There’s something new brightening our sunroom. I’m not referring to the fireflies Clara never stops trying to catch and keep (she insists one should live in her room forever). Whether she means befriend or cage up, it’s adorable either way.
Our sunroom — or veranda, if you prefer — finally has proper lighting. We installed new sconces on the posts in each of the four corners, and the difference is immediate: the room feels cozier, more usable after sunset, and much more intentional.
Last summer we considered adding light kits to the room’s ceiling fans, but we never found fan lights we loved. Over time we warmed to the idea of perimeter sconces instead — they offer better ambience and complement the space’s character. Until this update, the sunroom’s usefulness faded with daylight. Fortunately our electricians, S.J. Ryan (local), helped by installing the required fixture boxes and running the wiring. They charge by the hour; we’ll share cost details in a future update once the itemized bill arrives.
To put all four sconces on a single switch, the electricians tied into an existing outlet that was already controlled by a wall switch near the sunroom door. From there they ran conduit under the deck to the other posts. The installation was more complex than usual because the sunroom sits on a slab foundation, which prevented drilling beneath the room itself. As a result most wiring had to be routed through the posts or under the deck. Had we known we wanted post-mounted sconces earlier — when we raised and planked the ceiling — the wiring would have been simpler. Live and learn.
Because of the exterior conduit runs, you can see small conduit covers on each post. We plan to paint those to match the house so they blend in, and Sherry already has plans to add planters in front of them if they still stand out after painting.
The sconces themselves were finds from an online retailer and appealed to us for several reasons: they match the scale of the space, coordinate with our other outdoor lighting, were available in a set of four, and fit our budget (about fifty dollars apiece). They aren’t so large that someone might walk into them, and the dark-bronze finish provides a pleasing contrast with the fans and other hardware.
While the electricians were here, they also removed an old intercom and terminated the wires cleanly. We were relieved to find only a tiny dot in the wall where the wires exited and a few small, subtle holes in the mortar where the unit had been mounted — far better than the large patch job we had feared.
The sunroom was just one of several spaces that received electrical attention. For example, the office got a ceiling fixture box and a floor outlet installed under the floating desk to better support lighting and electronics without visible cords.
We made a point of bundling multiple wiring tasks into a single visit for efficiency and cost savings. There are still fixtures to install and drywall patches to finish, so we’ll share those updates once they’re tidied up. Combining the electrical work into one job already reduced expenses, and we’ll provide a breakdown of costs when we have the finalized bill.
The new outdoor sconces are the highlight of the electrical updates. They provide a warm, balanced glow rather than harsh illumination, extend the time we comfortably use the sunroom, and create a more inviting atmosphere for evenings — whether we’re enjoying a popsicle, staying up a bit later, or supervising Burger’s last potty break of the night. Small changes like this make the space noticeably more usable and enjoyable.
How are you spending your summer evenings? I keep thinking it would be fun to set up a projector and watch a movie out here — the lighting makes that idea even more tempting.
P.S. Teddy’s weekly photo is up, and he’s undeniably the star.