With an ambitious new launch in Akron, Tom Rafferty’s Lumen Nation aims to shine a light on fixtures of every shape, size, color and design
By Patricia Nugent
Opening this month in Akron, Lumen Nation displays a vast array of light fixtures—from soaring cut crystal foyer chandeliers to retro floor and table lamps, dramatic pendant lights, sleek wall sconces, ceiling fans, complementing lighting families for bathrooms and loads of outdoor lighting.
Every style is represented within the showroom…traditional to transitional, craftsman and modern farmhouse to ultra-contemporary, to set the mood in any room.
“Since I began my 30-year career in lighting here in Akron, for me, this is like a sweet homecoming,” says Tom Rafferty, who founded the flagship Lumen Nation in North Canton in 2016. “Many of my customers kept doing business with me through the years, so the new location will be more convenient for them.”
The 6,600-square-foot showroom is pie-shaped, and much larger once you get inside than it looks from the outside. Tom keeps an 8,000-square-foot warehouse space nearby to store all the pieces he buys, so he can always change up the store’s shopping experience.
“The diversity of our selection is a point of pride for me,” he says. “My customers appreciate that they find treasures here they cannot find anywhere else.”
He’s also one of the few stores to offer a lampshade department where people can custom order any shape, fabric and style of the just-right topper.
Shining a Light on Exterior Fixtures
The new store has an extensive department of outdoor fixtures.
“Now that nicer weather is finally here, people want to do more of their living outdoors,” says Tom. “We’ve seen big growth in this area. People are not only asking for greater selection, but different types of outdoor fixtures, too. For instance, weather proof outdoor chandeliers are in big demand now.”
What’s Trending
Tom likes to show people how far LED has taken ingenious lighting design. One of his favorite sconces, for instance, is a tall rectangular shape, with a mirrored back, sculptured steel branches perfectly illuminated from below with directional LEDs.
He also points out that many of the hottest designs feature an interesting mix of elements for greater dimension, and that gold and aged brass are trending.
As you walk into the store, you’re greeted by massive foyer chandeliers, with showstopping gilt designs and dangling crystals. It’s a bit surprising when you ask Tom what the most expensive item in the store is and he walks you to an unassuming wrought iron chandelier. Handcrafted by blacksmiths in a barn in Vermont, the Corona Pendant by Hubbardton Forge totes in at just over $4,000. The more you look at it, the more you get it. With overlapping curves of steel that alternately conceal and reveal the bulbs within as you walk around it, the fixture is a work of art that would command attention in any home.
Tom says he doesn’t want a reputation for only carrying expensive pieces. He carries hundreds of lines, some of them made in America, to appeal to every budget.
Bringing the Light to Life
In addition to “anything with a bulb,” Tom has listened to his customers and brought in home décor items to complement the lights.
He offers everything from artwork to tables, chairs, consoles, bookcases and several lines of bathroom vanities. A new department for area rugs features a nice variety of sizes, shapes and styles.
A shopping trip to Lumen Nation would not be complete without a visit with the official greeter, Elvis. The impossibly adorable boxer-bulldog rescue meets everyone who comes in the door.
What’s on Your Wish List?
The consultation process is one of the many things that separates Lumen Nation from everyone else.
“We have a wish list feature on our website,” says Tom Rafferty. “People enjoy picking out things in advance, then sitting down with us in the Consultation Room. Viewing their selections within the shop or on a large video screen, we can go over what looks the best together. And for new homes, we’re accustomed to working from scratch with a blueprint.”
The staff is comprised of 14 employees with design backgrounds who enjoy ongoing training, so they know which questions to ask that will lead to a perfect fit.
“We find out things like where the windows are in the room, which direction they face, how tall the ceilings are, and how a person spends his or her time in the room,” he says. “Lots of the design rules of thumb have changed over the years. People are less concerned with matching and more open to taking chances and being adventurous.”
Lumen Nation is located at 3900 Medina Road, in Akron, just off I-77. The North Canton location is at 4242 Portage Street Northwest. Everything sold in the showroom can be installed by Lumen Nation professionals. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed on Sundays. Call 234-466-0776 or visit Lumen-Nation.com for more details.