Art of Outdoor Lighting [Paperback]

Randall Whitehead (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

The Art of Outdoor Lighting reveals the essentials on how outdoor lighting adds drama, sophistication, and depth to residential landscape. With over 250 full color photographs spotlighting how exterior lighting enhances a wide range of spaces, from roof decks to pool areas, garden rooms to patios, exterior stairs to entrances including how to make the most of moonlight and why certain lights are best for appearance and safety. Includes an entire section on lighting techniques for outdoor rooms for living and entertaining under the stars.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Randall Whitehead is an innovator in the field of lighting design. He is renowned for creating designs that take a "human" approach to lighting spaces. His style emphasizes illuminating the people in a space, as well as the art and architecture; thus individuals feel comfortable in public areas that might otherwise seem cold and intimidating. Whitehead is a recipient of numerous design awards.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction: Reclaiming the Outdoors at Night

The purpose of this book is to provide readers with a gallery of extraordinary landscape lighting projects, along with information on how to achieve comparable effects for their own homes or Lighting projects.

For many homeowners, exterior lighting consists simply of a pair of lanterns flanking the front door, with a pole lamp at the end of the driveway—unimaginative at best, for the art and science of Lighting for exterior spaces has been greatly refined in the past decade or two. Over the last fifteen years, lighting manufacturers have worked with lighting designers and landscape architects to create small, well-shielded luminaries—low-glare, low-wattage multipurpose fixtures that virtually disappear into the overall Landscape, gently lighting without overpowering other elements in the outdoor design.

The aim of contemporary lighting for outside spaces is to create a subtle, natural feel. The trend is toward plants, pathways, and sculpture that are painted with light. Trees surrounding a home seem to glowing a silvery blue light; walkways and planting beds are illuminated with dappled patterns of light and shadow. This artful effect is referred to as moon lighting.

In addition to showing many inspiring examples of lighting design for residential exteriors, this book will illuminate the reader about techniques used by professional lighting designers, along with common lighting mistakes.

It is important to note that a successful overall design may involve a team of professionals who work together to create a cohesive Look. Along with a lighting designer, this team can include a landscape designer, a pool contractor, an architect, and an interior designer. But it is the property owners themselves who are the most valuable players on this team; transforming their dreams into an exciting reality becomes the challenge—and delight—of the other players.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564968189
• ISBN-13: 978-1564968180
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Lighting

More About the Author

Randall Whitehead is an internationally known architectural lighting designer, based in San Francisco. He is not only a prolific author, but an enlightening and humorous speaker on the world of design as well. His work has appeared in Architectural Digest, Art & Antiques, House Beautiful, Kiplinger's, Horticulture Magazine, Designs for Living, Metropolitan Home, Better Homes & Gardens, Fine Homebuilding and many more.

Randall appears regularly as a guest expert on the Discovery Channel, CNN, HGTV and Martha Stewart Living Radio. He also writes a monthly column called "The Last Word in Lighting" for Residential Lighting Magazine, answering homeowner's and designer's questions on lighting.

Randall has written 7 books on the subject, including Residential Lighting, A Guide to Beautiful and Sustainable Design which is an informative...and often entertaining reference book for home and garden lighting.

His latest endeavor takes him back to his photography roots. It is a compelling collection of images called Lost Dolls, The Hidden Lives of Toys. If you go to www.rwfoundimages.com you can watch a two minute video of dolls doing crazy things.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars expert opinion, July 13, 2000

By 

Joseph T. Masciotti (Reading, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art of Outdoor Lighting: Landscapes with the Beauty of Lighting (Hardcover)

Wonderful photographs but otherwise a bit thin. This is a picture book mostly of California projects with some colder climate installations so these lush landscapes can only be envied by homeowners and gardeners outside the semi-tropics. DIYers will find this particular meal consists more of dessert than substantial fare. The clear intention of this book is as a feast for the eye and the few pages of technical information consist of an overview of techniques, common mistakes (with which I heartily concur), Q & A and a glossary. There is a helpful list of lighting designers (the first I've seen) limited mostly to the West Coast. There are plenty of good ideas here and most of the photograph captions contain a brief but useful description of how the lighting effects were achieved.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If you live in a...., January 24, 2003

By 

David Smyth "Dave" (Delaware) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Art of Outdoor Lighting (Paperback)

If you live in a 5 million dollar house, this is the book for you. If you have a 3000 sq foot cape cod, forget it. I purchased this book to learn how to light MY house. I don't have a 60 foot indoor pool, or a mountain top view of downtown LA. This book was of no use to me at all. I give it 2 stars because it has nice photos, of houses most of us will never see in person.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great gallery of artistic lighting & designer sourcebook, April 29, 2002

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Art of Outdoor Lighting (Paperback)

This book is filled with examples from around the world of magnificent homes that are enhanced by stunning outdoor lighting effects. It is as much a gallery of artistic lighting as it is a sourcebook for the designer or homeowner looking for ways to make their home stand out.

The book is broken into sections with a brief overview of each before the many photographic examples. These include transforming a home after dark with dramatic lighting effects, creating a moon lighting effect and my favorite section on lighting pools and fountains with some really fabulous designs. There are also sections on outdoor rooms, landscape lighting and some wonderful ideas on using the view in through a window as part of the exterior design and lighting plan.

Full color, full-page photos fill most of the book. Brief descriptions are provided in captions along with designer and photographer credits. There is contact information for these designers and photographers along with some lighting manufacturers in the back of the book. This is a design book, not a technical manual. Each caption tells the type of fixtures used but there is no information on wiring or installation.

A very useful chapter on common lighting mistakes along with frequently asked questions and a glossary conclude the book. Although most of the examples in this book are of homes well beyond average means, many of the ideas and principles presented can be adapted to enhance almost any dwelling. I found it quite inspirational and enjoyable.