Elevated Exteriors

One trend that was hard to miss at Lightovation was the leveling up in aesthetics when it came to the outdoor category.

Begone, miniscule jelly jars! Judging from the latest designs introduced at Lightovation last week, homeowners are ready to replace those undersized builder-basic outdoor lights that came with the house — and they’re ready to super-size their orders.

In response to what lighting showrooms reported as consumer demand for large-scale fixtures and more fashion-forward styling, almost every manufacturer selling the outdoor category at Lightovation proved they were listening by debuting fixtures in generous proportions in an assortment of styles ranging from traditional lanterns and contemporary vertical rectangles to freeform shapes and stylish Dark Sky-friendly models.

The trend for consumers asking for larger outdoor fixtures has been ongoing for at least 10 years as the dimensions of the average new home reached McMansion-size heights in entryways, front door frames, and overall aesthetics. However, as manufacturers released larger versions of their popular styles each year, those increased sizes still weren’t enough for the many homeowners asking showrooms if they had anything bigger available.

On the positive side, larger fixtures obviously cost more — and that hasn’t bothered this sizable demographic of homeowners regardless of the economy. They are willing to spend more to get what they want but now besides an increase in size, they also want the fixtures to look unique. And so, there is a demand for outdoor lighting that will serve as style differentiators from similar-looking homes in a neighborhood.

Another trend on the rise is the growing availability of marine-grade finishes. Once offered by only a few manufacturers, more companies are adding at least one marine-grade finish to their lines. This inclusion is not just important in coastal environments where constant exposure to salt air degrades the finish on standard fixtures regardless of their cost, but the marine-grade process also protects against UV damage in sunny locations (a problem in Sunbelt communities) as well as moisture intrusion in rain-prone environments (which lately has increased just about everywhere).

Similar to the expansion into marine-grade finishes is the increased number of wet-location fixtures on the market. The universal popularity of outdoor living spaces has certainly been a catalyst for manufacturers to offer wet-location options whenever possible.

Noting the growing emphasis on exterior lighting, Dallas Market Center (DMC) created an outdoor lighting exhibit – under the name “Exteriorscape” – featuring select Lightovation exhibitors. To coincide with the theme, DMC offered a CEU-accredited presentation from a leading expert on outdoor lighting controls, a panel discussion on the latest landscape lighting trends, and an outdoor lighting exhibitor tour. The Exteriorscape exhibit will remain open through June Lightovation.

*The Exteriorscape display in the Trade Mart atrium attracted attention and received postive reviews among attendees.*

Here are some of the new outdoor lighting fixtures at Lightovation that exemplify the aforementioned trends.

At Alteck Lighting, the novel use of Fiberglas (left) allowed for freeflowing and detailed shapes; the Corinthian model demonstrated large scale for tall entryways; the Wave (second from right) is a stylish version of a Dark Sky-compliant fixture; and Abby demonstrated a corrugated stone backplate that can blend almost seamlessly with certain building facades.

*January Lightovation marked the unveiling of Innovations Lighting’s new outdoor lighting category. The company acquired manufacturer Brass Traditions in July.*

Hubbardton Forge debuted a new marine-grade finish in white (left), along with a few sculptural styles, plus an exterior art glass shade series that coordinates with a popular indoor collection (note the double-shade vertical style for greater height).

*Continuing the coordination between indoor and outdoor styles, Hubbardton Forge’s new Stowe series debuted.*

Same metal component, different feel. Hubbardton Forge’s vp/marketing Jeanne-Marie Gand pointed out that the fixtures on the left have a more contemporary flair while the street light version on the right evokes an arts and crafts vibe.

Z-Lite’s creative director Tim Stumm noted that the new lantern series on the left can be installed with or without the long, curved bracket depending on customer preference or the size of the entryway. The new Banff series, at right, offers a distinctive Deco aesthetic.

*At Hammerton, new vertical fixtures in a variety of materials, styles, and sizes were noteworthy.*

*Eglo’s new outdoor selection (left) showcased several sizes in contemporary styles, while Salford offers a choice of three finishes (samples on top of the fixture) to personalize the look.*

*Avenue Lighting’s latest outdoor fixtures were both sculptural and generously proportioned to suit several contemporary home types.*

*Casual and tropical looks were among the new intros at Avenue Lighting, which designated a large room specifically for its outdoor collections.*

*Crystal served as the focal point for new outdoor fixtures in the Beyond by Schonbek line, part of WAC Group.*

WAC Group debuted a sauna light under its DweLED brand. By definition, a sauna light needs to be able to withstand heat and humidity (i.e. moisture) for sustained periods of time.

WAC Group unveiled its patent-pending X-10 Track Head for outdoor applications. The wet-listed LED fixture has an adjustable beam from 20 to 70 degrees and can be ordered in black or white and in a choice of 2700K or 3000K. Track heads can be moved anywhere along the track using its proprietary construction.

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