Location: Mount Macedon, Victoria
The brief: Light a large country garden for evenings outdoors and views from inside
What we installed: Copper spike lights, festoon lighting over the fire pit and through the trees
Control: Automated schedules plus control from the owner’s phone
Photos: Hilary Green
A Tree Change That Didn’t Stop at Sunset
The owner had recently made the tree change from Melbourne to Mount Macedon, to a property with beautiful established gardens and bush all around. Out in the country, though, the darkness really sets in once the sun goes down, and the garden simply disappeared every evening.
He wanted to keep enjoying it after dark: sitting outside around the fire, entertaining friends, and looking out at the garden from inside the house. We were asked to light it creatively.
Soft, Indirect Light Instead of Floodlights
We believe good garden lighting is about mood, not brightness. Harsh, direct light flattens a garden and makes it feel like a car park. Indirect light brings out the shapes, textures and depth.
We aimed solid copper spike lights upwards through the branches of the trees and shrubs. That throws striking shadows through the canopy, and the light that spills down also gives a gentle glow along the surrounding paths, so they’re safe to walk without a single harsh light.
The Garden After Dark
Festoon Lights Over the Fire Pit
For the entertaining area, we strung outdoor festoon lights over the fire pit and the table setting, which gives a warm, festive feel for long evenings outside. We also wrapped festoons around some of the nearby trees, so the entertaining area flows into the rest of the lit garden.
All festoons were installed with outdoor-rated cabling and fittings, so they’re safe and built to stay up year-round.
Automated, and Controlled From His Phone
Every light we installed is connected to a lighting automation system. The owner sets schedules so the garden comes on at dusk and switches off late at night, and he can turn zones on or off from his phone at any time, whether he’s on the deck or away from home.
Today we’d usually do this with Shelly smart controls, which can switch the garden on at sunset automatically, adjust through the seasons, and link to the rest of your home’s lighting and security.
Want Your Garden to Look Like This at Night?
We design and install garden lighting across Melbourne, from small courtyards to large country gardens, and work alongside garden designers and landscape architects. Talk to Tom about your garden.
Photos by Hilary Green. See more of our projects