Residential Lighting Posts
Fixing Build-Day Regrets: An Elkhorn Water Feature Transformation When you are building a custom home, the to-do list feels never-ending. Between choosing flooring, approving blueprints, and finalizing timelines, [...]
Project Overview Great landscape lighting doesn't change the character of a home—it reveals it. For this beautifully renovated farmhouse in Onawa, Iowa, our goal was to honor the property's [...]
Professional landscape lighting increases the value of a luxury home by enhancing curb appeal, improving safety, extending outdoor living spaces, highlighting architectural details, and creating an unforgettable first impression. [...]
If you have a professionally installed landscape lighting system, one of its most important components is the transformer. Although it's often tucked away on the side of your home [...]
Large properties present unique opportunities—and unique challenges—when it comes to landscape lighting. Unlike a traditional residential lot, an acreage or estate isn't meant to be illuminated from corner to [...]
Landscape Lighting Not Performing the Way It Should? Have landscape lighting installed at your Omaha or Lincoln property, but feel disappointed with the results? Maybe your fixtures are failing, [...]
Lighting a New Construction Acreage: Transitional Farmhouse Landscape Lighting in Elkhorn, Nebraska Client Goal: Create a Complete Nighttime Experience for a New Construction Home For this newly built [...]
Enhancing an Omaha Outdoor Oasis: Resort-Style Pool and Exterior Lighting in West Omaha Client Goal: As a long-term lighting customer, this client was looking to dial up the light [...]
Why Great Landscape Lighting Should Feel Subtle Great landscape lighting should not be the first thing you notice. When outdoor lighting is designed well, you notice the warmth of [...]
Is Landscape Lighting Worth It? Here’s What You Need to Know When homeowners think about improving curb appeal or boosting outdoor functionality, landscape lighting often comes up as a [...]
Outdoor Lighting for Your Home: A Complete Guide to Outdoor Illumination When the sun sets, your home doesn't have to disappear into the dark. Outdoor lighting is more than [...]
Hidden on an old campground outside of Elkhorn, this remarkable home compliments the natural elements of its surroundings. It has several distinctive characteristics, from the mix of materials and [...]
Spring is finally here and with that comes more time spent outdoors, enjoying your lighting system. It is vital to learn how to keep your system running properly throughout [...]
A well-executed outdoor deck lighting design can extend the nighttime use of your space while creating a warm and inviting ambiance for evening enjoyment and increase safety. As the [...]
For many people, summertime means more leisurely nights outdoors spent enjoying all that nature has to offer. Whether it be a quiet evening gazing at the stars or watching [...]
Hidden on an old campground outside of Elkhorn, this remarkable home compliments the natural elements of its surroundings. It has several distinctive characteristics, from the mix of materials and [...]
What Questions Should You Ask an Outdoor Lighting Contractor? Quick answer: Ask about their experience specializing in lighting (not general landscaping or electrical work), [...]
As the gloomy winter months are behind us, the promise of warmer temperatures and the opportunity to spend more time outside are on the horizon. Perhaps it’s from being [...]
The path leading to the front entrance of your home is one of the most popular places for landscape lighting. There are several beneficial reasons to illuminate the walkway too. It can [...]
Everyone wants their home to be a safe place – free from crime, theft, and other unwanted mischief. One measure to amp up your home’s security involves adding outdoor [...]
Are you looking for stylish driveway bollard lights to make your property safer at night? Here are three popular styles certain to enhance your home while increasing nighttime safety. If [...]
When correctly designed and installed, landscape lighting can significantly boost the nighttime curb appeal and increase the security of your home and property. Adding lighting to the garage area, which is a [...]
It’s always exciting walking through any of our outdoor lighting design projects at night. Especially when it has specialty applications that not only challenged our team and their craftsmanship [...]
Have you ever pulled into a driveway so dark you had difficulty navigating your way around it? Perhaps, you worried about hitting something on the property or wondered if [...]
As the fall begins in Omaha, we can look forward to using our outdoor areas more. Outdoor fireplaces are a wonderful place to enjoy its warmth with loved ones. [...]
Have you ever wondered if you can convert your low-voltage halogen landscape lighting system to LED? Several of our clients have inquired about upgrading their halogen lighting system. In [...]
Imagine you are driving home, it’s late, pitch-dark, and difficult to see the entrance of your driveway. Or, perhaps, you have a long, curved driveway that’s always difficult to [...]
One of the most important aspects of any outdoor lighting system is the security aspect it provides. Proper exterior lighting helps make a home welcoming and friendly while discouraging [...]
The garage is often a prominent portion of the front home. Outdoor garage lighting can increase nighttime security while also providing a unique curb appeal. In this post, we [...]
When someone rings your doorbell at night, do you get a little nervous? […]
Incorporating tiki torch fixtures into your low-voltage landscape lighting design can transform your backyard, giving it a vacation and private resort vibe. The dancing flames are a unique and [...]
Many homeowners have a gate or fence surrounding their backyard or pool area. It can be difficult to enter or navigate your gate entrance in the dark of night. A little [...]
Everyone wants their home to be safe and secure. Outdoor wall lighting can help make your backyard safer while providing a stronger sense of security. […]
Tucked into a secluded development outside of Omaha, Nebraska you’ll find this stylish modern mountain home. The landscape lighting design elegantly enhances the grand architectural features while providing nighttime [...]
Now that there is snow on the ground, it is starting to feel more like winter. It’s hard to believe we are almost halfway through the season. […]
As homeowners, we put a lot of time and energy into our home. From mowing the lawn and trimming the bushes to sprucing up the exterior and making improvements, [...]
This elegant estate located in Omaha, Nebraska, stands in an established neighborhood full of mature trees. When the homeowners purchased the home, it had a lighting system with older [...]
