In Tinseltown, lighting is everything. And Practical Props, a starring member of North Hollywood's young arts district, is the solution to every lighting nerd and Hollywood set master's pursuit of perfection — a maze of a mini warehouse dripping in crystals and cold basement bulbs and candelabras, from the gorgeous to the fascinatingly hideous. The store is especially famous for its “sputniks,” '50s-era ceiling lights studded with spoke-like space arms that would make the Jetsons jealous. But if you can't find what you're looking for in mountains of carefully selected vintage pieces — draft lamps, stained-glass productions, Beauty and the Beast chandeliers — Practical Props also specializes in building custom lights. Bring in a favorite old vase and the staff will fashion it into the bedside lamp of your dreams. 11010 Magnolia Blvd., N. Hlywd. (818) 980-3198, practicalprops.com.

—Simone Wilson

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