So I'm really driven to install a Volt lighting system at our home. I have a challenging area where I don't know what type of lights to use. In the photo, above the blue box are 3 boxwood hedges and behind those hedges is a drip line and above the drip line are copper window boxes. Originally I was going to light this area using pathlights either inside or right behind the hedges. Now I am thinking it might look better if I place well lights behind the hedges and showcase the window boxes. (I'm a bit worried about the well lights shining into the windows at night but also think it might look nice). What would you recommend using in this area? Thanks in advance.
It’s not clear to me how you wanted to light those window boxes. Is the point to highlight the boxes themselves, what’s in them or both? If the former, you could place some spotlights on risers behind the shrubbery and in front of the boxes. That might be one way to configure the light output in a way that it dials in on the boxes while avoiding your concerns about light intrusion. Another way to illuminate at least one of your window boxes while avoiding light intrusion would be to place soffit lights below that first level roof overhanging the center windowbox. Yet another way to illuminate the window boxes is to light them indirectly, by lighting the house and shrubbery. In the sample plan I mapped out on your photo, I’m suggesting that, at minimum you illuminate those parts of the facade flanking your windows (yellow graphics). You may also want to consider illuminating the other areas I indicated (in orange). Typically, unless someone wants to create a particular effect, wants to keep their fixtures out of sight, or solve a problem, I recommend spotlights over well lights. IMO, well lights (particularly the type that allows you to raise, lower, and tilt the lamp inside of the housing) can be sort of fussy to work with. In a scenario like the one you mention (where you’ve got some room behind shrubbery and the fixtures will be hidden anyway) I’d absolutely go with spots as opposed to wells. Btw, I imagine you will want to use your lighting transformer’s timer to restrict the hours where the lights might be shining into the windows. It’s also pretty routine these days to connect an approved smart device (usually with an associated app) to control your lights. HTH
