By Jillyan MacMorris
3 minute read
Turning a Daytime Vision into an Evening Experience
Every once in a while, a project comes along that reminds us why collaboration is at the center of great residential design. This Highland Park property was one of those projects. The homeowners had a clear but evolving vision for how they wanted to experience their arrival sequence, home, landscape, pool terrace, and outdoor kitchen. Because of the strong collaboration between trade partners, the client’s vision became reality through a seamlessly executed plan that created a layered environment, equally thoughtful by day and memorable after dark.
The property had already been under construction for nearly two years when our landscape and hardscape partner got involved. The homeowners wanted a complete refresh, removing nearly all existing landscape except for mature trees to unveil an entirely new impact. Their inspiration pulled from California desert, Mediterranean, and Japanese influences, interpreted for a Highland Park climate. Around the pool, the goal was to maximize entertainment space with approximately 90% paved surface while preserving a sense of modern warmth that worked with the architecture, glass walls, Ipe wood siding, and surrounding landscape.
As the project evolved, the scope continued to shift. Recent Events Upcoming Events plantings and focal trees. Under-mounted LED strip lighting Hardscape areas were redesigned, paving expanded, planting space became more limited, and previously approved ideas had to be reconsidered.
The final lighting strategy was a study in restraint and purpose. With limited planting areas around the pool deck, we avoided overfilling the space with visible fixtures. Instead, we used the mature tree canopy to create soft moonlighting that washes the open terrace with natural, dappled shadow. Accent lighting was applied selectively to bring depth to perimeter plantings and focal trees. Under-mounted LED strip lighting helped define architectural and hardscape details, including gathering areas and built-in elements.
Pergola task lighting added function without disrupting the mood. Along the vertical ipe siding, we kept the home feeling warm and inviting, while the trees were accented with a more natural tone. The moonlighting stayed cooler, which helped create depth through the landscape and kept the pool terrace, drive, and surrounding spaces feeling true to life after sunset.
The project succeeded due to the cooperative spirit and high design priority, even before the finished effect. The homeowner brought vision and energy. The landscape/hardscape contractor translated an ambitious exterior environment into buildable form. Night Light helped carry that design into the evening hours with thoughtful, layered illumination.
By day, the property is modern, refined, and highly livable. At night, we had the opportunity to paint with light on a beautiful canvas that had already been thoughtfully created for the day.
Jillyan MacMorris is the Integrator at Night Light, Inc., a premier outdoor lighting and audio design, installation, maintenance firm based in Lombard, Illinois. With experience in Chicagoland’s green industry since 2017, she brings a strong focus on building partnerships and elevating collaboration across the high-end residential design sphere.
4 minute read
Q1. Tell us about your business: At Scott Byron & Co. we focus on client driven solutions for the landscape environment. Beginning with our Landscape Architecture Studio, we create landscape designs for some of the most challenging and unique luxury residential properties throughout the Midwest with locations in Chicago, Lake Bluff and Milwaukee. Our contracting and construction services support our client needs with experience, resources and relationships specially suited for the development of these amazing properties. We don’t stop once our construction trucks roll away, that is when our skilled maintenance teams come and begin supporting these beautiful landscapes with curated Maintenance programs designed to keep these prized landscapes looking beautiful for decades to come. Some of our clients have been with Scott Byron & Co. for more than 40 years which I share as a testament to the extraordinary teams at SBC. All of these opportunities are possible because of amazing relationships with clients, partners, vendors and networking groups like PHS.
Q2. Favorite PHS event and why: It is a challenge to determine which PHS event best stands out for me as a favorite as I see so much value in each of them. That being said, I think I enjoy the Luxury Conference the most as it typically brings the largest gathering of professionals and I have the opportunity to connect with some members that I haven’t met before. This provides a great deal of satisfaction in the continued development of my professional network and the chance to share details of my work at Scott Byron & Co.
Q3. The best business collaboration for you: I’m always surprised at the opportunities that come about from practices in all walks of the residential luxury industry, but I am so fortunate to have some relationships with special areas of expertise that continue to support my practice. Many of my best collaborations stem from relationships in the Residential Architecture Field, Interior Design, Home Automation and Technology, Residential Builders and Security Electronic Gate providers.
Q4. Favorite restaurant and why: This is a tough one as I am most certainly a foodie… But if I had to pick one, I think I would say Chicago Cut. Firstly, steakhouse. Period. But it also has amazing service, great food and a fantastic bar. As I sit here and think about it, the list is actually really long… The Barn in Evanston, Le Colonial in Lake Forest and so on… I consider myself truly fortunate to experience such wonderful restaurants around us.
Q5. The best part of your work: People. I enjoy working with amazing people. I am surrounded by professionals who continue to hone their crafts and help me improve my skills. I have mentors to guide me through challenges and share better ways to accomplish goals. Ownership who supports the vision for this organization and all of its staff. Scott Byron & Co. Teams, industry partners and Vendors. I am also so fortunate to work with clients who appreciate the many talents that Scott Byron & Co. brings to create and support their dreams. I get to be a part of all of it.
Q6. What is your passion? Relationships. I love my work in design and the medium of plants, stone, and beautiful materials, but I sincerely love the relationships I have. Knowing I can make a call at anytime and find a solution to a challenging situation or share an opportunity for someone’s betterment. If there is something that has provided the greatest growth in my career, it has been the relationships I have developed. This includes the amazing support I get from my beautiful wife Tracy.
Director
Mark E. Benner, MarkBenner@MEBArchitect.com
Organizer / Editors
TBD
Content Arrangers
David Davis, David@DavisAudio.com
Duane Draughon, DuaneD@VizXDesign.com
Przemek Grygiel, Przemek@StoneExperts.com
Darrell Katz, Darrell.Katz@Gmail.com
Jillyan MacMorris, Jillyan.MacMorris@NightLightInc.net
George Markoutsas, George@AblazeDesignGroup.com
Rebecca Pogonitz, Rebecca@GogoDesignGroup.com
Michelle Rohrer-Lauer, Michelle@MichellesInteriors.com
Philip Sassano, Philip@TheDesignCoach.com
Hailey Schueneman, hailey@home-environments.com
Jarmila Singer, JSinger@SoundLiving.com
Lynn Walsh, Lynn@WalshCommunications.com