By Richard Lee
Irwin Feld believes he has captured the “wow factor” in

the unique hybrid furniture he offers at his new business in the arts and antiques district in Stamford’s South End.

Located at 583 Pacific St., Irwin Feld Design displays an array of eclectic pieces that Feld and his assistant, Joanna Leone, assembled from assorted furniture and household items.

The 4,000-square-foot showroom features 21st-century innovations on classic 20th-century modern designs, including a vintage 1967 dining room hutch transformed into a high-tech media center, a 1940s ottoman re-created into a coffee table and a cocktail bar that was once a 1930s airline beverage cart.

“Today’s consumers are looking for versatility, and we are putting an exciting new contemporary spin on midcentury modern furniture,” Feld said. “Every piece that arrives in our showroom is beautifully transformed into a one-of-a-kind original. It’s more than a makeover, it’s a complete re-invention.”

Feld spends much of his time scouring furniture dealers, auction houses and antiques centers for the right combinations.

Feld collaborated with his wife, Marcy, to build a women’s accessory company in New York and has more than 25 years of experience in the design and fashion industry.

He had been selling his creations at studios in Stamford for the past four years but was looking for a place of his own. He was impressed by the 20-foot ceilings and the natural lighting in the former handbag factory.

“I always wanted a spot where I could experiment. It’s fantastic. I have a parking spot that I wouldn’t have in New York,” said Feld, a New York City resident. “The arts and antiques district in Stamford is a destination. We have people coming from all over. A good portion of our business are Manhattan designers.”

Feld’s goal is to create comfortable furniture that has an impact but does not intimidate people.

“The focus is on livability. It’s much more socialized and intimate. We don’t create museums,” said Feld, who plans to eventually manufacture his own furniture line.

His business is well-suited for the building, said John Hiden, owner of the nearby Hiden Galleries, who bought the property from Pitney Bowes about eight years ago.

“I approached him (Feld) to see if he was interested,” Hiden said. “It’s a clean use and fits in with the district down here. He’s artistic and has a flair. He has a good feel for the marketplace.”

Feld Design also offers advice on space planning, color selection and placement.

“With interior design, it’s those unexpected details that pull the room together and initiates that coveted wow factor,” Feld said. “It’s very similar to accessorizing a classic black cocktail dress with a dramatic necklace. You make an immediate impact as soon as you enter the room.”

The district, which has the moniker “SoTo” for the south side of town, has gained a reputation for its shops offering antiques, home design products and services and uncommon clothing and jewelry, Stamford Economic Development Director Michael Freimuth said.

“This effort (Feld’s shop) is a reflection of that,” he said. “It’s become a place to go for folks who are in the design and staging business.”

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