Lake Forest Lighting
Lake Forest was platted in 1857 and grew into an established North Shore community — which means many of its homes were built in eras when plaster ceilings, coffered millwork, and thick plank construction were the standard. We specialize in installing LED recessed lighting in exactly these kinds of spaces, cleanly and carefully, with patching and painting included.
Lake Forest is unusual among Chicago's suburbs. The city's organic street plan — designed to follow ravines and lake bluffs rather than a standard grid — was laid out in 1857 by landscape architect Almerin Hotchkiss, making it one of the earliest planned suburban communities in the country. The homes that followed reflected that ambition: estates by Howard Van Doren Shaw, David Adler, Henry Ives Cobb, and other prominent architects line Sheridan Road and Deerpath, and the city today maintains five designated local historic districts with more than 260 landmarked structures.
What that history means practically for a lighting project: a meaningful share of Lake Forest homes were built before modern drywall was common, particularly those constructed before the mid-20th century. Older construction often means plaster-and-lathe ceilings, thicker walls, and architectural details that require patience and care when you're cutting holes for recessed lights. That's work we do regularly, and we take it seriously.
We serve all of Lake Forest — from the lakefront bluffs and estates along Sheridan Road to newer construction west of Green Bay Road, and everything in between. Most projects are scheduled within two weeks and completed in a single day.
Lake Forest's housing stock spans more than 160 years of construction. About a sixth of homes were built before 1940, and roughly a quarter more went up between 1940 and 1969. Each era brings its own ceiling characteristics and retrofit considerations.
The architect-designed homes from Lake Forest's estate-building era — many influenced by the Beaux Arts harmony that prevailed from the 1890s through roughly 1940 — frequently have plaster-and-lathe ceilings, high ceiling heights, ornamental crown molding, and coffered details. These homes are beautiful, but they require a different approach than standard drywall retrofits. Plaster ceilings are brittle and can crack if handled carelessly; cuts need to be clean and precise, and any patching needs to match the existing texture. We quote these jobs individually rather than at our standard rate, and we're straightforward about what's involved before any work begins.
Much of Lake Forest's residential expansion moved westward through the postwar decades, adding Colonial Revivals, split-levels, and ranch homes — most with standard drywall ceilings and 8- to 9-foot ceiling heights. These are straightforward recessed lighting projects covered by our standard pricing. A kitchen or living room typically takes a single day from start to finish.
Lake Forest has continued to see new construction and full gut-rehabs in recent decades. Open ceilings (in unfinished basements or attic conversions) and drop-tile ceilings are both covered under standard pricing. If you're mid-remodel and want lighting roughed in before drywall goes up, that's the easiest and most cost-effective time to do it — reach out and we'll coordinate with your timeline.
Modern, energy-efficient LED can lights installed cleanly in any ceiling type. The right choice for Lake Forest kitchens, living rooms, basements, and hallways — including older homes where existing fixtures have grown dim or dated.
Replace outdated ceiling fans, dome lights, or fluorescent fixtures with recessed lighting. Common in Lake Forest's mid-century colonials and postwar ranches where original fixtures have aged past their prime. Patching and painting always included.
For Lake Forest's older estates — including homes with plaster-and-lathe ceilings, coffered details, or architectural crown molding — we work carefully and quote each project individually. We preserve what's worth preserving.
Voice-controlled and app-scheduled lighting compatible with major smart home platforms. An upgrade beyond standard dimmer pricing — we quote smart switch installations separately and confirm compatibility with your existing system.
Lighting for every room in your Lake Forest home under one project. Multi-room packages qualify for our 10% discount and let us coordinate the layout and switch placement across the entire house in a single installation visit.
Unfinished basements and open ceilings are the most straightforward recessed lighting projects we do. If you're finishing a Lake Forest basement or coordinating a remodel, we can rough in lighting before drywall goes up and cut your overall cost.
We've worked in homes throughout Chicago's North Shore with plaster ceilings, high ceiling heights, and architectural details that require extra care. We know how to handle them cleanly and tell you upfront what's involved.
Fully licensed electricians with comprehensive insurance. Your Lake Forest home is protected, and all work meets Illinois electrical codes.
$500 first light, $200 each additional — includes LED fixtures, dimmer switches, wiring, patching and painting. No surprise charges. Non-standard situations (plaster ceilings, high ceilings, smart switches) are quoted separately and clearly before work begins.
We protect floors, furniture, and surfaces throughout the job. Patching and painting are included in every project. We leave the space ready to use — not a dusty construction site.
Most Lake Forest projects are scheduled within two weeks. Single-room installations are typically completed in one day. We show up on time and work efficiently.
We serve Lake Forest and the surrounding North Shore communities — Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, and beyond. Hundreds of installations completed across Chicago's suburbs.
A typical kitchen with 6–8 lights runs $1,500–$1,900. Standard pricing covers drywall, drop-tile, and open ceilings. Plaster or lathe ceilings, ceiling heights over 9 ft, smart/WiFi switches, and zone splitting are quoted separately.
Get Your Free QuoteWe install recessed lighting throughout Lake Forest, including homes near:
Recessed lighting in Lake Forest costs $500 for the first light in a room and $200 for each additional light. Covered in that rate: LED fixtures, dimmer switches, 3-way and rocker switches as needed, all wiring, patching, and basic painting. A typical kitchen with 6–8 lights runs $1,500–$1,900. We offer 10% off for 3+ room projects. Standard pricing covers drywall, drop-tile, and open ceilings. Plaster or lathe walls, ceilings over 9 ft, smart/WiFi switches, or splitting a room into multiple zones may require an adjusted quote.
Yes, we work in homes with plaster ceilings regularly. Many Lake Forest homes built before the 1950s — including the Beaux Arts and Colonial Revival estates that define the city's older neighborhoods — have plaster and lathe construction rather than drywall. Plaster ceilings require more careful cutting and patching than standard drywall, so these projects are quoted individually rather than at our standard rate. We take care to preserve the character of the ceiling and match the existing finish as closely as possible.
Most recessed lighting installations are straightforward retrofit work. Whether a permit is required depends on the scope of the project and your municipality's current requirements — we recommend checking with the City of Lake Forest Community Development department if you have questions. Our standard pricing assumes no permit is needed; if you'd like us to pull a permit, we can quote and handle that process separately.
Single-room projects typically take 3–5 hours. Multi-room installations are usually completed in one to two days. We schedule most Lake Forest projects within two weeks and work cleanly — protecting floors and surfaces and leaving the space ready to use when we're done.
Our price includes LED recessed fixtures, dimmer switches, 3-way and rocker switches as needed, all electrical wiring and connections, standard wall plates, patching, and basic painting. Standard pricing covers drywall, drop-tile, and open ceilings. Plaster or lathe walls, ceilings over 9 ft, smart/WiFi switches, or splitting one room into multiple switch zones may require an adjusted quote. We confirm everything during your free consultation.
Yes. In addition to Lake Forest, we serve Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Winnetka, Glenview, and communities throughout Chicago's northern and western suburbs. We do not service high-rise buildings in the City of Chicago.
In addition to Lake Forest, we provide recessed lighting installation in:
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Serving Lake Forest & Surrounding Areas
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