Larsen Landscape | Blog

LIGHTING TIPS

Low Voltage Lighting Moorpark Walkway

When we are landscaping homes in areas like Malibu, California, the ordinary approach is not good enough.  This goes for lighting the landscape as well. One of the key tips we use in outdoor lighting is converting any type of light to operate on a low voltage system.  It is a simple trick, really, since the only working part of the light is the bulb, itself, and it is only necessary to use a low voltage bulb (12 volt) rather than a standard type bulb (110 volt).  This allows us to use virtually any fixture in the garden that is rated for outdoor use.

This means we can use a very wide range of fixtures such as lamp posts and

Low Voltage Lighting Camerillo Property

custom pilaster lights and have these turn on with a timer or photo-cell along with the usual landscape lights.  The low voltage system uses about one third as much power as regular light for the same amount of illumination so is

much more cost effective to run.

Outdoor Lighting Done Right

Outdoor lighting has come a long way in the last few decades.  Particularly in

Southern California Lighting Design

places like Malibu, California, where social gatherings are the order of the day and lighting in the landscape makes all the difference after the sun goes down, we like to get creative.

Most of the fixtures we use now are solid brass.  Generally, brass fixtures tend to last a long time and don’t require a lot of maintenance.  For a certain, modern look however, we use fixtures made by a company called FX which makes a line of elegant fixtures with a modern flavor using the same special aluminum that the space shuttle is constructed of.

Most outdoor lighting systems can be installed in a day or two and the look you get at night is completely different than the daytime view of your landscape.

YES, THE OWNER’S OPINION COUNTS

A few key questions that we ask ourselves when assess an area from a design

Thousand Oaks Water Feature

point;  is there a great view that shouldn’t be blocked, or some unpleasant view that would deserve some fast growing plants to get blocked in a hurry?  Is there unpleasant traffic noise that a water feature could help with?  If there is going to be much entertainment at all, should there be lighting,  subtle landscape lighting as well as one or more lampposts that could be turned on for area lighting?

Simi Valley Floating Patio with Lighting

Curves are generally noted by design experts to create a more relaxing atmosphere for the people enjoying the space.  The curves should flow together.  Think of the French curve,  that little plastic drawing guide attached to the protractor back in school.  Another type of curving is contouring with mounds of soil.  Again, this should flow naturally and not look like several anthills.

Those are a few of the elements that get the landscape design started in the right direction. You may see by the above questions that a lot can be done to enhance a property and show off its best features yet conceal those that are not so attractive or soothing. Of course all of this comes down to what is the homeowner’s opinion and goals for their property. Our motto is, “Have it done right the first time”.

YES, THE OWNER’S OPINION COUNTS

Simi Valley Planter - Features Variations, Size, Color & Texture

Try groupings of plants.  Flowers tend to look better when they are grouped together in various places and not scattered randomly.

Odd numbers tend to give things a more natural look.  Imagine a patio in each of 4 corners of a yard to get an idea of how far wrong someone could go on this.  A large main patio, a pergola in one corner and a special garden feature halfway along the edge on the opposite side would create a nice group of three for a smaller yard.

Along with that goes avoiding size repetition.  A large garden with a multi-trunk Birch tree, two boulders and some shrubs and flowers, balanced with a smaller garden on the other side of a yard with a single trunk Birch tree, some flowers and one boulder is an example of the kind of balance we look for.

A path curving around a garden and disappearing gives the yard a larger look and creates a visual mystery as to where it leads (even if it doesn’t really go anywhere – though even a park bench could give it a destination).

Pergola, Patio and Water Make a Personal Oasis In Simi Valley

Of course all of this comes down to what is the homeowner’s opinion and goals for their property. Our motto is, ” Have it done right the first time”.

Come back next week for more on Landscaping Design.

YES, THE OWNER’S OPINION COUNTS

There are some very definite directions to follow to get the design right for the owner. Getting all the elements to fit together in the space key to design planning. Keep in mind that it can cost just as much to build a mediocre, or even unpleasant design as it does to get a nice one.  Here are some of the things we use to ensure the construction money is spent well.

LaCanada, Privacy Wall & Water Feaure

There should be a theme.  This could be based on a tropical look, an English garden look, a geometric layout or maybe country.  It could also be just deciding which is the key element, and then pulling that in throughout the entire area.  If this one is not followed, you get one of those mish mash gardens you see here and there with 20 rose bushes, all over the place – no groupings, and you feel like someone got one for the holidays each year and had to put it somewhere.

Most people spend time outdoors in the shade 90 percent of the time during the day.  Even sun worshipers dive for a lounge chair in the shade of a

Simi Valley, Rose Garden, Patio with Trellis

pergola after an hour during the summer.  We have gone back numerous times a year later to build a patio cover once the yard is actually experienced.  This is so true that it is almost a one for one occurrence when the shade issue is not handled the first time around.

Next week more on design and the owner’s opinion.