It's common knowledge among photographers: light makes everything change. Same composition, same subject, same everything else – just different light can transform the same thing beyond recognition.
The same principle applies to property boundaries, as well. Good gates and railings during summer will look magnificent during autumn. On the contrary, things that seemed acceptable during bright seasonal light become less so under unforgiving autumn light conditions.
And with this, September and October become important months for home viewings and purchases – because everything can be seen in different lights. During this time people interested in buying homes are ready to check everything in the most careful manner. They approach houses under the most revealing light conditions.
Understanding how different gate and railing choices affect the appearance of the property under autumn light conditions is no longer a matter of theory. This is practical knowledge which helps to present the property the best way during the season which matters most of all for viewings.
How the Autumn Light Works?
Summer casts short shadows and creates a homogenous image of everything, with the reflection of the sun. To see something really detailed you have to get very close and look attentively at the object. But autumn changes everything completely. By the end of October, the sun is low enough even during the day. Low oblique light creates long raking shadows on any surface it shines. Under such lighting details that were just skims by the summer sun become three-dimensional, visible immediately.
In this case light conditions change the way the kerb appeal of the property appears. The quality metalwork looks even more impressive under autumn illumination. The way the shadow plays with the scrollwork in our Warwick and Henley collections becomes visible only during autumn days. The finials create long shadows on the gate surfaces. Bar profiles create depth and rhythms which summer light conditions make invisible.
Metalwork of lesser quality experiences the same influence negatively. Bars which look acceptable during summer light become insubstantial when their profile becomes visible in autumn. Joint finish which was acceptable becomes obvious under such lighting.
Colour Choices and Contrast in Autumn
There are certain contrast effects which can be created using the environmental palette of autumn. These are specific effects which make the right colour choices even more valuable.
Classical black powder coating – the most popular one for very important reasons – becomes most impressive under autumn light conditions. The contrast between dark metalwork and golden, russet and amber foliage creates the visual effect of dramatic "immediate impact". Dark colour does not compete with the colour of autumn. It becomes a necessary dark element that allows the warm tones of the season to become even brighter.
Dark green works in the same way as black but suits some architectural solutions better than black. Houses that have evergreen planting, rustic character and period features which become too severe with black finishing can be highlighted with Brunswick or dark green finishing.
Lighter colours and modern ones work differently in autumn lighting conditions. They fit modern houses where they are used in the right way. But these colours require surrounding elements which will either create strong contrasts or complement the colours perfectly. Complex visual palette of autumn – falling leaves, texture changes, various natural colours – requires strong contrasts or strong coordination. Colours which seem neutral and flattering under summer lighting become irresolute against such rich background.
Design Complexity and Autumn Lighting
The relationship between design complexity and autumn light creates certain hierarchies which should be known before choosing a collection of gates or railings.
Classic, simple design of our Classic and Regent collections relies on proportions and spaces to create visual effect. Under autumn lighting conditions these designs become even more attractive due to shadow rhythm. Even simple vertical bars create impressive patterns under such lighting. This design becomes elegant under autumn light conditions while during the summer it can be seen as plain.
More complex designs which include scrollwork and finials of the Abbey, Balmoral and Manor collections benefit from extra light which autumn lighting creates. Design which is justified by all its complexities is much more attractive in this light which emphasizes every single detail. Ornamental design which seems complicated becomes visible under this light and needs close examination.
Our Royale Ascot and Royale Talisman collections which are the most elaborated designs of our catalogue create beautiful shadow patterns under autumn light. This type of design suits large-scale properties where it can be properly noticed and where architectural elements match metalwork.
Preparation of Metalwork for Autumn Viewings
Properties which are put up to sell during September and October experience certain challenges of kerb appeal during autumn viewings. In such light conditions any defects of the surfaces become easily noticeable.
The practical side of this situation is very simple. Poor metalwork which reached autumn viewings in bad condition with rust breakthroughs, coating chips and dirty surfaces becomes easily noticeable during the least flattering light conditions.
On the contrary, well-prepared metalwork is especially advantageous during autumn lighting conditions. This type of light creates favourable conditions for quality work and makes visible all efforts made during the maintenance process.
October Advantage
There is a specific honesty of October light which rewards the quality and exposes the pretence. The gates and railings which look good during autumn do it because they are good. Autumn lighting creates no favourable conditions for anything else.
Over 20 years of working with metalwork Wrought Iron Gates Direct has noticed that properties with quality metalwork look always better during autumn viewings. It's not caused by the state of the metalwork alone, but by the light conditions that make quality metalwork look better.
October is the season when wrought iron style gates and railings deserve the reputation which traditional metalwork gained during centuries.