Crisp & Modern

"Color is exciting. You don't need that in the bedroom. A bedroom should be quiet and serene," says Washington, D.C., designer Frank Babb Randolph. This master bedroom he designed in a 19th-century Georgetown Victorian is a study in quiet, with pale dove grays and a whisper of robin's-egg blue.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROOM WORK

•  Soft taupes and grays in the linens and other accents and a pale grayed blue on the walls.

•  A side table of glass and patinated silver that lends hints of shimmer to complement the grisaille tones.

•  Bare floors, erased into lightness by milk paint with lye, a traditional Swedish technique. "I think bedrooms should be clean," explains Randolph. "I don't have carpet in my own bedroom either."

•  A headboard upholstered in cashmere with a linen overlay.

•  Minimal art -- just a few personal touches here and there.

•  Natural daylight, with bedside lamps that provide illumination for reading at night.

BEDROOM BASICS: The clean, tailored look is increasingly popular as homeowners look to the bedroom for serenity. Pillows stacked flat on the bed, with bolsters or square cushions, and monochromatic linens help to create a calming atmosphere. Add interest with refined textures -- quilting, button tufting, damask Jacquards, pin tucks -- and a range of accent materials, such as silk, cashmere, Ultrasuede, and leather.

RESOURCES: Frank Randolph, 202/944-2120; cashmere on headboard by Rogers & Goffigon (to the trade), 212/888-3242; bedside table by David Iatesta (to the trade), 410/604-0360, www.davidiatesta.com.

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