Sheila Bridges

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 of Sheila Bridges Design, Inc., Bridges has worked with a diverse group of high profile clients including designing the Harlem offices of former President Bill Clinton, and the redecoration at One Observatory Circle, the official residence of Vice President Kamala Harris. The company has also completed design projects at Columbia University and Princeton University, bringing her signature design aesthetic to interior spaces at both of these prestigious academic institutions.

Bridges' colorful, joyful and multi-layered work is often inspired by traditional French toile patterns and showcases Black figures. 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. Bridges' designs are included in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, The Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, The RISD Museum, The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art.

She has collaborated with the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a line of accessories and collaborated with major brands like Williams Sonoma and Le Creuset in creating collections.

Bridges has been a regular contributor on NBC’s "Today" show; has appeared on "Oprah"; and was also a contributing editor at MORE Magazine. She 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. She has also been included in Gotham and New York Magazine’s Top Interior Designer’s lists, 1st Dibs 50 and House Beautiful’s “Top 100 Interior Designers” as well as Elle Decor’s A List, which recognizes interior designers who exemplify continually relevant design. She was inducted into the AD100 for 2021, 2022 and 2023, Architectural Digest’s list of esteemed designers and architects from around the globe. Forbes named her to their "50 Over 50" list in 2023.

Bridges is also the author of two books: "Furnishing Forward: A Practical Guide to Furnishing for a Lifetime" and "The Bald Mermaid: A Memoir."

Bridges holds degrees from Brown University and Parsons School of Design, and studied decorative arts at Polimoda in Florence, Italy. She splits her time between her residences in Harlem, The Hudson Valley, and Reykjavik, Iceland.