lightbritedistributing

Light Brite Business Hours

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:08:51 GMT

Our showroom is OPEN. However, APPOINTMENTS ARE ENCOURAGED.

To protect the health and safety of our customers and employees, we may limit the amount of customers in our showroom at one time.

Mask or Face coverings are required when you visit our showroom.

If you need to make a product selections, simply call our office at 618-224-7314 and set up an appointment with a sales associate.

If you prefer to do business via phone or email, we are happy to service you.

Curbside pick-up is still available.

We want to take care of our customers in the safest manner as possible.

Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Store Hours:

Monday- Friday 7am - 5pm

Saturday 8am - Noon

More in Store at the Light Brite Showroom

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 15:24:30 GMT

More in Store at the Light Brite Showroom

Our Light Brite showroom in Trenton, Illinois is worth a visit.

Here are 7 reasons why:

1. There's Nothing Like the Real Thing

Our website is top-notch, but there’s no substitute for seeing and feeling the products in person. Lighting, fireplace mantels, built in cabinets – we display them all. Our showroom gives you a clear vision of what the products could look like in your home.

2. Get Personal Attention

Our knowledgeable and friendly staff are easy to work with and will take all the time you need to find the best solution for your home. We want you to get the most out of your visit. So, we make building and remodeling – and all the decisions that go with that – a smooth and simple process.

3. FInd Expert Advice

With over 40 years in the business, we have the knowledge and skills to provide you with a first-class buying experience. Whether you’re building a new construction, renovating or just looking for that unique touch to add to a room, our highly trained staff are here to help.

4. It's One Stop Shopping

Get everything you need in one place. We can bundle products and services like fireplaces, custom lighting, unique woodwork or that special design touch you’ve been searching for.

5. Spark Your Creativity

Need help with fireplace design? Looking for home lighting ideas? Our showroom – stocked with all the newest styles and trends – provides the perfect setting to find your design inspiration.

6. Customize Your Design

Practically everything we sell can be customized to fit your personal design style. Work one on one with our staff to create a look that is all yours. Visiting our showroom is the best way to see all the custom solutions we offer.

7. We Want to Meet You

Some of our best and most lasting relationships with customers have come from visits to our showroom. We are conveniently located in Trenton, Illinois just a short drive from St. Louis, Missouri. We’re open Monday through Friday from 7am to 5pm and Saturdays from 8am to noon. Drop by for a visit. We’ll leave the lights on for you

5 Big Green Egg Recipes Your Family Will Beg You For

Wed, 13 May 2020 21:22:44 GMT

Ingredients

2 racks pork spareribs, membranes removed
salt and pepper for the rub
¼ cup butter
¼ cup of beer

Korean BBQ Ingredients

½ cup gochujang
¼ cup hoisin sauce
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup honey
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup Korean rice wine
1 tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
2" piece fresh ginger, finely gated
3 cloves of finely grated garlic
1 tbsp ground white pepper

Instructions

Mix all of the Korean BBQ ingredients together and place it in the refrigerator.
Set the EGG for indirect cooking with the convEGGtor at 250°F. Add a chunk of hickory wood and a drip pan full of water.
Trim the excess fat from the ribs and cover in a salt and pepper mix.
Put the ribs bone side down on the cooking grid. After cooking for 3 hours, remove the ribs and place meat side down on a sheet of aluminum foil. Add the butter and beer. Then cover the ribs in the foil and cook for another hour.
Remove the ribs from the foil. Raise the temperature to 300°F. Glaze the ribs with the Korean BBQ sauce and place the ribs back in the EGG for an hour.
When the meat pulls from the bone it is time to remove from the EGG and serve.

1. Smoked Spicy Korean Spare Ribs

Recipe courtesy of Christopher Sussman, AKA The BBQ Buddha

Ingredients

Double-cut pork chop
Your favorite BBQ rub
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup of white wine
½ cup of green onions
½ cup of parsley
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 stick of butter
1 tablespoon of cream
1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

Set the EGG for direct cooking without a convEGGtor at 500°F/260°C
Season the chops with the rub; add to the EGG and sear for 4 minutes on each side.
Add the convEGGtor for indirect cooking at 350°F/176°C.
Roast the chops until the internal temperature reaches 145°F/63°C.
For the Herb Beurre Blanc sauce, add the green onions, parsley, thyme, garlic and white wine to a pot on medium heat. Once the wine has reduced by half, strain the herbs and add cream and lemon juice. Whisk in 1 stick of cubed butter to the mixture, and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve on top of the pork chop.

