Lighten Up for Less

Before you pick up a cheap light fixture at the same store where you buy your lawn fertilizer, remember that Whitmer’s Lighting in Fairlawn offers a far better selection of indoor and outdoor lighting than the big box home stores. And they usually beat them on price, too.

By: Beth Newcomb
Date: 04/16/2008
Let’s face it. The lighting selection at your local big box home improvement store is, in a word, dull. Uninspired options and a limited selection often present the homeowner with a frustrating dilemma.  

Don’t get left in the dark.

When you visit the independently owned Whitmer’s Lighting in Fairlawn, it’s not about what you will find. It’s about what you won’t find anywhere else.  

“We offer the most extensive lighting selection in Northeast Ohio,” insists lighting expert and co-owner, Dale Smerglia.

The 20-year-old retail store carries an electrifying selection of the latest styles in lighting, including top brands like Kichler, Maxim, Quoizel and Designer Fountain.  

But if you can’t find what you’re looking for in their 13,000 square foot showroom—jam packed with every conceivable style and finish—browse an abundant selection of catalogs until you do.

They also feature an eclectic mix of home furnishings and accessories at extremely low prices. Look for leather and micro-fiber couches, mirrors, pictures, dinette and dining room tables. “We’ve got a slate pool table that comes complete with all the accessories, for just $2,899, and includes delivery and installation,” Dale describes.

When a style is as popular as an oil-rubbed bronze with a tea stained shade, Whitmer’s makes sure to showcase the fixture in every available style. “It’s a great way for our customers to get a feel for the size of a particular item and how it might fit in to their home,” Dale adds.

Better quality is another reason Whitmer’s Lighting beats the big box stores. You’ll find a manufacturer’s complete line, not just the cheap pieces promoted in a Sunday circular. And because of Whitmer’s significant buying power, they’re often less expensive than the big box stores, particularly on larger projects. “We offer volume discounts to builders and homeowners who are remodeling,” Dale says.

And if you want to go all out, you can. Be sure to check out the enormous Swarovski crystal waterfall by ET2, featuring a shower of stones suspended by nearly invisible monofilament. It measures a robust 3 feet wide by 9 feet tall and retails for $9,520. It’s a stunning tribute to sparkle, with an impact that rivals the largest diamond. “A fixture or chandelier of this size is the perfect anchor for a two-story foyer,” explains Dale.  

A 5-foot Dutch gold traditional chandelier holds court at the front of the store. It’s $3,900 and is just one of several stately designs.

In keeping with current trends in MOTRA (Modern Traditional) home furnishings, Whitmer’s also carries contemporary and mod lighting like the ET2 floating glass balls with amber starbursts and halogen bulbs. Suspended from steel cables, 37 clear orbs are clustered together in a moving presentation. The price for this masterpiece is $2,100.

Not to be outdone is the comprehensive outdoor lighting selection with an unrivaled 150-plus styles to choose from. “In addition to the dozen or so landscape lighting products we carry in stock, hundreds more are available through our catalog,” Dale offers.  

And Whitmer’s carries an excellent selection of ceiling fans by manufacturers like Emerson, Craftmade and Fanimation—many of which are suitable for covered porches and even withstand the rain.

What a bright idea.

Whitmer’s Lighting is located at 3900 W. Market Street in Montrose Centre Plaza near Jared’s in Fairlawn. Store hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. Call 330-666-LITE, 800-391-2734, or visit www.whitmerslighting.com.

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