Inspiration

Rustic Exterior Barn Lights Suit Colorado Retreat Perfectly

Have you ever seen a home featured on our blog that you instantly wished you could visit? Like Steve’s jaw-dropping Sullivan’s Island home that we shared here? Or this inviting modern farmhouse in Ohio that Caroline outfitted with classic barn lighting inside and out.

We’re happy to tell you that today’s Featured Customer loves visitors! The Wolf Den, located in Twin Lakes, Colorado, is a charming retreat perched at the base of Mount Elbert, Colorado’s tallest peak.

Built in 2003, the spacious home was on the market when Gretchen and her husband discovered it. They were sold not only on the open floor plan that makes it perfect for several large families but also on the stunning mountain views.

“I’ve worked to make the spaces bright and comfortable for guests and their families,” Gretchen explains. “The house has a ton of natural light and I’ve chosen furnishings and finishes inspired by natural elements. I have tried to balance style with function since this is a rental house and wedding venue.”

As Gretchen tackled exterior renovations this spring, she also added a hot tub and new exterior lighting.

“I wanted the exterior lighting to really make an impression and contrast against the shingle siding of the house,” she notes. “Originally I wanted to use all red fixtures, but as a wedding venue, I knew that something neutral would work better for our events.”

Gretchen chose classic barn lights to highlight several areas outside the home. The first light she chose was the Original™ Warehouse Gooseneck Light for the garage. She wanted a fixture with a strong profile as guests arrive in the driveway. She customized this gooseneck light with an 18″ shade, Black finish, and G19 gooseneck arm.

She used the same gooseneck light to flank the doorways on the back side of the home where guests access the patio area. These lights have slightly smaller 16″ shades with the same Black finish and G19 arm.

“I chose the garage light first but wanted to bring a cohesive look to the back of the house,” Gretchen says. “The 16″ shades work better proportionally for this doorway, and I love how the lights frame our living room windows.”

For the front door, two Bowie Wall Sconces offer a compact profile perfect for the space. These feature 8″ shades and the same Black finish as Gretchen’s other outdoor lights.

A third Bowie is adjacent to the side door of the garage just steps from the front door.

“I originally purchased Union Gooseneck Lights to flank the Wolf Den’s front door,” she notes. “When I installed them, I realized the front porch swing would hit the fixture. Oops! I purchased two of the Bowie Sconces for the hot tub area so I swapped them out. I’m so glad I did!”

The hot tub area is now illuminated by the gooseneck lights which extend further away from the facade than the sconces providing better lighting on the pathway.

“The light fixtures we replaced were barely noticeable from afar. Now as we hike up to the back of our property, I immediately notice the pair of Hitchen Post lights on the back porch,” Gretchen says. “They grab your attention and make a strong impression, yet they are understated with the Black finish color. They are classic, timeless and yet still give spaces a very modern edge.”

Gretchen is a repeat Barn Light Electric customer although she admits to a lot of shopping around before choosing her most recent lights.

“I just kept coming back to Barn Light Electric because it is so easy to customize!” she says. “The fact that the fixtures are made in the USA made me feel even better about our selections.”

Photos courtesy of The Wolf Den