Snowden is a fan of Northeast Lantern, whose fixtures are made from solid brass and have a lifetime warranty. (Photo courtesy of Northeast Lantern)
OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. – Decorative outdoor lighting has captured the attention of homeowners and interior designers, prompting manufacturers to expand their assortments with more style options and technical features. Many of them highlight the finishes they use and their durability, and whether they are suited to damp, wet or coastal environments, each of which comes with its own set of criteria.
What do lighting showrooms look for when shopping for outdoor lighting?
Tidewater Lighting & Décor owner Carla Snowdon asks the shoppers who come into her Old Saybrook, Conn. Store several questions to guide them to the proper outdoor lighting.
First, she asks how big the mounting block on the house is and where it is located in reference to the door. “This determines the size back plate on a fixture that you can use,” Snowden said. Customers who are remodeling or replacing an exterior house-mounted light can typically reuse the existing mounting block, according to Snowden. But if building new, she gives them a cut sheet of the fixture they are interested in that includes the dimensions of the back plate. The builder can then incorporate the fixture into the building plans.
In terms of color finishes, Snowden recommends that her customers try to match the front door handle or the color around the windows. “Today we see a lot of black framed-out windows, so black seems to be popular,” she said.
Do they live near the water? “If so, a coastal grade/marine grade finish is important to withstand the salt air moisture and environment,” said Snowden. Solid brass fixtures and raw brass age gracefully near the water, she said. Snowden called out Northeast Lantern, which makes their lanterns, including the hardware that mounts to the junction box, by hand from solid brass. The custom work is expensive, she acknowledged, “But it is one and done, they do not need to ever replace them.”
Snowden has options for customers who want other price point options and styles. “My go-to’s are Z-Lite and Capital Lighting. They also offer coastal grade.”
Snowden attaches a coastal tag to the fixtures that have that rating so customers can easily find them.
Dark Sky fixtures are designed to reduce light pollution. They tend to employ warmer colors and shields that direct light downward. “Many are not familiar with what that is, but when they find out about it, they are all about it and want it,” Snowden said.
