ILLUMINATING HISTORY

Idlewood Electric is a third-generation, woman-owned lighting business that has been serving the Chicago area since 1958. Led by CEO and President Barbara Lansing and her daughter, Vice President Jessica Lansing Cohen, this premier lighting showroom and electrical supply distributor is synonymous with superior customer service and premium quality products. Barbara is the second generation to take the helm and she is thrilled to be working alongside daughters Jessica and Rachel Lansing Sotoloff who entered the business a decade ago together. Jessica oversees the day-to-day operations of the lighting division, while Rachel leads the marketing team and focuses on designer relations.

How do you tailor your services to meet the unique needs of luxury homeowners?
Whether it’s a complete renovation or designing a brand-new home, we meet our clients where they are, ensuring that each aspect of their lighting is thoughtfully planned and executed. Our brick-and-mortar showrooms allow clients to see lighting fixtures in person—offering the opportunity to visualize how each piece will enhance their home. If a client is working with a designer or builder, we collaborate with them to ensure that the lighting integrates beautifully and functionally within the overall vision for the space.

What’s one of the most memorable projects you’ve worked on, and what made it stand out for you and your client?
One of the most memorable projects we’ve had the privilege of working on was providing lighting and electrical supplies for a Wounded Warrior project. It was truly an honor to play a small role in helping a veteran move into a beautifully designed home, and the experience was incredibly meaningful for our team. What made this project stand out was the collaborative effort involved. We worked alongside a diverse group of vendors who generously donated their time and products—all united by the common goal of creating a home that was not only functional but also worthy of our brave veterans.

What are some of the latest innovations in your industry that you’re particularly excited about?
The warm-dim technology has completely changed the lighting landscape by allowing LEDs to mimic the same type of color output as now discontinued incandescent lighting. We’re excited about new and evolving lighting CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) technologies which offers adjustable settings, allowing users to switch between different color temperatures from warm and neutral to cool and bright tones for their fixtures. We’re very eager to see rechargeable and cordless lighting technology take shape where you’ll be able to mount lights, such as sconces on either side of a fireplace, without requiring a junction box. These are all innovative changes in our industry that Idlewood has to offer our clients.

Idlewood Electric is located at 114 Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park. For more information, visit idlewoodelectric.com or follow Idle-wood Electric on Instagram @idlewoodelectric.