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More than 125 years have passed since the invention of the light bulb. With a multitude of fixture styles ranging from Classical to the Atomic Age, the opportunity to distinguish your home is endless. Northwest Renovation asks local lighting experts what’s hot in 2005.

Visit store.inmod.com to find this lighting fixture and more great lighting solutions. Photo courtesy of inmod

Ozzie and Harriet Make a Comeback
If you want a table lamp like the one found in the living room of any 1950s family sitcom, look no further than Hippo Hardware or other vintage shops in the Portland- and Seattle-metro areas.

“People are now restoring mid-century ranch homes. These have a lower ceiling, so they are looking for flush mount fixtures,” says Steve “Oppie” Oppenheimer, owner of Hippo Hardware. Suburban ranches are the latest home remodeling craze, and people are “going for the Ozzie and Harriet fixtures that were in their TV house.”

Recreating the look today? Consider Williamsburg fixtures, with curved arms and a faux candleholder. Crystal chandeliers, with glass arms and sparkly pendalogues, are the perfect ceiling topper for a formal dining room.

Brushed and satin nickel are passé, so it’s time to re-think hardware and light switch covers. Copper is the latest look, either bright with that new-penny shine or a darker stain that makes the piece look slightly worn.

No room is complete without a Sputnik light. Designed before the Russian satellite was launched, this accent light is a round ball with straight arms coming out from the body, and uses star-shaped light bulbs. If you’ve ever wondered about those curved hooks mounted on the popcorned ceiling of your mid-century home, a swag-style lighted grape cluster will lay your curiosity to rest.

Finally, come next summer, don’t forget the tikki torches and your luau kit, the perfect accompaniment for outdoor dining.

Are these items hard to find? Not yet, Oppie says. “It’s time to get while the getting is good. A lot of these antiques are still cheap, still in the back of the shop.”

And when you go — don’t forget to buy a TV tray.

Lighting Is the Jewelry of Your Home
At Schoolhouse Electric, classic, timeless designs are in demand, regardless of what is on TV.

Mid-century homes are definitely on the up-tick as far as decorating goes, says Michelle Steinback, store manager. Many of her customers are looking for fixtures with a “timeless design, don’t scream current era, and are period appropriate for the home.”
While some homeowners are choosing retro styling, “people are picking and choosing what they like” with the result being an eclectic blend of sleek styling and modern conveniences.

Still not in vogue: Cabin style lighting, the rustic look.

Steinback likens a carefully selected period light fixture to a piece of fine jewelry. Unlike sconces, floor and table lamps, hardwired lighting is a permanent addition to a room.

“When choosing fixed lighting, be sure to consider interchangeability,” she explains. The ability to swap glass lampshades can instantly update a room.

The familiarity of the ‘50s is part of what appeals to this generation of homeowners. “They grew up in older homes, and they know what the styles are. They come in to Schoolhouse and see that our selection is versatile, clean, nice quality. It’s not ornate or fussy. These are the fixtures they remember from their homes and their school. It brings back memories.”

Retro Lighting: A West Coast Trend
Light fixtures recalling the 1950s is a West Coast trend that has been building momentum for the last five years, says Chris Wilson, direct sales and service representative for Rejuvenation.

The company recently introduced a new line designed to recapture the era and capitalize on the sheer volume of mid-century homes. More ranch-style “Levittown” homes were built after World War II than at any other time in the nation’s history. “These were smaller, more affordable, good for the first-time buyer,” he explains. “They want to make it look right.”

With eight-foot ceilings the new norm, lighting fixtures were scaled down, simpler versions of their cousins from another time. Much of the lighting from that period was mass-produced, making it more affordable.

And while copper finish is popular, so too is chrome. “Last year we introduced chrome as a standard finish. It’s more appropriate for the time, because it was the Space Age, the popularity of the auto industry and chrome grillwork.”

Although a Sputnik-style light works great in the living room, it’s not practical for the kitchen or other task areas. “Modern lighting, a pendant over the countertop, something in a classical style, like a three-arm light over a kitchen island, that’s still popular,” he says.

Art Glass and Monorails for the Modern Crow

Of course, not everyone wants their home to resemble Laura Petrie’s living room.

The Retro look is definitely popular at Lux Lighting. Owner Dave Ellis sells his fair share of floor and table lamps. But his customers are also buying monorail and other lighting systems designed to give their homes — whether a mid-century ranch or a brand new loft in the Pearl — a unique flair.

Oregon art glass or hand-blown glass shades from Italy are also a popular item. For this crowd, it’s less about
copper and more about bronze and satin nickel finish.

Hippo collects artifacts. Schoolhouse Electric and Rejuvenation manufacture their own line of lights. At Lux, cutting edge designs are brought into the showroom an average of twice a year. “The customers decide what is popular,” Ellis explains. “People jump on the bandwagon, or they don’t.”

Not only does Ellis make house calls to design lighting schemes, he has a series of modular units in the store that customers can use to visualize lighting real-time. “The store has vignettes, kitchen, bath, stairway, I can reproduce any look in advance of the customer buying the light.” After 13 years in the same location, Lux Lighting is planning a move, upgrading its 6,000 sq ft space
to one that is 11,000 sq ft.

Susan E. Rich is a freelance writer. She can be contacted at RichWriting by email at richwriting@yahoo.com. For more information visit www.richwriting.com.

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