LIGHT MOVES

Scott Erickson has dedicated his business to designing outdoor lighting systems that enhance landscape designs and create breathtaking effects.

lighting by erickson outdoor lighting written by ellen olson, photography by wes pederson

OOutdoor lighting can transform a home’s landscape and can elevate it from nice to spectacular. Beautiful effects can be achieved with layering and a variety of treatments. Architectural details and plantings can be accented and areas used for entertaining illuminated. Scott Erickson has dedicated his company to outdoor lighting. Most of his business is from referrals; his expertise, integrity and attention to detail delight his customers. He and his team at Erickson Outdoor Lighting handle the design, installation, service and maintenance of high quality lighting systems.

“A lot of people think that lighting is lighting,” said Scott. “So many installations are flat and they only utilize one or two types of fixtures. The more variety of effects you can create, the more customized the look and the more dramatic, or subtle, the effect. It’s actually a very creative process. I like to use a variety of products and brands, as well as different types of lighting and bulbs, and integrate them into a quality system that will last for years.”

There are so many elements that go into good lighting design. Fixtures are the most obvious. But many lighting effects can inform an installation: pathway, undercap, moonlights, uplights, downlights, underwater lights, and bollards are just a few of the options to consider. Little firefly lights that twinkle in the branches of trees have also become very popular. Color is another important aspect of lighting. With LED technology, the spectrum and consistency of color is essential, especially if you are seeking a natural effect. The proper lighting temperature is necessary to bring out the natural beauty in the stone or in the trees.

“One of the challenges with some of the new technology is that there is a big swing in quality,” said Scott. “There are so many cheap LED bulbs and poorly manufactured integrated fixtures, it can be very frustrating to a homeowner. We can help you navigate those challenges and design a reliable system that fits your budget. We can stage installations over time, to make high quality lighting affordable. In the long run, it’s worth it.”

Lighting installations involve transformers and clocks, connections and wires, photocells and astronomical timers. Dusk to dawn lighting is a popular request. With LEDs energy consumption and bulb life are no longer big considerations so it becomes more practical. “Overall the new LED technology is more versatile and you can do a lot more with different beam spreads and color temperatures,” said Scott. “The quality still needs to improve, but these newer installations should last longer and be more resilient. Transformers are smaller and you need a lot less wire and the systems require low energy. The technology is still evolving, but it is changing our business.”

Scott began his career as an electrician, but after attending lighting seminar in California in 1998, he made that his focus. In 2004 he went out on his own. He keeps his finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the industry by annually attending lighting conferences and networking with other lighting professionals. Scott has completed thousands of projects in over 10 states. He takes a lot of nighttime pictures, which really help him to understand what works and what doesn’t. His background as an electrician gives him an advantage: he understands wiring and that makes troubleshooting more efficient. Customer service is a huge part of his business and is part of what keeps him afloat during the lean years. He has six trucks on the road; two of them are full-time service trucks. “If someone is having a party and the patio lights don’t work, that is going to be a problem,” said Scott. “We are there to make sure that everything works as it should.” Read his customer testimonials. They tell the story. ericksonlighting.com