Barbecue, here we come

Looking forward to a family/friend backyard barbecue. While the area isn't terrible, it does need sprucing up.

The deck is 5 years old and should be power washed. Additional seating would be nice ... maybe benches.

Current evening lighting includes small solo lights in the flower pots.

Also I was thinking of a possible walkway to the side flower garden.

Design suggestions by Littman Bros. Lighting

You have a great entertaining space to start with it just needs a little sprucing up. Highlighting your landscaping and the details of your home will help to create drama and soft entertaining light.

Use a low voltage system like Kichler to allow for easy and cost effective wiring.

Updating your exterior fixtures on the home will also produce more light.

• Step lighting on the rise of that first step will help to create a safer entertainment space and will also create a soft glow around the exterior of the entertainment space.

I recommend Kichler Step Light 15780AZT27. his is 12V LED and will run on 1 Watt.

• Add spots to highlight the bushes in your landscape and the corners of your home. Ground spots like Kichler's 16004AZT27 use 4 watts and will give a 20-watt equivalent which is plenty for the small bushes and corner of the home. A mounting bracket can be used to mount a spot under the deck and point to the other corner of the home. This will illuminate that dark spot.

• Updating the Path Lights from solar to LED will provide a more consistent and brighter light. For this home I recommend 15857AZT27 it is small and will give a 20-watt equivalent while only using 4 watts. This is also a very cost effective fixture and the low voltage wire can easily be strung under the existing deck

• Lastly let us update the exterior fixtures to create the maximum lighting. OL5901CB from Feiss takes two 60-watt candelabra bulbs, producing 120 watts.