The fresh expansion at Lumen Nation is a creation unlike any other

By Patricia Nugent

Whether a chandelier or fixture is fashioned from rough-hewn wood evoking the charm of a French countryside; sparkling, glamorous, dangling cut crystal; or ultramodern, super-sleek acrylic and stainless steel, when it comes to a room’s personality, lighting changes everything.

And if more of a good thing is actually a good thing, you won’t want to miss the expansion going on now at Lumen Nation in North Canton.

“To best serve our clientele, we’re growing our footprint into the space next door, which will take us to a nearly 4,000-square-foot showroom,” says owner Tom Rafferty, who drew on his 28 years in the business to design the state-of-the-art space.

Just a few steps into the showroom, shoppers will be treated to a unique array of hundreds of fixtures that they won’t find at other lighting stores, from chandeliers to wall sconces, pendant lights, table lamps, floor lamps, ceiling fans and outdoor lighting. To bring out the best in any lamp, the store also offers lampshades in every size, style and fabric imaginable.

Wow Factor? They’ve Got That
Each fixture is a work of art, lending a wow factor to any room. Novel materials seen in the fixtures range from classic metals to polished minerals, mother of pearl, wood beads and fine crystals.

The sheer number of new designs is staggering, and so are the ways they can enhance a room. For instance, Tom reports that many homeowners are renovating their kitchens and including undercabinet mounted lights, under-bar or counter lights, and even lights installed under the toe kick for a nightlight effect.

Design inspiration has come a long way in ceiling fans, too. The showroom’s overhead selections range in style, such as a classic, Victorian fan that was designed in 1895 to a contemporary model of a sleek fan with a DC motor that utilizes integrated LED light source.

The new showroom will also feature a dedicated area for exterior lighting.

“We consult with people to come up with the best combination to showcase their home, whether through sconces, lamppost lights, landscape lighting, hanging lights, pathway lighting or uplighting for trees,” he says.

An Enhanced Design Experience
Within the new expansion, Tom is creating five room vignettes to give shoppers a real-life view of how varied lighting choices can make a room.

“We’re also building another Designer Selection Studio, just like the one in our existing showroom, where people can relax at a big table with one of our designers, pore over catalogs, or do some virtual shopping on an iPad and see what their selections look like on a big flat screen,” he says.

The staff members all have design backgrounds, as well as training and expertise in lighting, so they know which questions to ask that will lead to a perfect match.

“We find out things like where the windows are in the room, which direction they face, how tall the ceilings are, and how the customer spends time in that room,” he says. “Then we’re able to pull together a group of fixtures that would perfectly complement the atmosphere.”

According to designer Davene Lovaglio, customers also enjoy putting together a wish list of fixtures while they are shopping and saving favorite selections in their client portal.

Trend Watch: Farmhouse Meets West Coast
“Thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines, farmhouse styles are bigger than ever,” says Davene. “That translates to fixtures with distressed wood and wrought iron elements, as well as visible light bulbs and mason jar glasses. Mixed woods within the same fixtures are also big sellers.”

On the wings of farmhouse chic, she calls West Coast the fastest emerging design trend right now. “This is a more modern, minimalist esthetic, with clean lines and pared-down designs,” she says. “Yet the materials are elegant. For instance, I just bought a cube-shaped dining room chandelier made of clear Lucite acrylic that’s a real statement piece.”

For those who prefer an even more contemporary feeling, Tom reports the light fixtures with integrated LED sources provide a sleek and striking look.

Sure, Tom, Davene and all the designers on staff are warm and friendly, but Elvis might be the most welcoming of the bunch.

The impossibly adorable boxer-bulldog rescue greets everyone who comes in the door, and will curl up next to you while you’re working out your lighting designs.

“Some customers actually bring in treats for Elvis if they’ve met him before,” smiles Davene.

Lumen Nation is located one-third of a mile from the Portage Street exit of I-77, at 4242 Portage Street Northwest, in North Canton, about 15-20 minutes from Akron. Everything sold in the showroom can be installed by Lumen Nation. Hours are Monday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 234-347-0109 or visit Lumen-Nation.com for more details.