When Linda Grove talks about her work, her voice mirrors the glow of the lamps she restores. As the owner of Lili of the Lamplight Home Décor, Linda has spent the past 36 years transforming worn or forgotten lampshades into luminous works of art. “Every lamp has a story. My joy is helping it shine again,” she says, capturing both her passion and the personal connections she builds with her customers.

Linda’s journey began in Colorado, where she lived for over 50 years and built a thriving custom lampshade business. For 35 of those years, she created one-of-a-kind lampshades that brought character and beauty into countless homes. “When I decided to sell my Colorado business and move to Oklahoma to be closer to my son and his family, many of my longtime customers were so touched we cried together,” she recalls. “It was bittersweet to leave, but it was time to start a new chapter.” Now, settled in Oklahoma, she continues her beloved work under the Lili of the Lamplight name, keeping a rare and delicate art alive.

Choosing this craft was never about following a trend—it was about following a calling. Very few people still specialize in custom lampshades, and Linda thrives on the joy her clients feel when a cherished lamp is brought back to life. Often, the lamp is a treasured heirloom, perhaps an antique from a grandmother. Restoring or recreating its shade doesn’t just complete the lamp—it preserves the memory behind it. Every time the light is turned on, it becomes a gentle reminder of the person and the story it represents.

Linda personally creates each lampshade from start to finish, whether stripping down an existing frame or starting fresh. She helps clients choose the perfect fabric, crafts a custom pattern, sews the fabric and lining onto the frame, and finishes it with trim—sometimes custom-made. “Every shade is unique—there’s nothing mass-produced about what I do,” she explains.

The transformation is often breathtaking. A shade that looks tired or outdated can be renewed to match a home’s décor perfectly. Even a simple lining replacement can preserve the original fabric while extending the life of the shade. “There’s something so special about the moment when the light is finally turned on,” Linda says. “You see the beauty come to life, and suddenly the lamp—and the memories attached to it—shine again.”

Outside her studio, Linda’s life is filled with light and love. She delights in spending time with her two granddaughters, ages two and five, enjoying simple pleasures—gardening, chalk art, mud-stomping, or cozy indoor projects. “It’s all about making everyday moments special,” she says. When she’s not with her granddaughters or at her workbench, you might find her on the golf course, enjoying a different kind of craft and precision.

For Linda Grove, success isn’t measured in the number of shades she completes or the length of her career. It’s found in the quiet joy of a customer turning on a newly restored lamp for the first time, watching it glow with both light and memory. “Seeing the delight in someone’s eyes when their lamp is renewed—that’s what success means to me,” she reflects.

Through Lili of the Lamplight Home Décor, Linda continues to illuminate both rooms and hearts—one handcrafted lampshade at a time, preserving beauty and memory with every glow.