Name: BY DESIGN furniture + interior Design
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Finding Your Perfect Sofa: A Guide to Comfort, Style, and Lasting Quality

The mission: find the perfect sofa

, Stories and Ideas, BY DESIGN furniture + interior design

A New Chapter

This is a very exciting time for the Clarks. We are finally retiring! We have found the perfect folks to carry on our business. We are thrilled to announce that Spectrum Lighting will carry on the legacy of BY DESIGN. Jennifer Robinson will manage both stores. She has been a wonderful client of...

Sophisticated Black and Umber Color Scheme: Depth and Warmth in Contemporary Interiors

We saw a wonderful color story for the recent High Point market: Black & Umber. Few pairings we saw spoke with the grounded elegance of black and umber. We're convinced that adopting a Sophisticated Black and Umber Color Scheme (Depth and Warmth) provides a timeless foundation for any modern home....

Raffia texture adds depth to interior design

Layers of Luxe: Why Woven Textures Like Raffia Are Essential for Modern Depth

A truly masterful interior isn't just about color or arrangement; it is an experience rooted in the senses. As professional interior designers, we've seen countless rooms that feature beautiful furnishings and a sophisticated color palette, yet still feel somehow flat or cold. The missing ingredient? Texture. Incorporating woven texture interior...

How to Achieve Luxury Interior Design on a Budget: Tips & Tricks

Luxury isn’t about having a ton of expensive things, it’s about creating a space that feels comfortable, inviting, and luxurious.

Interior Design Trend: Black and White – Timeless Contrast for Modern Homes

Black and White is a perenial design trend powerhouse. See why here...

"Furniture Comfort Wrinkles" Honest Talk

Brand new furniture with wrinkles? Here is what you should know about "comfort wrinkles" when you choose your upholstered furniture.

A Practical Guide to Quality in Upholstered Furniture

Upholstery Quality - A Practical Guide

Tired of the Interior Design Studio Guessing Game? Find Your Style with Confidence.

An interior design studio often presents a guessing game for consumers. You wonder about the cost and worry about the final outcome. Our post shows you how to find your style with confidence at our interior design store. We make the process transparent and enjoyable. This is your guide to...

Warm Linens and Whites - Vanguard Sofa Group - BY DESIGN furniture + interior design

Warm Linens and Whites in Interior Design Color Palettes

Warm linen & white color palette. Always fresh, yet timeless.

A Granddaughter Guest Bedroom

There is much love in this pretty room specially designed for a granddaughter

The Timeless Appeal of Neutral Colors: Exploring the Cream & Brown Palette

This timeless look is even better with our new fabric introductions

The Art of Lake Home Interior Design: A Family's Spirit Lake Journey

Wow. How do you ever leave this room?

A Large Fabric and Leather Selection - Is It Needed?

Six Reasons Our Fabric Wall is Crucial to Your Perfect Room

Curved & Organic Shapes - Interior Design Elements that Resonate in Iowa

Ditch the straight lines & embrace the curves!

Finding an Interior Designer: Designing a Life You Love with BY DESIGN

You don't have to master everything - a desginer can help!

Cool Des Moines Rental: Upscale Design + Downtown Vista

This downtown rental offers a perfect weekend or vacation spot for DSM visitors.

The Re-Invented Recliner

The Re-Invented Recliners: a perfect mix of style and comfort.

Accent Chairs Amp Up Any Area - Amazing!

Perhaps the most powerful way to add style to your room?

Mocha Mousse Interior Design Color Story: Warmth & Sophistication for Your Home

Such a great look! This great color story will make you smile every time you enter the room.

Large Scale Sofa Look in Smaller Spaces: Design Tricks Revealed

Large scale sofa look in smaller spaces? A Guide

Nature-Inspired Interior Design - BY DESIGN furniture + interior design

7 Ways to Incorporate Nature-Inspired Interior Design into your Home

Do you ever feel like you want to bring the refreshing essence of the outdoors into your home? Many of us do! But have you ever wondered why we are naturally drawn to nature-inspired interior design? More importantly, how can we achieve it? Depending on where you live, seasonal changes might...

Urban Interior Design - Inspired by Original Art

This great space was inspired by a love of music and art...

