This residential project sits on several acres of island paradise along the Intracoastal in Wilmington, North Carolina. Heather Burkert of H. Burkert and Company whose resume includes designs for high-end residential, commercial and community projects throughout the Carolinas, called George Hartner, lead lighting designer at Outdoor Illumination of the Carolinas. Hartner loves life along the Carolina Coast. Whether he is surfing the waves at his favorite break, out on his boat to catch a sunset, or designing a lighting project at one of the beautiful waterfront homes along the Intracoastal Waterway, he finds inspiration in the sea and salty air of coastal Carolina.

Outdoor Illumination of the Carolinas was founded by Hartner and his wife, Jane Cockrell in 2005 and they have designed lighting for some of the most exclusive homes along the coasts of North and South Carolina, including the beautiful coastal towns of Wilmington, Southport, and Beaufort.

"When Heather first invited me to meet with the clients, there was a completely different house on the property," Hartner said. "I started to develop a lighting plan, but things changed when the decision was made to knock down the existing house and start over."

Fortunately, the existing landscape consisting of maritime oaks, sabal palms and beach grasses remained. The new home would be built to live in harmony with the beautiful coastal setting which already included a boat house, dock, and private boat ramp. Designed by architects Charles Boney and Dean Webb of the award-winning architecture firm, LS3P, the new home took full advantage of the water views and included a new entry sequence that would bring guests "to and through the home which would reveal the breathtaking water views waiting out back," said Boney, LS3P principal.

After the new home was designed, and a multi-phase landscape plan developed, it was time to consider the nighttime setting and what role lighting would play. For Outdoor Illumination, H. Burkert, and the team, the task was no small order: develop a world-class lighting design that was worthy of the beautiful coastal setting, incorporate the new landscape and hardscape design elements, and consider features of the new home itself including elevated gardens, an entrance bridge over a koi pond, a backyard pool area, and large, built-in planters throughout the grounds.

 
Hartner credits the lead time he had to get the design right. "Many times, we are brought in late in the process, sometimes even after the build-out is complete. Fortunately, the project team and the client knew the important role lighting was to play so we were part of the design team from the beginning."

"I spent a lot of time early on just slowly walking the property especially along the waterfront, and under the live oaks, taking in the views from what would become the new home. I took lots of photos and then began taking notes. My approach was to be subtle but create something dramatic and magical at night."

The new plantings would include several Japanese maples, birch trees, bamboo, camellias, Italian cypress, more beach grasses, and palms. Multi-level pathways and large boulders would weave their way through the grounds. The home itself would provide its own challenges and opportunities for lighting including the bridge over the koi pond that would lead to the front door, multiple patio areas, a deck and pool area, ipe steps, travertine walls, planters, and more. Classic Landscapes of Wilmington, North Carolina installed the landscape.

With the high demand of the operations, transformers were located throughout the property and conduit ran like underground tunnels and roadways which had to be coordinated well ahead of time. Logistical planning and being able to adapt to the changes were key to the overall success of implementing the lighting plan.

"We used every lighting technique in the book and even added a few chapters," Hartner said. "In addition to uplighting, downlighting, and pathway lighting, there are custom lights built into walls and planters, LED strip lights underneath ipe steps that work off of dimmers, underwater lighting in the koi pond, and specialty lighting for boulders, large garden urns, and statuary."

As for fixture and product selection, Hartner said the most important thing is choosing products that can stand up to the harsh coastal conditions. He primarily used copper, brass and stainless steel with high-end LED lamps and integrated product with variable light output and beam spread options from manufacturers like Aurora. Astronomical timers keep all lights coming on and going off at exactly the same time each night.

"The final touch of nighttime lighting by Outdoor Illumination gives the site an ethereal quality, with outdoor 'rooms' inviting guests to wander the site," said LS3P's Boney.

"We have a dedicated team at Outdoor Illumination," Hartner said. "The client and the project partners knew our work and reputation so there was trust from the very beginning. That's a great feeling but with that trust you need to deliver."

Outdoor Illumination was founded in the Washington, DC area by Mark Oxley in 1998. Although they are separate entities, both the DC and Carolinas organizations are very close.

"Jane and I learned so much about the business from Mark when we started out 15 years ago," said Hartner. "He is not only a great business partner but a very close friend as well."

The Outdoor Illumination team has several lighting projects on the horizon including more high-end residential homes, hotels, marinas, and new developments including ones in Beaufort and Chatham Park.

"I am always excited about the new projects," said Hartner. "You never know what kind of magic is waiting around the corner."

As seen in LASN magazine, April 2021.