Dayloom

10/02/2026

Why spend this fall in the dark?

This project, completed this week in Fairfax Station, shows just how dramatically the right lighting can transform a landscape.

Trees come alive. Stone and plantings gain depth. Dark corners disappear. And a landscape you enjoy during the day becomes an entirely different experience after sunset.

One property. Two completely different experiences.

Designer Andy Shumate

09/28/2026

Dayloom was honored to once again partner with Serve Our Willing Warriors - SOWW. This is an amazing local organization in Haymarket, VA, that serves our veterans. They rely on local donations for help. So far they have served over 4000 warriors since their founding and have had zero suicides, which is an amazing accomplishment.

09/28/2026

Dog approved! I just completed a night time walk through with a client. They have two evenings this week where they are entertaining. I wanted the table to both be functional at night and it is also the focal point of the back yard as one looks out their main living room. Down lighting from the large oak trees allowed us to provide lighting on table and flower bed.

07/27/2026

Most people design a pool. Almost no one designs what they're looking at while they're in it.

You invested in a beautiful space, however when you sit down at dusk, you're staring into a wall of black trees. It's a strange blind spot. The eye needs somewhere to land, and darkness doesn't give it one. That's not just an aesthetic gap, it's why people don't linger. A patio that looks great in daylight photos can feel oddly unwelcoming the moment the sun goes down, and most owners can't quite explain why.

The fix isn't more light. It's the right light in the right places, the tree canopy lit from below, the stone wall glowing at its base, the water lit to hold the eye. Once there's a backdrop, the whole space opens up. People stop wanting to go inside. They stay for one more glass of w**e, one more conversation, because the space finally feels finished.

If you built a backyard for the people you love, don't let it go dark on you. Let's talk about what a lighting plan could do for yours.

07/16/2026

We were happy to be featured in Stroll Magazine of Willowsford. If you live in Willowsford, we understand your community, your HOA, and how to design the best lighting system with your guidelines.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EtogU9kdQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

When you spend your days making outdoor spaces beautiful, you find some pretty great places to enjoy along the way. ❤️

Meet Patrick Harders, founder of Dayloom, an Aldie-based luxury landscape lighting design firm, and co-founder of Sterling Lighting, where he's helping bring manufacturing back to Virginia by building solid brass and bronze fixtures right here in the Commonwealth.

For nearly three decades, Patrick has helped shape how some of the region's most beautiful properties come alive after dark, with a focus on warm light, hidden sources, and protecting our night skies.

That same love of place carries into his civic work. Patrick is an active voice in conversations about data center growth across Loudoun, Prince William, and neighboring counties, advocating to preserve the rural character, dark skies, and heritage that make this region so special.

And when he's not designing or advocating, he has a few favorite spots:

🥂 Date night: Eddie Merlot's
🍖 BBQ: Hammerdown BBQ
🍽️ Restaurants worth the drive: Hunter's Head Tavern in Upperville and Field & Main in Marshall

📍 Dayloom
24013 Lenah Farm Ln, Aldie, VA

Which restaurant is always worth the drive for you?

06/18/2026

George Washington's troops worshipped on this property during the Revolutionary War.
We were honored to
Warm white well lights graze the original stone facade, picking up nearly 250 years of texture and history in every shadow. Soft down lighting from the portico keeps the entrance welcoming without ever feeling staged. Every fixture is placed to honor the architecture, not compete with it.
This is the difference between lighting a house and lighting a legacy.
📍 Warren County, Virginia

💡 Design & Install: Dayloom

06/09/2026

Landscape lighting isn't about making everything bright—it's about creating atmosphere.
For this historic barn, we designed a soft, welcoming environment that enhances the architecture while respecting its natural surroundings. The interior seating area is gently illuminated with warm 2700K lighting, creating an inviting glow for guests. The exterior structure is highlighted with slightly crisper 3000K light, providing subtle definition and depth.
We used carefully placed downlighting to wash the timber structure and in-grade well lights to accent the beautiful stonework. Just as importantly, we intentionally left the surrounding landscape dark, allowing the barn to become the focal point without competing with the beauty of the night.
Thoughtful lighting is often what you don't notice—it's what you feel.
Photo Credit: Maja Potocki of Carolina Lighting in Asheville, NC