Designing a Lake Home

A lake home project beginning to end...

The Bonded Leather Deception: Unmasking a Furniture Industry Misleading Consumers

Exposing a Furniture Industry Lie. Ready to become a savvy furniture shopper? We've got all the details on what bonded leather is, its pros and cons, and how it truly compares to genuine leather.

By Design furniture + interior design Des Moines Clive West Des Moines Urbandale Iowa 2025 06

Sofas vs Sectionals – Making the Right Choice for Your Living Space

TLDR: Struggling to choose between sofas vs sectionals for your home? This article simplifies the decision, covering key factors: Room Layout: How furniture fits and impacts space perception (sectionals for large rooms, sofas for flexibility). Formality: The ambiance each piece creates (sectionals are casual, sofas more formal). Seating Capacity: Practical considerations for entertaining...

Furniture Through a Small Door: How to get a sleeper in an impossible place

How do you get a sleeper into an impossible space?

Charleston Forge - Beautiful Furniture Made In America

Art & Susan Barber, founders of Charleston Forge, say they make "beautiful furniture in America". This furniture is so much more than that. This is hand-forged in North Carolina. This is artisan-level craftsmanship. Each piece of furniture is beautifully finished in a wide choice of metal and wood finishes and...

envision collection - BY DESIGN furniture + interior design

Custom Upholstery - The Envision Collection

See the Envisions Collection. Ultimate Custom Upholstery

Gift Yourself Ideas for the New Year

After the flurry of holiday festivities, why not take a moment to focus on yourself?

New Traditional Interior Design. It's a thing.

We're telling the story of New Traditional interior design today. And it's so interesting to see it emerging. The pieces we're using to illustrate the look come from the new Amber Lewis collection. Timeless design blended with modern living Bari Sideboard. Love this piece. Those details. Those turnings. The pulls and hardware. They...

Breaking Down the Freshest Interior Design Trend of 2025: Moss Green

Read about the fresh, exciting 2025 Moss Green color trend

4 Things to Remember When Choosing Your Room Color Scheme

4 things to remember when choosing your room color scheme

Modern Dining Table: What's Your Style?

Custom Modern Dining Tables

The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Perfect Home Office

The home office has become increasingly essential in recent years. But what makes a home office truly great? How can you select the perfect desk for your needs? And how much storage space is necessary? Find answers to these questions and more as we delve into the essentials of creating...

The Lawson Sofas & Sectionals

An Ode to the Lawson sofa & sectional designs

6 Compelling Reasons to Choose Custom Furniture

Our case why you should choose custom furniture

Exploring the New Color Trend: Espresso Brown and Serene Green

Dream about this great color trend:

Corridor Collection: Media Consoles, Storage Consoles, Home Office Desks & More

The Corridor Collection includes media consoles, storage credenzas, home office desks and even bars...

Interior Design Color Trends Today

Emerging color trends are one of the most vibrant aspects of interior design.

A Lake Home Interior Design Project - Making It Comfortable & Inviting

Comfortable & Inviting & Wonderful

Daybed All Day Sleepers

A Daybed All Day Sleeper might be your best alternative to a sleeper. There are plenty of reasons to consider a daybed. Don't get me wrong: I love our Comfort Sleepers. We've repeatedly called them the finest sleepers on the planet. They are amazing! But you do have to clear the...

Cozying Up Your Space: Fall and Winter Interior Design Inspiration

Warm up your house and make it the cozy place you love to come home to.

Living Room Lighting - A Guide

Lighting can make or break your room. It deserves some thought. Some ideas...

Top Interior Design Influencers to Follow in 2024

Looking to update your home but need a little inspiration as we head into 2024? Look no further! We've compiled a list of incredible interior design influencers to follow. These influencers have unique styles and influences that can guide you in transforming your space into a stylish haven. Shea McGee: Modern...

3 reasons you should invest in a high-tech media center

Don't get us wrong. As a furniture store that specializes in interior design, aesthetics are a priority for us. However, we also place equal importance on creating functional spaces that people enjoy living in. Striking a balance between form and function is crucial to ensure that the design not only...

A Guide to Farmhouse Modern

Farmhouse Modern design is relaxed and comfortable - yet sleek and clean.

