Sheila Bridges Biography
Looking to establish roots in a community that has been recognized around the globe for its rich cultural heritage and significant contributions of talented African American writers, painters, poets, musicians, activists and artists, Sheila Bridges moved to Harlem, New York in 1993 and opened Sheila Bridges Design, Inc. shortly thereafter.
Named America’s Best Interior Designer by Time magazine and CNN, Sheila Bridges is considered a creative visionary and design tastemaker. Residing and working in Harlem for more than 25 years, Bridges is recognized for her classic yet versatile design aesthetic and critical eye. She is sought after to create thoughtfully inspired and narrative rich interiors because of her profound sensitivity and appreciation of timeless design and quality craftsmanship.
As Creative Director, Bridges has solved complex design problems and created beautiful residences and spaces for a diverse group of high profile clients including the Harlem offices for former President Bill Clinton and his staff, and most recently, the redecoration of One Observatory Circle, the official residence of Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Sheila Bridges Design, Inc. has also completed design projects at Columbia University and Princeton University, bringing Sheila’s signature design aesthetic to interior spaces at both of these prestigious academic institutions.
Her interiors are often colorful and multi-layered but informed by architecture and historical reference. 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, the Musée De La Toile De Jouy in Jouy-en Josas, France and San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora. Bridges is also honored to have her designs included in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, RISD Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC; the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and most recently– the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Sheila’s professional expertise extends well beyond her thirty-year tenure in interior design, including hosting four seasons of Sheila Bridges: Designer Living on the Fine Living Network– a lifestyle show where she introduced viewers to new locales, design professionals and trends each week. She has also been a regular contributor on NBC’s Today Show, appeared on Oprah and was a contributing editor at MORE Magazine, where each month she showcased her impeccable taste in their home section. Bridges has been featured in numerous publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, House and Garden, Interior Design, Domino, and Traditional Home magazines. She has also been included in Gotham and New York Magazine’s Top Interior Designer’s lists, 1stDibs 50 (2021-2024,) House Beautiful’s “Top 100 Interior Designers,” Forbes’ 50 Over 50 2023 list, as well as Elle Decor’s A List from 2011-2024, which recognizes interior designers who exemplify continually relevant design. She has also been consecutively appointed to Architectural Digest’s AD100 list of esteemed designers and architects from around the globe from 2021 to 2024. Sheila is also the author of two books– Furnishing Forward: A Practical Guide to Furnishing for a Lifetime (released in 2002,) and The Bald Mermaid, A Memoir, published in 2013.
Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sheila Bridges moved to New York City in 1986. She holds degrees from Brown University and Parsons School of Design, and studied decorative arts at Polimoda in Florence, Italy. She now splits her time between her residences in Harlem, The Hudson Valley and Reykjavik, Iceland.