Looking For Exterior Light
- Thread starter bmac
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_RaT_
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- Peoples Republic of Northern CA.
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- Kioti 3510-SE HST
Are you thinking along the lines of the old porcelin green outside, wide inside reflector that was deeper allowing for a more recessed bulb? I have picked these up at old supply places. They are built very well, porcelin sockets that hold up well. Many have nice radius bend pipe, not just a 90 that you could easily do with a bender. ebay - old outdoor lights
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EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
When I saw the light pasted on the post, I honestly thought it looked like an "eye sore." Just looked out of place and more of an afterthought. Sorry.
There's two reasons for outdoor lighting. Security and/or looks. I don't think you accomplish either with that light and you need to start all over again.
When I built my "street lights", I was going to do something very similar. I'd seen it done at Disneyland and really liked it. But after putting it on paper and working on the design, I came to the conclusion that it was a bad idea for my project.
That style of light suggests 1930's wharehouse to me. Maybe an old, run down farmhouse out building too. Your house is more French country. Very elegant and impressive. To use those lights would be clash in design and something that I feel will stick out over time and become something you'll want to change.
For looks only, I'd be very hesitant about putting anything on the end of those beams. They are very impressive and sticking something to the ends of them will tend to distract from their clean, simple beauty.
Carriage lamps on the walls would look nice and accomplish the same thing. Problem I see with them is it's getting crowded on your wall. There's just not allot of space for lights.
Two ideas came to mind.
First, hide some lights under the roof, either a stip light for cold, outdoor temps, or some sort of outdoor bucket/recessed light. This will give you light at your openings, but wont be a distraction to the house.
My second thought was to abandon the lights at the doors all together and put in two post or pole lamps. Set them out at some corner or natural location. You have thousands of styles to choose from that will increase the look of your home and add security with the ability to light a larger area.
Other benifits to the posts would be creating an impressive entrance to your garage. You could build a planter around the base and have a lighted driveway for late night projects or events.
Again, sorry for being critical, it's not meant to insult, but just offering my opinion on the picture I looked at, and trying to be helpful.
The house is amazing!!
Eddie
There's two reasons for outdoor lighting. Security and/or looks. I don't think you accomplish either with that light and you need to start all over again.
When I built my "street lights", I was going to do something very similar. I'd seen it done at Disneyland and really liked it. But after putting it on paper and working on the design, I came to the conclusion that it was a bad idea for my project.
That style of light suggests 1930's wharehouse to me. Maybe an old, run down farmhouse out building too. Your house is more French country. Very elegant and impressive. To use those lights would be clash in design and something that I feel will stick out over time and become something you'll want to change.
For looks only, I'd be very hesitant about putting anything on the end of those beams. They are very impressive and sticking something to the ends of them will tend to distract from their clean, simple beauty.
Carriage lamps on the walls would look nice and accomplish the same thing. Problem I see with them is it's getting crowded on your wall. There's just not allot of space for lights.
Two ideas came to mind.
First, hide some lights under the roof, either a stip light for cold, outdoor temps, or some sort of outdoor bucket/recessed light. This will give you light at your openings, but wont be a distraction to the house.
My second thought was to abandon the lights at the doors all together and put in two post or pole lamps. Set them out at some corner or natural location. You have thousands of styles to choose from that will increase the look of your home and add security with the ability to light a larger area.
Other benifits to the posts would be creating an impressive entrance to your garage. You could build a planter around the base and have a lighted driveway for late night projects or events.
Again, sorry for being critical, it's not meant to insult, but just offering my opinion on the picture I looked at, and trying to be helpful.
The house is amazing!!
Eddie
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I was just looking at your pics of your house in your other thread and thought of this.
Have you been to a light specialty store? They have all the catalogs of just about every light manufacturer around. When I build a house, or do a total remodel, I go to the one in Tyler that I like. They will beat Lowes and Home Depot on price for similar lights, include the bulbs and deliver.
