December Trade Pro Spotlight: Prudence Bailey Interior Design

Turning Good Projects Into Award-Winners

You've nailed the paint color, sourced the perfect vintage rug, and the layout is flawless. Everything looks beautiful. But when the project is complete, something's missing. It photographs well, but it doesn't wow. Unfortunately, it  feels… flat. It doesn't have that intangible quality that makes clients cry happy tears or judges take notice.

For award-winning designer Prudence Bailey, the answer is almost always lighting—specifically, handcrafted lighting that's as intentional as every other design choice in the room. Fresh off her HGTV Designer of the Year People's Choice Award win, Prudence has built her reputation on creating spaces that make you feel something the moment you walk in.

And she's generous enough to share her design secret.

Why Award-Winning Designers Choose Customized Lighting

"I think of lighting as the quiet hero of great design," - Prudence Bailey



In an award-winning space, every element works together to create a feeling, not just a look. But without the right lighting? Even the most beautiful furnishings feel dismal.

"Lighting is often the difference between a room that's 'nice' and a room that truly stands out." – Prudence Bailey

Think about your last project. Did the lighting elevate the space the way your quartz countertops did? Did it command attention like your standout furniture? Or was it just... there?

From Big Box to Bespoke: The Switch That Changes Everything

"Big-box lighting has its place for sure, but handcrafted [lighting] actually changes the way a space feels.” – Prudence Bailey

This is the difference between decorating and designing. When you choose customizable, made-to-order lighting, you're not just selecting a fixture—you're creating an architectural moment. A conversation piece that gives the room its edge, and will have everyone asking, “where did you get that?” 

Consider Prudence's approach: a custom Barbie-pink Beaded Urchin Flush Mount that perfectly captures a client's personality. Bright vanity lighting to bring the fun to a half bath. These aren't fixtures you'll find at every big-box retailer—and that's exactly the point. 

"A great fixture doesn't just light the room; it becomes part of the architecture, sets the mood, and adds character," Prudence notes. "That's the difference between something that's simply functional and something that truly elevates your home."

When you think outside the Big Box mindset, your designing choices are endless. 

When Lighting Steals the Show

Want proof that custom lighting can transform a design? Look at Prudence's "Happily Eva After" project—a space where lighting became the defining feature. Using our Urchin Flush Mount, Prudence designed a truly unique and jaw-dropping space.

Unforgettable. Award-winning. The kind of work that lands on magazine covers and builds your reputation.

Design with Intention (and Have Fun!)

Here's what we love most about Prudence's work: she's not afraid to be bold. To have fun with design. To create spaces that feel alive, not just beautiful.

Customizable lighting is your permission slip to do exactly that. Prudence came to us with the idea of using a bright pink color for our Beaded Urchin Flush Mount. By utilizing our custom color option, she truly took a colorful office space to the next level. When we say everyone loves this fixture, we mean everyone. It’s a top seller. The colored beads pop with expert color coordination and allowing the space to come alive.

Create Your Own Award-Worthy Moments

Ready to approach your next project with Prudence's "lighting as hero" mindset? Start here:

Think early. Consider lighting in the concept phase, not as a finishing touch. What mood do you want to create? How can handcrafted fixtures become architectural elements?

Go beyond function. Lighting should illuminate and add character, create ambiance, and enhance every material in the room.

Embrace customization. Standard color options feeling wrong? Need to install lighting on high ceilings? This is where handcrafted, made-to-order lighting transforms from a specification into a design solution.

Be bold. The projects that win awards and land your work in the spotlight? They're the ones that take risks and have a point of view.

When in doubt think of the three C’s: Color, Customization, Crafted.

The Dutton Brown Difference

Our Trade Program gives designers access to lighting that matches their ambition. No compromises. No settling for what's available in the catalog.

Handcrafted, made-to-order fixtures mean every piece is an opportunity to create something extraordinary. Custom finishes that complement your exact palette. Scaled-to-order pieces that create perfect proportion. Distinctive designs that become the focal point of the room.

Because award-winning design requires tools that match your vision. It requires lighting that doesn't just illuminate—it transforms. It requires fixtures that make your clients say, "I've never seen anything like this."

That's the power of choosing handcrafted over mass-produced. Customized over catalog. Intention over convenience.

Congratulations to Prudence Bailey Interior Design on a well-deserved spotlight—and on showing us all what's possible when you design with color, creativity, and fearless fun.

Ready to elevate your next project? Explore our Trade Program and discover how customizable and colorful lighting can become your next project's secret weapon.  Trade Program - Learn about the benefits

Want to be feature in an upcoming Trade Pro Spotlight? 

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