WHEN TALENTED PROFESSIONALS TALK, WE LISTEN.
When done well, lighting often goes unnoticed. When done poorly, even the most beautiful architecture won’t shine. Discover one of Montana’s premier destinations for lighting and the owner behind it all.
Distinctive Lighting
Bill Fiedler, Co-Owner
Crystal Fiedler, Co-Owner
Meet Bill Fiedler of Distinctive Lighting who has spent 30 years transforming spaces with luminescence, revealing a home’s beauty through light. As an owner of southwest Montana’s largest lighting showroom, Bill has helped elevate the region’s homes, commercial spaces, and businesses. In this issue’s Shop Talk, WHJ puts the spotlight on this dynamic business owner who has spent years servicing not just his customers but also the greater community through his involvement and support of community boards and nonprofits.
How did you get into this business?
I first came to Montana to work a summer camp job on Flathead Lake more than 30 years ago. I fell in love with the state and landed in Missoula where I got a job at Western Montana Lighting. I worked a year to get my in-state residency, and then enrolled at the University of Montana where I finished my degree in creative writing… all the while still working in lighting.
After a stint in Seattle working for Crescent Lighting, I ran into my former employer from Missoula at a lighting show in Dallas and was given an opportunity to run Distinctive Lighting. In 2006 I bought the store and I’ve been growing and still here running Distinctive Lighting in Bozeman.
What is your range of client needs?
Everyone needs lighting at one level or another. The services and products we offer range from someone coming into the store looking to replace a bulb in their kitchen hood to full-blown architectural consultations for large residences and commercial businesses.
How do you work with interior designers?
We like working with designers because we too are designers. When we understand from the interior designer a home’s color palette, materiality, and uses of each of its spaces, we can design lighting that complements those elements.
A typical person might not notice when a room is lit well, but they certainly notice when it’s lit poorly. Often, they can’t articulate why. We help create spaces that feel a certain way.
–Bill Fiedler
What does the typical person not understand about lighting?
A typical person might not notice when a room is lit well, but they certainly notice when it’s lit poorly. Often, they can’t articulate why. We help create spaces that feel a certain way. For example, a master bedroom should feel relaxed and cozy. An open-plan kitchen and dining room may need to be brightly lit for cooking but then transition to more dim lighting for dinner.
Do you offer consultations for your clients?
Absolutely. Our Certified Lighting Specialists will guide you through the process and you can select from the largest lighting showroom in southwest Montana. We offer on-site consultations where we come to your home or business. Usually, it is a complimentary service.
What is architectural lighting?
Architectural lighting serves and enhances certain architectural elements. Because Bozeman is an architectural and design hub, we are fortunate to work with some of the top architects in the West. If one has invested in building a home designed by a firm like Miller-Roodell or Locati and it’s not lit well, the architecture isn’t living up to its full potential. These homes are works of art and will only shine with thoughtful and intentional lighting.
What types of products do you offer that most may not realize?
Exterior lighting, ceiling fans, mirrors, antique lighting, eco-friendly lighting solutions… we work with close to 300 vendors to find the exact product that meets your exact needs.
How are you involved in the community?
I’ve been on the Board of Directors for the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce for eight years and am currently the immediate past president. I’m a life director of the Southwest Montana Building Industry Association (SWMBIA). My wife, Crystal, also has been active with SWMBIA. We’ve both served on the board for the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB).
We’ve supported numerous nonprofits in the Gallatin Valley. Reach Inc. is particularly special to us as they help people with developmental disabilities.
