A Walk Through Vintage Park

The 19th century was a romantic time of horse-drawn carriages, high button shoes and gardens glimpsed beyond wrought iron gates. This era saw the birth of modern lighting – the gas light. With it’s globes of light, Vintage park focuses its attention on this era, but with decidedly modern materials.

The low voltage path, deck and garden lighting collection features extensive use of die cast aluminum in textured Tannery Bronze finish, which provides a striking contrast to the warm soft glow emitted from the gazing ball. Vintage Park includes a variety of coordinating products – from path and deck lighting to a variety of post lights. If you want to turn your outdoor area into a living space with a classic, romantic touch, plan a trip to Vintage Park.

Deck Lighting

Decks log more user-time at night than in the daytime. The lighting layout along the deck will complete the construction of the deck. The lightings give the deck a beautiful and appealing look after sunset. Deck lightings will make the deck beautiful and marvelous. Safety of the deck is enhanced with the charming use of deck lighting.

Low voltage lighting along the decks rails and posts will make the deck shine. Post-cap lightings come with a removable cover or lid enabling easier access to the bulbs. These lightings are very decorative too. There are numerous low voltage lightings available for lighting a deck. Low voltage lighting gives the deck a sparkling appearance.

Post lightings give the deck a great illuminating look. The tear drop look post lighting is an enchanting and a unique way of lighting. These lighting makes the deck a place to relax after the sunset. The post cap lightings are one type of stunning lighting which allows lights to spread in all the four directions.

Set In Stone

The Tuscan Garden Outdoor Collection offers fixtures that are designed to enhance outdoor areas.

With an aged and weathered look, these wall sconces recall the rustic artistry of the stone mason’s hand.

Finished to look like works of art from the Tuscan countryside, these wall sconces are available in a select group of hand-painted faux finishes.
Available finishes: Bisque (unfinished), Greco Trevortine, Navarro Red, Spanish Tile, Real Rust, Granite, Mocha Trevortine and Navarro Sand.

All of the Tuscan Garden wall sconces come with a patented clear polycarbonate socket shelter. Wet location rated.

American Lighting Association Outdoor Lighting Advice

Landscape lighting used to be simple. A few recessed can fixtures lining the front path, a couple down lights tucked in the trees, and you were done. Not anymore. When it comes to the great outdoors, homeowners have seen the light.

"Today, the biggest excitement in outdoor lighting is the whole artistic aspect," says Dan Blitzer, education consultant for the American Lighting Association. "Think of it as painting a picture of the landscape at night, using lights to achieve the look a homeowner wants."

Night-lighting your landscape offers a creative way to showcase your home and property after dark. Properly placed, lights can dramatize trees, highlight favorite shrubs and accent statuary, fountains and flowerbeds. Like any creative work, the options abound.

"The challenge with landscape lighting is that most people don't immediately see all the possibilities," says Joe Rey-Barreau, American Lighting Association Consulting Director of Education and director of the Lighting and Design Center at the University of Kentucky. "Outdoor lighting can be both functional and aesthetic. It's an art to understand how much light to place on a house or determine where the focal points are."

To light correctly, key in on architectural features. Consider up lighting an arbor, archway or facade for a dramatic effect. Wash the side of the house with a splash of light. Graze a textured fence or wall with a focused beam. Illuminate the water in a pool or pond with submersible lights. Silhouette a tree or bush by placing lights below and behind the object. While some lights take a fashionable approach, others focus on function. Low voltage lights installed under handrails, stairs and bench seating on decks help lighten things up for outdoor entertaining. Stronger beams designed to shine over an outdoor activity area like a basketball court add extra hours of post-dusk fun.

"If you cook out at night, position a spotlight in the eaves of the house to send a beam directly over the BBQ,'' says Rey-Barreau.

A well lit home is also safer and more secure. Illuminated steps, paths and driveways prevent after-dark accidents. Motion detectors light up obscure spots when someone passes by. Photocells automatically turn on fixtures at dusk and off at dawn, providing protection even when you’re away from home.

