Fixture placement was critical in achieving a successful result. The project required a magnificent retaining wall and step system built of natural stone and fieldstone. Mature trees provide the ability to softly down-light several sets of steps on the long pathway to the lake. Assuring the safety to the lake, a path light intensifies the foot-candles at the top of each set of steps. During the day the path light fixtures in the steps alert people walking the property.

Incandescent wedge base lamps (GU-0403CU by Nightscaping) softly accent the natural stonework on the house with 11.8-watt wedge base lamps.

The dramatic elevation change presented other challenges besides lighting several sets of steps. The owners requested all of the transformers in one location, a utility storage area in their home. Lighting wire runs covered an extremely long distance. The lighting installation crew pulled an extensive amount of wire through the conduit and mounted numerous fixtures to a rugged, random, natural stone wall surface.

A grand staircase completes the rise in elevation from the base to the top of the lawn terrace. An embedded light can be seen in the wall at right. The stairs are illuminated from a combination of downlights in the nearby trees and small copper post lights mounted in the wall. The rough surface of the natural stone creates shadows and highlights on the entire retaining wall and step system that can be enjoyed on an evening stroll to and from the lake. Copper fixtures fitted with incandescent 16.5-watt T-5 wedge lamps are placed directly in the retaining wall to add night-time texture and interest.

Lighting the Wall

Lighting the entire stone wall surface helped to de-emphasize the house, one of the clients?EUR??,,????'?????<

A brick path winds down to the lake. Path light fixtures warn the elevation change to guests traversing the property. The wiring for all of these fixtures is connected to several transformers located in a storage area in the home and is buried in trenches dug six to 12 inches deep.

Guests of the house can safely move throughout the landscape and enjoy the aesthetic characteristics presented by the natural stone walls and steps and still appreciate the overview of the lake through this complimentary and safe lighting design.

More information on Vande Hey Company, Inc.: www.vandeheys.com

Mature trees enhance the overlook by softly down-lighting the path to the lake. Bell-shaped path lights increase the safety factor by washing the steps with additional light. Fixtures are attached to the trees with two hanger bolts mounted and held away from the tree one inch. The cable is mounted with three-inch stainless steel screws and UV-protected zip ties or c-clamps held out from the tree one inch. Halogen lamps of 20 to 35 watts are used.