2. The Curious Pig’s Signature Pork Chop

Recipe courtesy of Scott Smith, owner and executive chef of The Curious Pig

Ingredients

2 lobster tails, butterflied
2½ tbsp mayonnaise
1 celery stalk, chopped finely
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp of fresh chives
1 tsp Tony Chachere's® Original Creole Seasoning
green onions, chopped
Big Green Egg Nashville Hot Seasoning
Old Bay® Seasoning
2 tbsp butter, melted
¼ lemon, juiced
1 sprig of rosemary
2 rolls

Instructions

Two hours before cooking, mix together mayonnaise, celery, lemon juice, chives, and Tony’s Seasoning. Top with the green onions and refrigerate.
Set the EGG with the EGGspander with one side for direct cooking without the convEGGtor Stone and the other side indirect cooking with the convEGGtor Stone at 400°F.
Season the lobster with the Nashville Hot and Old Bay. Cook indirectly until the lobster reaches an internal temperature of 135°F. Transfer to direct cooking and cook meat side down for two minutes on each side until grill marks show.
While the lobster is cooking mix together the butter and the lemon. Baste the lobster with the lemon butter mixture using the rosemary sprig as a brush right before removing the lobster from the EGG.
Toast the rolls on the direct side of the EGG. Once the rolls are to the desired doneness, remove from the EGG. Coat the roll with the premade sauce, stuff with lobster, and serve immediately.

3. Grilled Lobster Rolls

Courtesy of BGETeamGreen Member Chris Robertson, AKA cookinwithswiss

Ingredients

1 pound piece of pork belly
Your favorite barbecue rub
Your favorite barbecue sauce
Honey
Apple juice

Instructions

Set the EGG for indirect cooking with the convEGGtor at 275°F/135°C with hickory smoking chips or chunks.
Trim the pork belly and cut the pork belly into 1” cubes. Cover the pork belly pieces in your favorite BBQ rub. Place pork belly pieces on the cooking grid and smoke for 3 hours, spraying with apple juice every hour until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 190°F.
Remove the pork pieces from the EGG and place them in an aluminum pan. Toss the pork belly pieces with BBQ sauce until evenly covered. Drizzle with honey and put the aluminum pan back on the EGG. Cook for another hour until the sauce has reduced and caramelized.

4. Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Recipe courtesy of Christopher Sussman, AKA The BBQ Buddha

Ingredients

1 box of complete cake mix, chocolate or yellow
2 cans of your favorite pie filling – some of our favorites are: Apple, Peach, Cherry, Cherry/Pineapple, and Blueberry
1 stick of butter

Stay tuned for our next Big Green Egg blog: EGGcessories That We Couldn't Live Without

SOURCE: ALL RECIPES AND IMAGES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE BIG GREEN EGG WEBSITE ( https://biggreenegg.com/recipes )

5. Dump Cake

Instructions

Set the EGG for indirect cooking with the convEGGtor at 375°F/191°C.
Spread both cans of the pie filling evenly in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle cake mix evenly on top of the pie filling (do not mix).
Melt the butter in the Sauce Pot; drizzle over the cake mix. Place the pan on the cooking grid and bake for 35-45 minutes.

Essentials for Outdoor Living

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 16:51:40 GMT

Essentials for Outdoor Living

They say that home is where the heart is, but what if the enjoyment of your home could continue outside? According to the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey , outdoor living spaces are the most popular “special function rooms” among homeowners. With versatile and affordable options, it’s easier than ever to create a relaxing and fully functional backyard that the whole family can enjoy.

Are you ready to create an extended outdoor living area? Here are Light Brite’s five favorite outdoor essentials to enhance your time outside.

