How to Get Your Home Cool and Smoothing?
2009-08-03

Loi Thai, co-owner of Bethesda furnishings store Tone on Tone, which specializes in 18th and 19th century painted Swedish antiques, possesses a keen eye for design. Here are some tips on how to get your home calm and soothing look:

"White floors create a nice foundation for furniture to rest on. They are also very forgiving with lint and dust," says Thai. "To lighten dark floors without the expense of refinishing them, cover them with the largest sisal rug you can find." He buys his sisal rugs from C.G. Coe & Son in Bethesda.

Paint different rooms in the house using variations of one color. The walls are a flat finish; the trim is low luster "I start out with Benjamin Moore's Classic Gray and then go lighter or darker depending on the amount of light in the room," says Thai. "The trim is painted the same color as the walls."

Freshen rooms with painted furniture. "Instead of replacing your entire dining room furniture set, keep the dark table but get new painted dining chairs."

Stay away from formal, fussy fabrics. Instead, keep it simple with cotton and linen or indoor-outdoor fabric. "Solid fabrics are more conducive to changing throws, pillows and artwork seasonally."

When arranging furniture, start with one large, quality investment (sideboard, case piece, console table). Place it in a prominent spot to anchor the room, then put less-expensive furniture around it.

Avoid a neutral palette that is flat and dull by using different shades of beige and by picking fabrics and finishes with varying textures. Mix metal furniture with wood pieces. Add sparkle with accessories that have gilding.

Affordable doesn't mean unstylish. Thai's favorite chain stores are Crate and Barrel, Target and Ikea. "Crate and Barrel makes good design accessible," he says. "Target has some great designers designing their housewares. I love them for tabletop: trays, place mats, laundry baskets. And I love Ikea, of course, because it's Swedish."