This Del Ray Classic Store Specializes in Midcentury-Fashionable Home furnishings and Barware

Notice, design and style-obsessed Washingtonians: There is a new classic furnishings retail outlet in the location.

The George Vintage & Structure, which opened earlier this summer season in Del Ray, specializes in midcentury-fashionable goods. The 1,000- sq.-foot shop, found on Mount Vernon Avenue, carries classic home furnishings, rugs, glassware, and other dwelling components, as nicely as candles and art by Alexandria makers like ISO Candles and artist Nina Louise.

The operator, Teri Brake, is a longtime lover and collector of classic and midcentury items. Pre-pandemic, she was residing in New York and doing work in company America as a main of staff members. But when Covid hit, she took off on an extended highway vacation that ultimately introduced her to Alexandria. She liked it so significantly, she decided to remain for great. She also made a decision to transform her passion into a complete-time gig. She introduced The George in June, naming it soon after her 7-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Prospects can generally locate the pup, who’s named just after George Washington, hanging out in the shop. “He can take his duties as greeter pretty severely,” Brake suggests.

Brake centered the shop close to midcentury household furniture since she enjoys it, but the style’s thoroughly clean lines and easy constructions also make it something of an aesthetic chameleon. “Vintage midcentury parts are effortlessly put into any structure simply because they never conflict with what individuals normally have,” she states. She resources all the items from across the place herself, and requires care to curate a range which is high excellent and in great issue. Brake gives style and design services, far too, serving to clients repurpose and rearrange presently-owned products from their residence, and sourcing new items for them. 

Though most of the merchandise in Brake’s shop are from the 1960s, she also carries a couple of from the ’50s and ’70s. Her preferred parts at the moment for sale contain a pair of 1960s Milo Baughman-inspired tub swivel chairs in primary orange velvet, a handful of items from Herman Miller (the home furnishings company powering famed items like the Eames chair), and a set of 1960s Danish teak eating space chairs. And Brake constantly carries a collection of vintage barware and espresso and tea mugs, which are also favorites of hers.

Whilst replicas of authentic midcentury-contemporary design and style are common in today’s significant box stores—think West Elm or Target—Brake states it is finest to hold out and wait around until eventually you uncover an reliable vintage piece you certainly love. It could price far more up front, but a effectively-preserved piece of initial midcentury-modern day furnishings will likely be a improved investment decision and greater top quality. “Sreduced design and style is the best design,” she claims. “Be client with a area.”

Brake’s favorite aspect of her new occupation is the whole-circle mother nature of vintage hunting: “It will never ever be dropped on me when a person arrives in and they pick out a little something that I have sourced and curated and they want to integrate that into their have properties,” she states. “I’m seriously grateful for that. It won’t at any time get old.”

The George Classic & Design 2210 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria Thursday to Friday: 11 AM to 6 PM Saturday: 10 AM. to 5 PM. Sunday: 11 AM to 3 PM.