Holiday lights on a West Vancouver view home in Altamont

The situation

An Altamont homeowner wanted their house to look festive from the street below and from across the slope, without anything flashy. The house has long, horizontal rooflines, a glass-railed deck facing the view and a pair of tall evergreens by the entrance.

Previous attempts with store-bought lights had sagged within a week.

Planning the design

For a modern, horizontal house, straight runs of warm white along the main rooflines usually look best. Here we suggested the upper and lower rooflines, the two entrance evergreens, and nothing on the deck railing so the glass stays clear.

We also checked the outdoor outlets and planned which runs would connect where, so no single outlet carries the whole display.

How we install

Strands are secured with clips, fine staples or fasteners, whichever suits each surface, to keep the lines straight and taut. Strands are spaced and secured so wind off the water doesn't make them sag.

The evergreens are wrapped from the inside out so the lights sit within the branches rather than on the surface.

Timers switch everything on at dusk and off late in the evening.

Through the season and after

Removal is booked at installation. Every strand is supplied by us and custom-cut to the rooflines, with bulbs chosen to suit a modern view home, so the display looks uniform from the street below. We don't put up customer-supplied lights, and we handle any repairs during the season.

Questions we hear