Upgrade Your Pad With Some Swedish Design Tips From This Local Pro

Maybe it’s just because we're currently hunting for the perfect white cotton dress and some truly classic jeans, but lately, we’ve been inspired by clean, timeless designs and pared-down, simplified style. We like our stuff too much to ever become true minimalists, but there is something to be said for an edited aesthetic — and we just found the D.C. design guru to help us exercise a little stylish restraint, and make it look effortless.

Meet interior designer Loi Thai, who co-owns Tone on Tone, an amazing Scandinavian interiors shop in Bethesda with a sharply edited collection of Swedish finds. Most of the furniture dates to the 18th and 19th centuries, but these pieces will fit right into a modern home — and be warned, they'll put your EKTORP sofa to shame. Our conundrum? Deciding which room to make over first, using Loi's simple, affordable ideas for incorporating the Scandinavian aesthetic. That's right: We got him to dish a bounty of easy DIY design tips, share his favorite D.C. interiors spots, and explain what makes Scandinavian style so hot right now. Click through for the full scoop.