Our Story

Practical Props is a family business dedicated to the sale of high-quality new, vintage, and reproduction lighting. All of our sputniks and globe kits are made in-house at our retail store in North Hollywood, California. We offer a wide selection of styles, finishes, and light bulbs – whether you are restoring a mid-century home or simply looking for a new light in your life, Practical Props has a lamp for you!

We are dedicated to making lighting that is beautiful, yet affordable, and backed by an unmatched level of customer service. Our business is also known for building custom lighting for retail store, restaurants, and the film industry.

The owner, Ian Hardy, has been fascinated by decorative lighting as “functional art” since he first began working in the Hollywood film industry nearly thirty years ago. He saw how much of an impact lighting can have on a space and how it was used by Directors of Photography to enhance sets. When he set up his own lighting store and prop house in 1991, Ian dedicated himself to selling lighting that is not only beautiful, but also functional  - “Practical Props” was born.

It’s been over two decades, and now his daughter Della has joined the team to manage our expanding online business.

If you have any questions about our products or business, or if you’d like more information on custom orders, please don’t hesitate to contact us – We’re here to make your lighting dreams a reality!