Discover the Creative World of Award-Winning Interior Designer Sheila Bridges

Every month my friend Brenda from 1010 Park Place and I interview someone over 50 with great style. This month I am thrilled to be interviewing AD 100 Designer, Time Magazine’s America’s Best Designer, “Harlem Toile Girl”, and Tastemaker Sheila Bridges. Sheila’s curated eye, spirited use of color and pattern, balanced with beautiful antiques and artifacts is magical. I can’t remember when I have been more inspired. She earned a bachelor’s from Brown University and from the Parsons School of Design. She opened her own firm in 1994. “Her visual cultural translations have been showcased in museums internationally, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Studio Museum of Harlem, The Museum of Art and Design in New York City, The Museum of the City of New York, Musée Des Beaux-Arts Montreal and the Musée De La Toile De Jouy in Jouy-en Josas France.” She maintains homes in Harlem, Iceland, and Upstate New York, and she has designed homes all over the world. Discover the Creative World of Award-Winning Interior Designer Sheila Bridges

Discover the Creative World of Award-Winning Interior Designer Sheila Bridges

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR STORY-FROM PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YORK, AND HOW YOU BECAME INTERESTED IN DESIGN

My first job was in the buyer training program for Bloomingdales out of college. I currently have two new collections at Bloomingdales. I became interested in design after studying abroad in Rome, Italy while I was in college. I have always loved art and design. I moved to New York City in 1986, and attended Parsons School of Design.

TELL US HOW YOUR BUSINESS HAS EVOLVED SINCE YOU FIRST OPEND SHEILA BRIDGES DESIGN (AT 30 YEARS OLD)

With experience and exposure, I have become more confident with color and pattern and created a more layered look.

photo by Chris Mottalini

GIVE US A SNAPSHOT OF A NORMAL DAY FOR YOU. DO YOU STAY UP LATE, OR ARE YOU UP BEFORE THE SUN?

Before the sun. I have always been a morning person, there really isn’t a “normal day”. Everyday is different, which is why I love my job.

YOU HAVE AN EVER-GROWING IMPRESSIVE PORTFOLIO. WHAT COLLABORATIONS AND PROJECTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

Creating my Harlem Toile brand (after searching for many years for the perfect toile for my own home, I decided that it quite simply didn’t exist. I created Harlem Toile de Jouy initially as a wallcovering then expanded the collection to include fabrics, bedding, plates, glassware, umbrellas and clothing. Writing two books, designing the offices for former President Bill Clinton and designing the current Vice President’s residence (Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff) at One Observatory Circle in Washington D.C.

Photo Frank Frances

THOUGHTFULLY INSPIRED INTERIORS, WALLPAPER, HARLEM TOILE FABRIC, FASHION, AND EVEN SKATEBOARDS-WHAT HAVEN’T YOU DONE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO?

Of course, I would love to do more fashion/women’s clothing and accessories with major brands. (We will look forward to that!)

You can find Sheila’s current partnerships and collaborations here.

WHAT UPCOMING PARTNERSHIPS ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT AND WHY?

Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Gingerlily and Le Creuset. I am always excited about collaborations with great brands that I love.

You can find Sheila’s current partnerships and collaborations here.

DISCOVER SHEILA BRIDGES CREATIVE WORLD OUTSIDE OF DESIGN

YOU HAVE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE GLOBE-WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PLACES TO VISIT AND WHY?

Morocco, Iceland and Paris-great sources of inspiration all around.

IF YOU AREN’T TRAVELING OR WORKING, WHAT CAN WE FIND YOU DOING?

Usually playing tennis, gardening, hiking with my dog, or horseback riding.

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR LOVE OF PETS.

I have always love animals and wanted to become a veterinarian, but somehow ended up as a designer instead. I have owned horses, sheep, goats, chickens, cats and dogs.

YOU SOLD YOUR LARGER HOME IN THE HUDSON VALLEY AND DESIGNED YOUR CHARMING HOME WHICH YOU LOVINGLY CALL “HAY HOUSE”, AND YOU ALSO OWN A HOME IN ICELAND IN ADDITION TO YOUR HARLEM HOME. TELL US ABOUT THAT

Even though I am a city girl, I grew up spending summers on a working farm in Virginia, so country life has always appealed to me.

You can read more about Hay House here in Homes and Gardens

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE?

Modern Bohemian for fashion/style, modern classic for interiors. I love mixing old with new, vintage with classic (a girl after my own heart!!)

HOW DO YOU TRANSITION YOUR FASHION AND ACCESSORIES FROM ONE SEASON TO THE NEXT

By accessorizing!

WHAT ARE FIVE SIGNATURE PIECES THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE IN YOUR CLOSET

A Classic black blazer, a pair of dark denim jeans, a Harlem Toile dress, and Hermes watch, and a cashmere/wool scarf or wrap.

IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF ANY WORDS OF ADVICE, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

Don’t be so tough on yourself. Be present and enjoy the moment you are standing in.

I love this quote from Sheila’s Instagram on her younger self: “I actually feel very proud that (she) remained curious, creative and true to who she was then and ultimately who she became and is becoming”.

Photo Nick Carter

MORE ON THE CREATIVE WORLD OF SHEILA BRIDGES

If you would like to see more of Sheila’s wonderful portfolio and learn more about all of her collaborations, you can visit her website Sheila Bridges Design. If you would like to follow along on Sheilas travels, you can follow her on Instagram here.

You can find Sheila’s book Bald Mermaid (which I am reading right now) here on Amazon, and her book Furnishing Forward on Amazon here.

You can also read more about Sheila’s projects in the following articles:

Washington Post-Sheila Bridges Designs the Vice President’s Residence

How Designer Sheila Bridges Made Space for Herself

Interior Design-10 Questions with Sheila Bridges

Sheila Bridges Hudson Valley Renovation-Domino

Architectural Digest-Meet the AD 100

Architectural Digest-An Elegant Country Estate by Sheila Bridges

I hope you enjoyed reading Discover the Creative World of Award-Winning Interior Designer Sheila Bridges You can find all of my former Ageless Style interviews here. A big shout out to Sheila for allowing us a peek into her creative world.

Let’s visit Brenda and see who she is interviewing this month.

1010 PARK PLACE