Designing an Amagansett Nighttime Experience
Creating a Scene with Light
A layered approach to landscape lighting in Amagansett
In the heart of Amagansett, this property began with minimal outdoor lighting—outdated string lights and a few security fixtures. The homeowners wanted more than brightness. They wanted a backyard to enjoy at night, a welcoming front entry, and subtle wayfinding along the path home from town.
Hamptons Landscape Lighting Lead Designer Vanessa Kordich approached the project as a blank canvas. The result is a layered, composed nightscape that balances beauty, usability, and restraint.
The Vision: Designing the Nighttime Experience
Vanessa began by walking the property as the homeowners would—moving from driveway to front door, from pergola to pool, from gate to garden.
The goal was not to simply add fixtures, but to shape scenes.
Each lighting decision considered:
How the space is used after dark
What deserves emphasis
Where light should quietly recede
The final design feels intentional from every vantage point. Architectural lines are clarified. Trees become sculptural. Pathways feel guided, not overlit.
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As Vanessa explains:
“It’s not just about lighting trees or hedges. It’s about lighting views—the way scenes unfold and how people feel in them.”
Front Yard: Framing the Approach
The front yard centers around three crepe myrtle trees. In-grade uplights were installed to frame each tree evenly while keeping fixtures protected from landscaping equipment.
These trees now serve as visual anchors—guiding the transition from driveway to front door.
To reinforce that movement, low-profile in-grade path lights were integrated into the lawn. While compact fixtures can produce slightly more glare, they were selected intentionally to reduce maintenance in high-traffic mowing areas.
Beyond the foreground, Vanessa identified a tree line arching above the home’s roofline. By illuminating this backdrop, she added depth and architectural framing—visible both from the curb and from inside the home.
The result is layered, sculptural simplicity.
Backyard: Layers of Light and Shadow
In the backyard, the composition becomes more immersive.
A large specimen tree near the pool—nicknamed the “Avatar Tree”—became a focal point. Four well lights illuminate the trunk, while two downlights create a subtle moonlight effect through the canopy.
This interplay of light and shadow transforms the tree into a sculptural centerpiece without overpowering the space.
Around the pool and hydrangea borders, soft downlighting washes the lower planes, emphasizing texture while maintaining visual comfort.
Lighting the Hedge Line
The rear green giant hedges required a practical solution. Dense growth made internal lighting impossible, and traditional wash fixtures would have been exposed to damage.
Well lights installed in the lawn provided:
Clean concealment
Minimal maintenance
A bold but controlled framing effect
After reviewing the trade-offs, the homeowners aligned with the approach. The result is a defined perimeter that feels intentional rather than utilitarian.
The Pergola: Refining Bistro Lighting
Under the mahogany pergola, sagging string lights were replaced with a deliberate V-pattern design.
Rather than tracing every beam, the layout complements the structure’s lines and defines two distinct seating areas—one intimate, one more formal.
Mahogany’s density required careful installation to preserve the integrity of the wood. The extra precision allowed the lighting to feel tailored, balanced, and composed.
The space now feels warm and structured—not decorative for decoration’s sake.
Fence Line & Driveway: Subtle Guidance
Along the outer fence—used during evening walks home—fixtures were spaced to create a soft guideway of light.
Inside the gate, a secondary privacy wall received its own lighting layer, reinforcing the sense of arrival.
Achieving clean alignment along the wooden fence required laser leveling to account for natural bowing over time.
To preserve existing stonework around the pool and pathways, the team tunneled wiring beneath pavers rather than disturbing the surface—maintaining a seamless finish.
The technical execution supports what matters most: a clean, uninterrupted experience of the space.
A Composed Nightscape
This project reflects a simple philosophy: landscape lighting should shape experience, not call attention to itself.
Through careful layering, thoughtful fixture placement, and disciplined execution, the property now feels cohesive after dark. Views unfold gradually. Movement feels guided. Gathering spaces feel warm and grounded.
Light becomes part of the architecture of the landscape.
Considering Landscape Lighting for Your Property?
Hamptons Landscape Lighting designs curated nightscapes that feel natural, intentional, and enduring.
Schedule a consultation to discuss your property.
Or call (631) 259-3462 to begin the conversation.