Tamara Feldman on the Art of Intentional Design
A Conversation with Miele Master Tamara Feldman
Meet inaugural 2026-2027 Miele Master Tamara Feldman, who's globally influenced design perspective blends Japanese precision with Mexican warmth. In the conversation below, she shares her approach to creating kitchens where every detail serves a purpose and beauty and function work seamlessly together.
How do you describe your design style and ethos when it comes to approaching a kitchen?
For me, a kitchen should stand out and also be part of the full continuity of the design space. We love to layer a kitchen with textures and stones, intricate designs such as a double countertop with a reveal, a beveled edge, or a very sculptural island that looks like it's being cut from a quarry. So in essence, a kitchen is not just a kitchen to us. It's its own beauty of design that continues with the rest of the home.
How do you approach integrating appliances into your designs, and what role does Miele play in that process?
I like integrating appliances in a way where everything is intentional and cohesive. The functionality along with the aesthetic placement in the overall design is important to me. With Miele, there is a natural elegance to the appliances that makes it easy for our team to envision them within our kitchens or complementary spaces.
“A kitchen design should not be an element that will change in the house, but a space where it will grow with the family." - Tamara Feldman
What does "well-designed living" mean to you, and how do appliances contribute to that experience?
To me, well-designed living is about creating spaces that feel effortless, intuitive, and visually harmonious. Appliances play an important role in that experience because they should be considered from the very beginning of the design process, not treated as an afterthought.
I often incorporate panel-ready appliances and handleless ovens that integrate seamlessly into the architecture of the kitchen. When appliances blend into the overall design, they help maintain a sense of visual continuity and allow the materials, craftsmanship, and spatial experience to take center stage. Our most impressive designs are those where beauty and function coexist seamlessly — and thoughtfully integrated appliances are a key part of achieving that balance.
What's one kitchen design "rule" you find yourself breaking more often today?
The most important element for me is for the kitchen to be practical — but other than that, there are no rules for us. We layer with textures and materials, create sculptural elements with the islands, and play with the positioning of the veneers.
How do you balance your own authorship with designing something deeply personal to the client?
I believe the most successful interiors are those that tell the client's story. While every designer naturally brings a point of view, my role is to listen deeply and understand how my clients live, what inspires them, and what will make them feel truly at home. That in turn inspires our point of view.
I approach each project as a collaboration. My aesthetic sensibility informs the way I curate materials, proportions, and details — but the outcome should always feel authentic to the people who inhabit the space. The common thread throughout my work isn't a specific look; it's a commitment to creating spaces that are incredibly curated, thoughtful, personal, and enduring. When that balance is achieved, the design feels both elevated and deeply individual.
What details separate a good kitchen from a truly exceptional one?
Every inch of the kitchen being planned and thought out is what separates a good kitchen from a truly exceptional one — having a beautiful design balanced with the practical use of every space. Every functional area is important for our clients, along with how the overall design makes them feel.
Can you share an example of a time when specifying Miele made a measurable difference in both design and client satisfaction?
Miele made a measurable difference in both the design outcome and overall client satisfaction when we designed a kitchen in collaboration with Eggersman. We used all Miele products, and it was a perfect match to a German kitchen. The precision and integrity of the appliances elevated the entire space — and the client felt that from day one.
Looking ahead, how do you see the role of appliances evolving in design?
Appliances continue to go hand in hand with my designs — from the elegance and sophistication to the simplicity of the design. I look for practicality and beauty, and I think we'll only see those two qualities become more inseparable as the category evolves. What excites me most is the idea that appliances will continue to rise to the level of the architecture around them, becoming considered objects in their own right rather than utilities to be concealed or overlooked.
About the Miele Masters Program
Miele Masters is a new ambassador program created to celebrate and collaborate with leading voices in residential design. The inaugural 2026–2027 class brings together seven influential interior designers from across the country — each a distinct creative voice, united by a shared belief that the home deserves both extraordinary performance and enduring beauty.
Through project collaborations, showroom experiences, and shared educational opportunities, the Miele Masters program deepens Miele's connection with the architecture and design community, and inspires the next generation of designers to see appliances not as an afterthought, but as integral elements of thoughtful, elevated living.
