Overview:
Avalon Lighting Design is an internationally recognized, multi-award-winning Landscape Lighting Design company. It was established in January 1999, making it the oldest company providing solely, landscape lighting as a trade practice in the Sacramento, CA region. It has operated as sole proprietorship to a corporation and back; it is currently a sole proprietorship.
Avalon Lighting Design has the competitive advantage in “Design.” Others say a lot about design, but don’t provide many of the detailed offerings found in architectural firms. The truth is that most in this profession place a high priority on sales, business, and technologies, and a low priority on design. At the end of the day, it all comes down to performance; will they be effective in solving problems, proactively thinking and planning so that the project runs smoothly? My experience speaks for itself.
Avalon Lighting Design provides Landscape Lighting Design services, as a standard offering. But I also provide a specialty service in ‘Affective Lighting Design.’ This is a new practice and consideration for the landscape lighting profession; I developed it. In short, it has to do with the “experience” of each space by emotionally stimulating people to have positive effects from the lighting design. This is not taught, nor has anyone outside of myself studied it. These experiences equate to Well-Being and Human Health.
Avalon Lighting Design will approach Design in two primary ways, by its “Intent” and “Purpose”. The Intent is structured around a Human-Centric focus that is based on the Owners’ needs. The Purpose is related to each space (each ‘Use-Area’) and asks, “What is the space to be used for?” It also asks, “Who is using it?” These simple questions are the first step to understanding these Use-Areas. Until this is known, you cannot properly illuminate a space to be effective, as a lighting design solution.
As I serve my clients, I am building a platform for the future generations in landscape lighting design. I intend to pass along my experience in the form of a complete training program that will allow dedicated practitioners to study Design as a discipline, so that they can advance this art form. You can see this effort on my educational website, ELLI: https://www.landscapelightinginitiative.org/
About Mark Carlson:
I am the owner and principal of Avalon Lighting Design. My involvement in this trade, art form, and discipline has been over the past 30 years. I have had the unique pleasure to design and install projects at the international level. These were amazing experiences that taught me how to more effectively design and manage a project.
My background and experiences are quite diverse, as I have performed in many roles to including: management (window fashions and food service industries), leadership (U.S. Army), sales & customer service (landscape lighting manufacturer), design & drafting (landscape architecture firms), installation/construction (building contractor), and writing as an author (self-publishing). In addition, I am a professional drummer, as a side hobby in my local communities. I have been married for over 30+ years and have two grown boys.
The following are some of my accomplishments:
- B.S. degree in Botany; CSULB (1987)
- Licensed CA Contractor; C-27 #648814 (1992-present)
- Certified CLVLT; AOLP (2006-2012)
- Certified COLD; AOLP (2011)
- Designed & Installed: 1,000+ projects
- Performed Work: CA, OR, AZ, Canada (Edmonton), & Costa Rica (Playa Flamingo)
- Worked at 4 Landscape Architectural firms in CA
- Authored 2 books: ‘The Original Garden Lighting Book’ (2013)
‘Lighting Design Awareness’ (2022) - Author & Editor for AOLP’s Installation Guidelines (2011)
- Created & Administrated Blog Series (2013-2015)
- Developer & Manager of AOLP’s COLD program (2009-2011)
- Speaker at several Green Industry trade shows
- Historian & Collector of Frank B. Nightingale history (2013-present)
- Multi-award-winner in various trade organization Awards Programs (2009-2019)
- Creator & Administrator of ELLI’s educational programs (2019-present)
- Writer of several Landscape Lighting Trade Practices & Guidelines (2012-present)
- Creator & Developer of ELLI’s ‘Affective Lighting Design’ program (2025-present)
Testimonials
“ I never imagined how powerful just the right illumination could be and I always thought that all landscape architects included the "right" amount of illumination in their plans. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way. So, when my beautifully designed side yard patio was completed, I looked forward to being able to entertain on it both day and night. You can imagine my dismay when I walked around the yard, the first night, only to encounter ground illumination blinding my next step. ...” Read More »
– Monica Crooks, DDS, Granite Bay, CA
“ Barbara & I are so happy with the lighting job you did in our back yard. It's like our yard has come to life! We are spending a lot more time outside, due to the incredible lighting you put in. Our yard has become a sort of 'sanctuary' for us. As you know, I am on the road a lot touring with various bands and when I get home I find myself spending much of my night hours outside. The lights you installed make the yard feel like another 'room' to our house—it's such a great experience. ...” Read More »
– Tony & Barbara Pia Granada Hills, CA
“ Wow... what a difference! We are so thrilled at what you have done for us and our entire family uses the yard all the time. The lighting system you gave us is outstanding and your customer service has been great—we love it! I love to sit out back and relax with a nice cigar and just stare at the various parts of our yard. It really is amazing on how much things have come to life now. ...” Read More »
– Tim Gagnier, Granite Bay, CA
“ We have worked with Avalon Lighting over the past 8 years and they have performed their beautiful services on two different homes. Our latest home is spectacular and we were so excited to hear that it won an two different awards! We are so lucky to have met Mark and his team, as we thoroughly enjoy the use of our yard. In fact, we have had several friends over to enjoy are yard and they loved it so much, that a couple of them had their yards done by Avalon too. ...” Read More »
– Jan & Jim Leonard, Meadow Vista, CA