Since dipping their toes into home decor with the launch of their peel-and-stick wallpaper collection, the HGTV icons have turned their attention to another fixture—lighting. The exclusive Erin & Ben Co. Lighting Collection with Shades of Light, which launches today, includes The Watkins and Gardiner Schoolhouse Collections, plus 6 additional styles. Each pendant, sconce, chandelier, and flush ceiling light is designed and made in Virginia. “We chose Shades of Light because they could promise us lights that would be assembled in America which is hard to find, so for us that was the only option,” Erin Napier tells Southern Living.
Courtesy of Shades of Light
Varying in scale, shape, and finishes—satin brass, chrome, black, matte black, and burnished copper—the timeless collection is designed to fit any space. “I think light fixtures can be like a piece of art and they should always add warmth to the ambiance,” Erin tells Southern Living. “I wanted the collection to be applicable where it works for any style, any house, and any room. That’s what I love the most about it.”
Courtesy of Shades of Light
As with everything the couple does on ‘Home Town’ and ‘Home Town Takeover’, the attention to detail is not lacking. The collection draws from the Napiers’ love of history and vintage style with an up-to-date and functional spin. “I’m always looking for lights that are modern, but also a wink to historic design and I wasn’t finding exactly what I wanted. It didn’t really exist,” says Erin, who took matters into her own hands and created them through this collection. “I love how all these fixtures feel like they could be in a historic home from the 1920s, ’30s, or ’40s, which is when most of the houses [we are renovating] in Laurel were built.”
Courtesy of Shades of Light
Largely inspired by their hometown, Laurel, Mississippi, each piece is named for iconic families and important places in the community. “Growing up here and being exposed to so much as a kid is where my creativity began, so for me, paying homage to that was important,” Erin tells Southern Living. “My daughters are 5th-generation Laurelites. This is just home. When you grow up here you don’t realize how special it is. You take it for granted and think every town in America has such a rich arts and architectural history, then you leave home and you realize, ‘Whoa. [Laurel] is a really special little town and we are so lucky.’ ”
Meet The Erin & Ben Co. Lighting Collection
The Gardiner Schoolhouse Collection
Courtesy of Shades of Light
This collection honors the Gardiners, one of Laurel’s founding families who also helped revolutionize the community’s timber industry. The three iterations of the design are both playful and sophisticated. The nostalgic opal glass, semi-traditional finishes, and sleek, modern shape nod to both the past and present.
The Watkins Collection
Courtesy of Shades of Light
The four styles in this collection pay tribute to R. H. Watkins who was a prominent figure in modernizing the town’s education system. The four Watkins designs incorporate historic details with a polished and modern look.
Mason Linear Chandelier
Courtesy of Shades of Light
As a standalone piece, The Mason Linear Chandelier is named after another prominent family in Laurel’s history. They founded Masonite in the 1920s, which is headquartered in Laurel.
Flatiron Bath Sconces
Courtesy of Shades of Light
The two Flatiron sconces were named for Erin and Ben’s first home they renovated together after getting married. “We renovated a loft in downtown Laurel in an old flatiron building shaped like the one in New York City, but much smaller,” she says.
Ben’s Barn Light and Deco Ceiling Light
Courtesy of Shades of Light
Courtesy of Shades of Light
Other designs like Ben’s Barn Light (on left) and the Deco Ceiling Light (on right), “a more modern 1920s shape,” speak for themselves.
“Ben wanted a light on the barn, so we designed one,” laughs Erin.
Crescent Line Ceiling Light
Courtesy of Shades of Light
This fixture garnered its name from the train that runs from New York to New Orleans. “It stops right in downtown Laurel and we always get a bunch of visitors,” she says. “It reminds me of something you might see in a house boat. There’s something a bit nautical and a little New England about its shape.”
