Some of the most memorable discoveries happen unexpectedly.
While driving down Palm Canyon Drive, a newly opened showroom stopped me in my tracks. Through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, sculptural furniture, vintage lighting, and carefully curated art were illuminated by the unmistakable glow of the desert sun. It felt less like a retail store and more like an invitation into someone’s beautifully imagined world. I couldn’t resist pulling over.
The showroom belonged to designer and curator Pegah Watson, whose refined eye for beauty is evident from the moment you step inside. I arranged to return the following day to meet her, and was greeted by Watson, her husband Julian,who owns a hair and makeup agency in London and their adorable dog, Cheeko. She shared the remarkable journey that led her to opening one of Palm Springs’ newest design destinations.
Long before furniture became her creative language, Watson made her mark in fashion.
After launching her career in Los Angeles, she toured with the legendary rock band The B-52s as their stylist, later designing costumes for one of the band’s music videos. The experience helped propel her to New York City in the mid-1990s, where she spent many years building an impressive career as both a fashion stylist and fashion designer.
Her work became known for its sophisticated yet effortless aesthetic, dressing clients including Rachel Zoe, Tracee Ellis Ross, Cameron Diaz, LeAnn Rimes, and Naomi Watts. Her designs and styling have appeared in publications ranging from The New York Times and Los Angeles Times to W, Harper’s Bazaar, Lucky, and The Washington Post.
Yet after years in fashion, Watson found herself drawn toward a different form of creative expression.
Moving west from New York, she began sourcing exceptional vintage furniture, discovering rare, museum-quality pieces that she initially sold online. Her instinct for identifying iconic design quickly attracted a loyal following of collectors and interior designers. Before long, she felt inspired to create furniture of her own.
The transition proved seamless.
Today, Watson’s original furniture designs possess the same qualities that defined her fashion career: impeccable proportions, thoughtful craftsmanship, luxurious materials, and an understated confidence. Her pieces have found enthusiastic buyers, and growing demand ultimately inspired the opening of her first Palm Springs showroom.
Stepping inside feels like entering a carefully edited private collection. Vintage pieces from the 1970s and 1980s coexist effortlessly with Watson’s contemporary furniture designs, creating conversations between past and present. Rich woods, sculptural silhouettes, striking upholstery, and collectible lighting are layered with art and accessories, each selected with a discerning eye.
The architecture of the showroom is equally compelling. Flooded with natural light through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, the polished concrete floors and clean modern interior provide an understated canvas that allows every object to command attention. Nothing feels overstyled; every piece has room to breathe.
There is an authenticity to Watson’s curation that cannot be manufactured. Rather than following trends, she follows instinct, a quality developed over decades spent working with fashion, art, and design. The result is a showroom that feels deeply personal, where every object has earned its place.
Palm Springs has long been synonymous with exceptional architecture and timeless design, and the city’s growing Design District continues to attract creatives who appreciate craftsmanship and originality. Pegah Watson’s showroom is a welcome addition to that landscape, a destination where vintage treasures, contemporary design, and artistic vision converge under one roof.
As I left, I found myself thinking back to that spontaneous decision to pull over on Palm Canyon Drive. What began as a moment of curiosity became an introduction to one of the desert’s most exciting new creative voices. Watson has not simply opened a furniture showroom; she has created an immersive design experience that reflects a lifetime spent cultivating beauty, one extraordinary piece at a time.
901 N Palm Canyon Dr.
#105, Palm Springs, C
Visit her Instagram: instagram.com/pegahwatson
