Based in New York, designer Zak Profera creates textiles, pillows, rugs, and bespoke collections that envision the world anew through storytelling. Named for his beloved Shiba Inu, his design studio ZAK+FOX explores the rich territory of narrative by blending intricate textiles with vintage pieces, collected over time. Read on to learn how Zak builds spaces and stories through design, and shop his Chairish favorites.
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What made you passionate about interior design? How did you get your start?
I was always drawn to the history that objects and art may hold — secretly or otherwise. What I find the most interesting about interior design is the ability to craft a narrative — set a scene, a stage — create a *feeling* for a space where you can truly dream. Everything is considered; every detail matters and helps to tell a complete story. I love connecting things together visually and seeing how one item resonates with the one across from it, each decision informing the next. To me, it feels a bit like sketching, or painting.
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What do you find most compelling about Chairish?
Chairish is an incredible way to scour the globe for some hidden gems. It’s a platform that feels less like a marketplace and more like an ever-evolving gallery — one that captures the spirit of discovery.
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How does sustainability factor into your design choices and love of vintage?
Great design should prove to be timeless. I love the process of incorporating vintage and antiques into a space, crafting a narrative that speaks to reinvention and preservation. Design should be both meaningful and mindful — each choice contributes to a more thoughtful world. There’s something very charming knowing that a piece you’ve inherited or found has lived so many lives before it came into your own.
Favorite way to create a statement-making moment in a room?
Putting fabric on the walls can radically transform a space — nothing feels more decadent than that. Using anything in repetition like that always feels so grand to me, even in the tiniest of rooms.
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Do you have any go to color palettes and color combos?
I tend to be drawn to colors that feel a little dirty — nothing too bright or crisp — I like colors that feel sun-bleached or patinated — something with a touch of age. I prefer warm over cool; I know that most people love living with the color blue, but to me it feels a bit chilly – I would much rather be in a room wrapped in browns, greens or yellows.
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Lead Image: ZAK+FOX Showroom, Interior Design by Zak Profera, Photography by Stephen Kent Johnson.