The big advantage with these stores is you can buy your enitre house using lights that are in the same family of design. Inside, outside, you can tie it all together if you like.
Eddie
Have you been to a light specialty store? They have all the catalogs of just about every light manufacturer around. When I build a house, or do a total remodel, I go to the one in Tyler that I like. They will beat Lowes and Home Depot on price for similar lights, include the bulbs and deliver.
The big advantage with these stores is you can buy your enitre house using lights that are in the same family of design. Inside, outside, you can tie it all together if you like.
Eddie
<font color="blue">That style of light suggests 1930's <font color="red"> wharehouse </font> to me. </font>
When I first read this I was a bit perplexed as I didn't mention putting a red light bulb in the fixture. Then I saw that the 3rd letter in the red word above was an "a" and not an "o" /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
<font color="blue"> Your house is more French country. Very elegant and impressive.</font>
I appreciate the compliments, Eddie. Although we never intended to have a French Country home (we really just wanted a farmhouse look) if that is what it has evolved into, that is fine. I certainly don't want to put a fixture in that would be out of place with the architecture, whatever it ends up being called.
<font color="blue"> Carriage lamps on the walls would look nice and accomplish the same thing. Problem I see with them is it's getting crowded on your wall. There's just not allot of space for lights.
</font>
In the original home design (remember, we are on our second plan), there were 2 brackets between the garage doors with enough space between them for a fixture. And, there was enough space beyond the end brackets for fixtures on the outside of each garage door. We lost that with this plan. And, you are right, I think placing fixtures adjacent to the brackets would limit the size / style of light that we could put in. Therein lies the problem that forced me to start looking for other places to mount a fixture. Hence the ggofy idea of puting it on the end of the bracket.
<font color="blue"> First, hide some lights under the roof, either a stip light for cold, outdoor temps, or some sort of outdoor bucket/recessed light. This will give you light at your openings, but wont be a distraction to the house.
</font>
You know, I was wondering if this was possible. In some of our closets we are installing what the electrician calls header lights. They are mounted inside the closet just over the door header. This idea came to mind as a way to illuminate the doors but there would be no visible fixture. When you mention cold temperature strip light, are you thinking fluorescent?
<font color="blue"> My second thought was to abandon the lights at the doors all together and put in two post or pole lamps. </font>
Are you thinking posts at the corners of the house or at the end of the driveway, perpendicular to the garage doors?
<font color="blue"> Again, sorry for being critical, it's not meant to insult, but just offering my opinion on the picture I looked at, and trying to be helpful.
</font>
Eddie, never, never, never apologize for critiqueing my ideas or plans. I tried to make sure on my construction thread that everyone knows that I don't have a clue when it comes to building a house. And, I lack vision. I know what I like when I see it but I don't necessarily know to incorporate my ideas into an esthetic, functional result. That is why we hired an architect. Sadly, (or maybe fortunately the way her plans turned out) we no longer have our architect to consult with and budget won't really allow me to hire another.So, I look to the braintrust here for ideas, inspiration and help.
You, my friend, have been very helpful during this process and I appreciate the time you take to share your ideas with me. I realize that you have alot on your plate with your own projects and could easily pass over my little problems. So, please keep the posts coming and don't worry about offending me.
When I first read this I was a bit perplexed as I didn't mention putting a red light bulb in the fixture. Then I saw that the 3rd letter in the red word above was an "a" and not an "o" /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
<font color="blue"> Your house is more French country. Very elegant and impressive.</font>
I appreciate the compliments, Eddie. Although we never intended to have a French Country home (we really just wanted a farmhouse look) if that is what it has evolved into, that is fine. I certainly don't want to put a fixture in that would be out of place with the architecture, whatever it ends up being called.
<font color="blue"> Carriage lamps on the walls would look nice and accomplish the same thing. Problem I see with them is it's getting crowded on your wall. There's just not allot of space for lights.
