Bringing Old Feelings To Light – Meet The Craftsmen
The Craftsmen At Restoration Lighting Gallery, Paul Dalfino (r) and Dave Poppel (l).
How do you take an old neglected light and make it shine brilliant once again? Meet the craftsmen behind Restoration Lighting Gallery: Paul Dalfino and Dave Poppel—the miracle workers of vintage, antique lighting.
Restoration Lighting Gallery is an exclusive lighting, restoration, repair and shade boutique. The hundreds of antique, vintage pieces you see on display at Restoration Lighting Gallery are from 60 plus years of combined experience and passion for repainting, refinishing, and repairing rare, one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures from all over the world. Dalfino and Poppel take pride in their work and put their heart and soul into every piece. To them, every light has a story and every story is unique.
While Restoration Lighting Gallery is part of the Connecticut Lighting Centers family, the two showrooms are centuries apart. When you step into the Restoration Lighting Gallery showroom, you will be transported to a different world. It is the emotional side of the Connecticut Lighting Centers family. Each piece has history and sentimental value.
Poppel and Dalfino bring those old feelings to light. Dalfino and Poppel have worked as a team for over 16 years and have made a reputation for themselves creating lighting from keepsakes and family heirlooms. Poppel is the “Dave of all trades” having mastered blacksmithing, welding, building custom furniture and restoring old houses and barns. Dalfino has been in the business of restoration since he was little, who helped his father with his own restoration business. Restoration and repair is their passion.
“We also love to create unique lighting using objects you wouldn’t expect –from violins, sneakers, saxophones to a Harley Davidson motorcycle seat”, says Dalfino. “We don’t like to say no. We’ll make a light out of anything! In the end, it’s about bringing a story to light,” added Dalfino.
A vintage camera that was turned into a light.
A once champagne bottle now an elegant desk lamp.
A vintage golf bag that was turned into a floor lamp.
Dalfino and Poppel repairing and restoring a lighting fixture in the East Hartford Town Hall in Connecticut.