If you landed here searching for Candace Pereira and Rina DiMarte, the useful answer is brighter than a brand-new chandelier: they are the women behind Chloe Winston Lighting Design, a boutique lighting showroom in South Norwalk, Connecticut. Their work sits at that very specific intersection where technical lighting knowledge, interior design taste, customer service, and “please help, my kitchen feels like a dentist’s office” all meet.
Lighting is one of the most underestimated design choices in a home. People will debate sofa fabrics for three months, test 19 shades of white paint, and then casually grab a random pendant because it was “kind of cute online.” That is exactly where experts like Pereira and DiMarte become valuable. Their reputation is built around helping homeowners, designers, builders, and remodelers choose fixtures that do more than simply turn on. The right lighting shapes mood, improves function, flatters finishes, creates focal points, and makes a room feel intentionally finished instead of accidentally illuminated.
This article explores who Candace Pereira and Rina DiMarte are, how their showroom became a recognized name in Connecticut and Westchester design circles, and why their lighting-first approach offers practical lessons for anyone planning a renovation, redesign, or even a small “my foyer needs help” moment.
Who Are Candace Pereira and Rina DiMarte?
Candace Pereira and Rina DiMarte are lighting design professionals and co-owners of Chloe Winston Lighting Design. Their story is not the typical “we liked pretty lamps, so we opened a store” origin story. It is rooted in decades of industry experience, long-standing vendor relationships, hands-on client work, and a serious understanding of how lighting behaves in real homes.
Pereira has spent decades in lighting and home design, developing expertise as a designer, manager, and buyer. That combination matters. A lighting designer needs taste, of course, but taste alone does not tell you whether a fixture is the wrong scale, the wrong finish, the wrong color temperature, or the wrong choice for an eight-foot ceiling that is already feeling a little emotionally fragile. Her background gives her a practical design eye: she understands both the beauty of a fixture and the business of choosing products that actually work for clients.
DiMarte’s path into design began early, influenced by a home environment where furnishings and decor were part of everyday life. She entered the lighting business in 2007 and later worked alongside Pereira before the two built their own venture. Her strength is often described through listening and interpretation: the ability to hear what a client wants, translate fuzzy design language into real fixtures, and guide the room toward something elevated without making it feel intimidating.
The Chloe Winston Lighting Design Story
Chloe Winston Lighting Design opened in South Norwalk’s SoNo neighborhood after Pereira and DiMarte took a professional leap at a turning point in the regional lighting market. Their former employer, Klaff’s, had been a long-running name in Connecticut and Westchester home design. When it closed, the two women carried forward years of relationships with vendors, manufacturers, designers, builders, and customers.
The name Chloe Winston comes with a charming detail: Chloe and Winston are connected to the owners’ beloved pets. In a design world that can sometimes take itself very, very seriously, that personal touch gives the brand warmth. It says, yes, this showroom understands high-end fixtures, but it also knows that a home is supposed to feel lived in, loved, and maybe occasionally supervised by a cat or a Chihuahua mix.
The showroom became known for a curated rather than chaotic experience. Instead of overwhelming visitors with every possible fixture under the sun, Pereira and DiMarte focus on selected brands, trusted manufacturers, and guided consultation. That matters because lighting catalogs can quickly become a black hole. One minute you are choosing a kitchen pendant; the next minute you are 89 pages deep wondering whether aged brass, soft brass, champagne brass, or “mystery brass with commitment issues” is right for your island.
Why Their Approach to Lighting Design Works
They Treat Lighting as a Design System
The best lighting plans are not built around one dramatic chandelier. A chandelier can be gorgeous, but if it is the only source of light in a room, it may become a very expensive mood swing. Pereira and DiMarte’s design philosophy fits a broader professional principle: successful rooms need layers of light.
Layered lighting usually includes ambient, task, and accent lighting. Ambient lighting provides general illumination. Task lighting helps with specific activities like cooking, reading, applying makeup, or finding the tiny Lego piece your foot is about to regret. Accent lighting highlights architectural features, artwork, built-ins, textures, and decorative moments. Decorative fixtures then add personality and style.
When these layers work together, a room feels flexible. A kitchen can be bright for chopping vegetables, softer for dinner, and warm for late-night conversation. A living room can support reading, entertaining, and relaxing without relying on one harsh overhead light that makes everyone look like they are being questioned in a police drama.
