How Interior Designer Zoë Feldman Created a Home That Reflects Bold Creative Freedom

For someone known for crafting highly personalized interiors for clients, designing her own home presented a unique challenge for Washington based interior designer Zoë Feldman. The 1926 residence, nestled near Georgetown, carried a quiet sense of grandeur, with arched doorways, plaster walls, and European architectural details that set a clear tone.

Feldman embraced the home’s existing character and let it shape the design direction. The result is a deeply layered space that captures her signature balance of timeless elegance and unexpected edge.

Designing for herself meant stepping outside the usual project structure. Without deadlines or formal constraints, decisions happened more intuitively, guided by emotion and curiosity. It was a rare opportunity to explore ideas she’d been circling for years, including bold color moves, playful layouts, and pieces with personal meaning.

Every room has its own rhythm, every object a reason to be there. Feldman reflects on the creative risks, personal choices, and quiet joys that shaped this deeply individual home.

Michael Clifford

What was the first piece or idea that set the direction for the design of your home?

The house itself really set the tone—it was built in 1926 and had this incredible Old-World European charm with plaster walls and elegant archways. I knew I wanted to preserve that feeling while modernizing the functionality for my family. That tension between old and new became the guiding principle for every design decision.

Michael Clifford

How did designing for yourself differ from client projects? Any non-negotiables you finally gave yourself permission to embrace? 

Designing for myself was wildly different—I was absolutely my most difficult client. Without the structure of formal programming or design development, the process was more chaotic, but also more freeing. I finally gave myself permission to use pieces and colors I’d been dying to try, like Farrow & Ball’s Red Earth in the sunroom. And I didn’t hold back on layering in family history—original mid-century pieces from my grandmother were non-negotiable.

Michael Clifford

There’s such a beautiful balance between sophistication and comfort — how do you strike that tone when designing a space meant to be truly lived in? 

I always say a home should be beautiful but not too precious. That balance comes from thoughtful materials—pairing things like vegan leather with de Gournay wallpaper—or mixing high and low pieces to keep the energy grounded. It’s also about respecting the function of a space. With kids, it was essential that everything felt livable and intentional without compromising style.

Michael Clifford

Were there any bold risks or unconventional choices you made that totally paid off?

Turning my daughter’s tiny old nursery into a cozy guest room with a built-in bed that expands into a king was a risk in both form and function. It ended up feeling like a boat cabin in the best way—compact, efficient, and deeply charming. It’s one of those spaces where the unconventional layout actually led to a more creative, playful design solution.

Michael Clifford

Is there a corner, object, or room that brings you the most joy on a regular day?

The dining room. I mean, that gilded hand-painted paper from de Gournay is hard to beat. It’s sandwiched between the living room and the sun room, and it’s like this chic exclamation point in the middle of the home. We use that room every day.

Michael Clifford

What advice would you give to someone trying to infuse personality into their space without overdoing it? 

Start with what has meaning to you—whether it’s art, a family heirloom, or a color that evokes something personal. Then edit. Not everything needs to make a statement. Personality shines through more clearly when there’s room to breathe around it.

Michael Clifford

And finally, if your home were a song, what would it be? 

Can I Kick It by A Tribe Called Quest (the answer is yes you can).

See more work from Zoë Feldman