A Lighter Shade of Pale(3)

Achieving a white, cream, and pale gray palette sounds like a simple endeavor, but in 1996, when Loi and partner Thomas Troeschel moved into the house, it was anything but a light, blank canvas. Because the townhouse was attached to another unit, its interior was naturally dark, with only three sides exposed to sunlight.

Their first task in the renovation was to make a clean slate of the interiors. For this Loi relied on the power of paint. Floors were sanded, bleached, and finished with whitewash, used commonly in Sweden but less often in the United States, where opaque paint is generally preferred for floors. Unnecessary chair and picture rails that had been added over many years were removed to give a cleaner, more updated appearance. All of the remaining molding and paneling was painted crisp white to highlight darker walls in custom pale grays.

In the living room, luminous silk drapery panels complement gilded accessories, creating luxurious formality. The sisal rug covering the whitewashed floor exudes warmth and texture.

Sources:
Wall paint (gray): custom.
Trim paint (White 01): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667.
Sofa: George Smith, 212/226-4747, georgesmith.com.
Pillows on sofa: Steven Harsey Textiles, harsey.com.
Sisal rug: Stark Carpet Corp., 212/752-9000, trade only.
Mirror; sconces; mercury-glass; console table: Tone On Tone, 240/497-0800.
Drapery (silk); striped linen armchairs: Frank Babb Randolph, 202/944-2120.
Throw: Anichini, anichini.com.