For Rachel Chudley, art is a crucial element in the search to better our lives, and from her studio in East London, she designs interiors that are more akin to realistic paintings.
After graduating at The Courtauld Institute of Art, Rachel attended the Camelback Institute of Interior Design in California before working both in the UK and the US for various brands. Not long thereafter, she decided to open her own studio, which quickly caught the eye of many, labeling her as a rising star.
She has continually collaborated with Donald Kaufman, one of the foremost color experts in the world of architecture and has gained a reputation for her unique mix of art, colors, and materials. With a style that re-elaborates formal spaces for the people that live them, she focuses on her clients’ passions, quirks, and humorous traits.
Where do you think design and interior design is headed?
Beautiful interiors are now much more accessible to the public thanks to Pinterest and Instagram. People get inspiration from historic designs and reinterpret them in new and exciting ways, but the personal touch is always the most important aspect. Clients that would have once gone to chain stores are now more interested in original environments and are really looking to create unique spaces in their own style. I’ve noticed a lot of people are excited to have more access to design than they used to.
You love playing with different decorative elements in your projects. Where do you draw the line between “beautiful” and “too much”?
Balancing elements is an instinctive thing, and it’s important to do what you feel is right and suitable both for you and the surrounding environments. You shouldn’t be afraid of “too much”, but rather focus on the feelings you want to evoke in that space. Wallpaper, for example, is a great solution. I often use it to create a theatrical atmosphere at the entrance of a home — as if it were a small portal before entering a larger and lighter space on the other end. Generally, I draw out the scenes and take inspiration from the artists I love, like Turner for example, to then develop wallpapers with abstract images.
What is the strangest request you’ve gotten from a client?
We’ve been very fortunate. We have fantastic clients that always show up with creative and stimulating requests! If we’re talking about unusual requests, there was one project where we created a map of the property’s perimeter as seen from the sky in order to identify the surrounding mountains and create a continuation within reinforced concrete. Then, for another project, we pieced together a rug for the corridor from various vintage rugs.
You have a special relationship with art…
Art is always at the center of my work. I always look the colors and compositions of art to find inspiration for my designs. I often use color, the form of rugs or other various objects to capture the attention of the viewer. It’s always fun discovering new artists and right now my favorite are Fee Greening, Luke Edward Hall, and Natalka Stephenson. They’re genius.
What part do you love most about your job?
Brainstorming with my clients. Collaborating with them is the best part. It’s always fun and rewarding to see their reactions when they’ve realized all the things they once imagined have finally become a reality.
How does the creative process work for you?
First I gather ideas with my clients and the rest of the studio, then we produce a moodboard and some drafts. After they’ve been approved, we go to the development of technical drawings to show producers. All the spaces that we design are simulated first in the studio to see what the space looks like and how the colors and angles interact.
At the opening: LONDON BASED INTERIOR DESIGNER RACHEL CHUDLEY WORKS ON ECLECTIC PROJECTS BETWEEN ART AND VINTAGE AND CONTEMPORARY FURNISHINGS.
