Vega, Baby! Vega

Design-conscious Washingtonians flock to this high-end furnishings store, where form and function become one.

By Sacha Cohen

Want to star in your very own Metropolitan Home pictorial? Then step into Vega, one of DC’s most daring furniture and design emporiums. Located in the heart of Chinatown, Vega attracts a distinctively un-Washingtonian clientele, including architects, fashionistas, and designers searching for

Vega is the brainchild of Washington native Jenny Pedersen, who opened the store in May 2001 after getting her associates degree in interior design from Parsons and working as a manager for Restoration Hardware. Her vision was to stay away from the sometimes harsh, hard lines of contemporary furniture, and instead opt for "a soft, new look for modern design." That means everything from crisp, comfortable white sofas and chrome-and-leather chairs from Flexform to Noguchi-inspired paper-shade lamps in organic, unstructured shapes.

New York-based interior designer Stephen Watkins designed the 3,500 square-foot space, an airy mixture of soft curved and textured walls and exposed brick -- the perfect backdrop for an eclectic selection of decorative elements and furniture.

Zen and the Art of Interior Design

Color and texture define Pedersen’s design philosophy. Soft neutrals complemented by a sparse interjection of brights exude harmony and tranquility. Natural materials such as aged wood, sisal, cashmere, wool felt, resin, and concrete add texture. "Texture is not only about how objects feel to the touch, but how they feel to the soul, she explains."

This is the type of place where if you have to ask the price, you probably can’t afford it anyway (and you’ll have to look hard for prices on some of the bigger-ticket items). But even if you can’t part with thousands of dollars for a sofa or modular shelving unit, there are plenty of "objects" that can help satisfy your design urges.

Whimsical wool felt vases with glass tubes from Heysign will only set you back $28. And for table settings as memorable as a gourmet meal, Vega has you covered with charming, multi-colored/patterned cups from Coud and space-age, lime-green ceramics by Lexon.

Pedersen and her team, who work hard to stay on the cutting edge, are hosting several events this year where patrons can enjoy free Bombay Sapphire martinis while checking out the latest in interior design. In early March, Vega kicked off its 2003 "Design Matters" series with an event for Tissage du Monde, a company that features handmade Tibetan rugs.

"We’re delighted to introduce Tissage du Monde to the Washington, DC, area," says Pedersen. "Its mission to marry design impulses from different cultures and disciplines mirrors Vega’s mission to create a blend of styles that’s livable and exciting."

The event also showcased four new collections from Watkins and Spain-based interior designer Daniela Gray, Vega’s European buyer. Watkins’ Icon collection features provocative images such as a pop-art gun, barbed wire, a scull, and a giant light bulb imprinted on the Tissage rugs ($68-$87 per square foot).

"Pop art glorified popular culture and elevated it to artistic status," says Watkins. "I’m reinterpreting the genre and bringing it full circle for post-modern audiences. I’m taking what exists all around us and presenting it in a new context. Here are our everyday icons, and I’m putting them on rugs -- objects we actually use in our lives."

In the fall, Pedersen plans to offer "more affordable" raw wood pieces from Belgium designers for the home office, dining room, and living room.

-----------------------------------------------------------------