Ruger Interiors has executed design projects of myriad styles and scales for over 30 years. As a comprehensive residential practice, the firm’s scope ranges from the interior decoration of a single room to overseeing the complete renovation, expansion, or conception of a residence. The mother-daughter team of Chickie Ruger and Amy Ruger Whiteley provides clients with a multi-dimensional perspective on each project, as well as the familiar and approachable dynamic inherent in their own relationship.
Chickie’s formative years were spent in Philadelphia, Brussels, Mexico City, and Sapporo, wildly distinct locales that each influenced her appreciation for an intriguing array of fine and decorative arts. Her subsequent years of travel, collecting, and living in New York City, Palm Beach, Connecticut and the Bahamas have further enhanced a broad aesthetic point of view. When considering the decoration of a 1920’s Georgian country house, rustic ski chalet, or mid-century apartment on the beach, Chickie accesses a vast visual vocabulary from which to address her clients’ objectives. From gilt Boulle cabinets to streamlined, Milo Baughman sofas, Frederic Remington oils to Richard Avedon prints, upholstered banquettes to Chippendale chairs - as a project evolves, clients embark on an exciting and informative journey directed by Chickie’s well-honed intuition for correct proportions, practical arrangements, and overall chic, modern rooms.
Amy has been collaborating with Chickie on her design projects for over 10 years. Having previously held positions at both Sotheby’s and Christie’s in several specialist departments, Amy gained the historical knowledge of and ability to evaluate fine art, furniture, and silver. Amy also served in the client service departments of the auction houses, overseeing her clients’ buying and selling of pieces on an ongoing basis. Amy follows Chickie’s credo that there should be no one look or style that permeates every project. As one who possesses a wide array of interests herself, Amy looks to her clients’ own tastes to dictate the evolution of a residence. She believes that one should feel comfortable in and inspired by one’s environment.
In addition to executing a project’s interior decoration, Chickie and Amy often serve as an integral part of the architectural design process and work closely with contractors and landscape architects throughout the duration of a project to assure that their clients’ expectations are fulfilled as they envisioned. Their goal is to create complete homes in which one will live comfortably, practically, and stylishly.