Furniture for Small Spaces

A few points to keep in mind when thinking about a small room...

Personalizing your Home

In a world of fun trends and dramatic transformations, we can all agree that we want our house to feel like home. Whether you have lots of space to work with or very little, it is important that we capitalize on creating our own retreat where we live . ....

A Modern Townhome Transformation with a Classic Color Scheme

Dean & Linda had relocated here to be close to their kids and 7 grandkids! They quickly found that their current furnishings were not the right look or scale for their new, more modern townhome. The main goal was to have it not only look good but be user-friendly too....

Organic Modern Bedroom - LINQ Brings New Design Ideas to BY DESIGN

A great new bedroom collection!

Eclectic Modern Interior Design: A Team Project

A great Eclectic Modern Design project

Norwalk Interior Design Trend: Wild Caught

Ready for some fresh color and fun in your life?

Stylishly Modern Beach House: A Guide to Creating Your Dream Home

A few thoughts on creating a beach house feeling...

Custom Cocktail Tables Add A Unique Personality To Your Room

Custom Cocktail Tables (and end tables & drink tables) add a unique look to your room. You should consider custom. Take a look at these examples of how you and your BY DESIGN designer can create a unique custom cocktail table that sets your room apart from every other person's. Customizing...

Eclectic Collector Interior Design Style

Eclectic Collector interior design style is a room inspired by a diverse set of styles or sources. You begin and end with what you love.

Stephanie Chair with Harrison Sofa

The Harrison Sofa with the Stephanie Swivel Glider Chair

#1 Best Interior Designer in Des Moines

#1 Interior Designer in Iowa. We think so, but its fun to see someone else say so.

Interiors Magazine features BY DESIGN vendor

Interiors Magazine has featured Charleston Forge in it's magazine. We've been working with Charleston Forge to place their hand-crafted furniture in our customer's homes for more years than we'd care to mention. And BY DESIGN always been proud to use their products. Every piece is hand-forged and custom finished. Each piece...

Unique Dining Chairs

Give your dining room that wow factor. Choose unique dining chair designs or exquisite fabrics to create your perfect dining room.

Texturizing Your Home

Tired of your space falling flat? Add more texture (texturizing) your home and your surroundings! You'll be astounded at the subtle, yet real transformation. Aim for Comfort! People are constantly telling us.. “ I am tired of my space,” “my room is so blah,” and “it just doesn’t feel comfortable.” We have...

I. Love. Beautiful. Homes.

I LOVE THEM>

American Leather Barcelona in the Metropolis Collection

Achieving a Modern Luxury Room

Modern Luxury. We love it and we love homes that speak it with style. Madison's thoughts on how to achieve it.

The Diverse Ottoman

Ottomans have emerged as a design focus feature along with their obvious function. Some things to consider about ottomans.

Interior Design Style: Euro-Contemporary

Combining the best of Scandinavian, Italian and other great European design styles in an interior design style perfect for today's homes.

Finding the Right Rug & Completing Your Aesthetic

Have you considered a rug for your space? If you haven’t already, well then, do I have something for you! When adding a rug to your space, you gift yourself a great opportunity to customize your look! By simply placing a rug in your room, you will tie together all of...

Estero Sectional Sofa - American Leather Elements Collection - By Design - Des Moines

High Leg Sofa Designs vs Low Leg

High leg sofa designs owe their current popularity to the influence of mid-century-modern design. This post features a collection of five designs that are contemporary or lifestyle looks. However - each piece is available with either high legs or low legs. (And many other options!) This choice makes a big...

Low Profile Sofas & Sectionals

Are they right for you? Low profile sofa and sectional designs are everywhere! Every BY DESIGN vendor now has introductions with a very low, European look. This design gives these collections a longer, more elegant look. The rooms they're in even seem bigger. Who doesn't love that? How about comfort? Low profile...

Contemporary Sofa Design Spotlight: Barcelona

We fell for the Barcelona at first sight. Beautiful contemporary sofa design with square, buttonless tufting that screams luxurious comfort. It is available in sofas, loveseats, chairs and sectional pieces. That makes it a versatile style we can use in any size room. And yet... we didn't order it. But...

