Inside a DC Town House, That Got a Perfect Update

Interior designer Zoe Feldman has a buoyant personality. So leave it to her to embolden her clients, a couple from New England who bought a DC town house, to completely change course midway through a project.

“I signed on to do a decorating job, yet it quickly became apparent they were open to doing more,” Feldman says. “We ended up gutting the place and making it look more historically accurate.” The second home, a three-story redbrick house built in the late 1800s, had been flipped by a developer who updated the interiors in what they felt was an insipid way, stripping them of their character. It had not occurred to Feldman’s clients to try to undo these renovations.

“When we met Zoe, she opened our eyes to what the potential could be,” says the husband. “It just made sense. We wanted something homey, not something stark.” And so began a lengthy collaboration, one in which no stone was left unturned. Straight wood planks were replaced by herringbone parquetry that was wire-brushed to look antique. Walls covered in either wainscotting, marble, or hand-painted panels. And nearly every room was outfitted with exquisitely detailed custom cabinets. In the dining room, for example, there’s a built-in walnut vitrine with rows of leather slings made to store wine bottles. Moreover, At night, the vitrine glows with recessed lighting.

The space also features a De Gournay wallpaper with images of blossoming tree limbs (a nod to DC’s famous cherry blossoms), a blackened-brass Lariat chandelier from Apparatus, and a custom table with legs that look almost like chessmen.

“The space is filled with unique moments and custom pieces that were designed in our studio and made by artisans,” says Feldman, who established her namesake Georgetown practice nearly two decades ago. “We also sought new and vintage pieces that either complemented our designs or that stood out on their own.” One such standout is a Mario Bellini Camaleonda sectional in a combination of hazelnut and terracotta hues, which anchors a spacious family room in the DC townhouse’s lower level. Behind it hangs a striking Larry Poons painting, one of several works by renowned contemporary artists purchased for the home. A black-and-white David Hockney lithograph helps set a serene mood in the living room near the entrance. While in the study on the top floor, works by Robert Rauschenberg, Ellsworth Kelly, and Lee Krasner add color and energy.

“I grew up around art,” Feldman says. “During the process of decorating their home, the clients got very interested in learning more about visual arts. Additionally, They have a lovely taste.” The whole experience has, indeed, been a learning process for the couple. Who wanted an urban retreat after raising three children in a semirural area (their youngest recently left for college). “Zoe taught us about the provenance and how things are produced. Making us aware that many poorly made furnishings end up in dumps,” the wife says. “She helped us imagine what we wanted.”