Let Sheila Bridges help you turn your design daydreams into reality. Named “America’s Best Interior Designer” by CNN and Time Magazine, she has designed offices for former presidents and been named one of House Beautiful‘s Top 100 designers. Sheila hosted four seasons of Sheila Bridges: Designer Living on our sister network, Fine Living, and continues to reach new audiences with her 2002 book, Furnishing Forward (also out in paperback). She has also designed fabric, bedding, wallpaper and plates featuring her Harlem Toile de Jouy pattern. Check out what Sheila had to say about her sought-after design.
What’s your favorite design style?
I love classic furnishings combined with modern art, as well as mixing antiques or old furniture with newer, more contemporary pieces.
What’s the essential home accessory (or piece of furniture) you use in your designs?
Side chairs and ottomans are my favorites because of the flexibility they offer a room.
What’s your favorite vacation spot?
I don’t have one specific vacation spot. I love to travel and try to visit at least one new place a year for inspiration! Morocco, Paris, Havana and Buenes Aires are some of my favorites.
Show us a picture of the room you most enjoyed designing and tell us why you love it.
I enjoyed decorating this room (which is the dining room in my guest cottage) because I got to play around with my Harlem Toile De Jouy wallpaper and these colorful Fornasetti chairs. I love mixing antique pieces with more contemporary things in the same space, even if it is small.
Sheila’s Hudson Valley dining room
One of Bridges’ Harlem Toile designs
gives me the willies
HATER!!!!!
miss hater don't assume so much needs to be just what you like a lot of us are virsitile. miss hater.
we all here for like and dislikes not haters
I am SO HAPPY to have come across this article on Sheila Bridges' Harlem Toile designs! I have always loved toile and desired to use it for window treatments for both my bedroom and my daughter's bedroom. This is the first time I have ever seen toile depict Black people, and I think Ms. Bridges has done a wonderful job at creating a whimsical and wonderful toile pattern. I only wish that the bedding came in as many wonderfully delicious colors as the wallpaper (and in twin size, too).
Gives me the willies, as well. She must have something against her african american side.
terrible
Wonderful!
I REALLY MISS YOUR SHOWS… PEARL
Thank you for posting this blog! I have never heard about this designer until now. She is an amazing designer and her strength with her Alopecia is very inspiring. I developed it about a year and a half ago and it has been a challenging battle.
Not a fan of this room the chairs look just UGH! ….I will definitely search for her other work though. Those chairs are awful! I like the wall paper
the fabulous thing about design is that it is very personal. everyone doesn't like the same thing which is why there are so many wood/paint color/fabric/furniture choices. this room is very unique. I love the idea of the harlem toile. what a nice way to pay homage to Blacks.
DEAR SHELIA: I WOULD LOVE TO GET INTO DESIGN. HOW DO I GO ABOUT DOING THAT. IT HAS BEEN A LIFE TIME DREAM FOR ME. ETHELENE
I wish people would realize what the word "unique" means. It starts with "uni" as in unicycle (one wheel), and uniform (one style), then there is universe (guess) – anyway, unique means ONE OF A KIND. It can't be very unique or somewhat unique – it means the only one like it. It doesn't mean different or unusual. As in perfect, it either is or it isn't. People have messed up the meaning of this word to the point that when they really mean "only one of its kind" they feel they need to say the whole phrase so people will know what they mean. Sad loss of a perfectly good and useful word.
Born and raised in Harlem l really love the Harlem Toile Ms Sheila. Where may I buy?
Ms AUDREY M. JACKSON
i to am in love with the Harlem Toile, i would like some to use to decorate my wall.
Have admired Sheila's work for many years. Love the Harlem Toile–the first of its genre that I'd consider using in my home!
I love your designs. Just discovering you and love it! The toile is fabulous, I have always like it even as a little girl and now with people of color…awesome
would like to orderthe African American wallpaper toile