1. Grill

The outdoor grill is a quintessential fixture in all our summer memories. Whether it’s burgers and franks over charcoal or getting the perfect sear marks while grilling chicken over natural gas, a grill is a necessity for warm weather outdoor dining. One of our all-time favorites is the Big Green Egg . Or browse through a wide selection of outdoor grills from Summerset Professional Grills here . (P.S. Scroll to the bottom of Summerset’s home page for a link to mouthwatering grilling recipes.)

2. Fire Pit

An outdoor fire pit feature adds an inviting coziness to your backyard. Creating soft light and warmth, it provides a gathering place for friends and family and – of course – the perfect place to roast marshmallows. Arrange some comfy outdoor seating around the fire pit for a gorgeous focal point.

3. Outdoor Fireplace

Nothing says “bring the indoors outside” quite like a stunning outdoor fireplace. It can completely change the look and feel of an outdoor living space, transforming a boring backyard into an elegant entertaining area

4. Lighting and Ceiling Fans

Fire isn’t the only way to bring light and warmth into your outdoor living space. Create both style and security with outdoor lighting fixtures like landscape lighting, string lights or even specialized lighting to highlight outdoor furniture or stonework. And keep things cool around your patio by incorporating outdoor ceiling fans with your overhead lighting. (Bonus: Ceiling fans move the air around, helping to keep bugs away!)

5. Outdoor Kitchen

Whether you want a simple drink prep area, or you’d like a full-scale oven with outdoor kitchen cabinets installed, adding a kitchen gives you the ultimate outdoor entertaining space. From patios to decks to poolside hangouts, even a small outdoor living area can be modified for all your kitchen essentials.

Final Thoughts

Designing a functional and livable outdoor space is easier than you think. When deciding what you need to transform your backyard, just keep these two things in mind:

1) Function – How do I want to use the space?

2) Design – How can I make the space stylish, comfortable and inviting?

If you’d like some help creating your outdoor living space, reach out to us.

5 Ideas for Fireplace Built-Ins

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 14:59:26 GMT

5 Ideas for Fireplace Built-Ins

Looking for a fresh design or more storage and display space for your home? Fireplace built-ins are a great solution. They’re a lot easier to incorporate with existing layouts than you’d think, and they provide an ideal spot for those often-used items that need to be stored away. Here are five ideas to inspire you with the perfect fireplace built-in solution.

1. Stylish Fireplace Mantels

If you only need minimal storage or display space, a simple mantel will do the trick. This is especially important in smaller rooms where an uncluttered look is preferred. Make your fireplace mantel work for you by adding small decorative boxes for an attractive storage fix

2. Fireplace Bookshelf Surround

Bookshelf surrounds are a practical fireplace built-in and an easy way to get a whole lot of storage. Open shelves work great to fill in any dead space that needs some charm. Lining up a bookshelf surround with the mantel height makes the shelves look like they’re one with the fireplace. Or floor-to-ceiling built-ins, complete with bookshelf doors to hide all the clutter, make an elegant statement.

3. Built-in Settings – Recessed or Flush

While you’re deciding on your storage solutions, it’s a good idea to think about the setting of your built-in. Mostly, the decision is all about personal preference, but the size of your room could help dictate whether you want your built-in recessed or flush with the fireplace. In larger rooms, built-ins are typically installed in the same plane as the fireplace. But setting a built-in several inches back provides storage while still maintaining a bit of visual relief in a smaller room.

4. Symmetrical or Asymmetrical

Traditional homes typically have symmetrical built-ins on both sides of the fireplace. But if you’re going for a more sleek and contemporary design, you may opt for a fireplace built-in that’s only on one side. The bottom line, though, is that your fireplace’s location in the room will often determine the layout of your built-ins. As long as you go with what works best for you and your home, you can’t go wrong.

5. Materials and Design

No matter what fireplace built-in design you choose, look to your home and the setting of your fireplace for clues as to the types of materials and details you should use. For example, a built-in is a smart way to duplicate your favorite design elements that are found elsewhere in your home, like woodwork, crown molding or color and texture.

Whether you are remodeling, replacing or are involved with a new construction project, a fireplace built-in from Light Brite is adaptable to most settings.

Call us today to set up an appointment at our showroom in Trenton, IL.