</font>
In the original home design (remember, we are on our second plan), there were 2 brackets between the garage doors with enough space between them for a fixture. And, there was enough space beyond the end brackets for fixtures on the outside of each garage door. We lost that with this plan. And, you are right, I think placing fixtures adjacent to the brackets would limit the size / style of light that we could put in. Therein lies the problem that forced me to start looking for other places to mount a fixture. Hence the ggofy idea of puting it on the end of the bracket.
<font color="blue"> First, hide some lights under the roof, either a stip light for cold, outdoor temps, or some sort of outdoor bucket/recessed light. This will give you light at your openings, but wont be a distraction to the house.
</font>
You know, I was wondering if this was possible. In some of our closets we are installing what the electrician calls header lights. They are mounted inside the closet just over the door header. This idea came to mind as a way to illuminate the doors but there would be no visible fixture. When you mention cold temperature strip light, are you thinking fluorescent?
<font color="blue"> My second thought was to abandon the lights at the doors all together and put in two post or pole lamps. </font>
Are you thinking posts at the corners of the house or at the end of the driveway, perpendicular to the garage doors?
<font color="blue"> Again, sorry for being critical, it's not meant to insult, but just offering my opinion on the picture I looked at, and trying to be helpful.
</font>
Eddie, never, never, never apologize for critiqueing my ideas or plans. I tried to make sure on my construction thread that everyone knows that I don't have a clue when it comes to building a house. And, I lack vision. I know what I like when I see it but I don't necessarily know to incorporate my ideas into an esthetic, functional result. That is why we hired an architect. Sadly, (or maybe fortunately the way her plans turned out) we no longer have our architect to consult with and budget won't really allow me to hire another.So, I look to the braintrust here for ideas, inspiration and help.
You, my friend, have been very helpful during this process and I appreciate the time you take to share your ideas with me. I realize that you have alot on your plate with your own projects and could easily pass over my little problems. So, please keep the posts coming and don't worry about offending me.
Eddie,
We have been to one of those lighting places. And yes they are very helpful. My wife and I went through with one of their consultants and, room-by-room, she helped us select fixtures. Spent about 2 hours with her and I don't think we made it to the exterior lights (this was several months ago).
We will have to go back. By following her suggestions, we more than doubled our lighting allowance with our selections. The builder, however, is asking for a decision soon on this garage issue as the siding guys and electrician are working now and will be finishing up in a couple of days. we'll just have to work around it if I don't finalize my decision before then.
Thanks for the tip.
We have been to one of those lighting places. And yes they are very helpful. My wife and I went through with one of their consultants and, room-by-room, she helped us select fixtures. Spent about 2 hours with her and I don't think we made it to the exterior lights (this was several months ago).
We will have to go back. By following her suggestions, we more than doubled our lighting allowance with our selections. The builder, however, is asking for a decision soon on this garage issue as the siding guys and electrician are working now and will be finishing up in a couple of days. we'll just have to work around it if I don't finalize my decision before then.
Thanks for the tip.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Thanks for the kind words and understanding my point of view. I don't mind offending people when I want to, but sometimes when I type something, and I'm trying to be helfpul, it comes out wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
As for hiding lights inside the covered overhangs over your garage doors, I didn't really know what to use. It just seemed like something that would look nice as accent lighting, and maybe for when you pull up the the door for some light. Floruecent lights have issues with cold weather and will attract the bugs.
Just thinking outloud, I'd consider some sort of single bulb ceiling porch light. Paint it black if it's not already a dark color and put a low voltage yellow bug light in it.
For the post lights, I was thinking about putting them at the beginning of the driveway that's part of the garage. There's a point when your drive to your house turns into more of a parking pad/entrance sort of area. My thought was to accent this transision with some attractive post lights.
You can get them from 8 feet tall with some ornametal detail at Home Depot for a hundred bucks all the way up to 20 footers that you'd see in a city park for a grand or more.
The think I like about the cheaper department store models is they are less expensive, of course, but you can also build up the base with a really attractive flower bed and tie it all into your landscaping.
