Real Estate
Bright ideas for brownstone lights
BY LIZ SADLER CRYAN
If you live in a brownstone or townhouse,
selecting outdoor light fi xtures
for a home in some cases as
old as the lightbulb itself can be tricky.
Should you choose something historically
accurate to illuminate the 10-foothigh
double doors, or something spare
and modern to complement the historic
facade?
“First, if the house is landmarked or
in a landmarked area, the Landmarks
Preservation Commission will actually
have to review the fi xture and fi nish
specifi cation,” interior designer Tamara
Eaton explained. “They typically
like to see either traditional fi xtures or
very minimal fi xtures, if they are not
too dominantly displayed.”
The Urban Electric Co. offers a wide
range of fi nishes and designs, such as
the Altamont sconce, Eaton noted.
When selecting a fi nish, the designer
usually opts for black to match the trim
color of a typical brownstone.
“We often consider the door and facade
color when selecting lights,” Eaton
said.
“And more often than not, we select
a black fi nish, so it ties into either the
door color, or the black ironwork typically
found on the handrail or fence to
the property.
“I personally prefer either a very
modern and clean exterior light or
something stripped down that still has
a traditional reference.”
Eaton recommends timers that you
can adjust throughout the year, according
to the daylight hours.
For a traditional design or landmarked
townhouse, Remains Lighting
offers a wide variety of custom and
made-to-order fi xtures, such as the Sorenson
Exterior Wall Lantern, architect
Anshu Bangia of Bangia Agostinho Architecture
said.
“When designing outdoor lighting
for residential projects,” Bangia said,
“our focus can range from using decorative
or point-source lighting to indicate
a path or entry, to illuminating
surfaces with diffuse, indirect light to
highlight materials, give visual depth,
and provide outdoor spaces with a
sense of comfort.”
For lighting a path or steps, Bangia
recommends the Recessed Luminaires
by Bega. For surfaces, such as garden
walls or a stone patio, she suggests Vista
Professional Outdoor Lighting.
For outdoor fi xtures at medium price
points, designers Suzanna and Lauren
Mcgrath of McGrath2 recommend the
lighting company Lamps Plus. Urban
Electric is another preferred but pricier
option.
PHOTO BY SUSAN DE VRIES
PHOTO BY SUSAN DE VRIES
“We prefer to select traditional fi xtures
in fi nishes that replicate vintage
lighting,” Lauren McGrath said. “Aged
zinc is one of our favorites.”
The designers often opt for motion
sensors to illuminate the front of a
townhouse.
“Motion sensors are practical,” she
said, “particularly on the street side of
the house. So, when available, we defi -
nitely like to use them.”
This article fi rst ran in Brownstoner,
a sister publication of The Villager.
PHOTO BY SUSAN DE VRIES
26 August 8, 2019 TVG Schneps Media