Thomas Edison, the famed inventor of the light bulb, once said, “Genius is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.”
But after spending six hours with Eddie Matranga, owner of Outdoor Illumination Design, I think Edison’s ratio is off. Eddie—a man whose design instincts match his work ethic—has a gift for seeing what others overlook, transforming homes into works of art and strangers into lifelong clients and friends.
That’s what Randy Jackson, lead singer for the legendary rock band Zebra, told me. “Eddie’s always been a great friend since I met him,” he said, “and he's one of the people with the most responsible work ethic I know.”
Walking into Eddie’s living room was like stepping back in time. A 1920s hand-cranked animation machine sits nearby, along with an original gas pump, a Poncho’s Mexican Buffet flag, and countless antiques. Most surprising was the front panel of the Zephyr roller coaster from Pontchartrain Beach, a nostalgic piece for many New Orleanians.
I started the conversation rather naively, knowing almost nothing about outdoor lighting. “So tell me about how you throw light onto houses,” I said.
“I don’t throw light,” Eddie said, whimsically. “I design it.”
That distinction is at the heart of what makes Eddie unique. He doesn’t just install lights on houses and commercial buildings; he paints three-dimensional canvases across homes and landscapes. Every fixture, every glow is intentionally designed. New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne put it best: “Eddie does the same thing I do, except I'm doing it on canvas and he’s painting it on homes.”
But Eddie’s life hasn’t always been filled with light—he’s faced darkness, too. After Hurricane Laura devastated Lake Charles in 2020, Eddie had a near-death experience. Severe joint pain left him immobile, temporarily blind, and hospitalized for over a month.
But Eddie did survive, and out of that dark experience came something beautiful and profound—a new perspective on life. “All of this stuff you see around me,” he explained, “it’s just stuff. Everything we own is just a placeholder. The house, the car, the antiques—someone else will own them one day. But how we treat people? That’s what matters.”
Perhaps that’s why his work resonates so deeply. For Eddie, lighting isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about transformation. A home lighted by Outdoor Illumination Design isn’t just seen—it’s experienced.
“I see it every time,” Eddie said. “People step back, look at their home, and for a moment, they let go of all the burdens of life. I watch the smiles, and I listen to the whooping and hollering. They smile like kids seeing magic for the first time.”
And that, more than anything, is what Eddie offers: not just light, but marvel. Not just design, but a rekindling of wonder.
“Why doesn’t everyone light their home?” I asked.
“The first inclination is to go to Lowe's or Home Depot,” Eddie said. “But if somebody wants to water their lawn, they know to hire an irrigation expert. Or if somebody wants a roof, they hire a professional. Shouldn’t the same be true for lighting the most valuable asset you own?”
Drive through Mandeville at night, and you’ll see what Eddie means. Most homes sit in darkness, their beauty hidden. But when Eddie lights up your home, yard, pool, or trees, he doesn’t just add curb appeal and security—he reveals something new. A play of light and shadow, a fresh appreciation for texture, and, perhaps most importantly, a reminder of why you fell in love with your home in the first place.
As I left that enlightening experience, I knew why Eddie has become the Northshore’s premier lighting expert. He lights up more than houses—he lights up lives and illuminates smiles.
To learn more, or to schedule a free lighting consultation, call or text Eddie at 985-789-1655, email him at eddie@oidusa.com, or visit outdoorilluminationdesign.com.