Light Up Your Yard for Summer

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 15:48:59 GMT

Light Up Your Yard for Summer

Summer is here, and those long, lazy days have you spending more time outside. One of the easiest ways to spruce up your yard is to add outdoor lighting. Whether you’re spotlighting a focal point, using backlighting to create ambiance, or showing off the best features of your yard, here are a few of our favorite outdoor lighting ideas.

Driveways and Walkways

Warmer evenings often mean summer parties. Show your guests the way by illuminating your driveway and sidewalk. Landscape lighting for pathways will keep everyone from losing their footing. In-ground fixtures light the way, while outdoor post mounts cast overhead light to make the whole path visible.

Garden Glow

You’ve worked so hard on your flower beds – why not show them off with some strategic landscape lighting? A soft glow on a summer night can highlight your beautiful yard and create the perfect atmosphere for neighborhood gatherings.

Deck and Patio Lighting

Deck lighting adds a warm aesthetic to your outdoor space. A patio chandelier brings a stylish touch, or you can shine a spotlight on a special feature like an outdoor fire pit. But it also serves as a practical safety feature. Consider adding lights along your deck stairs so everyone can safely enjoy your backyard in the summer evenings.

Pool Lighting

Anyone with a backyard pool knows the joy of taking a dip at the end of a long summer day. Landscape lighting around a pool allows you to get creative with your lighting design. Use smaller lights to uplight the surrounding area or incorporate water features into your outdoor lighting fixtures. (Picture below by Three-Way Creations)

One last thing to consider:

Think about how your outdoor spaces or walkways look from different vantage points inside your home. Shrubbery, flower gardens, patios or pools that can be seen from, say, your living room or dining room can give a sense that your living spaces extend outside. Even small touches of landscape lighting design can make for a simple and easy style update. Check out our wide selection of outdoor lighting by Kichler here and get inspired!

End of Season Fireplace Cleaning and Maintenance Tips from a Light Brite Expert

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 17:18:47 GMT

End of Season Fireplace Cleaning and Maintenance Tips from a Light Brite Expert

Believe it or not, the cold dark winter is over. It’s time for longer days, warmer temps and long walks as Spring settles in. But while you welcome the new season with open arms, there are a few important steps to take before shutting those fireplace doors. Our Light Brite expert, Jim, is on hand to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about fireplace maintenance and cleaning tips.

The biggest and best piece of advice that I have is to READ YOUR MANUAL.

Keep your manual in a safe place so you can always refer to it. Different fireplaces require different maintenance, so don’t go off of what a friend or neighbor tells you unless you have the exact same fireplace. Check the manufacturer’s website for helpful tips, how to videos and maintenance tips specific to your fireplace.

Staying on top of what needs to be done can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each year.

The Effects of Outdoor Lighting

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 20:58:14 GMT

Landscape lighting can be the thing that takes your backyard from basic to bling, but undertaking a lighting plan for your yard can be an intimidating project. But have no fear, as this need not be the case. Welcome to Landscape Lighting 101, where we’ll walk you through a basic overview of the various types of lighting you’ll find in a landscape and exactly what each of them is supposed to do. We’ll look at:

What to light in your yard
Types of landscape lighting
How to use landscape lighting

Like many things in life, less can be more, and this is the case when it comes to landscape lighting. Your instinct might be to light up everything: every detail, every tree, every nook and every cranny. But besides potentially running up your power bill, this will wash the yard out.

What makes a space special during the night is the play of light and dark, highlighting features that you may not take note of during the day and creating contrast and shadows using the forms and plants in your yard. Playing with these elements creates intrigue and drama, and a well-lit space will often be one in which you want to stay.

The Effects of Outdoor Lighting

So what do you light and what do you leave in the dark? Here are three things to consider:

Identify the features in your yard that you like. Maybe it’s a pond or a particularly stately tree, highlighting those with light will show them off.
Add drama to areas that might not stand out during the day. A simple stone wall can take on a whole new personality at night when grazed with light and shadow.
Think about function. A deck with stairs or a meandering pathway need to be lit to ensure that you can can move about your yard without risk of injury.

And always consider an inviting and well-lit entryway. By properly illuminating the entrance to your home, the light provided by one or two outdoor wall sconces will safely guide family members or guests while creating that warm and welcoming curb appeal.

