A Lighter Shade of Pale

In accounting practices, everything is black and white. So when financial analyst Loi Thai decided to make a leap from his world of numbers to become an antiques dealer, he seamlessly made the transition by selecting Swedish-style acquisitions that glow in the palest of colors—white in all of its forms.

“When I visited Sweden 10 years ago, I was taken by the fresh and calm aesthetic,” says Loi. “I loved the serenity and peacefulness of the light colors. And because this furniture is a painted adaptation of classic forms from other European countries, it works well in a variety of design situations”—including his own early-1900s four-level Edwardian townhouse in Bethesda, Maryland.

In the foyer, a floor mirror and a Swedish clock both stand 8 feet tall, accentuating the ceiling height.

Design:
Interior designer: Loi Thai, Tone On Tone, 7920 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814; 240/497-0800.

Photographs by Erik Johnson
Text by Krissa Rossbund
Produced by Eileen A. Deymier

Sources:
Wall paint (“White Dove’’); trim paint (White 01): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667.
Floors (bleached): Classic Floor Designs Inc., 202/872-9860.
Mora clock, mirror: Tone On Tone, 240/497-0800.