And Beige

And Beige

Daren Miller, owner

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Timeline: Opened December 2006.

And Beige style: Timeless and classic, not too traditional, not too modern. Different things layered together so nothing ever gets too serious: a formal tufted-velvet sofa next to a cocktail table with a reclaimed teak top and a hammered iron base.

About the name: It's more of a concept than a name -- a concept based on a neutral palette: clean, classic lines in a strong neutral palette, always with a little pop of color.

Why Beige: Because it's beautiful. I find it very relaxing and peaceful. But it's not so much beige as it is a neutral. A neutral palette is timeless. Beige, cream, white, mushroom, chocolate, black, gray -- all of these colors are neutrals to me.

What you stock: Furnishings (upholstery, case pieces and tables), lighting and decorative accessories, custom-framed art and basic linen fabrics ($38 to $42 per yard).

Typical customer: Professionals in their 30s and 40s, usually single or recently married with no kids. People just starting out with their places.

Hottest products: The accessories -- vases, frames, candles -- things that a customer can take with them that day. The one-of-a-kind items go quickly, too, like the insects made of bone and antique calligraphy brushes. The hide items have also been popular: zebra and cowhide pillows, goatskin upholstered benches, zebra hide rugs.

Personal favorites: The taxidermy butterflies and the one-of-a-kind pieces, like the old trunks and calligraphy brushes. They're ratty and ugly, but that makes them more special.

Your personal style: There's not as much stuff at my place! But the overall feel of the store reflects me, yes. I don't want things to be matchy-matchy but to speak to each other and to complement each other. A casual elegance so things never get too serious.

Favorite local shops: Good Wood on U Street and Marston Luce in Georgetown. Also, Cherry in Georgetown for vintage pieces.

Basic design advice: It's important to have a game plan; know your taste and your budget. Invest in one great piece in each room and then do some bargain hunting after that. For example, splurge on a great sofa, then find some vintage side tables. Or get a great accessory that you fall in love with.

Working with neutrals: It's important to pick neutral colors that work well together, whether shades of beige or textures and patterns. And by different textures and patterns, I don't just mean fabrics. It can be wood, metal finishes or organic things. Limestone is white, but it has texture. It's all about layering. Contrast is also important within a neutral palette. Black and chocolate brown are two favorites. An overall neutral backdrop is a good place to start in a room. Then add texture. Two items the same color can look completely different if they are different textures.

Services offered: Full design services that range from color consultations and one-room space planning to whole apartments and houses. We also offer full upholstery services and, depending on the scale of the project, full staging services.

What's next: We're bringing in a new vendor in the next month that we're very excited about: Bradley Hughes ( http://www.bradley-hughes.com). They're best known for their tables in metal and concrete finishes. We'll be the only D.C. retailer to carry them.

We're still very young, but it would be nice to grow. We would love to make our space bigger, but you have to be patient.

And Beige, 1781 Florida Ave. NW; 202-234-1557, http://www.andbeige.com