LET THERE BE LIGHT - THE LIGHTING HOUSE
09/13/2024 03:03PM ● By RACHAEL GOMEZ
THE LIGHTING HOUSE DEBUTS
It all began in 1977 when John Blanchard launched a lighting store in Shelburne with his partner, Peter Bay. A decade later, a fire burned the entire building to the ground, but John didn’t miss a beat. He rebuilt the structure that is still the home of The Lighting House today. At 8,000 square feet, it quickly became Vermont’s largest lighting showroom, proudly serving homeowners, designers, architects, contractors, and builders with a meticulously curated collection of lighting fixtures and outdoor furniture.
A FAMILY BUSINESS FROM THE START
The Lighting House has always been a family affair. All four of John’s children worked at The Lighting House at some point over its half-century in business. Today, you will find John’s son, Zach, hard at work at The Lighting House. Zach started working at the company when he was just six- teen, first on the loading dock, then managing shipments and inventory. He was on the sales floor for many years before taking on the role of president in 2018, when his dad retired. Daughter Amanda came on board almost two years ago, overseeing the company’s marketing.
AN UNPARALLELED LIGHT SELECTION
The showroom represents a roster of lighting vendors, ranging from top-name brands to local Vermont artisans. The store’s sales team associates travel to the top lighting conventions around the country to find the newest and most exciting products. “All the top vendors in the industry are there, displaying their recent introductions, latest styles, and ever-evolving technologies,” Zach says.
LED –THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY
The Lighting House offers the latest in LED technolo- gy, which was introduced more than ten years ago. “It’s not the traditional socket and light bulb,” Zach says, explaining that one of the most prominent trends is the rise of tunable LED lights, which allow users to adjust color temperatures and brightness levels to suit different settings and activities, enhancing comfort and ambiance. “Smart LED lighting systems integrated with voice control and smartphone apps are also gaining popularity, offering users the convenience of automation and customization,” Zach says.
Amanda adds, “LED technology continues to improve. It’s often stigmatized as the bright white light associated with doctors’ offices, but you can still get the warm tone you get from an incandescent bulb with an LED bulb.”
WHAT’S TRENDING IN LIGHTING
According to Zach and Amanda, natural materials, such as textured woods, bamboo, and woven rattans, are the hot-ticket items in lighting these days. “They tie in well with our customer base in Vermont,” Amanda explains. “There’s a lot of interest in materials such as alabaster stone or slate rock because they create a sense of unity with nature.” In fact, the show- room recently held a workshop about biophilic lighting design.
Amanda also mentions a recent trend in layered lighting, saying, “Customers no longer want just overheads. We’re helping them select task lights and floor lamps that are at eye level, which supports one’s circadian rhythms.” Zach contributes, “Layered lighting gives you more control of the intensity of the lighting at each time of day based on the ambiance you are trying to achieve.”
OUTDOOR LIGHTING IN THE SPOTLIGHT
According to Amanda, outdoor lighting trends in 2024 are all about blending technology with nature to create stunning and functional spaces. One trend is using “smart” lighting systems, which allow homeowners to control their outdoor lights remotely and customize settings for different moods and occasions. Sustainable lighting solutions, such as solar- powered lights and LED fixtures, are also becoming increasingly popular as they offer energy efficiency and less environmental impact. Finally, homeowners are gravitating toward minimalist designs that emphasize clean lines and soft, ambient lighting to enhance their landscapes.
Zach adds, “Whether it’s LED strips along a path wall or well lights to illuminate a water feature, outdoor lighting is fun. It helps our clients enjoy the outside more, and as the sun starts setting earlier, they can hang out longer into the night.”
WHY YOU’LL LOVE SHOPPING AT THE LIGHTING HOUSE
Zach explains why The Lighting House is the largest showroom of its kind in Vermont,
saying that in addition to its ample space, it
offers numerous displays and a vast selection of styles and brands to choose from. “We pride
ourselves on customer service, and [we have]
great employees, some of whom have been
here twenty-five to thirty years, back when our
dad was running the company.”
Zach says the staff is very knowledgeable and can make suggestions that help clients understand the process of buying and installing new lighting.
Amanda adds, “Unlike in big-box online stores, customers can come in, see, and touch the actual lights and chat with a real person, not a bot.” Zach chimes in, “We spare [customers] the headaches of online shopping, helping them make the right decisions from the get-go.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LIGHTING HOUSE
