Carillon Point Residence

Located at Carillon Point in Kirkland, this waterfront condominium underwent an extensive renovation before Northwest Outdoor Lighting was invited to illuminate its remarkable outdoor environment. Instead of a conventional backyard, the residence features a garden terrace surrounded by water, with walking pavers appearing to float across the surface. The lighting design needed to reveal the property’s pathways, artwork, plantings and water features without introducing glare or distracting reflections. Because the garden is prominently viewed from the living and dining rooms, every fixture placement was considered from both inside and outside the residence. Northwest Outdoor Lighting installed a layered, low-voltage LED system that creates safe passage through the garden while drawing attention to its sculptural details. The completed project received the 2022 Grand Award from the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals, recognizing the collaboration, craftsmanship and design behind this distinctive Kirkland property. Designed from the Inside Out The lighting plan began with the primary viewing perspective inside the condominium’s living and dining rooms. From this vantage point, the garden functions almost like a living work of art, extending the home visually after sunset. Fixtures were positioned to reveal layers throughout the landscape, from the illuminated pathway in the foreground to the plantings, sculptural trees and architecture beyond. This approach creates depth without flooding the compact space with unnecessary light. Residents can appreciate the garden from inside the home while still enjoying comfortable, carefully controlled illumination when they step outdoors. Lighting Water Without Creating Glare Water surrounds much of the patio and serves as one of the garden’s defining features. The design team took additional precautions to prevent glare and distracting diode reflections from appearing across the water or through the home’s windows. Rather than placing fixtures directly in the water, Northwest Outdoor Lighting concealed light sources among the surrounding plantings. The illumination grazes foliage, rocks and garden features before reflecting softly across the water. This indirect approach produces movement, shadow and shimmer while keeping the source of the light discreet. The result is a waterscape that becomes more dimensional after dark without overwhelming the intimate terrace or competing with views from inside the residence. Safe Pathways and Illuminated Art Petite fixtures installed beside the patio and pool steps provide enough illumination to make changes in elevation visible while also highlighting nearby plantings and rockwork. Their restrained scale suits the compact garden and preserves clear views across the water. Brass path lights use a reflective design that directs light upward into the fixture’s hat rather than projecting a visible beam downward. This positioning was selected specifically to reduce diode reflections on the surrounding water. Focused accent lighting also draws attention to the property’s decorative glass artwork. By controlling the angle and intensity of each beam, the design reveals the color and texture of the glass while avoiding harsh glare against the dining-room windows. Together, the pathway, garden and art lighting create a unified environment that is functional, expressive and comfortable to experience.