Here’s one of life’s undeniable truths: kids grow up fast. One day they’re yelling “Watch me!” as they cannonball into the pool, and the next they’re driving off—to college, the military, or wherever life pulls them next. You blink, and the house gets quieter. You’re not just raising kids anymore—you’re chasing the echoes of their laughter and holding onto the little moments that once felt infinite.
That’s why I don’t regret a single dollar I spent with Right Coast Lighting. Because they didn’t just install lights—they illuminated the backdrop of a thousand golden memories I wouldn’t trade for anything.
When Melissa and I blended our families, I told her something straight from the heart: some of my most treasured memories with my older son were made on the water. Fishing on a lake. Riding jet skis. Floating lazily down Wekiva Springs in an inner tube. But most of all—right there in the pool at home.
So I told her, “I want to invest in the backyard of my dreams. I want this to be the house—the one where all the kids want to hang out. Where their friends come over for pool days, barbecues, birthdays, and spontaneous cannonball contests. I want a waterfall, and I want it to feel like our own little slice of paradise.”
And we built that. The pool turned out incredible. But when the sun went down, I realized something was still missing. We already had standard pool lights—and even one tucked in the grotto for good measure—but I wanted more. I wanted to enjoy it deeper into the evening.
That’s when I discovered pool cage enclosure lighting—these subtle, elegant lights that mimic a starlit sky. Not overpowering, just enough to illuminate, accent, and elevate everything. They brought the whole vision to life.
Now look, not everyone is—as Melissa lovingly says—“extra” when it comes to the pool. But even if you’re not building a backyard mini-resort with a waterfall and a grotto, these lights? They transform an enclosed pool into something magical. It’s not just lighting—it’s atmosphere. It’s invitation. It’s the backdrop to memories you’ll never forget. I knew as soon as I saw them, I wanted them.
I called Right Coast Lighting, a trusted, locally-owned business that serves all of Volusia County—and when I say all, I mean from the historic oak-lined roads of my home in Deland in Glenwood to the golf cart parades of Margaritaville. They’ve lit up the luxury of Victoria Park, the waterfront serenity of Venetian Bay, and the stately homes of Cypress Head and LPGA. Whether you’re relaxing in Woodhaven, tucked into Sunset Cove, enjoying the tranquility of Water’s Edge, or living your best life in Four Seasons at Spruce Creek, Nick and his team are out there turning backyards into dreamscapes. Even the wide-open rural charm of Samsula and the coastal beauty of Ponce Inlet have been made brighter—literally—thanks to their touch.
No matter the zip code, Right Coast Lighting brings the same care, class, and craftsmanship to every job. Having been burnt by contractors in the past, I did a ton of due diligence and everyone said fantastic things about the company, the owner and the Nebula lighting- (the brand name for the pool cage lights)
And for me? That one call changed everything.
My pool cage, once just a bug barrier, became a glowing, twinkling retreat.
Nights didn’t end when the sun went down anymore.
The whole space transformed—warm, inviting, and magical. The kids begged to stay in the water longer. I felt that was okay since the lighting made the entire area more lit up and safer. Melissa and I found ourselves lingering outside more often than we had- a private starlit sky just for us.
This wasn’t just about lighting.
It was about creating a space where life happens.
Now let me tell you about the guy who made it all happen: Nick Pensabene, the owner and operator of Right Coast Lighting.
Nick is one of those rare people who treats every job—big or small—as if it’s personal. Like he’s working on his own home, with his own family in mind. This isn’t some faceless franchise or big-box operation. This is a small, local business run by a man who’s your neighbor, your go-to guy, and exactly the kind of person you hope to find when you’re hiring someone to work on your home.
He’s not showing up in a corporate van with a headset and a sales pitch. He’s showing up in work boots, some tattoos, calloused hands and a genuine smile—tools in hand, mission in heart. Nick doesn’t just install lights. He listens. He cares. He takes pride in his craft like it’s personal. Because for him, it is.
And here’s the part that still gets me.
Three years after the install, my son—who apparently thought he was auditioning for a Joe Montana documentary—decided to climb on top of our cave (yes, on top of the cave), and launch a football to his buddy across the pool. Naturally, he nailed the support arm of the pool cage, which cracked and collapsed into the pool—taking the LED lighting with it. Kids…right?. (BTW- These lights are low-voltage, totally safe with their DC, so the whole thing just went dark. No danger—just a dad watching part of his backyard dream sink slowly into the deep end)
I called Nick after all this time had elapsed, bracing for the usual: a waitlist, a service fee, maybe a “we’ll try to fit you in.”
