Have you ever been momentarily blinded by lighting as you've been walking along a pathway maybe around a pool or decking or possibly in a garden? It doesn't make the space very comfortable, so today I just wanted to go through the different options that we can offer to help create a more relaxing environment for all.

​Uplighting with inground lights is obviously one of the hardest areas to prevent glare from lighting. It's particularly important to reduce glare in areas where the lights are in direct pathways. On a daily basis we are helping our clients choose lights that create distinctive lighting effects with either our honeycomb lenses or low washing lights  that  look sophisticated and clean. The honeycomb lens sits under the glass and creates a shield from the light source right until the moment you step on top of it. It does reduce the amount of light coming out of the fitting but we do have a range of fittings in various sizes and wattages to cover a number of applications.

   Honeycomb lens                   Uplighting along walk ways        Low washing lights

​Our low washing in ground LED lights like our Keo Horizons and Radius lights are particularly popular for stair treads, stepped pavers and even around pools to wash light across a pathway without any light shining up into your eyes. For driveways they are also really practical as unlike the more traditional uplights that just create a spot on the ground like a runway they wash outwards.

We love our little Amos in ground lights. The LED chip is set down a little in the fitting and has an adjustable tilt of 15degrees which both help with reduced glare. These fittings are great to highlight retaining walls, brick columns or timber/steel posts.

For the more classic deck lighting that uses inground lights to indicate the edge or border of an entertaining area, our Keo 2W LED light with deep frosted lens is the guy you want. It is dull enough to be pleasant on the eye when walking directly over or near it, plus its solid construction is suitable for seaside residences or urban oasis's.

We have a good selection of inground lights that are suitable for not only residential but commercial applications as well. Asymmetrical inground lights or our adjustable lens options are really useful for uplighting flag poles and large walls to create impact and attention.

Garden lighting is all about ambience so its crucial to ensure that there is no glare created from lights particularly fittings that are close to the house or in areas where you will be walking past on a regular basis. Positioning the lights correctly is part of the process but sometime lights can be viewed from various angles so its not always as straight forward as that. With our Lotus spike lights and our Willow spike lights we give clients the option of a glare guard which provides a shield around the light. The best thing is that they are made from our durable machined aluminium and treated the same as our lights which are anodised and then twice powdercoated. We don't do things by halves, we like to do it properly the first time. See the image below of a close up on our Lotus light with and without the glare guard.

As a final note, lighting should create a feeling of comfort. It really can transform your indoors or outdoors space with the correct type of lighting. Talk to us about how you want to use your space and we'll go through the considerations that will help you decide on what and how to use your lighting to get the right effect. Love your life! Andrea :-)

​Needing some new lighting ideas? Check out our ​brand new showroom @ 43 Rundle Street, Kent Town ADELAIDE. We've created a vibrant and sophisticated space to discover modern Architectural and Landscape Lighting that will compliment both new and old homes with minimalist styling.

​Our display is now fully equipped to showcase the most up to date lighting trends both for residential and commercial clients including a range of LED dusk downlights, semi-recessed and surface mounted downlights, creative wall lights and more. This extensive range is thanks to our partnership with another outstanding Australian company, UNIOS who are leading the industry in quality, well priced reliable fittings. 
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​In addition to the architectural range of indoor and outdoor lighting, we are still carrying on with our great range of LED inground lights, LED garden spike lights, LED path lights, LED bollards,  LED flood lights and of course LED strip and neon flex. All these products can be shipped Australia wide at no cost to you, and are backed with great customer service from our happy team.

If you are looking for us to work with your builder, architect, electrician, landscaper or landscape architect, we are more than happy to make a time to give you that one on one service that will leave you feeling confident and excited about the project ahead. Get in touch today!

Looking for a modern, eco-friendly heating solution that will warm your home this winter? Look no further than our range of EcoSmart, Icon & Cocoon fire places suitable for indoors and outdoors fuelled by bioethanol fuel. NO flue, NO Chimney, NO electrician required

Bioethanol is like Methylated Spirits, it's a plant based renewable energy fuel created by the fermentation of plant by-products like sugar cane, potatoes, bananas and grain. It is classed as easily biodegradable and when it burns the residual emission is carbon dioxide and water steam which is absorbed by plants. 

Today, bioethanol has many uses including the transport industry and manufacturing, and in our fires it creates a beautiful clean dancing flame.

Stix - Effortlessly set up and easily repositioned, its bright flame will keep you captivated as well as comfortable for up to 8 hours. Sturdily constructed from stainless steel, Stix is set to be a head-turner on patios and pergolas around the world.
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Lighthouse - As the name conjures up, EcoSmart’s Lighthouse Series provides a clear and mesmerising light – perfect for illuminating outdoor areas and providing a stunning focal point for any alfresco location.

Aspect - A contemporary fireplace for apartments, houses, offices, bars and restaurants, the Aspect makes an urban design statement and lifts the ambience of any interior. Versatility is paramount, and as a portable, freestanding piece of furniture the Aspect is a popular and well-proven choice for any location.

Mix Fire Bowl - Blending the simplicity of an outdoor fire pit with classic contemporary luxury, EcoSmart Fires’ MIX Fire Bowls add instant life to any architectural environment.

Today I was inspired by a quote from Jamie Durie which said that you should create spaces in your garden that are like "people pockets", inviting spaces where people want to spend time. He suggests creating seating areas that encourage visitors to linger outdoors, hugged by plants. I love this idea, my dad is a very keen gardener and has a wonderful garden up in the Adelaide hills in which he has created this type of concept and it really does make you want to see what's going on and be outdoors.

Outdoor lighting is also about drawing people into the garden and making it a welcoming and inviting space in which you want to be a part of. Meandering paths lit by washes of light that guide you gently along offer tranquility and a sense of security. Up lit trees in a garden produce some of the most amazing focal points and add height which makes a space feel larger. Low washing step lights along retaining walls or walkways create a flow of energy and direction, all of which combined make up a wonderful and very liveable outdoor space for you to enjoy year round.