Robert and Anna Rutherford opened Rutherford’s Design in Inwood Village over 30 years ago. The shop offers full-service design, furnishings, trims, gifts and more fabric than one could count. Now in their 80s, the couple is taking a step back from running the business and leaving Steffanie Evans at the helm.
Evans stumbled upon Rutherford’s on a whim.
“About a year and a half ago, I stumbled in here (Rutherford’s) while waiting on hardware next door at Westside. I was blown away and met one of the designers and really got a lot of fun stuff done in my house,” Evans says. “Through that I learned about the family that owned the business. The family was retiring. Mr. Rutherford is 86 years old.”
Evans officially took over Feb. 1, but the Rutherfords are still on staff to advise and assist.
Your background isn’t in interior design. What did you do previously and how does it help you step into this role?
My background is actually in American history and museum studies. So much of this pulls from my background in museums because of the history of furniture, the history of fabrics. There’s been so many parallels that connect what I’ve done before coming into here which has been really fun. I think that’s just part of the range of interests where I love being creative. I love design, but I love history too. And all of this has history. Anything new we create, I love to think about how it helps people create history in their homes. When we think about where we go to visit family or where we’re going to raise our children or where we’re going to serve family, that’s the space that we create that you need to feel comfortable in.
What got you interested in interior design?
I’ve always had an interest in design. My husband and I have moved about 15 times in 23 years, usually for work or school, but always building and renovating something new. It’s something that I’ve had a strong interest in. I can be a little artistic and creative, so this is a great outlet for me.
What is your favorite style to do?
I noticed that when I design I tend to be a little solid and modern. I’ve got to swing the other way, and I’ve got to become whimsy. I’ve got to grab some bright fabrics and bring a little depth into a space, and then it might get too busy. And then I kind of pull back, and then it looks all too current, so then I need to bring in something vintage or antique. So my rooms usually end up having a little bit of everything in it.
What does your typical clientele look like?
We do anything. That’s the biggest fear I hear when I talk to friends or neighbors or potential clients is, “I don’t want to take on a designer. I can’t afford that.” I have to admit, at some point I was there myself until coming to this where we have people that say, “I have a chair; it needs new fabric.” If you don’t see fabric you like here, we can go find it. We can order it. We go to our vendors. We go to markets or the design districts. We make sure that it fits your price point. You know what your budget is. You know what your style is. We make sure that you have all the resources to make that project happen, whether it’s a chair or an entire house. It shouldn’t be an intimidating process. It shouldn’t be a process that people avoid because of cost or being overwhelmed because that’s what we’re here to help with to make sure you stay on task and on time and on budget to do whatever project you want to do, whether it’s a pillow, a room or a house.
You mentioned you have a shop inside the store. What do you sell?
It’s a good mix of old and new. There’ll be updates and changes coming over the next several months for sure. While we are a design firm, we’re also a retail shop. That’s why we’re here close to Inwood Village at a busy intersection and a great neighborhood that we became known for as well. So whether it’s artwork or vases or trays, all of that finds a place here.
Photography by Kathy Tran
What are your goals for the future of Rutherford’s?
There’s such a strong history and some great things here and great relationships. It’s a balance of keeping those intact but also growing the business and creating a new identity without losing who we are and doing a lot of updating and bringing new things in here, but also holding on to the 30-year history that was here, which is exciting and daunting at the same time. I’m just really excited. I hope I can carry on the tradition for the next 30-35 years. They did such an incredible job of what they built here. It’s nothing I could ever do and start on my own. It would take a long time and a lot of resources. I’m so humbled to be able to purchase the business and step in and learn from them and carry it forward. I want to keep it relevant and bring it up to date and make sure we’re getting new things every few weeks and be a new resource for the community, whether it’s a housewarming gift or a brand new home.
What other services does Rutherford’s offer?
We have vendors that come to us first to give us first dibs on their new product line and things like that which have been really fun to learn about. If you need a new rug or need a new lamp, we have vendors and workshops that will build the lamp that you want for that specific room. That’s when it gets kind of fun. You can think outside the box. When somebody’s looking for something special, we find a way to create it.
Interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
