The Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals

Lighting installation designed to enhance the overall landscape and architecture of the residence, in the front and or back of the property. Outdoor living or entertainment areas are not the focus of this category. (25 fixtures or fewer)

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Project Name: Secret Garden

Project Description:
This homeowner originally reached out to have us replace the DIY bistro lighting over their back patio. I inspected the beautiful space and found a poorly designed and outdated low voltage lighting system. I respectfully explained to the client that his lighting was awful and asked for permission to show him what was possible. “We can absolutely install new bistro lights, but if you will trust me I can change the way you and your family use this space at night.” We put together a thoughtful design, earned the clients trust, and fulfilled our promise. The clients were completely floored at the reveal and dramatically increased their nighttime entertaining in the summer of 2024.

Design Intent:
Our clients were unaware of how bad their existing lighting system was. Designers often face the challenge of educating our clients to help them understand what is possible. While any light is better than no light, many civilians just don’t know what is possible and accept mediocrity as “good enough.” The biggest limitations of the space were the lack of mature branches to mount downlighting, and the small footprint we were working in. The backyard itself was large, but our focus was on the smaller gathering area/garden. I wanted to create a peaceful, comfortable feeling at night. Fixture placement was very important because the space acted as the primary outdoor entertainment space. I did not want a single fixture to make the client or their family experience glare or discomfort.

Image Captions:
Photo 1 – The clients are a retired married couple who spend hours a day working in their carefully manicured garden. They plant ferns, annuals, and perennials and are very proud of their hard work. While uplighting the trees was an important aspect of the design, the true celebrity of the space was the ground cover. We began the design with downlighting. The trees on either side of the space were not particularly mature and we were limited where we could install pendant downlights. The goal was to create the effect of a full moon celebrating the hard work and beautiful plantings of the client.
Photo 2 – We fulfilled the client’s original wish for professional grade bistro lighting, but with the new low voltage system we installed, they now only use the bistro lights when they are having a particularly large party or event. The uplighting, downlighting, and reflective lighting allow the clients and their guests to sit on the patio, interact with each other easily, and appreciate the beauty of the space which previously sat dark.
Photo 3 – Carefully placed sculptures provide small visual surprises throughout the garden. We adjusted the pendant downlights subtly illuminating these figures to add intrigue to the space. At first glance, the viewer’s eye is drawn to the plant life, but when they look closer, they discover the sculptures. We used mostly reflective light to reveal the figures because they are a secondary focus.
Photo 4 – In addition to the ground cover, the walls, and the trees, the clients added an additional layer of interest with hanging baskets. The baskets are beautiful but acted as an obstacle to keep uplighting from penetrating the canopy of the trees. The height of the healthy ferns made it necessary to use riser stakes to keep the uplighting from creating hotspots on the ground cover.
Photo 5 – This photo shows the garden from the driveway and highlights another design challenge. The small space we were celebrating has multiple viewing angles. When guests arrive they park in the driveway and approach the garden from this angle. Others may enter the space from the home (the predominant angle the clients will see from inside their home). Yet another possible viewing angle is from the pool area looking back towards the home. We used hex louvers and were very mindful of potential glare from all of the various viewing angles.
Photo 6 – While the client could use the bistro lighting if necessary, we wanted them to feel comfortable entertaining, dining, and relaxing in the space with the LV system alone. They can now comfortably enjoy a meal, a drink, and a pleasant conversation and show off their beautiful garden the whole time. The secret garden is no longer hidden at night, and our clients now feel like their back patio is a true extension of their living space during the day and after the sun sets.