“If your home is not properly lighted, there is a greater chance of someone breaking in,’’ says Daniel Lecian, ALA Lighting Specialist for the Hermitage Lighting Gallery in Nashville, TN.

The key to attractive outdoor lighting follows a less-is-more philosophy. Soft, natural light should mimic moonlight on the property.

"It's important not to over-light," says Blitzer. "What you should see is the landscape, not the lights so that the outdoor lighting tells a visual story at night."

When installing outdoor lights, conceal the light source behind shrubs, tree branches or other foliage -- unless the fixture is a decorative element.

"You should see the light effect, not the source," says Richard Lentz of Lentz Landscape Lighting of Dallas, TX. "The bulb and fixture should disappear when the lights are turned on. All that should be visible is the glow of light on the flowers, the wall or the path."

With more people staying at home it has helped foster the current fascination in landscape lighting. "The trends have been very home oriented," says Blitzer. "People are interested in dressing up their homes even more."

Manufacturers have expanded their stock as well, resulting in more outdoor options for consumers. "For a long time, landscape lighting revolved around do-it-yourself, low-voltage lights picked up at home centers and installed by the consumer in a line about two feet apart," says Rey-Barreau. "These were not really made to withstand the weather conditions and were not long-term solutions."

Styles range from large overhead cylindrical floodlights to minute spot or accent lights used for highlighting specific features. Spread and diffused units set low to the ground, line paths, flowerbeds and driveways and cast a broader glow. The latest looks in such path lights depend on fixtures that can be placed further apart to create a more attractive glow.

Some lights are patterned like three-leaf clusters or single leaf containers. Others boast more traditional lantern styles. Still others beam from within floral fixtures installed in flowerbeds.

"There have been new product developments,'' says Rey-Barreau. "Weather-resistant products and new plastic technology are both attractive and functional."

Bulbs have also improved. Newer 65-and 120-watt incandescent bulbs provide up to 25% more light. Compact fluorescent bulbs produce soft lighting, the highest energy savings, and last up to 10,000 hours.

While most homeowners opt for pure white light, others like the hint of hue. Warm tones like yellow or red introduced properly can make the landscape come alive at night. Green lights can make foliage look even greener.

"Be careful with colored lights,'' says Rey-Barreau. "Unless they are done carefully, they can look garish."

The cost for installing outdoor lighting is as varied as the landscape designs. According to experts, highlighting a couple of trees in a typical suburban front lawn could run from $800 to $1,200. A one-acre property with an elaborate lighting scheme can cost as much as $10,000.

Outdoor Lighting Tips

Outdoor lighting has transformed the porch and patio into a great setting for entertaining friends and family.

It’s fun to walk the perimeter of your house and mentally paint a picture of your lighting ideas and then later watch the nightscape take shape.

Make sure the lighting fixtures you choose are durable and will stand up to your weather conditions. Nobody wants to see a cheaply finished outdoor lighting fixtures fade or drip rust.

Plan so that your outdoor lighting fixtures match creating a streamlined look. We have a plethora of great styles that will put you in good light and will have the neighbors inquiring.

Consider deck lighting evenly spaced. Path lighting will walk people around your property with a friendly glow. I suggest using low voltage xenon light bulbs whenever possible for nice warm illumination and maintenance friendly operation. Always choose low voltage when considering landscape lighting.

For best results choose only one focal point to light up with great intensity. That means using a lighting fixture that will illuminate at least 3 times the foot-candles of your ambient path, deck and lantern lighting. Your focal point may be your favorite foliage, statue, pond or other personal treasure.

Wall sconces also known as wall lanterns are critical to lighting vertical surfaces and creating a soft evenly lighted exterior. I would recommend using nothing greater than 25 watt light bulbs in wall lanterns.

Stylish and durable portable outdoor lamps are gaining in popularity. We offer portable outdoor rated lamps that boast shades made of the same tough materials used for outdoor umbrellas. Convenient and versatile.

Is yours a dark sky?

It looks different than when you were a kid or you think the stars have lost their intensity, the problem is most likely urban sky glow or ”light pollution.”

