Good things come in small packages. Wedged between a Portuguese wine shop and yarn store on a busy stretch of Greenwood Avenue in Northwest Seattle, Luxe Lighting Company is case and point. It’s warm, it’s inviting, it’s just a few doors down from this case of goodies at the neighborhood bakeshop, and it stocks some of the most unique lighting the city has to offer.
“Our sales floor is about 1,000 square feet,” says Kristine Kyle, owner, who opened Luxe in 2011. “We feature a collection of carefully chosen lighting fixtures that offer both form and function as well as pieces from local artists that our customers won’t find anywhere else.”
The showroom itself is sight for sore eyes. A neutral palette on the walls complements the refurbished wood floor planks the previous tenant discovered under layers of ugly linoleum leftover from the building’s past life as a mattress factory. There’s lighting on the ceiling — lots of it — grouped according to style, and clever displays using thrift store and back alley finds break up the space into eye-catching vignettes. A counter height worktable and homey seating area give customers a place to relax and chat with Luxe’s trained staff.
On a recent and typically wet winter day, Lighting & Decor sunk down into one of the comfy sofas in the aforementioned seating area to chat with Kyle about what makes Luxe a must-visit lighting resource in Seattle.
Lighting & Decor: How would you describe Luxe Lighting Co.’s personality, and how do you cultivate that?
Kristine Kyle: The 70 or so lines we choose to bring into the showroom, the way we’ve designed our vignettes and arranged our meeting spaces – it’s all about making Luxe an intimate, comfortable place, where we can have a relaxed conversation about lighting and with our clients.
We ask a lot of questions, so we can understand what they need and what they’re envisioning for their home, and we stay with the project every step of the way. We’re here for them, and we want them to feel that sense of welcome and support from the moment they walk through our door.
L&D: Where do you look for inspiration?
KK: I find inspiration for the showroom in everything from design and architectural magazines to my discussions about lighting ideas with clients.
L&D: What’s your favorite thing about the store?
KK: I love being able to offer everything from an accent lamp to the perfect chandelier to exterior lighting. We have so many beautiful styles in the showroom, but we also have a shop in the back. We can do simple lamp repairs, but we can also change out a fixture’s shade or the finish. If customers doesn’t see exactly what they’re looking for, we can build a custom piece that meet their specifications.
L&D: What’s your favorite thing in the store?
KK: We feature work by local artists like Jerry Davis, a designer from nearby Bainbridge Island, Washington. Jerry makes these amazing lamps and fixtures using a wide variety of fabrications technique and materials like copper, bronze screens and Paperstone.
We also have a few pieces from a local husband and wife welding team that are really fun and interesting as well as several gorgeous pieces from local glass blowers.
Why is your showroom spotlight material? Share with us in the comments!
