The Nauset Lantern Shop Crafts Timeless Lighting Fixtures

The company’s headquarters is in Orleans. It does double duty as a showroom and workroom.

Kelly and Chris Berardi in the showroom, where Chris holds a custom lantern that combines design elements from the Navigation and Nova lanterns.

A lighting display shows the breadth of the company’s work, including table lamps and painted hanging lanterns.

Coppersmith Jim McVey works on a Masthead Wall Lantern.

A tab is soldered onto a copper leg, which holds a lantern’s glass in place.

Craftsman Ethan Craven rolls a piece of brass that will become a light canopy.

The lighting showroom displays a variety of lantern types and styles.

The Navigation Post Lantern is seen here in copper. A coat of Benjamin Moore Sheer Romance gives the Tonset Hanging Lantern a fresh look.

The Navigation Post Lantern is seen here in copper.

When Chris and Kelly Berardi visited The Nauset Lantern Shop the day after Christmas in 2019, it didn’t take long to know they’d found something special. “We walked out after a two-hour tour and said, ‘We can take this awesome product that’s been here for sixty years, and we can make it even better,’ ” recalls Chris. Since then, the couple—he’s a former carpenter and she has a background in business—has brought new life to the iconic Cape Cod company, focusing on expanding design options while maintaining a legacy of craftsmanship.

A deep commitment to customer service and handmade quality is at the core of the business. Every lantern begins as raw sheet metal and is hand-cut, soldered, and finished by a small team of artisans, including some who are jewelers by trade.

“Everything is custom-made,” notes Chris. “Each light is built for a specific home, a specific space. We talk with clients about their architectural plans, style preferences, and the natural light in the room. Every detail matters.”

The Berardis’ bespoke approach has become the shop’s signature, whether replicating a classic lantern or creating a contemporary piece like the Nova Onion (a nod to Villanova University, the couple’s alma mater). The Nauset Lantern Shop’s ability to tailor each fixture is what differentiates them. “We can customize any light,” Chris explains. “It speaks to the homeowner. It becomes part of their story.”
The coastal design landscape has become quite sophisticated, and the shop’s blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern creativity is resonating. Large-scale lanterns are popular, as are historic forms painted in bright hues.

While the business has grown, the Berardis maintain a hands-on approach. “We’re a small but mighty team,” Kelly shares. “When someone opens that box and pulls out their light, we want them to gasp a little. It’s a piece of jewelry for the home—beautiful, personal, and made to last.” The Nauset Lantern Shop, Orleans, nausetlanternshop.com