Nautical LED Lights Unite Farmhouse & Modern Styles in New Build
Locations don’t get much sweeter than a high hill on Martha’s Vineyard complete with panoramic views of nearby farms and the Atlantic shoreline in the distance. One of Sullivan + Associates Architects‘ latest residential projects is found right in this sweet spot located in the town of Chilmark, Massachusetts.
When working on the design of the new home, project designer Dakota Linkel notes that the client envisioned a house that would fit with the architectural vernacular of the area but that also captured their preference for contemporary style.
“The result is a series of three classic cape/seaside farmhouse structures connected through transitional spaces of glass and metal,” Dakota explains. “It was important to choose materials and fixtures that reflected each element of the house honestly and accurately.” For outdoor lighting, Dakota searched for fixtures that would complement the architectural elements of the house in form and style but would reference the transitional spaces with more refined, clean lines.
Knowing that this mix of styles might be difficult to find off the shelf, Dakota and his team turned to Barn Light Electric where they discovered a wide array of fixtures with countless customizing options.
“The barn-style lighting references the agricultural heritage of this particular area of the island,” he explains. “There are enough customizing options to maintain the vernacular but also to modernize the form enough to reference the contemporary elements of the house.” Dakota selected the Original™ Nautical LED Gooseneck Light to highlight the exterior spaces of the home. He customized these LED lights with 12″ handspun shades, a Black powder coat finish, and G3 straight gooseneck arms. They also feature a matching Black cast guard with frosted glass.
“The Nautical Gooseneck Light best represents the seaside farmhouse style,” he notes. “From almost every space, interior and exterior, you are faced with the unique views of farm and the more distant shoreline. These gooseneck lights are the best choice to celebrate that.” Dakota adds that the size of the shades offers the right proportion and are large enough to have a presence on the wall.
“The Black finish was chosen to contrast the cedar shingles and to reference the black finish on the doors and windows,” he says. “And given that these lights are hung at eye level, I felt it was important to diffuse the light as much as possible with the frosted glass.”
Both Dakota and his client were pleased with the variety of customizing options that allowed them to build the fixtures exactly as they needed for each space.
“The lights are exactly as I specified and the quality of the fixture is evident. The material, assembly, and quality of light are at the standard of the other fixtures and elements of the house,” Dakota says. “The lights maintain a balance of presence and subtlety amid the design of the house, working together to affirm its place in the architectural fabric of Chilmark.”
Photos courtesy of Sullivan + Associates Architects