The 10 Commandments of Interior Design

Points for you to consider on your journey to creating your perfect room

Custom Dining Tables and Chairs

Custom dining furniture comes in a huge array of styles and sizes. See more here.

California Casual Interior Design Style

Three years ago, Norwalk Furniture chose Kim Salmela as a design partner. Their goal was to provide fresh, California Casual interior design style in custom furniture. And it has been a remarkably successful partnership. Kim has introduced new styles of sofas, sectionals, chairs, and ottomans at every show. This...

Modern Luxury Interior Design Style

The Modern Luxury Interior Design Style is the unabashed embrace of luxury living in today's contemporary style. It uses elegant fabrics and beautiful finishes. Large scale and simple lines reinforce this feeling of elegance. Comfort is never sacrificed. Worn finishes may be used, but when they are, they still denote...

A Quick Holiday Room Refresh

Design impact you can make in weeks rather than months These days a "quick holiday room refresh" may sound like a pipe dream. You've heard the stories: supply chain problems, long order times, yadayadayada. But don't fear, design lover... there are things that you can get done. There are changes that...

8 Living Room Sofa Ideas

The sofa is usually the largest and most important piece in a living room. It is an important investment and deserves your best effort. We'd like to offer these eight living room sofa ideas to get you thinking beyond the basics. Scale your sofa for your room But what does that mean...

In a Hurry to complete your room?

Custom order furniture is what we do at BY DESIGN. We love custom furniture for our clients for so many reasons (read six reasons to choose custom furniture here). We've selected sources for our furniture who are among the fastest in the industry. Unfortunately, production is slow across the board...

RE-INVENTED - New Comfortable Stylish Recliners

Our Reinvented Recliner collection completely remakes the idea of a recliner. These new, stylish recliners are a client and designer favorite

Great Organic Modern Products

A gallery of great new products perfect for your "Organic Modern" interior design style rooms. Stylish, trend-forward and comfortable.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Consider a Comfort Sleeper

COMFORT SLEEPER - the best sleeper on the planet. Here are ten other reasons you should consider this amazing furniture for your home.

Consider the EASE Collection

If you like beautifully styled modern sofas, sectionals and chairs, you'll love EASE. First let's talk style. Here are a few examples of the EASE collections great styles. (We'd love to show you more!) Here is the Tess sofa. Flowing lines are emphasized by tight back and bench seat. Sculpted flair arms...

New Bedroom Intro Videos

New Bedroom Introductions Here are some great Four Hands products in bedroom designs. Four Hands excels at the Modern Casual or Organic Modern design style so popular today. We love these looks! https://youtu.be/d8BuTas-AA4 Featured here: Dalton Headboard is coolly modern, featuring natural top-grain leather paneling features whipstitch detailing for a touch of texture,...

BY DESIGN'S VIEWPOINT COLLECTION

GREAT VALUE WITH NO COMPROMISES

Undercover Sleeper

A Sleeper that REALLY Doesn't Look like a Sleeper One of the reasons we love the Comfort Sleepers is that they are wonderfully designed additions to your home. Each design is something we are proud to put in our client's room. However, if you'd like a sleeper that will startle most...

BY DESIGN furniture + interior design -American Leather Leather and fabric

Leather Furniture vs. Fabric Furniture

Our thoughts on the trade-offs of choosing leather furniture You love leather furniture: leather sofas, leather sectionals and chairs, leather recliners. Heck, you love leather ottomans! And you’re right to love them. Leather is a superb choice for your furniture in Des Moines and Iowa. Here are the issues and our...

Milford Sofa Group

The Milford sofa group is showcasing the hugely popular Organic Modern design style.

New Sofa and Sectional Collections in Modern Luxury

INTRODUCING... We're excited to show you the new collection of sofas and sectionals we've brought into our Modern Luxury room at BY DESIGN. We now have the Carmet sectional on our floor. And this single sectional represents a myriad of design possibilities for you. Because each style has three sofa configurations,...

COMFORT AIR CHAIRS - BRINGING AN IDEA TO LIFE

A completely new concept in furniture BY DESIGN'S new Comfort Innovations room is dedicated to innovative, functional - and beautiful - furniture. The newest products in that room are the Comfort Air chairs. Comfort Air is a complete re-envisioning of what a chair is and how it should do its job. Now...