They Understand Scale, Finish, and Proportion
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when buying lighting online is misjudging scale. A pendant that looks perfectly dramatic in a product photo may look like a tiny teacup over a real island. Or, in the opposite direction, a chandelier may arrive with the confidence of a small spacecraft. Lighting professionals help prevent these expensive surprises.
Scale depends on room size, ceiling height, furniture layout, sight lines, and the visual weight of the fixture. A clear glass lantern reads differently from a solid metal dome. A linear chandelier can stretch beautifully over a dining table, while a round fixture may soften a square foyer. Pereira and DiMarte’s showroom approach gives clients the chance to compare finishes, proportions, and styles with guidance rather than guesswork.
They Balance Trends with Longevity
Lighting trends move quickly. Mixed metals, sculptural LED forms, floral-inspired fixtures, clean outdoor lanterns, woven textures, and smart controls have all become part of the modern lighting conversation. Pereira and DiMarte have been connected to major lighting markets such as Lightovation, where designers and retailers evaluate new introductions and emerging styles.
But the smartest lighting choices are not trend-chasing for the sake of trend-chasing. A good fixture should feel fresh without becoming dated before the electrician has packed up. That balance is one reason their curated model works. They can help clients identify what is stylish now, what fits the architecture of the home, and what will still feel beautiful after the internet has moved on to its next obsession.
What Homeowners Can Learn from Candace Pereira and Rina DiMarte
Start Lighting Earlier Than You Think
Many renovation projects treat lighting as a finishing touch. In reality, lighting should be discussed early, especially when electrical placement, ceiling conditions, cabinetry, mirrors, artwork, or outdoor wiring are involved. Waiting too long can limit choices and create awkward compromises.
For example, kitchen pendants should relate to island length, ceiling height, seating placement, and the beam spread of recessed lights. Bathroom sconces should coordinate with mirror size, vanity width, and face-level illumination. Outdoor fixtures should match architecture while providing safety and curb appeal. The earlier lighting is planned, the more intentional the final result feels.
Do Not Buy Only by Looks
A fixture can be stunning and still be wrong for the job. The finish might clash with cabinet hardware. The shade might block too much light. The bulb may create glare. The fixture may hang too low, cast strange shadows, or fail to provide enough illumination for the space. In lighting, beauty and performance need to be on speaking terms.
This is where professional guidance saves both money and sanity. Pereira and DiMarte’s value lies not only in showing attractive options but in asking the right questions: What happens in this room? Who uses it? What time of day? What mood do you want? Is the ceiling high enough? Will this fixture fight with the fireplace, the windows, or the table? A good lighting consultation feels part design session, part problem-solving workshop, and part rescue mission for rooms that have been living under bad bulbs for too long.
Think Beyond the Single Fixture
A statement chandelier can anchor a space, but it should not do all the work. In a dining room, sconces or buffet lamps may add glow. In a kitchen, under-cabinet lighting can make counters usable and beautiful. In a bedroom, bedside sconces or lamps can create softness. In a hallway, decorative flush mounts or picture lights can turn a pass-through space into a design moment.
The lesson is simple: one light source is rarely enough. A room needs variety, control, and the ability to shift from “cleaning mode” to “company is coming” to “I am pretending this takeout is a formal dinner.”
Why Their Work Resonates in Connecticut and Westchester Homes
Fairfield County, coastal Connecticut, and nearby Westchester County include a wide mix of home styles: Colonials, Capes, farmhouses, shingle-style houses, modern builds, historic renovations, condos, and waterfront properties. Lighting for this region must be flexible. A fixture that belongs in a sleek new construction home may feel completely wrong in a 1920s house with original millwork. A traditional lantern may be perfect for one entry and too heavy for another.
Pereira and DiMarte’s regional experience gives them an advantage. They are not designing in a vacuum. They understand the practical quirks of older homes, the expectations of luxury renovations, the scale of suburban kitchens, and the desire for interiors that feel polished but not overdone. Their showroom serves homeowners who want beauty, but also need guidance through real-world details like ceiling height, finish coordination, electrical constraints, and budget.
