I think it's a sweet shape! I've seen people wrap some of the metal with jute or twine. You could go from beneath the bobesches (the things that would catch wax if the lights were candles) all the way up to the center. Or, just wrap the "candles."

Obviously you could paint it...

I've seen some that use small, perfectly round bulbs instead of traditional chandelier bulbs. That can modernize it a bit.

Or, if you want some glam in your life, you could try to replace it with a bronze and crystal one. My Dad stalks them on Craigslist (for some reason) and says that you can find deals on 'em when people don't know what they have. He gave us one he found and we did a simple rewiring job.
http://thenestinggame.com/2012/03/12/bronzed-beauty/

I'll stop talking now. :)

I think it's a sweet shape! I've seen people wrap some of the metal with jute or twine. You could go from beneath the bobesches (the things that would catch wax if the lights were candles) all the way up to the center. Or, just wrap the "candles."

Obviously you could paint it...

I've seen some that use small, perfectly round bulbs instead of traditional chandelier bulbs. That can modernize it a bit.

Or, if you want some glam in your life, you could try to replace it with a bronze and crystal one. My Dad stalks them on Craigslist (for some reason) and says that you can find deals on 'em when people don't know what they have. He gave us one he found and we did a simple rewiring job.
http://thenestinggame.com/2012/03/12/bronzed-beauty/

I'll stop talking now. :)

I love this lamp and I think it would be perfect:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70190450/

Here's a bubble chandelier that looks like it's easy to make:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/weve-blogged-about-jean-pelles-76151
This one is from Secrets of a Stylist. It's called an Orblando. Also easy to make and creative: http://hommemaker.com/2011/09/21/d-i-why-orb-lando/

I've had an idea for an alternative to a chandelier seeing as how I'm moving into a new apartment this weekend! I've fallen in love with "globe string lights." They're string lights that you often see strung around cafe patios. Pottery Barn and Home Depot sell them for about $15-$25! I want to wrap them around something beautiful, metal, and round... Just a thought (o:

I've had an idea for an alternative to a chandelier seeing as how I'm moving into a new apartment this weekend! I've fallen in love with "globe string lights." They're string lights that you often see strung around cafe patios. Pottery Barn and Home Depot sell them for about $15-$25! I want to wrap them around something beautiful, metal, and round... Just a thought (o:

I'm not sure if you want to update this chandelier or have a different fixture. If you plan to replace, maybe a cable light? It would bring out the richness of the olive walls and leather upholstery. If you're planning to update, younghouselove did a sweet chandelier with shade in their office that would fit this room nicely. Maybe a sheet black shade?

How do you use this room, and what other lighting is there?

One inexpensive option would be to replace the fixture with a simple bulb covered by a paper lantern. This would give you ambient light without making you look into a bulb. Pearl River has various shapes for these. http://pearlriver.com/v2/sub_lanterns.html

Something similar but more upscale would be a saucer pendant, like the Nelson Bubble Lamp: http://www.ylighting.com/bub-saucer.html You can find something like this on eBay pretty easily.

You might also consider a celling light that has a diffuser, such as the Sonneman Puri Surface Mount Ceiling Light. There are various styles.

Finally, maybe a fixture that shines light up and bounces it off the ceiling? The suspension lights that come to mind are pricey, but your local lighting store might have some options.

Finally this is a cool brass pendant fixture for only $64: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=23603251

i love this: http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/09/the-updated-light-fixture-blues/

Paint and shades if you are planning on keeping it.

For a bit of worldly quirkiness how about a DIYworld globe pendant like this one http://theinspiredroom.net/diy/how-to-make-a-globe-pendant-light/
Except I would go with an antique looking globe, I think it would suit the rooms style better.

DIY- You could play with it by painting it a deep pewter grey color and add those tinted Filament Edison Bulb or a tinted (smoked glass) candle bulbs like these- make it more industrial looking.
http://www.lightingsupply.com/incandescent-bulbs/decorative-bulbs.aspx?p=1
http://www.shadesoflight.com/20-watt-edsion-vintage-candle-bulb.html

The IKEA MASKROS one that HHRI posted I've seen spray painted gold with would look good, I don't see white there but its a fun shape.
Love the sofa.

I hate overhead lighting, get a plain fan with black metal and cherry blades.

also get a bamboo roll up shades on that window.

If there is a coffee table in front of the sofa, I suggest hanging a somewhat low hanging light. Something similar to this would look fantastic with your Chesterfield -

http://www.etsy.com/listing/96187639/cascading-triple-6-inch-amber-globe?ref=sr_gallery_26&sref=&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=ceiling+light&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_page=4&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

^ I forgot to mention that similar styles can be found most anywhere these days, even lowes. You dont have to spend a lot of money to get something great.

I like Etsy because you can get something that is truly unique.

i have a great DIY chandelier. can we post pictures to commetns?

a great thing that people are doing with their normal traditional chandeliers are buying a gold or silver or white veener type large lampshade and placing it directly over the entire fixture...the general idea is this...

http://www.moooi.com/producten/37-light-shade-shade-d95.html

this saves on pulling the fixture out, you can get a shade with a slip washer so it can be placed right over the fixture without electrician help...and you can get a simple lampshade in really any texture and fabric to accommodate your style.

easy and doesn't require a lot of committment.

good luck!

I second OJanet's suggestion of a ceiling fan. I think if you did any of the quirky/trendy stuff suggested (not naming names, they're not all quirky) you'll get tired of that too. There are many, many different fan/lighting combinations and as a bonus it'll probably help with your utility bill.

What about something like this? I think it keeps the vintage look of your room, but updating it to something that looks more classy.