Aura Vista

It’s uncommon for all parties involved in a new home build or remodel to completely align and agree on the design, especially a husband and wife with differing styles. However, despite their varied tastes regarding the style and design of their new seaside home, this couple achieved an ideal resolution by closely collaborating with the integration team at Newport Home Theaters and selecting high-performance Coastal Source light fixtures that Defy the Elements™ for their outdoor living space.

Amid construction, the Newport Home Theater team planted 112 premium outdoor-rated light fixtures from Coastal Source throughout the beautiful, professionally landscaped property. With the owners’ input, Newport Home Theaters chose fixtures with a low profile, appealing to both the wife’s aesthetic sensibilities and the tech-savvy husband. “Coastal Source was the perfect solution for this project, blending their individual visions into one cohesive design,” says Newport Home Theater’s Courtney Tiziani.

“We purchased our home because of its ideal coastal location and views. The approach was to have our home feel airy, easy, and at the same time bespoke. We achieved this by using organic materials throughout the house and state of the art technology recommended by Newport Home Theaters,” said Jasmina Jaskovic, homeowner and owner of Casa CDM, the design company behind the home.

The outdoor lighting represents a small fraction of the $1.5 million tech installation, but they pack a significant punch in terms of their functionality, versatility, and impact. “It’s one of the first things people notice about the house and makes the ocean views from the backyard even more spectacular!” Tiziani says. He contributes this eye-catching effect not only to the wide selection of fixture styles available from Coastal Source, but the ability to customize the intensity, beam angle, color temperature precisely for purpose and effect. 

Most of the fixtures, including Coastal Source’s LED lamps, niche lights, and well and tree lights, chosen for the project sit close to the ground, nearly undetectable. The intensity levels are soft and subdued, grazing over pathways, gardens, shrubbery, ornamental plantings, and architectural features without detracting from the main focal point: the ocean view. These parameters were meticulously defined during a thorough “walk-through” of the property by Coastal Source Regional Sales Manager Morgan Harman, Tiziani, and the homeowners.

This extensive analysis, along with a set of blueprints from the Coastal Source Design Team, formed the basis of a complete outdoor lighting plan that delivered the right vibe without overpowering the property. “The last thing these owners wanted to do was over-light the property,” Tiziani says.

Having a detailed plan for reference also streamlined the installation of the numerous fixtures—important given the tight timeline. “There was no guesswork involved, no major obstacles to overcome. Even though we were relatively new to landscape lighting—especially for a project this extensive—the system was up and running well before the homeowner’s deadline,” says Tiziani. “Coastal Source’s expertise, product choice and quality, and the well-defined map and design they provided us was the key to unlocking the potential of this amazing outdoor lighting project.”

Interestingly, the home’s lighting on the inside had a considerable influence on the lighting on the outside. For example, for the best view of the ocean from the family room, the lights outside need to stay off. But for safety reasons, the lights around the pool in the courtyard need to stay on. Achieving the right balance of interior and exterior illumination boiled down the integration of the Coastal Source lights with the home’s Savant automation system.

It was an easy task for Newport Home Theaters, who have been designing and installing luxe automation systems for 22 years. With the 112 Coastal Source fixtures under control of the Savant system, Newport Home Theaters divided the property into zones and created special lighting scenes. From customized keypads, touch panels, and a smartphone app, the owners can turn on and off lights independently in each zone. They can also initiate commands that set the lights for “late night,” “entertaining,” “bedtime,” and other activities. 

The considerately implemented technology manages to keep the husband’s high-tech dream alive while still maintaining his wife’s distinct design style. Jaskovic emphasized, “The thoughtful planning and intricate design of the interior and exterior lighting gives our home a distinct personality with warm moody vibes and relaxed ambience.”