'People aren't afraid of color, they just don’t know how to use it' – so says designer Zoe Feldman, who knows just how to create rooms full of warmth and soul

Zoe Feldman has built a reputation as one of America’s most soulful and intentional interior designers, known for creating homes that are warm, characterful, and deeply personal. Based in Washington, D.C., Zoe trained at Parsons School of Design before establishing her eponymous studio. Her interior design style is rooted in an understanding of architecture first, ensuring that the bones of a building set the tone for what follows.

From there, she layers in bold color, rich textures, and carefully chosen art, weaving together spaces that feel collected, expressive, and alive with personality. In this conversation, Zoe shares her thoughts on how to bring soul to even the most sterile new builds, the role of art and color in shaping mood, and how to make a home feel like a true reflection of its owners.

Your rooms always feel soulful and intentional – what’s the first thing you look for when walking into a space that needs reimagining?

The first thing I consider is the building itself, what's that offering, what are the bones like, do we need to add soul to it, does it need warmth added. I design as the human being I am – naturally I’m a warm, casual, approachable person, and I design as I am.

How do you add that soul or warmth into a space that doesn’t have much, or any?

Here in America there are more new builds than historic homes, and we struggle with those modern homes which builders have put up quickly as they lack soul. They might have extra high ceilings, but they’re often open concept and not all the rooms will have walls. My biggest concern is then how to make those spaces cozy, framing areas in them to give them a distinction from the rest of the room. We add moldings, we drop ceilings a little. I like people to feel ensconced, and for areas to have their own purpose. You know, if it’s a dining room then as much as possible it’s only a dining room and that’s what it’s decorated for.

You’ve spoken about homes being a form of self-expression. How do you guide clients toward discovering and articulating their personal style?

The good news is that the people who are attracted to my design style crave that feeling of personality – if they want something more sterile then they’re not going to want me. So we talk about what personal things we can bring into our homes, and we just want to get to know the client. Do they have any collections? That’s a good starting point – it could be vases, or records or art books, or perhaps they travel a ton and we discuss that. What we don’t want to do is hide anything they love, or are passionate about. Because in the digital world we live in, the more analogue things you can have out, the more conversational your home becomes. People come in, they start browsing your music or your books and they see that, I don’t know, perhaps you love jazz and they love jazz, it sparks a conversation. Or they notice a book they’ve read on your shelf, or have always wanted to read, and will ask about that. Surrounding yourself with objects you love evokes a sense of wonder in people. Sitting in a living room that holds your collected pieces is like being inside a tapestry of your life.

Talking of tapestries, you put colors together in such a rich and fearless way. Deep eggplant, petrol blues, dusty pinks. What’s your process for building a palette that feels both bold and livable?

I think of color as being immersive, and have always been influenced by the artist Mark Rothko. He used color to evoke emotion, putting together very bold shades. We need to stop being afraid of it – we live in color, our lives are color! If you love blue, and it makes you calm then you should have it in your bedroom. Or if pink makes you happy, then I’m like, ok, lets do it in a sitting room. If you love green, and how it brings in the outdoors then, ok, great let’s use it in the kitchen where you start your day.

For those who are a little more nervous of color, are you more subtle in how you use it?

For those people who scared of it, I’ll sometimes use the boldest colors on just the upholstery or in the art. I do think people have a different palette for how they want to bring it in. They might be more comfortable with white walls, and then we’ll find way to use color in the center of the space. And then even those white-wall-people will typically want their dens to be super-cozy, and this is where I’ll color drench. Or in the dining room which they want to be moody and grown up, or in a powder room which you don’t experience for very long. You can be really bold in there as it’s just a moment of expression and then you go back to the general space.

Texture seems to play a quiet but powerful role in your work – from soft boucle chairs to aged leathers and natural woods. What are your favorite material pairings right now?

I’m still loving mohair rugs. I love to sit on the floor, so I want them to be soft and comfortable. I’m also loving cashmere and recently used it on a sofa. It’s expensive but divine, in the most beautiful buttery camel color.

But….surely cashmere isn’t very practical for a couch?

No it’s not practical at all! And I wouldn’t do it in my own home as I have a seven year old and a nine year old, a dog and two cats. But this was for a couple of empty nesters. As for other materials I like, I love a lightweight wool for drapes, as it catches the light and gives s tiny flicker, plus they work so well seasonally. They’re not too heavy for summer nor too light for winter.

You mentioned art earlier as a way to bring color in. Do you start with key pieces and design around them, or curate as the space comes together?

I come from an art background, a family of art dealers, so i've been lucky to acquire art, and I love that when the art is moved it shows up so differently in every space it’s in. Sometimes we build a room around it, I don’t like to match art but I do like to be thoughtful as to how it responds to the room. I like an oversized or dainty piece as I like to go to either end of the scale. I’ll use an oversized piece of art over a sofa or bed where it feels so dramatic. Then I might use a small piece in a powder room or hall where you have to approach it and take a closer look, drawing you in.

What do you think about when sourcing art?

I think about how I wish people had more of an interest in it, and were less scared of contemporary art. In general, art is so misunderstood. You can create the most beautiful space but if it doesn’t have art in it then it falls flat. It doesn’t need to be expensive, you can go to flea markets, and if you’re buying someone unknown or emerging then keep it simple and just buy what you love. That same advice could go for color too, actually. I wish people would be less afraid of color. Because in reality I don’t think people are afraid of it, they just don’t know how to use it.

See more of Zoe's work at Zoe Feldman Design