Instead, he said: “Rob, It’s an easy fix. I’ll come by as soon as I can”
He showed up. Spent two full hours climbing around the cage like a lighting ninja. And when I tried to pay him, he shrugged and said, “Nah, man. Easy fix.”
Listen, I’ve been in business a long time. I’ve worked with a lot of people. A ton of people in all fields. You don’t meet many Nicks– anywhere, but especially not in the contractor field. He didn’t just fix a light. He fixed my faith in humanity.
Nick’s not just good at what he does—he’s a good human being. And in today’s world, that matters more than ever. He’s someone you can trust in your home, around your family, and on your property. The kind of guy you don’t just recommend—you feel good recommending. You hope someone goes with Nick because of who he is- his character and his skill at this craft.
The entire reason I am writing about this is because this project stuck with me—because it wasn’t just about lights or labor. It was about creating space for something deeper. And the older I get, the more I realize something important: home improvement isn’t always about the house. Sometimes it’s about the moments that happen because of what you changed.
Since that install, I’ve watched my twins swim under the stars like it was magic hour at Disney World. I’ve sat beside my wife, a drink in hand, listening to the hum of the night while our backyard glowed like a scene from a movie. We’ve hosted birthdays, numerous parties, BBQs, swapped stories with friends, and I have even slow danced with our daughter in the middle of the pool deck just because the lights made everything feel special.
You don’t always recognize the value of a moment until it’s gone—but every once in a while, you feel it while it’s happening.
And that’s what this lighting did for us.
It didn’t just increase the value of our home—
It increased the value of our life.
Like most homeowners, I’ve got a running list of projects longer than a CVS receipt. Some make sense. Some… are more of a stretch. (Melissa keeps vetoing my dream of putting a car lift in the garage—something about “space” and “safety” and “you’re not opening a Jiffy Lube.” But did I complain when she planted ten magnolia trees and I had to redo all the irrigation on my front lawn to make sure they got enough water? No. I did not.)
But while some projects get the spousal side-eye, Right Coast Lighting was one of the few things we both instantly agreed on. And we’ll be calling Nick again soon—this time for permanent holiday lighting. because I’m officially at the age where climbing up on the roof each December feels more like a life insurance experiment than a festive tradition just to hang lights that end up tangled in a week and half-lit by Christmas Day.
Nick? He doesn’t just light up pool cages. He’s out here illuminating Volusia County like it’s his divine assignment from the Universe. Here’s what he does, and does better than anyone else I’ve come across:
- Permanent Holiday Lighting | (Gemstone Lighting)
Leave the ladder in the garage. These beauties stay up all year, are fully programmable, and look like you hired a Hallmark movie set designer—without the tangled wires or emergency room visits. Good for multiple holidays- not just Christmas. - Pool Cage & Screen Enclosure Lighting (Nebula Lighting)
Transform your outdoor space into something magazine-worthy. Elegant, inviting, and built to last—even when your kid thinks it’s a target for his spiral pass. Um, did I mention it is remote controlled as well? - Outdoor & Landscape Lighting
Highlight your favorite trees, pathways, or garden features. Mood lighting for your entire yard? Yes, please. Spotlight your palm trees, illuminate your walkways, or show off that one fancy plant you’re irrationally proud of. (Want to read something hilarious about plants- check out this blog about Melissa’s addiction to plants. (https://paperboatmedia.com/florida-gardening/ - Dock & Deck Lighting
Whether you’re entertaining or just enjoying a quiet night on the water, their lighting makes your dock or deck safer, more functional, and honestly, just cooler.
Life’s short. Kids grow up. Moments pass. But every now and then, you can catch one. You can freeze a little sliver of time by making your space so warm and inviting that people want to stay in it.
That’s what Right Coast Lighting did for me.
And in a world full of overpriced contractors and ghosted follow-up calls, Nick Pensabene reminded me that there are still craftsmen out there who do things the right way—for the right reasons.
So if you’re thinking about making your home or business shine a little brighter? Call Nick. Get the lights. And take the pictures, sit outside longer, judge one more cannonball, dance under the glow—because these are the good old days.
Rob