If you have ever walked your property at night, you know how difficult it is when you can’t see where you are going or what’s in front of you. [...]
A deck and patio in Omaha, Nebraska, has been transformed into a functional, family-friendly outdoor space with the perfect splash of light. Some enhancements to the previously uncovered deck [...]
There’s nothing quite like driving up to a warm, welcoming home with the prettiest Nebraska sunset peeking through the trees in the backdrop. This gorgeous new home is nestled [...]
If you prefer landscape lighting fixtures that are barely noticeable, then you’ll want to learn more about these stylish LED well lights. They’re versatile, durable, and provide excellent illumination. [...]
If you caught FOX & Friends Saturday morning, you might have heard our name mentioned. We worked with National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and Morano Landscape in partnership [...]
When most people think of outdoor security lighting, they automatically picture harsh floodlights, blinding motion detectors, and other high-power measures that suppress and distract from the home’s natural beauty. [...]
Snow in April?! Hopefully, this is the last weekend we’ll see snow in the forecast until next year. In anticipation of Omaha’s warm days ahead, we wanted to share [...]
With spring on the horizon, everyone in our office is looking forward to warmer weather and spending more time outdoors. In anticipation of spring and summer, we are so [...]
After being in the landscape lighting industry for 25 years, we’ve seen how it has evolved and changed over time. Besides some of the technology advancements, how homeowners use [...]
A good landscape lighting design can transform your outdoor spaces, add distinction and enhance the beauty of your home, and increase the overall safety and security of your property. [...]
Cooking and grilling outside is a summertime staple. Now that football season is here, you might fire up the grill for some burgers and brats for the game, or [...]
A lake home is the perfect summertime weekend retreat. You can spend your days fishing, tubing, or exploring the lake with long, leisurely evenings gathered around the fire pit telling [...]
Landscape lighting is an important aspect of your Omaha home and property. […]
Spring is an excellent time to hire an outdoor lighting company to illuminate your home or property. Landscape lighting will not only allow you to enjoy your backyard more during these [...]
Working with our clients to come up with unique outdoor lighting design ideas to fit their personal style is what we enjoy about what we do. Today’s blog post [...]
Happy Friday! The weekend is finally here and with chilly nights like these, who wouldn’t want to spend the evening near a cozy outdoor fireplace. Today we’re sharing some of [...]
About a year ago the homeowners of this newly constructed outdoor space started planning the backyard of their dreams. The initial backyard renovations included an in-ground pool the whole [...]
Refurbishing an older home can sometimes be a daunting task. It took the homeowners about three years to completely restore this historic home in Omaha. Built in the 1920’s, [...]
Today’s LED landscape lighting technology offers beautiful lighting options coupled with energy savings and bulb longevity. […]
Want to know what is involved in managing large and complex landscape lighting residential projects? For one, lots and lots of planning and coordination, especially when several contractors are also involved in the project. Owner [...]
A garden can be a peaceful sanctuary. It’s a wonderful place to relax and unwind while being surrounded by nature and blooming flowers. After a full day of work, dinner, [...]
When you think of the treehouse you had as a kid, you think of all the wonderful memories you made with your siblings and friends. The hideaway it created [...]
Strategically placed landscape lighting creates a welcoming, yet subtle, atmosphere each night – one that you can enjoy for years to come. In the previous posts, we shared different ideas [...]
Now that we’ve provided tips for lighting your home for security and safety, let’s dive into the fun stuff. Lighting to accentuate the beauty of your home and boost [...]
We are definitely in the thick of winter here in Omaha. It’s cold, dreary, and the fog! Maybe it’s just me, but I think the fog makes it seem colder [...]
If there is one thing we love, it is a fixture with an element of uniqueness and functionality to it. So you can imagine, when we came across these bollards, it didn’t [...]
Meet our Office Manager, Kim Moy. She’s been a part of the McKay team since 2008 and helps ensure the office runs smoothly and that all of our customers receive the highest [...]
(Photo Credit: AIA South Dakota) McKay Landscape Lighting had the opportunity to present on landscape lighting design and applications at ENGAGE, the AIA South Dakota Convention on September 11, 2015. [...]
When new homebuilders contacted AJ Coleman, outdoor lighting designer, they were looking to forgo the traditional coach lights for their home. Knowing they wanted quality fixtures to light the [...]
You’re considering outdoor lighting for your home, when the company already working on your place mentions they do lighting, too. You think, great we’ll have them do it. Or maybe you even try the do-it-yourself [...]
As a homeowner, you invest time and money into making your home look good during the day and often overlook it’s evening opportunities. Low voltage landscape lighting can extend your [...]
At McKay Landscape Lighting, we’ve noticed more of our clients are creating outdoor living areas for entertaining and spending more time enjoying the outdoors after the sun goes down. [...]
Last week we talked about getting started with landscape lighting and how you can always add more layers of lighting as you need or want later on. This week [...]
McKay Landscape Lighting has experience lighting a number of different aspects of a property. One unique aspect that is often requested is outdoor pavilion lighting. Pavilions are an integral [...]
As summer begins, spending time outside begins to sound appealing. If you are lucky enough to have a lake home, spending time there sounds even better. McKay Lighting has [...]
While we like to stay away from using colored lenses at McKay Landscape Lighting, adding a Cool White LED bulb to a Blue Spruce can be a subtle and [...]
One of the most important aspects of a McKay Landscape Lighting design is bringing value to the homeowner through a beautiful outdoor lighting system. A professionally designed and installed [...]
As summer begins to near, you may be getting your swimming pool in shape for a summer of fun in the sun. Perhaps one thing that you haven’t considered [...]
Some previous posts have focused on traditional deck lights, but today the focus is on one of McKay’s newest types of lighting: Bistro lighting. This type of lighting is [...]
