Tuesday

 

We're thinking about getting this plaque and numbers. They're made by the same people who made our mailbox. The plaque attaches to the house with spacers so that it creates a slight shadow outline. The numbers are raised with magnets to adhere to the plaque. We like the silver on white, allowing the shadows from the raised numbers to define the numbers.

It could go here beside the garage door where the painter's tape is.

Or here above the front door. In this location it would always be lighted and protected from the elements.

Two choices.

We're working on an electrical plan for the external lights. We had electricians to come out and advise us and make a proposal. This is our favorite for the front entrance and garage, which is another reason we favor the above-the-door location for the numbers: the two shapes are too similar to be beside one another. This fixture has three color temperature options, including 4000 kelvins (4000k), our preferred brightness.

But first, we will need to lengthen the platform for the new light. The platform above is too short. We're talking with our contractor about how to go about it, whether it needs construction and stucco or just stucco.

We'll also be converting our accent lights to low voltage and a brighter white light to match the color of the other house lights (4000k). This junction box is corroding and unsafe.

These are corroded too. The electrician recommended low voltage for safety.

We'll replace the post and lamp as well. It will remain regular voltage. We're still looking for a replacement, pole and lamp. It will also need to be a cool white color (4000k) to give the front of the house a cohesive light color. The electricians will also put the yard lights and post light on an astronomical timer that adjusts for the changes in daylight throughout the seasons so that the light only comes on when you need it. No more constant adjustments as the length of days and nights shift.

Tonight's project was to replace the regular light switch for the porch light to a dimmer.

This light stays on all the time and it's normally very bright even on the warm color options (It has 6 color options that can be changed by turning the light on and off quickly.) Now, we can dim it and have it still be a cool color, 4000 kelvins. (The blue box above the door is for the future house numbers. The painter's tape is the size of the plaque. The plaque will be white.)

Dim overhead with the inside light on bright.

Dim overhead with the inside light off.  The accents lights on the right side of the house are now a warm color, but when we change them out, they will also be bright white (4000k). The cool color keeps the house looking blue, but the warm lights wash out the color as you can see on the right above.

Our side and backyard LED floodlights arrived. These lights can also be color adjusted to 4000k and can be dimmed. Our current ones are shot. These can be motion sensitive or stay on from dusk to dawn. The electricians will install all the fixtures once we make our final decisions and round them all up.

Once this gets sorted out, we'll replace the door handle, probably with brushed nickel. We'll get the KwikSet brand so that we can re-key it ourselves to match the key for all of our other locking doors. The same key for all five doors.

Full bright

Dim

Mid range