Do a google search for outdoor lights, street lights and pole lights. Some will just show you the basic item, but every now and then you can find a nice picture of some very impressive lights installed.
And lastly, back to putting the lights on the wall. Remember the old saying, sometimes less is more.
Eddie
As for hiding lights inside the covered overhangs over your garage doors, I didn't really know what to use. It just seemed like something that would look nice as accent lighting, and maybe for when you pull up the the door for some light. Floruecent lights have issues with cold weather and will attract the bugs.
Just thinking outloud, I'd consider some sort of single bulb ceiling porch light. Paint it black if it's not already a dark color and put a low voltage yellow bug light in it.
For the post lights, I was thinking about putting them at the beginning of the driveway that's part of the garage. There's a point when your drive to your house turns into more of a parking pad/entrance sort of area. My thought was to accent this transision with some attractive post lights.
You can get them from 8 feet tall with some ornametal detail at Home Depot for a hundred bucks all the way up to 20 footers that you'd see in a city park for a grand or more.
The think I like about the cheaper department store models is they are less expensive, of course, but you can also build up the base with a really attractive flower bed and tie it all into your landscaping.
Do a google search for outdoor lights, street lights and pole lights. Some will just show you the basic item, but every now and then you can find a nice picture of some very impressive lights installed.
And lastly, back to putting the lights on the wall. Remember the old saying, sometimes less is more.
Eddie
rox
Veteran Member
Bmac- Details details, it is unbelievable how many details there are to building, right? To your lighting issue, as I recall this is the side of the house, and if you keep driving to the right, past the entry door you go downhill to the baseent under the grage, a/k/a the tractor room.
I don't think this side of your house is the spot where you probably want to spen a whole lot in lighting. Probably you will want to save the budget for the front and back fo the hosue. I think you could do well by just putting plain old outdoor spot lights under the tin roof awning on the left, tucking them under the tin roof. Iver the second garage door I am sure you can find a nice reasonable outdoor light fixture and center it over top of the door. A matching carriage light between te passage door and the window would probably do it for you. With your house having a lot of white, which I like you might consider selecting outdoor lighting in a color called verde.
Verde, meaning green, like when copper turns green. IMHO, black would be hmmm to much of a contrast to the white, brass gets corroded, but with Verde it will always look nice, even years later. It hold up really really well. Here is some information on verde
http://www.nightscaping.com/copper_verde.html
http://www.mjmlighting.com/why.html
For a carriage light I prefer clear glass panels, in order to actually get light. I simply used nice candelabra lightbulbs.
Something like this might work
http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/s_clearance-outdoor/page_6/58955
Yu might try Google for "Home Lighting Verde Outdoor" as a start. I looked briefly and notice that it seems the price of lighting ahs gone up since we built 15 years ago.
What color brick have you selected?
I don't think this side of your house is the spot where you probably want to spen a whole lot in lighting. Probably you will want to save the budget for the front and back fo the hosue. I think you could do well by just putting plain old outdoor spot lights under the tin roof awning on the left, tucking them under the tin roof. Iver the second garage door I am sure you can find a nice reasonable outdoor light fixture and center it over top of the door. A matching carriage light between te passage door and the window would probably do it for you. With your house having a lot of white, which I like you might consider selecting outdoor lighting in a color called verde.
Verde, meaning green, like when copper turns green. IMHO, black would be hmmm to much of a contrast to the white, brass gets corroded, but with Verde it will always look nice, even years later. It hold up really really well. Here is some information on verde
http://www.nightscaping.com/copper_verde.html
http://www.mjmlighting.com/why.html
For a carriage light I prefer clear glass panels, in order to actually get light. I simply used nice candelabra lightbulbs.
Something like this might work
http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/s_clearance-outdoor/page_6/58955
Yu might try Google for "Home Lighting Verde Outdoor" as a start. I looked briefly and notice that it seems the price of lighting ahs gone up since we built 15 years ago.
What color brick have you selected?