Poor or ineffective outdoor lighting fixtures are the source of urban sky glow and the problem is no longer relegated to area in and around major cities. It is the cumulative result of over-lighting at malls, gas stations, parks and residential neighborhoods around the country.

Neighborhood friendly outdoor lighting fixtures prevent urban sky glow which come from glare, light trespass and wasted light that spills to the side and upward. This glow interferes with our ability to see the stars and galaxies; to enjoy the night as it once was.

Outdoor Lighting - Traditionally Speaking

One of our best selling new families of outdoor lighting is the Covington Collection.

The traditionally minded design of the Covington Collection is paired with a crystal glass that radiates style and light, creating enviable curb appeal.

The Covington post lantern paired with the Covington decorative post is a brilliant combination that casts warm friendly illumination to your front or back yard.

The Covington post, because of the complimentary black finish and decorative form, will work well with nearly all of our post lantern lighting fixtures.

The Covington wall lanterns are available in small, medium and large and two different finishes. The medium wall lanterns are perfect for flanking your front door. The large lanterns are great around the perimeter of your home and look great flanking your garage door.

Last but not least, the Covington outdoor pendant is simply a classic look that belongs under your favorite porch or illuminating your patio lounge. A+

Designing with Light Outdoors

Outdoor lighting enhances the beauty of your property, makes your home safer and more secure, and increases the number of pleasurable hours you spend outdoors. And it is an investment that pays off handsomely in the value it adds to your home.

A well-lighted front entrance enables you to greet guests and identify visitors. Wall lanterns on each side of the door will give your home a warm, welcoming look, while assuring the safety of those who enter. Under a porch or other overhang, you can use recessed can lighting, pendant lighting, or close-to-ceiling lighting fixtures. A separate rear or side entrance can be lighted with a single wall lantern installed on the keyhole side of the door. To conserve energy, consider post lighting and wall lanterns that use new compact fluorescent.

For the safety and security of family members using the garage at night, you can install a security flood light wall fixture on the face of the garage. In addition, photocells are available that will turn fixtures on at dusk and off at dawn, reducing energy consumption and providing security when you're away.

For added security, illuminate any side of the house that would otherwise be in shadow. To conserve energy, install a motion- or heat-sensitive control that will switch on the light only if someone approaches that side of the house. An automatic timer can control a portion of your outdoor lights to turn off at a certain hour, while basic security lights can be left on through the night. Another proven safety measure is to use timers on interior lights
to make your home look occupied when you're away.

Steps, paths, and driveways should be illuminated to make sure family members and guests are able to move about easily and safely after dark. You can install path lighting or post lanterns or attach lights to the side of the house. Low-level path lights, which spread circular patterns of light, will brighten your walkway, while highlighting nearby flower beds, shrubs, and ground cover. These close-to-the-ground lights are available in fixtures using energy-saving low-voltage current. They are simple to install and can easily be moved to reflect changes in your landscaping. Low-level path lights can also be used to define the boundaries of long driveways. Use shielded fixtures to avoid glare.

Decks, porches, and patios can be converted into romantic evening retreats by concealing low-voltage mini-lights under steps, railing, or benches.

Another idea is to install a spotlight in the branches of a nearby tree.

Don't forget to add stronger light over the barbecue or serving area. To accomplish this, install a recessed spot-light on an adjacent roof overhang or mount spread lights on a railing behind the grill.

All New 120 Volt Monorail Lighting

I appreciate the sleek contemporary look of monorail lighting but not the large price tag generally associated with such high tech lighting.

I was pleased to check out our latest offering from Sea Gull Lighting’s new Transitions 120 volt monorail systems. The Transitions line delivers big style without the big price tag.

The beauty of this system is that it operates at 120 volts so there’s no transformer to figure into the system. That means a less expensive installation and fewer specialized components. These systems can be dimmed with a 120 volt dimmer.

120 volt monorail lighting is a smart alternative to traditional track lighting. These pendants and swivel heads deliver warm task lighting and ambient illumination with a splash of color, style and brilliant sparkle at 120 volts.

We offer matching wall sconces and stand alone ceiling/wall mono points that will create a nice flow of style and purpose in your space.