instead of glaring lights, hotel guests enjoy basking in the soft glow of the lighting at night while taking in a night-time swim.

Homewood Suites, Mayfaire

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:30:53 +0000

The Homewood Suites at Mayfaire called in Outdoor Illumination to brighten up the pool area at night which is a huge focus for the entire hotel. The pool area includes a dining area, large swimming pool, Jacuzzi, outdoor large screen TV, barbeque, and even a putting green!—all of which is surrounded by a series of over 40 large sabal palms throughout the grounds. We used a series of techniques including uplighting, downlighting and path lighting throughout. The Homewood Suites is a beautiful hotel but we’re a bit partial to visiting at night!

The New Hanover County Arboretum

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:18:38 +0000

Outdoor Illumination was called in to light the Ability Garden and the pond area at the Arboretum. From the pictures, you’ll see how we provided the moonlighting approach that we are known for. A single 50 watt 60 degree infra-red lamp sits 40 feet up on a branch that provides beautiful, soft lighting on the deck at the Ability Garden. We also lit the pond area in the back so now everyone can enjoy the Arboretum at night as well as day!

Caribbean Plantation

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:14:44 +0000

This exciting project involved the installation of over 100 fixtures and five transformers. The plan included a loggia, swimming pool, herb garden, sundial, tropical palms and live oaks to mention a few of the lighting elements. Also one of the largest stone benches you could possibly imagine. We up-lit the loggia using well lights, used copper path lights in the herb garden and a tight beamed spot light to bring focus to the sundial. We used a combination of various wattages for the live oaks and palms and our famous “moonlighting” technique throughout the yard. Much thanks to our partners on this one, Donna Ray Mitchell, Landscape Architect and Dave Thomas, DP Thomas Builders.

Wrightsville Beach (North End)

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:08:42 +0000

Working with our partners, Landscapes Unique, we approached this one keeping in mind that the pool was the focal point in the yard. Every element of our design was to complement the pool, not compete with it. We used an uplighting technique on the palms, but we also came down from the palms as well to “moonlight” the pool walking surface. We also up-lit the palms near the fire pit and used path lights to help guide people back from a beach walk at night.

St. James Plantation

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:04:22 +0000

Another one of our St. James projects, this beautiful estate features a row of beautiful crape myrtles at the drive and river birches and live oaks throughout the yard. We hand-built a special light that fit nicely into the small Japanese pagoda near the front steps. We also got to work with our great friends from Cape Fear Water Gardens on a beautiful pond and waterfall out back. We incorporated LED lights in the pond and complemented them by using our “moonlighting” technique from the live oak above the pond.

St. James Plantation

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:58:27 +0000

There were several interesting characteristics with this estate which included river birches out front, a live oak with a large rock sitting next to it, a bocce court in the back, along with “Puff” an imported dragon statuary from China. On a fun side note here: the most powerful type of Chinese dragon is the horned dragon, or lung. The Emperor used its power so it is sometimes termed “the Emperor’s Dragon.” Puff is a horned dragon. The nine major characteristics that Puff displays include a head like a camel’s, horns like a deer’s, eyes like a hare’s, ears like a bull’s, a neck like an iguana’s, a belly like a frog’s, scales like a carp’s, paws like a tiger’s, and claws like an eagle’s. It has a pair of large canine teeth in its upper jaw and long, tendril-like whiskers extending from either side of its mouth. The design approach was to go for balance without over-emphasizing any one feature. Well, okay, maybe Puff did get some special attention, but he blends in magnificently into the back trees and the golf course off in the distance. (Please notice how we got his shadow to show up on the pine behind him.) We placed the bocce lights on a separate circuit so our client can switch the lights on and off for games. Another great partnership project with our friends from Landscapes Unique!