Pictured above:
East Boston Renovation 210 Webster Street, East Boston,
MA| Courtesy of Sabrina Cole
Quinn.
[:en]Since 2005, Michael
Ferzoco has fostered an award-winning and talented team of
designers at Eleven
Interiors. Together,
they have pursued their shared passion for interior design and
architecture, creating myriad residences in harmony with the way
their clients live, work, and play. Combining vintage and antique
furnishings, custom pieces, and contemporary selections into every
project allows Eleven Interiors to create original, sophisticated
spaces that are unique to each client. Eleven Interiors has
completed an array of residential projects, from new construction,
to custom furnishings, to interior renovations.
Michael Ferzoco | Courtesy
of Eric Roth.
Michael, can you tell us about your background and
how you started Eleven Interiors?
- In my earlier corporate life, I lived
and worked in Paris, France. Surrounded by amazing architecture and
design in everything from furniture, lighting, accessories, and
fashion, I decided it was time to follow my true passion. I
returned to Boston and pursued my education in interior
architecture and design while working part time for a large
residential design firm. After completing my degree and working for
several years in the field, I decided to strike out on my own and
start my own design firm. Fast forward fourteen years and I am now
surrounded by a team of six bright and talented colleagues and
designers who collectively make Eleven Interiors the successful
firm it is today. We have completed challenging and creative
projects in and around Boston, Cape Cod, New York City, Los
Angeles, and Savannah.
Tell us about Eleven Interiors.
- Our firm creates spaces that
allow our clients to live, work, and relax in an environment they
love. Our projects include new construction and renovations. We
work closely with architects, developers, and contractors in the
planning and building stages. We design the interior spaces and
select the finishestile, flooring, plumbing and electrical
fixtures, custom cabinetry and millwork, countertops and
backsplashes. Then, we outfit and decorate the interior spaces with
furnishings, accessories, and artwork. We are known for
incorporating a measured mix of periods and styles into our
interiors so that our clients spaces feel as if they have developed
over time. We dont have a signature look. Our design approach is
project-specific and is dictated by the project location and the
needs and requests of each client.
What do you think sets you apart in your
industry?
- What sets us apart in our
industry is our ability to work in partnership with architects and
builders. Our team is very knowledgeable about the construction
process and we take pride in our collaborative approach. Our
business approach to interior design also sets us apartthe budget
details and the lengthy communication with our clients means there
is never a financial surprise during a project. No one likes
surprises, especially when it comes to cost overruns!
Im sure each project is different, but do you have any
principles that you and your team always start with when
designing?
- Sometimes clients need help
articulating what it is they really want, and we pride ourselves on
the ability to translate that for them into words, images, and,
finally, a tangible, finished space. During the beginning design
development stage, we always start with a broad conversation and
then progressively dig deeper for information, even providing our
clients with a detailed questionnaire so that we can develop
specific concepts based on their feedback. Our interiors are so
client- and project-specific, and that really wouldnt be possible
without the effective communication that occurs during the design
development stage. We also need a budget, or at least a budget
range. We dont begin a project without this critical information.
Budgets guide us by providing our team with a better idea of the
materials and/or furnishings to source. Depending on the project
scope, we schedule all design meetings up front and over the course
of several months. We provide clients with two very detailed
concepts for each interior space. From concept to execution, the
entire team believes in delivering the highest level of design
excellence.
If a student wanted to enter the field, what advice would
you give them?
Id advise students to:
- Take
full advantage of internship opportunities while in school.
Exposure and experience within the field is an excellent way to
learn and jumpstart your career. - Check
your ego at the door. Clients have opinions that may not be the
same as yours. - Make
connections. You never know where your next client will come
from.
What is your favorite room in your own home, and
why?
- Id have to say my master
bathroom. Its spa-like with a mix of materials that invoke a
masculine, Zen feeling. The shower is glorious!
What do you see for the future of design?
- I think clients are going to be
more interested in some level of sustainability in the materials
and products they use in their projects. The Smart Home movement is
also becoming a serious, must-have design feature, no matter the
project size, and this technology is going to grow more affordable
in the very near future. Small, highly-functional and luxurious
spaces are becoming ever more popular, especially in the
second-home market.
To learn more about Eleven
Interiors, visit www.eleveninteriors.com.
[:]