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Our History

History: Dana Creath

Learn More About Our Company’s Story

Through over five decades in business, our company has grown from a one-man lamp making operation to a renowned leader in producing hand-made custom wrought iron lighting fixtures. We have sustained careful, deliberate growth over the years, focusing on maintaining our commitment to quality, service, and attention to detail. Below, you will find a more detailed history of Dana Creath.

After serving in the Navy, our company’s founder Dana Creath went to work for a lamp store in Newport Beach, California, where he built and repaired lamps while attending college. After the lamp store closed, Dana needed a job, so he chose to rent out half of the building and opened his own lighting showroom and repair shop, Custom House Lighting. 

Seeking to expand into an additional local market, Dana opened his second lighting store in Dana Point, California, about 20 miles south down the coast from Newport Beach.

1967

After serving in the Navy, our company's founder Dana Creath went to work for a lamp store in Newport Beach, California, where he built and repaired lamps while attending college

1968

After the lamp store closed, Dana needed a job, so he chose to rent out half of the building and opened his own lighting showroom and repair shop, Custom House Lighting.

1970

After the lamp store closed, Dana needed a job, so he chose to rent out half of the building and opened his own lighting showroom and repair shop, Custom House Lighting.

1978

Seeking to expand into an additional local market, Dana opened his second lighting store in Dana Point, California, about 20 miles south down the coast from Newport Beach.

1980

To meet growing demand from both lighting stores, Dana opened a new production facility in Laguna Hills, California, centrally located between the two retail locations.

1982

Our company ventured into commercial markets for the first time, creating lighting specifically for hospitality customers, including hotel lobbies, restaurants, and others.

1986

Our work with the local hospitality industry over the previous four years helped us close a deal to produce custom lighting for seven Embassy Suites hotels across the country.

1987

To keep pace with the ever-expanding demand for our handmade lighting, we moved our Laguna Hills production facility to a 24,000 square foot building, enhancing our capabilities.

1967

After serving in the Navy, our company's founder Dana Creath went to work for a lamp store in Newport Beach, California, where he built and repaired lamps while attending college

1967

After serving in the Navy, our company's founder Dana Creath went to work for a lamp store in Newport Beach, California, where he built and repaired lamps while attending college

1967

After serving in the Navy, our company's founder Dana Creath went to work for a lamp store in Newport Beach, California, where he built and repaired lamps while attending college

1990

Dana Creath Designs opened showrooms in major design centers across the country over the following five years. Our company also developed ADA-compliant lighting during this time.

1996

The birth of our Renaissance collection came as we developed in-house leaf and ornament capabilities, pounding leaves and other elements out of plate brass and steel by hand.

2008

Dana Creath Designs reached an agreement with Guy Chaddock, a leading producer of handmade furniture using old-world techniques, to produce their private-label lighting line.

2014

In keeping with our commitment to maintaining complete in-house production capabilities, we developed glass bending techniques which expand our unique design options.