A magical transformation at Pacific Northwest cliffside residence
Nestled on the cliffside of Port Townsend Island, this magical property presented a unique and enchanting lighting design opportunity. From the towering Madrona trees sprinkled around the landscape to a captivating mermaid sculpture that needed special illumination, our goal was to bring this property to dazzling life.
We began by strategically placing uplights on the giant Madrona trees, enhancing their striking presence and highlighting their natural beauty. These trees, with their distinctive bark and sweeping branches, now stand out beautifully against the night sky, creating an enchanting canopy of light.
The mermaid sculpture, a centerpiece of the property, required careful consideration to ensure it was highlighted with the elegance and charm it deserved. We used soft, focused lighting to accentuate the intricate details of the sculpture, creating a captivating focal point that draws the eye and adds a touch of whimsy to the garden.
To complement these focal points, we designed a cohesive lighting plan that included path lights, uplights, and accent lights. Path lights were strategically placed along the walkways, guiding guests safely through the property while adding a gentle glow that enhances the overall ambiance. Uplights were used to accentuate other key landscape features, such as the stone walls and lush plantings, creating depth and dimension.
The cliffside location of this home required thoughtful planning to ensure that the lighting not only highlighted the property’s unique features but also integrated seamlessly with the natural surroundings. We used a combination of warm, ambient lighting and cooler tones to create a balanced and inviting atmosphere. The result is a landscape that comes alive at night, offering a magical experience that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
This project is a testament to the transformative power of expertly designed outdoor lighting. Whether you are looking to highlight specific features, create a welcoming ambiance, or simply enhance the beauty of your property, our team at Northwest Outdoor Lighting can bring your vision to life. Let us help you turn your property dreams into a dazzling reality.
Designer
Mary Peterson
Installer
Craig Peterson
Additional lights installed by
Max Peterson
Completion
2018
Awards
WALP 2020 – Grand & Judges’ Awards
Quantity of Fixtures
65
Services Provided
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Lighting the pearl in the oyster
A unique challenge presented itself to us during the design in how we might light this cement mermaid statue. Most might highlight from the ground up. Not only was this impossible since it sat on a cement patio, but you would miss the mermaid’s face. Craig fashioned a specific holder and light fixture contraption and illuminated the face AND the oyster pearl.
Illuminating the Madronas
Using two types of fixtures, we illuminated these trees so that they stand out from the rest of the landscape. The colors of the bark and quality fixtures that can reach 150’ up to the top of the trees truly makes a statement piece.
…a real hallmark of artistic integrity and experience.
Northwest Outdoor Lighting is the gold standard of exterior lighting services.
…a real hallmark of artistic integrity and experience.
Northwest Outdoor Lighting is the gold standard of exterior lighting services.
I spent more than three years searching for a company up to the challenge of artistic and dramatic lighting of our home site which is heavily forested with mature Douglas Firs -- tall skinny trees with not much foliage if any at eye level. I found Northwest Outdoor Lighting (NOL) through the network of experts in the Washington State University Extension Master Gardener program for Jefferson County. From my first email inquiry, I knew that this was a company unlike so many in the landscape and residential improvement sectors: President Mary Peterson immediately responded personally, with specific relevant and responsive information, and invited an immediate move forward. I knew even before the initial on-site consultation that this was a company I could work effectively with and from that moment until this, with our new exterior lights on, there has not been a single moment of frustration or disappointment with NOL.
And here is why this NOL client is so wholly satisfied and thrilled with this company:
1. At the initial consultation, Ms. Peterson LISTENED intently to our descriptions of the results we were after and then by herself walked our property. It was clear from the very beginning that there was no plan to offer us a cookie-cut standard collection of safety/malibu/homeowner special lights that I could have had through a big box store or the neighborhood landscape service. It is my experience that such skilled listening is a rare and wonderful skill.
2. Shortly after the initial consultation, Mary returned after dark with a proposed design and equipment that allowed her and Craig Peterson -- master of the intersection of technical know-how and artistic design -- to demonstrate every single detail of NOL's proposed design. Together my husband and I and Mary and Craig walked about an acre of our property, examining the nuances of the effects of each and every proposed light site, adjusting specific angles and intensities, customizing every detail of the design to enhance the specific features of our property. This attention to detail and complete commitment to getting it just right as we wanted was, in my experience, extraordinary. But even those qualities were surpassed by the sheer genius of the proposed design.
3. Words almost fail me in summarizing the brilliance and artistry of the design created for us by Northwest Outdoor Lighting. Somehow Mary and Craig knew just which trees to light, just which direction and angle to catch, just which structures on our site could be glorious after dark. And they knew what not to light as well -- a real hallmark of artistic integrity and experience. Our exterior lighting design is not just simply perfection, it is art.
4. I should also tell you that installation went smoothly --literally issue/problem-free. I have never before had that experience in any home project and I am an experienced home rehab/renovate veteran with six long-term projects under my belt. Even tiny details were attended to by NOL-- the color of our utility box, for example. Old lighting was collected and removed.
5. Finally, you need to know that Mary and Craig are engaging, warm, nice, interesting people who are a pleasure to work with. I wish they lived across the street from me.
In providing reviews of any service provider, I always try to offer constructive suggestions to improve the service or to give the homeowner an assist in managing the project. I can't do that here because I don't know how this company could be any better at what they do. Let me summarize with this: I live on three acres of God's country and one of those acres is now beautifully and tastefully lighted. One down, two to go. As soon as I am ready for the second phase, I will make just one phone call.
You cannot do better for exterior landscape lighting than Northwest Outdoor Lighting.
Christine M.
