In her continuing curiosity to understand how people live, architect Angela Feddersen has dabbled in the world of home furnishings for years.

Like some architects, Feddersen has consistently advised on the interior finishes of her various projects as founder and principal of her firm Elevate Architecture. But Feddersen has also stepped out of the box with her own foray into product design with Letter Drop, a tubular mailbox for modern homes, that appeared in our Spring 2015 issue. Now Feddersen has taken another leap, bringing her passion for creating beautiful residential spaces to Cherry Creek North’s new addition, CODA Studio.

The boutique specializes in accessible custom-built furniture and accessories, built in their own factories in Los Angeles and Bali. Feddersen, now President of CODA Denver in addition to her work at Elevate, visited the brand’s first showroom in Malibu and was inspired to bring the brand’s sophisticated yet relaxed vibe to Denver, while adding a little Colorado flavor. Now over a year in operation (through a global pandemic, no less), we caught up with Feddersen to see how she balances her new position as retailer with her continued passion for architecture.

What makes CODA unique?

We are unique in that we can customize sizing, in addition to a wide range of fabric choices, while maintaining a very reasonable lead time of approximately 8 to 10 weeks. I also love that our upholstered pieces and casegoods are made in the U.S. and have a unique style, which combines modern lines and natural textures, but also that our factory in Bali brings a global aesthetic that permeates our full line.

How does your background as an architect influence your selections and decisions regarding the store?

I typically design both the architecture and interior finishes as I think good design seamlessly connects the two. But now with my work at CODA, my design ideas can extend through furnishings and accessories for a complete package. I have been fortunate to help several architecture clients furnish their homes which completes the full design circle.

How do you balance your work at the store with your architecture practice?

We have a terrific team in the store that allows me to continue practicing my true passion of architecture about half of the time. As we move forward and they grow into their roles, my plan is to shift more focus back to architecture.

CODA carries JC Buck’s art prints and sold copies of his limited-edition book ICE earlier this year. How do you see the store interacting with the larger creative community?

All of our artists and many of our accessories are sourced locally, which is very important to me as it makes our location a bit different than the other CODA retail stores. I’m currently working with an urban reforesting project which pairs artisans with local fallen trees that are then made into furniture. We are designing pieces for the Denver store that will up-cycle, leaving no carbon footprint. Sustainable buildings have a larger impact on global climate change, but if we can make a difference with furniture as well, then I’m all in.