Custom Lighting Delivers Punch of Industrial Style to California Remodel
It was a cold, snowy February day when Arvin and Alicea decided to travel northeast from San Francisco to explore Lake Tahoe. After spending most of their adult lives in the Bay area, they were contemplating a big move. Snow banks engulfed the houses leaving much to the imagination.
“We fell in love with the first house we toured,” Alicea says. “We were not actually ready to make the big leap, but we did it anyway!” The couple moved in and as spring melted the towering snow, they began to see their diamond in the rough. The house had potential but needed a lot of love.
“It was a bigger project than we imagined — new siding, windows, doors, decks, roof, driveway, and garage addition,” she explains. “We settled on a modern farmhouse look to bring out the shape and charm of the house.” Bright white board-and-batten siding with contrasting black features lends a modern feel while wood accents bring warm rustic vibes.
“When it came to lighting, we knew we wanted to use Barn Light Electric,” Alicea notes. “We found the company through Pinterest while doing work at our previous house. We were impressed with the company’s mission and quality, American-made products.”
For the exterior of the home, Alicea and Arvin wanted simple, but impactful fixtures. They chose the Streamline LED Industrial Guard Sconce for the porch. They customized these industrial-style wall lights with a Textured Black finish, flared shade, and heavy-duty guard. They also added frosted glass and a dusk-to-dawn photocell.
“The Textured Black finish complements the black windows, front door, and garage doors,” Alicea says. “We chose frosted glass to match the glass in the front and garage doors. Such a small detail made a huge design impact!”
The garage is accented with Wallaby LED Gooseneck Lights. These handspun lights are customized with 14″ shades, the same Textured Black finish, frosted glass, and photocell.
“These lights are built so solidly,” Alicea adds. “They last forever, and the endless options, including LED and dusk-to-dawn sensors, are the best!”
The couple liked the look of the Wallaby so much, they decided to install the same shade, but with a flush mounting, in the entryway and laundry room.
The Wallaby Flush Mount Pendant Light boasts an industrial look while the sleek flared shade adds a modern touch. A pop of decorative uplighting is emitted via the cast guard-and-glass design. These pendants are customized with 14″ shades, Textured Black finish, and a custom Painted Aged Brass finish on the guard.
“We kept the industrial look and Textured Black theme with the Wallaby Pendants which offer just a peek of brass in their cages,” Alicea explains. “They add some bold elegance and bring a nautical nod to the beautiful lake we now call home.”
Moving from the entryway into the kitchen and living spaces, three Brewster Pendant Lights catch the eye over the kitchen island. With a clean-cut, streamline style, these pendants feature three rings with a custom Weathered Brass exterior and a Black interior.
“The big, bold, brass pendants have just a touch of black in their cages,” Alicea notes. “The Black cotton twist cords and ceiling plates tie into everything else.” A single Brewster Pendant, with the same customizing options, highlights the sink.
In the nearby dining room, the couple chose the minimalist Downtown 6-Light Pendant Chandelier. Two of these, placed end to end, create an eye-catching statement piece.
“These two placed over the large dining table create length and some dramatic ambiance!” she says. “We chose Textured Black ceiling plates, black cotton twist cords, and brass cups to continue the coordination.” She adds that being stuck at home for more than a year during Covid probably wasn’t the best idea for a remodeling project. But they are extremely happy with the results.
“We love our lights! Working with Barn Light to order the custom lights was easy and it was really fun to create one-of-a-kind pieces that we will treasure,” Alicea says. “We love to see all the wonderful designs other people create, and we hope ours will also be a source of inspiration for others!”
Photos courtesy of the homeowner