High performance Coastal Source outdoor lighting supports and elevates a comprehensive outdoor vision for an exclusive bayfront property created by Country Lawn Care.
Photos: Coastal Source
Set within the Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club in Rehoboth, Delaware, a beautiful waterfront residence overlooking Rehoboth Bay offered its owners luxury living in one of Delaware’s most desirable coastal locations — and the opportunity to create outdoor spaces that matched the quality and intent of the home itself. With golf course fairways at the front and open water at the rear, their goal was to shape an exterior environment that felt cohesive and considered, enhancing the setting without intruding on neighboring views or the character of the community.
The homeowners chose Country Lawn Care and Maintenance LLC, led by founder Jerry Dougherty, to deliver the landscape design and build, including layout refinement, planting, hardscape and lighting. With the landscape strategy defined, Dougherty specified Coastal Source high-performance outdoor lighting solutions that Defy the Elements™ and integrated them early in the design process.
Set on approximately a quarter-acre lot, the bayfront property is organized around a series of distinct outdoor zones — from defined arrival spaces at the front, to recreational and entertaining areas around the pool, and finally to tiered access leading toward the bay and private dock. Dougherty worked alongside the project architect throughout construction, reviewing sightlines and spatial relationships as the build progressed.
“Our approach was to design the outside by standing inside and looking out — understanding how the home opens to the landscape, how views are framed, and how those spaces should feel during the day and after dark,” Dougherty explained. “From there, we could shape the exterior so that each area transitions naturally to the next, without disrupting sightlines or the overall rhythm of the property.”
That thinking guided decisions across planting, grading and circulation. Planting heights were carefully stepped to preserve views across the water, while different zones were given distinct atmospheres — from elegant and structured at the front of the home to relaxed and coastal at the rear. Lighting was introduced only once those fundamentals were established, and extended out into the bay to the private dock.
“The landscape leads,” Dougherty noted. “Lighting supports it. Our job is to let the planting, the hardscape and the views do the talking, and then use light to reinforce the mood of each space. The lighting should feel natural — guiding people through the property without competing for attention or pulling focus from the setting itself.”
Careful control of color temperature and output was used to reinforce continuity between interior and exterior spaces, particularly along the rear elevation where large openings connect the kitchen, bar and outdoor living areas. By matching tones and managing brightness, the lighting maintains a seamless visual flow from inside to out while preserving views across Rehoboth Bay.
In total, 158 Coastal Source fixtures were deployed across the property, including Match Lights, Lip Lights, Nose Lights, Director Lights, Bullet Lights, Tall Riser EVO path lights and multiple Niche fixture variants. Most fixtures were intentionally concealed within planting beds, masonry and architectural details, allowing light to define space without drawing attention to the hardware.
“Most of the lighting is designed to disappear,” Dougherty said. “You notice the effect, not the fixture. The light is there to shape how the space feels — to highlight paths, planting and architecture — without calling attention to itself or interrupting the views.”
A visual anchor for the project is the use of Coastal Source Match Lights, selected in a brushed metal finish to complement the home’s stainless steel accents. “That product stood apart,” Dougherty added. “It tied directly into the architecture. Everything else was about subtlety and control.”
Durability was a critical factor in specifying Coastal Source for the project. Positioned directly on the bay, the property is exposed to salt air, moisture and seasonal extremes, demanding products with a proven track record in harsh environments. Dougherty cited Coastal Source’s reputation for robust construction, sealed connections and long-term reliability — particularly where infrastructure runs beneath masonry, footers and turf and future access is limited by design.
“With connections running under masonry, footers and turf, this isn’t the kind of installation you want to revisit,” Dougherty said. “Coastal Source’s cabling and connection system gave me the confidence I needed for a setting like this.” That confidence allowed Dougherty and his team to commit fully to the design intent, knowing the system would perform consistently without compromising the finished landscape over time.
Such confidence reflects a long-standing relationship. Dougherty was introduced to Coastal Source nearly a decade ago, and his commitment to the brand strengthened after visiting its design and R&D facilities in the Florida Keys. “Once I saw how the products were engineered and tested, it gave me the knowledge to sell quality properly,” he said. “Today, Coastal Source is the only lighting we specify.”
The completed landscape has been enthusiastically received by the homeowners, who now use the outdoor spaces well into the evening.
The project has also drawn praise beyond the property itself. In an email to Dougherty, a member of the Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club homeowners’ association board described the project as “setting a new standard for excellence” — a notable endorsement in a community with high expectations for landscape and lighting design.
For Dougherty, the finished project reflects an approach shaped by experience in demanding coastal environments, where lighting must be planned as part of the landscape from the outset rather than treated as a later addition.
“Lighting isn’t a separate layer,” Dougherty said. “It’s what allows the landscape to work at night. It extends how the space is used, how long people stay outside, and how different areas feel after dark. When it’s planned alongside the landscape rather than added later, it reinforces everything you’ve already designed, and that’s when people don’t want to go back inside.”
Today, the Rehoboth Bay residence stands as an example of how disciplined landscape design — supported by carefully specified lighting — can elevate a property without overwhelming it. The project demonstrates how thoughtful planning, technical confidence and the right product choices can bring outdoor environments to life, even in one of the region’s most demanding coastal settings.
