Home of the Year Project Profile
- Name & Location: Outdoor Lighting Project, Cornelius, North Carolina
- Integrator: SoundVision, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Award: Home of the Year, Best Outdoor Lighting/Landscape Lighting Project, Silver
On the shores of Lake Norman, the sunset is the main event. For this waterfront estate, Mooresville, North Carolina-based SoundVision set out to celebrate one of the state’s most spectacular natural features by making sure the property could be enjoyed safely and beautifully long after the sun slips below the horizon.
Accentuating sunsets on a Lake Norman estate
The sunsets may be the star of the show, but the walk to enjoy them needed to feel just as inviting. Rather than simply illuminating the home, SoundVision designed a lighting experience that guides guests from the gated entrance past the front elevation, around the pool, through the landscape, and along the waterfront boardwalk to the covered dock.
Along the way, architectural accents, mature trees, gardens, pathways, and gathering spaces glow with warm, carefully layered light. Each element enhances the property and forms one cohesive design that preserves the natural beauty of the lake. The lighting transforms how the estate is experienced after dark while remaining almost invisible itself.
4,500 feet of wiring power outdoor lighting experience
That subtlety masks an impressive scale. The project required more than 4,500 feet of low-voltage wiring, multiple lighting zones, and more than 130 fixtures integrated across the estate. Despite all that infrastructure, the installation was executed to stay out of sight, protecting the property’s clean aesthetic and uninterrupted lake views.
Lakeside environment demands unique approach
Waterfront properties bring their own set of challenges, and SoundVision knows them well. After completing numerous dock installations throughout the Lake Norman area, the team has developed practical solutions for conditions ranging from seasonal algae blooms that can make water access impossible to the limited clearance beneath docks. Every project demands flexibility and careful planning.
This one called for an especially creative approach. The only viable path for the dock wiring required working from the water. Rather than compromise the design or disturb the structure, a SoundVision technician climbed into a kayak and maneuvered beneath the dock, routing wiring precisely where it was needed while preserving the finished appearance. It was an unconventional solution, and a fitting example of the team’s commitment to clean, reliable installations no matter the site conditions.
Extending the beauty of outdoor spaces with intelligent lighting
The finished system enhances safety along pathways and the boardwalk, extends the hours the family can enjoy their outdoor spaces, and complements the home’s architecture without competing for attention.
Evenings at this estate now unfold naturally. Guests can watch the sky turn gold from the dock, then stroll back toward the house as the landscape comes softly to life around them.
Equipment list:
- Accent and Specialty Lighting
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- WAC Lighting grand accent lights
- WAC Lighting standard accent lights
- WAC Lighting linear wash lights
- WAC Lighting cone deck lights for the dock and boardwalk
- Path Lighting
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- WAC Lighting canopy pathway lights
- Power and Control
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- WAC Lighting 600W transformers, one per lighting zone
- WAC Lighting mechanical timers, one per lighting zone
- Wiring and Accessories
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- WAC Lighting 12 gauge low voltage landscape wire in 500 ft spools
- WAC Lighting 18 inch landscape extension rods
This project is part of our coverage for the 2026 CE Pro Home of the Year Awards. Presented annually at CEDIA Expo alongside the BEST Product Awards, the Home of the Year Awards represent the best of the best smart home innovations within the CEDIA channel. Check to see when the next submission window is open in case you have a project you would like to submit and don’t want to miss your opportunity.
