Homeowner’s Vision & Needs

The owners of Ripple Creek Estate came to us with a clear goal: to create a property that felt safe, secure, and cohesive after dark — without sacrificing beauty. With such a large footprint, the home and grounds lacked unity at night, making it difficult to navigate and appreciate the estate’s full grandeur from inside the home. Aesthetics were just as important as functionality, and our clients wanted a lighting design that not only illuminated the space but celebrated it.

Existing 120V masonry fixtures surrounded the pond area and needed to be seamlessly integrated into the new design. The project also required thoughtful retrofitting throughout — from deck rails to hardscape surfaces — to ensure a cohesive lighting experience across the property.

Designer’s Perspective

Our design team approached this project with one driving concept: unity through layers. We wanted every inch of the property to feel intentional — not just lit, but thoughtfully illuminated with varying light levels that created rhythm, depth, and warmth across the architecture and landscape.

The estate’s scale allowed us to build layers of light that offered both drama and softness, ensuring the property could be experienced in distinct moments — while still feeling like one cohesive story.

Lighting Design Plan

A variety of techniques and fixtures were used to create a multi-dimensional design:

• Trees: Uplighting and moonlighting to add vertical drama and soft dappled shadows.
• Architecture: Wash lighting and gentle uplighting to emphasize structure and detail without overpowering.
• Landscape: Pathway lighting, strategic downlighting, and selective uplighting to guide movement and highlight plantings.
• Hardscape: Integrated deck lighting, masonry lighting, and custom underwater lighting in the pond to capture the subtle movement and reflections of water.

Each zone was designed with purpose — to balance scale with intimacy and function with beauty.

The Finished Look

The result is nothing short of magical. Ripple Creek Estate now glows with the warm ambiance of golden hour — every night. The lighting enhances the property’s grandeur, but never overwhelms it. Safety and security are seamlessly woven into an elevated design experience, allowing the homeowners to truly enjoy their estate long after the sun goes down.

The estate’s vastness no longer feels disconnected. Instead, it feels inviting — a collection of beautifully illuminated vignettes that flow effortlessly from one to the next.