1. An Update in Dentist Office Decor
Chic touches make appointments more pleasant

Frosted glass walls. Abstract art. Pops of azure and saffron against white walls. Although it looks like an of-the-moment spa, this 12th-floor aerie with windows framing the clouds is a dentist's office.

"I wanted my office to reflect who I am," says Chevy Chase orthodontist Jill Bruno, adding that the serene feel sends a message that this experience will be different from a typical doctor's appointment.

Andreas Charalambous of DC's Forma Design, the architectural firm responsible, says he believes that "how comfortable a patient feels while waiting is as important as the quality of treatment." His goal? "That people no longer dread going to the dentist."

At Beverly Pediatric Dentistry in McLean, another Forma project, this means a coffee bar for parents, lime-and-yellow-striped treatment rooms, and a Web-surfing station for teens.

Chevy Chase's Obeid Dental, which specializes in implants and prosthodontics, has the look of a hip hotel lounge, with a black wall, white couches, and stone details.