Even the most dramatic, color-infused spaces need boundaries during the design process, says the Washington, D.C.–based designer.

Zoë Feldman is all about being daring with color. Consider the terra cotta kitchen she crafted in a client’s century-old Washington, D.C., home. Instead of softening the palette with a bunch of light neutrals, she incorporated a medley of boldly hued items—such as the violet-veined marble backsplash—into the scheme. “The goal was to wrap the room in richness through color and materiality without sacrificing functionality or approachability,” she says.

She applied the same sentiment when outfitting a butler’s pantry in Georgetown. After covering the walls and cabinets in ultraglossy teal paint, Feldman incorporated an array of statement-making pieces, including unlacquered brass hardware, a mint green mixer and a vintage runner, to create a fully immersive scene. “Whether you’re aiming for a warm, intimate feel or one that’s dramatic and high-energy, the emotional goal should guide the color and finish choices,” she says.