106 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
| SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
Contemporary outdoor lighting fixtures
can be strategically placed so they blend
with your landscaping. Popular items such
as pathway lights, spot lights for foliage
and statues, flood lights for large open
areas, waterproof lights in swimming pools
and waterfalls, as well as deck and step
lighting for safety can be hardwired or
solar powered. We have seen lights hung in
trees, submerged in ponds and fountains,
camouflaged as rocks or boulders, hidden
in bushes or flower beds and installed at
ground level in order to hide them from
view during the day. All of these devices
will make your home attractive and safe.
Outdoor lighting has made many
technological advancements including
solar options and low-voltage systems
such as LEDs (light emitting diodes). LEDs
have become the standard for most lighting
designers. Since they were introduced
in the 1960s, LEDs have developed into
modern wonders that reduce the amount of
energy needed to operate, limiting the heat
that is generated by ordinary bulbs. LEDs
operate using low voltage transformers, so
they only use a small amount of electricity,
making them very economical. At one time,
these lights lacked luminosity, light quality
and durability. However, the new LEDs are
not made from fragile glass and filaments
as traditional, incandescent bulbs are; they
are typically encased in silicone rather than
glass. This protects the diodes from harm
due to weather, as well as from damage due
to the movement or hitting of the fixtures.
Jeff Voth of Elegant Accents utilizes a variety of
lighting sources to provide security, as well as to
give a warm and welcoming glow to this home.
Bob Deegan of Belleair Palms installed lighting for this
home to make the pathway both safe and attractive.
WAYNE CATHEL
BILLY WALLER