Lanterns are a glowing outdoor finishing touch | Entertainment/Life

If lighting is the jewelry of the home, a flickering lantern near the front door is a big rock of a diamond.

At Flambeaux Lighting in Metairie, experienced craftsmen build gas and electric lanterns that are designed to be historically relevant. The French Quarter Lantern is considered the original style, with four sides. Other styles are six-sided.

“There’s nothing quite like a handmade copper lantern,” said Stephen Guepet, managing partner and business director. “That’s one of the reasons designers often come to us when they’re looking for that ‘wow’ factor as a centerpiece to show a client.

“We primarily fabricate from copper, but also from brass and stainless steel. Each fixture is hand-riveted at our factory, located next to the Louis Armstrong Airport.”

He co-owns the 25-year-old company with Dennis Calamusa, Randy Gaspard and Vincent Valenti.

ABOUT THE DESIGNS: All of Flambeaux Lighting’s products are designed to have a New Orleans flavor that complements the city’s historic architecture. Customers can choose their finish and pick between gas flames or electric power. Deciding on a stainless steel lantern instead of a copper one offers a more contemporary look. 

“Our legacy designs are here to stay,” Guepet said, “but we are always creating new, modern styles, too. While we are known locally for our gas lanterns, each light is also available in electric. Nationally, electric lighting is a significant part of our business.”

Flambeaux Lighting also makes mailboxes and pendant lamps, as well as brackets for hanging or mounting its signature lanterns for use inside or out.

WHAT YOU’LL PAY: Prices start at $745 for a Colonial Signature Series lantern with a flush mount and rise to over $2,000 for a Metropolitan Signature Series lantern. Lanterns in the Signature Series are lined with a gold-tone metal that enriches and magnifies the light for a warm glow.

Any lantern can be manufactured in stainless steel instead of copper for an additional $200.

OFF-THE-RACK MODELS: The company’s new QuickShip Collection features gleaming brass fixtures. These ship in one to two weeks, whereas copper or stainless lanterns from the Signature series take closer to eight weeks to ship. Lanterns in the QuickShip line start at $495.

CLIENTS YOU’LL RECOGNIZE: Flambeaux Lighting has fabricated lanterns for Walt Disney, Universal Studios and Tommy Bahama clothing. The company has been featured on “Property Brothers” and “This Old House.”

Flambeaux Lighting, 614 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 881-3054. flambeauxlighting.com.

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