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| Vintage Collections Creates Shades of the Past By Ofelia Saenz, Signal Tribune staff writer 
Rufina Franco has an eye for color. She is fearless when it comes to blending fabrics and textures because she has complete confidence in her instinct. She accessorizes boldly but tastefully. Franco designs and makes lampshades for her collection of antique lamps. Franco opened Vintage Collections recently and has been enjoying a steady stream of admirers. Before opening her store, she spent more than a year collecting antique lamps from estate sales and auctions; then she set out to create her collection. Each shade is distinctively inspired by the style of the lamp it dresses. "The shade is sort of like a hat," said Franco." "I try to accessorize each lamp just like you would when you get dressed up." Although most of the lamps in her collection are at least 50 years old, each is refinished and rewired. The idea, according to Franco, is to fuse newer technology with old world caftsmanship to create timeless pieces that are meant to be passed from one generation to the next. Born in St. Petersburg, Franco's style is influenced by the classic things of her childhood in Russia, but what makes her designs unique is her use of color and her daring mix of fabrics and textures. "I wanted to bring something that would make people's home warm," said Franco, "a lot of frosted greens and oranges, and golds and reds, because I wanted to make it warmer than I remember." Although each of her lamps has a distinctive look, there is one constant that Franco says goes into every piece, "The quality, the quality, the quality." In addition to being custom designed, each is hand sewn in a highly time consuming process. She recalls how the cream-colored shades of her childhood were made with painstaking detail. "The reason people use to make them that way is because this is the type of thing you would purchase once or twice in your lifetime," she said. Vintage Collections also features a display of antique and antique-style furniture, many of which have been imported from Europe. They will also custom design shades to order. Their designs range in size from the diminutive table lamp to the impressive chandelier shade. Franco says the store caters to every taste and budget, even those who aren't necessarily into the antique look. Just as Franco's shades are a complementary blend of old and new, she has also reconciled her creative instincts as a designer with her appreciation for the traditional. "I think it's alright to change," said Franco. "I just think that it's nice to have a reminder of the past." Vintage Collections is located at 719 East Wardlow Road in Long Beach. For more information, call (562) 595-7193. |