An Organic Modern Living Room

I'm currently in the process of redesigning our living room and thought I'd share my ideas with you...I'd love any feedback you have to give! The look I'm going for is Organic Modern...(learn more about organic modern design here) with a touch of glam. We're adding new wood floors to the...

Counter Stool Revolution

The important thing about stools is you have a huge selection to choose from...

SIX COOL MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT CONSOLES

Make a big change to your room with a single piece Your TV is likely the focal point of the room. Maybe make it a really, really cool focal point. Here are six consoles that really rock. Plus, at the time we're posting this, all of them are in stock and...

Current Passion: Walnut Framed Sofas & Chairs

Solid walnut frames add richness to these designs These new designs feel wonderfully fresh, yet they nod back to their style inspirations. Danish modern or Mid-Century-Modern style: They seem to be both. Three more designs from Kim Salmela that we love. The new Gracie chair from Norwalk. Gracie has a much wider...

Swoon Worthy!

Angela's Product of the Week As a designer, I have fallen in love with many pieces crafted by American Leather. Sure enough, when our new Kaden sectional was delivered I was blown away by it's effortless style, appealing design, comfort and craftsmanship. I shouldn't have been surprised, American Leather is known...

Home Office: Function AND Style

Let's face it, there is a lot of ugly office furniture out there. It does the job, so you can do yours, but it does nothing for your sense of style. And who wants a cubicle look as their home office? Answer: no one! You need something that suits your personal...

Current Passion: Metal Framed Chairs

We love these beautiful steel-framed chairs! Available in a wide array of designs and covers, they offer a stunning and dramatic addition to your room. Would one of these chairs work in your room? These chairs not for every room or every person. They are pretty expensive and are generally quite...

The Kaden. Here's why by Design loves this sectional.

Incredible comfort. Great style. Incredible comfort. Unsurpassed quality. Wait... did we mention incredible comfort? It is worth risking redundancy to talk about the comfort of the Kaden. We've loved the Kaden in every color of leather (and occasionally fabric) that we've tried it in. Every. Single. One. We've done deep red....

The Twilight Bed... Customized for You

This customized bed allows us to create your unique and perfect bedroom.

Choose the Right Rug

Don't make your rug choice an after-thought. It is important!

Get Ready for Fall

Well, it’s officially fall! If you’re like me, the season brings thoughts of cool, crisp air, warm sweaters and cozying up at home with a big blanket and a good book or movie. With cooler weather coming, we’ll all inevitably be spending more time at home soon as winter approaches,...

Six Reasons You Should Use an Interior Designer

Why should you use an interior designer? Many people think they can design their homes themselves. They watch a little HGTV, they like to shop online and boom - they're a designer! We're here to tell you, using an interior designer can help you for so many reasons...six of which...

Why We Love Variations

The word variations can be a scary one in the design world.

Watch a By Design custom sofa being built from start to finish

Watch to see how a custom sofa is made from start to finish.

Kitchen Island Feature|by Design Des Moines

A Kitchen Island for My Home?
Yes.

Kitchen Islands? gathering together around a shared hearth and meal may be one of the most important ...

Style-in-Motion: An Innovative New Reclining Furniture Style

Motion furniture comes to the finest homes. And we mean yours.

stanton-leather-sectional-with-jude-chair

Popular Stanton Sofa Style is Now Available in a Sectional

The comfy Stanton sofa is now available in a sectional design. Available in leather or fabric.

Introducing the New Harlow Sofa

Is the new Harlow sofa perfect for your Modern Luxury room? Take a look.

Awesome Glass Top Cocktail and End Tables

Use amazing specialty glass surfaces to create the perfect cocktail, end or console table for your room. Create that special piece that elevates your interior design.

The Kaden Design Bridges the Style Gap

Contemporary or a bit more traditional - here is a design that will light up your perfect room.

The Taylor Collection Tables

The Taylor collection is an elegant new introduction from the recent High Point market. It offers a selection of stain colors and finish options on the wood tops and several finish options for the steel bases. These wonderful tables are hand-forged in America. Their artisan quality makes them truly a...

Stories and Ideas

Start the conversation today! Call our designers at 515.225.2223