Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.
25 Apr 2025 | |
Rugbeian Society News |
We are delighted to celebrate Rugbeian Rachel Chudley (D 99-04), who has been named Interior Designer of the Year at this year’s House & Garden Top 100 Awards, in partnership with Farrow & Ball.
The House & Garden Design Awards recognise leading figures in the industry – those whose creativity, ambition, and distinctive style are reshaping how we live. For Rachel, this moment represents both a milestone and a full-circle achievement. “Many moons ago I was chosen as their first ‘Rising Star’,” she shared. “That award transformed our company. To now be named Designer of the Year feels like a coming of age and a tremendous honour.”
Rachel’s interiors are anything but ordinary. Whether it’s a squiggle-shaped fireplace carved into a chimney breast or a candy-pink velvet chaise longue, her projects embrace boldness, joy, and the unexpected. Combining the heart of an artist with the vision of a seasoned creative director, she challenges clients to think differently and invites them into imaginative, character-rich spaces.
Since founding her studio in 2015, Rachel has remained as hands-on as she is visionary – leading an internationally recognised business while balancing life as a devoted mother. Her early career included running an art gallery in Camden and designing stage sets while touring with Mumford & Sons. She studied History of Art at The Courtauld and interior design in Los Angeles – experiences that have helped shape her distinctive aesthetic.
Gracious in her win, Rachel paid tribute to her team, her clients, and her collaborators. “This award is a testimony to their brilliant work and the beauty of working in a team,” she said. “It is also a testament to our incredible clients, whose taste, belief and ambition have helped us create fantastical, worldly and liveable homes.”
Rachel’s studio continues to thrive on daring ideas, meticulous artistry, and a refusal to play it safe. This latest award is a richly deserved recognition of her talent, passion, and the transformative power of design.
Explore Rachel’s work at rachelchudley.com.
Image credit: Sophia Spring