Published in ‘The Collection, BY COMPASS’ Summer 2019
Zoë Feldman – The daring interior designer who’s working to save the planet like it’s going out of style.
It’s been said that the greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. For Zoë Feldman — a spirited interior designer with a penchant for activism on the side — that just wasn’t a risk she was willing to take. Then again, it’s never been her style to take the easy way out.
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Interior Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
When it comes to finding inspiration for her designs, Zoë calls herself a modernist, but one that’s inspired by history. “I guess you could say that I don’t live in any particular era,” she adds.
When Zoë first launched her career, she did a brief stint in advertising before deciding to enroll in an interior design program at Parsons. Even with a renewed purpose, she was still seeking another venture to occupy her downtime. That venture came in the form of a “dope” internship with renowned designer Mark Hampton, where she honed her burgeoning talents. Today, Zoë runs an award-winning interior design firm that much like its leader, likes to do it all — from architectural planning and design, to the hefty task of disrupting the way other businesses and people think about their impact on the world around them.
“You may or may not have heard, but the earth is dying”, Zoë remarks dryly. We’re sitting at a table planted in the center of her office, a picturesque Georgetown space that’s punctuated by examples of her work — from living rooms characterized by playful pops of unexpected color, to bathrooms that redefine modern spaces through classical elements. No two rooms are the same, a theme which is central to Zoe’s ethos of creating spaces that truly feel like yours. We could’ve spent hours getting lost in the patterns and fabrics of Zoë’s designs, but these days, she has a new purpose to obsess over.
“This is a very bootstrap moment for me,” she explains. “I have no more of an education than you in sustainability. Even just a few months back, I literally had no idea what was happening. I guess when I think about it, I’ve always had the desire to leave the planet better than how I found it. I just never knew I would take such a literal path to get there.”
So, what is Zoë’s path to saving the world?
Aptly named, Our Beautiful Planet is a program which supports four organizations, hand-picked by Zoë for their innovative and affecting solutions to making the world a more eco-friendly place. The vision is ambitious — Zoë’s team recently started charging potential clients for consultations that were once free, with 100 percent of that fee donated to one of those four causes that her team sponsors. And the best part? If the client signs with Zoë, her company matches the initial contribution.
Apart from monetary donations, Zoë has also begun to infuse her newly ignited consciousness into how she works with clients. Zoë isn’t afraid to admit that her industry is one of the primary offenders when it comes to wasteful practices, so she now makes it a habit to source materials from vendors who are similarly emboldened to make renewable improvements.
She also relishes any opportunity to incorporate vintage materials and antiques into her designs, although admittedly, that’s a happy coincidence — Zoë has always preferred old to new. When clients tell her they don’t like used furniture, her answer is usually something to the effect of: “Well, do you like cool things? It’s really all about reframing the conversation,” she adds.
There’s an approachable urgency to Zoë’s mission — sure, she could have waited to become versed in all the ins and outs of sustainable living before launching her program, but the truth is, she wants to make an impact today. So, she’s learning as she goes. And anyone who knows Zoë Feldman knows that she isn’t one to back down from a challenge. “It can be a very intimidating space if you’re not an expert,” she acknowledges.
“But I’m not even a little bit of an expert, and we’re just doing it.”
@zoefeldmandesign
zoefeldmandesign.com
