When Hayes Bauer’s family moved into a new Westport home 2 years ago, his parents wanted landscape lighting.
Electricians’ quotes were very expensive. So Hayes and his father Ross decided to do it themselves.
They researched online, watched YouTube videos, then started with their front path. It was so rewarding — and looked so good — that they continued with the front and back yards, then added lighting to a stone wall that encircles their property.
Friends were impressed, and asked for the name of their contractor. When Hayes and his father said they did it themselves, those friends asked them to light their yards too.
Upscape was born. The company — with the tagline “Luxury lighting, without the luxury markup” — is earning raves, with their creative, decorative work.
What makes this story even more impressive is that Hayes is not a homeowner, who enlisted his own father to help.
This fall, Hayes will be a Staples High School sophomore.
Hayes Bauer
Not only does he design and install low-voltage landscape lighting all over town — making a house and yard look completely different once the sun goes down.
He’s also the brains behind Upscape. It’s an actual company — a Connecticut LLC, and a registered state home improvement contractor (#0706288, to be exact).
Upscape is fully insured. A licensed electrician handles transformers, and pulls permits. Hayes works alongside him on every job.
This is absolutely Hayes’ company. It’s a year-round commitment, not a summer gig.
(And he is no slacker. Hayes also plays Staples soccer, is a member of Service League of Boys and the Make Our Schools Safe Club, and is on the board of Staples’ DECA, the national business and marketing organization.)
One of Hayes Bauer’s jobs …
The young entrepreneur takes care of everything, from helping a homeowner create a lighting plan to offering quotes, installation and fine-tuning.
“Good landscape lighting shouldn’t shout,” Hayes says. “It should make your home feel warm, layered, and effortless after dark.”
Along the way, Hayes says, he’s learned how to communicate well, and look the part of a teenage business owner.
… and a second …
Customers are quite complimentary.
A Southport homeowner says, “The tree uplighting they installed, especially on our Japanese maple, looks incredible every night. Hayes was professional, fast, and really cares about the details. Couldn’t recommend Upscale more.”
A Westport resident calls it a “great experience. … He provided feedback on what would look best (and) worked quickly to procure the lights and install them. He checked back to ensure they were positioned correctly and that I was happy. Overall a 5-star white glove experience. I couldn’t ask for anything more and the lights look great.”
… and a third.
“When adults trust a 16-year-old with their home, and then write things like that, it means a lot. It’s satisfying to see people so happy,” Hayes says.
His face lights up as he says it.
(Click here for the Upscape website. To contact Hayes Bauer, email hayes@getupscaped.com.)
(“06880” often highlights local businesses, and impressive Westport teenagers — and, as today, their intersection. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