Specific Lighting Examples Inspired by Their Design Philosophy
The Kitchen Island Problem
Imagine a homeowner with a long island, white cabinetry, warm oak floors, and unlabeled anxiety about pendant size. Three small pendants may look too busy. Two oversized lanterns may feel balanced. A linear fixture may create a cleaner modern line. The right answer depends on the kitchen’s architecture, the homeowner’s style, and the amount of light needed for daily tasks. This is exactly the kind of decision where a lighting specialist can turn confusion into clarity.
The Powder Room Moment
Powder rooms are small, but they can handle drama. A sculptural sconce, jewel-like pendant, or beautiful mirror lighting can transform a plain space into a memorable one. Because the room is compact, scale and glow matter even more. Too much light can feel harsh; too little can feel gloomy. The sweet spot is flattering, atmospheric, and practical enough that guests are not left wondering whether the sink is decorative.
The Outdoor Lighting Upgrade
Outdoor lighting is about curb appeal, safety, and architecture. A good exterior fixture should match the home’s style, handle weather conditions, and provide useful illumination without blasting the neighborhood like a stadium. Clean lines, classic silhouettes, textured finishes, and properly scaled sconces can make an entrance feel welcoming before anyone even rings the bell.
Experience-Based Observations Related to Candace Pereira and Rina DiMarte
The most useful way to understand the appeal of Candace Pereira and Rina DiMarte is to imagine the homeowner experience they are trying to improve. Lighting shopping often begins with optimism. A homeowner thinks, “I just need a chandelier.” Easy, right? Then come the questions. What size? What finish? What height? What bulb? Is the dining table centered? Why are there 47 versions of brass? Why does this pendant cost less than dinner, while that one costs more than a vacation? Suddenly, “just a chandelier” has become a small emotional journey.
A guided showroom experience changes that. Instead of scrolling endlessly, a client can discuss the actual room. For example, a couple renovating a kitchen might bring photos, cabinet samples, or measurements. The designer can identify whether the room needs a pair of pendants, a linear chandelier, or a combination of recessed and under-cabinet lighting. More importantly, the designer can explain why. That explanation builds confidence. Clients are not just told what to buy; they learn how the choice supports the room.
Another common experience involves homeowners who know what they dislike but cannot define what they want. They might say, “I do not want farmhouse, but I like warmth,” or “I want modern, but not cold,” or “I want something interesting, but not weird enough that my relatives comment on it at Thanksgiving.” A skilled lighting designer can translate those phrases into materials, silhouettes, and finishes. Warm modern might mean aged brass with opal glass. Interesting but not weird might mean a sculptural fixture in a quiet finish. Traditional but updated might mean a lantern form with cleaner lines.
There is also the experience of avoiding mistakes. A fixture can look perfect online but arrive with the wrong undertone. Matte black may feel too stark. Polished nickel may be too shiny. A glass shade may create glare over an island. A beautiful chandelier may hang too low for a room with an active family and one very tall uncle. These are not tiny details. They affect how the room feels every single day.
Outdoor lighting offers another practical lesson. Many homeowners choose exterior sconces too small because the fixtures look large on a website. Once installed beside a real front door, they can appear timid, like they are apologizing for being there. A professional eye helps scale the fixture to the entry, garage, porch, or patio. The result is a home that looks finished from the street and feels welcoming up close.
Finally, the experience of working with lighting experts often reveals something homeowners wish they had known earlier: lighting is not just decoration. It changes how paint reads, how countertops sparkle, how art stands out, how people look in a room, and how comfortable a space feels at night. Pereira and DiMarte’s broader message is that lighting deserves a seat at the design table from the beginning. Give it that seat, and the whole room gets better. Ignore it until the end, and even a beautiful renovation can feel slightly unfinished, like a movie with great actors and terrible sound.
Conclusion
Candace Pereira and Rina DiMarte have built their reputation around making lighting feel less overwhelming and more intentional. Through Chloe Winston Lighting Design, they bring together experience, product knowledge, regional design understanding, and a client-centered approach that helps homeowners choose fixtures with confidence.
Their story is also a reminder that great lighting is never just about brightness. It is about scale, proportion, mood, function, efficiency, finish, placement, and personality. It is the difference between a room that simply has light and a room that feels alive. Whether someone is renovating a full home, upgrading a kitchen, refreshing outdoor fixtures, or finally replacing that lonely ceiling light from 1998, the lessons connected to Pereira and DiMarte are clear: plan early, layer thoughtfully, ask for expert help, and never underestimate the power of a well-chosen fixture.
