By David MacDonald
When Lauren and I sat down to chat in a niche in the showroom at Station 12, Living Lighting’s slogan, Light for Living, became instantly palpable. The eclectic ambiance created by the layout and setting of featured ceiling, vanity, and wall lighting fixtures – not to mention the fresh air being circulated by a near-by 52-inch Sutter Place Premier indoor ceiling fan – can only be compared to a warm memory.
As I admired some of the pieces overhead from the edge of a stylish Memphis Velvet Club Chair, Lauren broke the silence created through my wonderment by asking me if there was anything familiar about the design of the building. I sat back and confessed that I hadn’t considered it. “It’s our home now, but there’s a history that comes with Station 12,” she explained. “It was originally a fire station here in Dartmouth – one of the oldest in the HRM [Halifax Regional Municipality], actually – and it was really important to us to keep this connection. It was originally Station 2, but once what has become the HRM really started to grow, more and more fire stations popped-up, so it was reallocated as Station 12. We try, as much as possible, to continue what was started in this building. We contribute a lot to the burn unit and to the local fire department. They do so much for our community.”
“It was really important to us to keep this connection . . . They do so much for our community.”
Station 12 is strategically positioned at 560 Windmill Road, one of the major commercial veins in Dartmouth. “We’ve been operating in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia as Living Lighting for nearly 14 years now and 12 years as Living Lighting and Progressive Cabinets,” Lauren said. “The first Living Lighting opened in Southern Ontario in 1968. We first opened our doors in 2004 and our original showroom was 2,500 square feet. But since the renovation here at Station 12, we’ve been operating in 10,000 square feet.
That’s 10,000 square feet of lighting, home décor, and furniture – as well as 15 to 20 full kitchen, vanity, and closet displays. You can really get a feel for what’s going to be in your home without the constant shoulder-to- shoulder you experience in the Big-box stores.”
At that I nodded in agreement. While there was a steady flow of customers moving in and out of the displays and various sections of the showroom, there was still space to call your own at Station 12.
Just then, I noticed a young couple speaking with one of the seven lighting associates on staff at Living Lighting and Progressive Cabinets. They were, according to Lauren, considering the Roma Three Light Chandelier and in very good hands.
“Our lighting associates – including me – are all certified by the American Lighting Association, which means we’re qualified to provide advice and tips that contribute directly to the construction of homes and businesses.”
The story of a new home, it turns out, is what led to Living Lighting’s first location outside of Ontario.
“When the owners, my parents, Terri-Lee and David Langlois were building their own home, they realized there was no retail supplier of diverse and quality lighting outside of Big-box stores and hardware chains in Nova Scotia. This was a gap in the market that piqued their interest. They made inquiries as interested franchisers and the rest is history,” she said.
“I’ve been working with them for nearly 10 years – and I can truly say that. My parents are the kinds of people you work with, not for. There’s a family feel around here, that’s for sure. Input from all facets of the Living Lighting and Progressive Cabinets experience is critical to our ongoing success.”
“That’s 10,000 square feet of lighting, home décor, and furniture – as well as 15 to 20 full kitchen, vanity, and closet displays.”
Lauren’s sister Christine Langlois is a kitchen designer at Living Lighting and Progressive Cabinets. She’s one of the one hundred, or so, office staff, manufacturing and installation staff, and sales representatives that make up the cooperative team. “Progressive Cabinets is not a franchise,” Lauren explained. “It’s owned and operated completely locally. Everything is manufactured here in our plant and our plant foreman and field manager, Andrew Winters and Kirk Oldfield, are second to none.”
“Progressive Cabinets has always been here,” she continued. “Historically, they’ve focused on multi-unit and contract work, but after moving into the Station 12 location and joining forces with Living Lighting, they thought it was the perfect opportunity to branch out into other markets. They’ve always done kitchens; they’re just now starting to showcase their custom work. Our custom work wouldn’t carry the clout it does without our phenomenal installation teams.”
The custom work Lauren is referring to is featured in several projects in Downtown Dartmouth and across the harbour in Halifax. “We’re getting more into cabinetry and lighting in bars and restaurants. We’ve done a few local jobs here in Dartmouth like condos,, NSLCs [Nova Scotia Liquor Commission] and the Shannex Parkland Retirement Living facility in Halifax. The commercial application of what we do is becoming more important all the time. Our cabinets and lighting are in high-end restaurants and hotels, high-rise apartments, and homes throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality and beyond. We’ve had some fantastic opportunities to showcase some of our finest fixtures alongside the brilliant custom cabinetry of the Progressive Cabinets team. The management team here at Station 12 is second to none.”
Like any member of a proud and strong family, Lauren couldn’t say enough about her siblings. She continued.
“Our Lighting Team Manager, Christine Cherry, has taken our home and business décor aspirations to a whole different level. We carry a wide selection of brands, upwards of 30. This includes the whole gamut from budget-friendly builder brands to the very high-end. Some of the featured brands you’ll find here are Kichler, Murray Feiss, Hinkley Lighting, Canarm, Dvi Lighting. We’re also exclusive to Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, which is a supplier for high-end crystal.”
“Historically, they’ve focused on multi-unit and contract work, but after moving into the Station 12 location and joining forces with Living Lighting, they thought it was the perfect opportunity to branch out into other markets.”
But if you’re not in the market for high-end crystal, don’t fret. Those builder brands Lauren mentioned do fit inconspicuously amongst the high-end brands on display, so a stroll through the showroom is recommended. “We want you to know that you don’t have to be a certified designer to walk into our showroom and pick our brain,” Lauren insisted. “It’s also important that people know that custom doesn’t always mean expensive and out of reach. Even our custom cabinets can be made from a range of materials that can fit virtually any price-point. Because of our range of products, we’re able to cater to everybody. We have a great relationship with many local contractors, so whether it’s your first home, you’re looking to update, or you’re looking to build your dream home, we’re here. We understand that whatever the project it is you’re working on, it can get very overwhelming. We’re here to make sure that these two crucial steps – lighting and cabinets – are as smooth and trouble-free as possible.”
The in-house manufacturing facility at Station 12 utilizes only equipment that complies with the latest in waste reduction technology. “We also carry several Canadian furniture brands like Adesso,” Lauren explained. “They design tables, chairs, bar stools, and other custom pieces.”
The entire catalogue of Station 12 products and services can be found at Livinglightingns.ca.
“We interpret the name as it’s meant: we provide lighting for life. Whether it’s inside or outside your home, we’re going to work with you to create the atmosphere you want.”