What to Light In Your Landscape

Now that you know what you want to light, how will you actually do it? There are a few basic types of fixtures that you want to get familiar with when you are making your lighting plan. Below are the various types of lighting you might find in a landscape:

Types of Landscape Lighting

Don’t feel overwhelmed, there are a lot of types of lights and a lot of spaces to place them. One of the best things that you can do to scope out your own project it to grab a good, high-powered flashlight with a dimming optic and get out into your yard at night. Then, play with the light. See what looks cool, or what might not work as well.

Here’s a look at the various landscape lighting effects you might want to try:

How to Light a Landscape

Now you have the basics to go forth and lay out your own landscape design. It's important to note that it's still important that you consult with a professional when laying out your landscaping plan so they can ensure you're working with the right voltage for your transformer and other important details.

The key is to take your time. And you can start small and build from there, an over-lit space can be as uncomfortable or unusable as a completely dark one.

There are a million ways to light your landscape, but the fun is in creating a unique look that reflects your own personal taste and lifestyle.

LED Under Cabinet Lighting

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 20:27:47 GMT

Layering is not just for clothes & decor.

Layering your lighting will produce beautiful results in your home.

This is especially true in the kitchen, where layered light sources make it not only look better, but function better too.

Layers of Light in a Kitchen

overhead (can lights/high hats)
focal (chandelier, pendant)
table lamp
under counter

Under Counter Lighting – A 101 Guide

Today I am talking about under counter lights as I am in the market for some for my soon to be kitchen.

I have done a LOT of research on this form of lighting. I am sharing so you don’t have to. Read, bookmark and pin this guide for when you are in the market too.

Since I don’t have a kitchen to photograph, I am treating you to some of the kitchens I have looked to for inspiration.

Under Counter Lighting

When choosing under counter lights you need to weigh not only whether to use linear or puck but also these 4 considerations:

Light source
installation
color
cost

Let’s delve into each consideration.

Light Source:

By this I mean the kind of light, not where you got your light. For under counter lights there are 3 types of light sources. These are:

Fluorescent
LED
Xenon

Incandescent & Halogen bulbs burn too hot to be safe for under counter lights which are generality mounted right on the bottom of cabinets.

Fluorescent light these days is a reliable, efficient and evenly distributed source of bright white light. Not dim-able. (out of the running for me!)

LED light (light emitting diodes) is highly efficient, long lasting and dim-able with a compatible dimmer.

Xenon light is made like an incandescent bulb, except that it has Xenon, a gas, inside the bulb instead of being devoid of air like a traditional bulb. Less efficient then fluorescent & LED. Fully dim-able. I had never heard of Xenon bulbs before – had you?

There are two basic types of under counter lights:

Linear – a long stretch of lights housed in a slim casing producing a length of consistent light (like tape or rope, or bar lights)
Puck – disc shaped individual lights producing pops of light

Installation options for under counter lights are battery, plug in or hardwired.

If your set up & budget allows go for hardwire. It will be a much better look and can be controlled with a switch.

Under counter lights do not have to be recess mounted. They are so slim in most cases that you would have to get under & crane your neck to see them.

If you really want to hide the casing, an inch or two of decorative molding at the base of your cabinets will more than hide it. A molding such as this can even be added to the bottom shelf of an open shelf kitchen. This is my plan for the open shelving on either side of my sink.

Installation

Color:

Ok, this is where it gets interesting so stick with me, your color consideration is not only the color the bulb emits, but the color it makes everything else in the room.

The measure of that color is called the Color Rendering Index . I told you I did a LOT of research!!

As Fluorescent, LED & Xenon emit different colors they also render colors differently.

Fluorescents give off a cool to neutral white light and on the Color Rendering Index score about an 80 in accurately rendering colors.

LED give off a cool to warm white light and can have covers to alter the emitted color. On the Color Rendering Index they score 80 – 90 in accurately rendering color.

Xenon give off a warm to neutral light and score a perfect 100 on the Color Rendering Index. This means Xenon bulbs render the color perfectly every time. So the paint color you painstakingly chose for your kitchen will look exactly right with Xenon lights.

Cost:

LED lights are the most expensive, but with the energy savings over time these make sense.

Fluorescent & Xenon are affordable, but do not have the level of efficiency or long lasting capabilities.