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Creative Minds

Creative Mind: De La Vega Designs

Helmed by Maggie and Mark de la Vega, the Brooklyn studio uses everything from eggshell to aluminum to create sculptural pieces like their now-ubiquitous Giac chair

By Jill Sieracki
Three beige armchairs of varying sizes against a textured gray wall in a modern, industrial-style room.
L’Elephante chairs by De La Vega Designs. Photo: COURTESY OF DE LA VEGA DESIGNS

Inside a cavernous 1860s Brooklyn loft, complete with an original fireplace, exposed stonework, and views of the Statue of Liberty, the artisans at De La Vega Designs create exquisite desks and mirror frames, their surfaces covered in a mosaic of lacquered eggshells, and graceful dining chairs with gently swooping arms of cast aluminum. Their exceptional pieces, which also include tufted leather chairs, acrylic tables, and églomisé mirrors, have enlivened interiors conceived by Michael S. Smith, Nicole Hollis, and Laura Gonzalez, to name a few.

Two people standing against a textured wall, both wearing dark clothing, looking at the camera in a monochrome setting.
Mark and Maggie de la Vega. Photo: COURTESY OF DE LA VEGA DESIGNS
Close-up of a wooden dresser with three drawers featuring a white cracked paint design and dark handles.
De La Vega Designs’ Abuelo bureau. Photo: COURTESY OF DE LA VEGA DESIGNS
Modern dining room with a round table, four chairs, a large plant centerpiece, and a decorative bubble chandelier.
A dining area set with De La Vega Designs’ signature Giac chairs. Photo: Courtesy of De La Vega Designs

Led by designer Mark de la Vega, who worked under William Sofield before launching the firm in 2009, and his partner and wife, Maggie, the studio has excelled by mastering a handful of superbly executed forms and concentrating on specific challenging materials. “I was doing shagreen and parchment and lacquer,” Mark says of their early offerings. “Trying not to be everything to everybody allowed us to focus on perfecting eggshell; I felt like it was a medium that I could kind of own.”

Modern round wooden coffee table with smooth curves and open base on a gray concrete floor
De La Vega Designs’ Drum table. Photo: COURTESY OF DE LA VEGA DESIGNS

Up next: The firm recently debuted L’Elephante chair, a whimsical take on the classic wingback, while Mark is working on a limited series of eggshell-framed mirrors inspired by the work of Swiss-French Art Deco master Jean Dunand. 

Overhead view of a square table with four chairs, featuring a large circular artwork with white abstract floral design.
View of the intricate eggshell mosaic of De La Vega Designs’ Couronne game table, which is surrounded by a selection of Giac chairs. Photo: Courtesy of De La Vega Designs

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2023 Spring Issue under the headline “Creative Minds.” Subscribe to the magazine.