I have constructed a house, located on a lake in Alabama.  For bad or for good, I prewired for high external lights at each corner of the house.  So I have the ability to install 8 outdoor fixtures, again, very close to each corner.  One side is driveway, opposite that is driveway and a road, no entry doors on these two sides.  The other side is away from the lake and is the main entryway, one door, that now has a sconce light next to it.  The last side is the side with a large deck, two large sliding doors and faces the lake, the master bedroom is above that with nice views to the lake. 

I don't think we want to put up any kind of spots.  I think we want to "bathe the house in light" for lack of a better term.  I have looked at some up/down lighting, pretty pricey, but think could work.  Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on how to light up this house unobtrusively?  The house is 32 X 26, the lake side and entry way is on the 32 foot sides.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Bill

It may be too late for your home but I like lights in the soffits which results in soft light on the walls without blinding people as they approach the house.

"Bathing the house with lights" will be hard to do given tthe fixtures are located at the corners. It would have been best to place them 1/4 of the overall width in from each corner. You are asking a fixture to throw 13 to 16 feet in without a lot of wasted light going into the yard. How far up are the light rough-ins? Right at the soffit? And what "style" of fixture are you looking for? Unobtrusive implies a light with only a "down" component, as you do not want the light source directly visible away from the house. And if they are high you want a light source with a long life, so you won't have to access it often for relamping. What type/color of siding do you have?

Thanks for the reply, here is a pic for a better idea.  I have two foot soffits or overhangs on all sides of the house.  I was wondering if maybe an up/down light fixture might bounce off the soffits maybe creating a glow, I am sure it won't carry the entire width of the structure however.  Maybe the pic will help a little.  I might even be able to put an unobtrusive conduit further away from the corner?

Bill

Alton,
that is exactly what I want/wanted, but should have come here first!!! Maybe on the rake sides I could literally use a single spot or cylindrical fixture to shoot up to the peak bathing the overhang in light??


Bill

You can also use electric lights for outdoor lighting purposes. The ones used for a patio will do as it can also provide the light intensity needed by the size of your outdoor area. It will just depend on the wattage of the electric light bulb you’ll utilize. Using such has several advantages:

   1. As long as they are not used in bad weather, electric lights are safer to use than open flame lights.
   2. The wire used in electric lights is usually wrapped in rubber to protect the copper core from any moisture.
   3. Another thing is that electric lights are easy to use because all you need to do is turn the switch on to make them work.



By the way, if you desire your electric lighting work properly, you must change the bulbs regularly.

Perhaps put a low power flood light out on the deck to illuminate the side of the house.

Your house looks great, I do agree with the suggestions written over this thread.

OK my take on this is as follows.

First evaluate how much exterior lighting you really need. Deck lighting makes sense. So does a light that illuminates the driveway. Unless you live in a very high crime area, there is not a lot to be gained by lighting up the whole exterior. Light colored siding reflects a lot of light in all directions which is not ideal if you have neighbors. Any lighting that you get should be dark sky compatible. In other words, you don’t want light pollution spilling onto other properties. Many communities and codes specifically mandate this now anyway. Most people can remember having lived somewhere that lights from neighbors were a problem. Usually this is simply a matter of shielding and redirecting the light, not eliminating it.
Also think hard about the type and intensity of lighting desired. A deck often works better with low intensity rail lighting then large overhead spotlights. It is a lot nicer to sit out on the deck sipping your mojito in warm low lighting then harsh blue white operating room lights. Make sure you have good coverage on any steps for the sake of safety. Another good place for a directed spotlight is the outdoor grill.

Consider exterior fluorescent lights. They have both good and bad quality’s, but are a lot more efficient than conventional lights.

Good Luck
Eric

Your Sweet Home looks really very good.

I'm with Eric. When we're at our future home site in the country (think middle of a wheat field) on a Friday night when high school football games are being played in small towns thoughout the area, we see the semi-circle glows of stadium lights. Later in the evening as the stadium lights are turned off, an amazing view of the stars and the Milky Way becomes more evident. Note some of these towns are 20 or more miles distant.

Light pollution is a growing problem we need to be aware of.

Some of the most important outdoor lights to have, whether or not you have a deck or other entertaining area, are those that illuminate the entryway. If you have a covered porch, then anything from a simple outdoor ceiling mounted fixture to a more lavish outdoor chandelier will illuminate the space and welcome guests into your home. For those without covered entryways, a wall mounted lantern is a common fixture that can add both safety and decorative appeal to your home when chosen properly.

Thank you all for the suggestions and of course all the complements. Took me 3 years to finish the house and we are finally enjoying it, but of course have many other things on the "to do" list!

Thanks Timdaily, I am going to try the PAR30 LED's on one side and see how it looks.


Bill