Today we’re focusing on our design work and art curation for the flexible co-working spaces of Venture X-Arlington-Courthouse Metro. Venture X is a 20,000 square foot co-working office space that we designed during Covid. Located in the Naval Building in the Arlington-Courthouse-Metro area, the clientele understandably includes military personnel, international business travelers and business people plus lots of local small business owners who want a spot to hang their hat that is not at home all day long. My preliminary research included the interviews with the clients – the new owners of this Venture X franchise – and were some of my favorite interviews ever. I always love to do a thorough interview focusing on my clients’ likes and dislikes and their dreams for the final vision of their spaces.
As part of the deep dive line of questioning, I discovered that both clients love to fly. As in, they are pilots. So I asked the husband what his two favorite airplanes were in the world, and his favorites are the F4 Phantom and the Super Hornet F-18 Fighter. So naturally we had to highlight these two planes for him somewhere on the walls. Like a hidden gem that only he would recognize as he walked by. A secret for the client. Until now. Now you know as well. (Side note: Since Venture X is ensconced in the Naval Building near the Pentagon, the offices are frequently used by military personnel. Some office workers would recognize these planes but have no idea why they were the focus of these two walls in the lobby sitting area).
We worked hard on the cloud patterns for the wallcoverings as well. Too many pretty, puffy clouds signify choppy skies ahead for an airplane. Should the clouds represent a stormy disturbing day? Or a beautiful, perfect day with only a few long, thin contrails? The clients chose a little of both. As pilots themselves, they – huge surprise to me – actually LOVE flying near those big puffy clouds and love the sense of adventure that the images would produce. Geez, really? Do pilots actually like to fly through those turbulent-yet-pretty clouds? Yep, sort of. fly near them – not through them!
The results were custom wallcoverings created by Margery Wedderburn Interiors, and we brought in the wallcovering specialists JVA Art Group out of San Diego. After very detailed work on the final designs for these wallcoverings, we pushed forward with other design layers for the spaces. Once the wallcoverings were installed, we layered old custom propellers over the clouds, each one signifying the colors of the Army, Navy and Air Force. We honored the other military forces in various parts of the 20,000 square foot space.
What I love to do as an interior designer is create impact for clients in ways that only speaks to them. So they can walk into a space and know that there are details there designed only for them. Others might enjoy those details but not in the same way as the clients. In getting to know our clients well I’m able to provide them little tidbits of happiness throughout the day whether they are fully aware of it or not. Gaze at a wallcovering set with clouds and favorite planes? Yes please.
More to come on this Venture X designing endeavor.
Until Then,
Stay Inspired,
The Margery Wedderburn Interiors Team