Hi all! looking to build a set up for my home. - I will run a CAT 6 cable to my mailbox for a security camera which I can run a power to light the mailbox and tree. -will be running a cable to tree in middle of front yard - I have a line of cedar trees on left side of house with crepe Myrtle trees at beginning and end that might look cool lit up. -thinking of placing control box in back of house under elevated deck. Can someone give me any ideas of product placement and products I should use. Thanks in advance
Hey Peter, I'd be happy to help with some general recommendations - beautiful house! Either a 3" Brass Rotatable/Pivoting LED Hardscape Light or a 6" Brass Rotatable/Pivoting LED Hardscape Light could be ideal for the mailbox. For the tree upfront, I'd personally want a concealed uplight like a well light. I like being able to swap/replace bulbs as well, so I'd consider the Salty Dog MR16 Well Light with either a 5W or 7W bulb (depending on the level of brightness your), and no more narrow than a 60-degree beam spread. Tough to tell from the photo, but 110-degree might be ideal for when the canopy starts to grow back in. Our Gutter Mount Kit can be used to mount spotlights on the 2nd story; this is typically more convenient than trying to downlight from the soffits. Compact fixtures are typically more ideal for this given the more low-profile housings. One of our MR11 style spotlights would likely be ideal.The architecture is a bit tricky though - you'd likely have to play with the adjustability to focus illumination on the peaks of the gables. The spots marked in orange are just points to consider adding additional fixtures to potentially help balance the illumination - MR8 style spotlights could be used for these corners. Given the garage lights, there is not much to add in the lower left area - downlighting from the soffits is always an option to consider but requires a bit more labor and drilling. And, if your garage lights provide ample illumination there's really no need. For the large tree, I'd personally consider a PAR36 style fixture - I always prefer to keep it simple and get the max effect out of as few as fixtures as possible (budget-friendly as well). This tree is large (tall & wide), and most PAR36 fixtures offer extra powerful and widespread illumination. The Ground Hog PVC PAR36 In-Ground Well Light with the debris cover (louvers removed) could look beautiful. I'd likely go no lower than a 9W PAR36 bulb depending on the brightness you're desiring, with a 60-degree beam spread. You could consider adding some path & area lights within the garden bed surrounding the patio (marked in blue). We have a variety of styles depending on your preference - our classic path lights are most popular and a 3W BiPin bulb is most popular. Ideal spacing would depend on the style you chose. For the columns, I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction - the spacing/number of columns is tricky. You could play with a combination of uplights to find a symmetrical design you like - either in-ground lights or spotlights could really be used here. The most important thing would be using narrow beam spreads for the columns (15-degree spreads).
