A Room Design Inspired by a Chandelier

I first met Cynthia to help her pick out a new light fixture for her Great Room in her Marshalltown home. With her interesting ceiling design, it could not be just an ordinary chandelier. That wood framing detail calls for attention and demands something special. Once we connected on the perfect light, the rest of the room was truly inspired by the chandelier!

Vaughn chandelier
Catalog shot of the Arteriors Vaughn chandelier we chose
room design inspired by, A Room Design Inspired by a Chandelier, BY DESIGN furniture + interior design
Our beginning palette…
room design inspired by a chandelier
After adding just the new chandelier

After the new chandelier was hung, our direction was clear. See how it highlights the wonderful ceiling detail and brings the warm, caramel wood finish into the color scheme? Now our mission was to build on the success of the chandelier in the rest of the room.


Because we had built a relationship, Cynthia trusted me to come up with the perfect design for her family’s gathering spot. Here is our analysis and solution:


This is such a wonderful (but large) space, we needed to break it down into usable seating areas. And we needed to preserve the flow of the room. We knew we wanted to keep the navy wall as a focal point. Our contrast would come from adding in textures and warm tones to add interest and depth.

room design inspired by chandelier - floor plan
Floor Plan


It was natural to go with American Leather’s Kaden angled sectional in a nice Caramel toned leather. We echoed this color in the BDI’s media piece in Natural walnut that stands against the navy wall. The playful textured fabric on the ottoman invites you to relax and enjoy the comfort of the room in its beautiful outdoor setting.

room design inspired by a chandelier
room design inspired by chandelier - Stephanie chairs
Stephanie Swivel Gliders
room design inspired by chandelier
The blues and caramels. Wow.

I predict the Norwalk Annette swivel chair-1/2 in velvet will quickly become a favorite spot. Nestled next to the Annette is a gorgeous white marble and brass table/lamp combo.

room design inspired by, A Room Design Inspired by a Chandelier, BY DESIGN furniture + interior design
Annette Cuddle Chair and 1/2

A room design inspired by a chandelier. Your inspiration can come from so many sources. A wonderful rug. A fabric you’re crazy about. A sofa you love. A great piece of art. The point is to find something you love and build your perfect room around it.

Laura Beeler About the author: Laura is a Senior Designer at by Design, having worked here since 1992. She graduated from Iowa State with a degree in Interior Design: ” I’ve always felt that your home and your room should reflect your taste and lifestyle, no matter the scale of the project we work on. If I’ve done my job well, you’ll find yourself feeling “at home” in your new surroundings… and hopefully we’ve had a lot of fun along the way.” | Laura’s Page