I have long been an admirer of my guest’s work. I introduce to you, Sheila Bridges. I have always appreciated her eclectic style and combining of vintage and modern pieces to create a complete look. Whether she is decorating a stylish loft or a country home, her work somehow has a hip yet timeless quality. Over the years she has been an interior designer and has done high-end residential projects for many prominent entertainers, entrepreneurs, and business professionals including the Harlem offices for former President Bill Clinton and his staff. She has also done custom design for interiors including her new line of outdoor furniture for Arthur Lauer which will be available this Spring. She is the host of a successful interior design series on the Fine Living channel called – “Sheila Bridges – Designer Living”. She is the author of “Furnishing Forward; A Practical Guide to Furnishing For a Lifetime” which is now in paperback. Her work has been featured in numerous shelter magazines including O The Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Elle Décor, In Style, and House & Garden. Sheila is a regular contributor to NBC’s Today Show and has appeared on Oprah. She shares time between her home in Harlem and her weekend home in New York’s Hudson River Valley. So with all that said, thanks Sheila for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us at Design*Sponge! I hope you enjoy the following interview where Sheila gives some of her insights and inspirations and talks about her recently launched blog – The Nestmaker.
Q: You tend to combine vintage and modern pieces of decor and furniture when you design…how did you get started doing this and what does it bring to a project?
A: I have always done this as a designer. I tend to work on spaces that are not overly decorated so it works to be able to mix styles and periods of decor and furniture, and colors. I think it makes a space always look current when you decorate that way. Drawing from a diverse range of styles is inherently interesting in decorating – it brings the space to life. I think it is also one way that you can make a space authentically yours. In that way, it becomes a reflection of my clients and not me.
Q: What is the most eclectic job you have ever worked on as a designer?
A: Eclecticism is inherent in being a designer. I get to work on so many different types of jobs. No two days are the same for me. I may be designing wallpaper or furniture and then later be at an auction at Sotheby’s. My job allows me to do many eclectic things and that is what I love about it. In interior design, it is always a new challenge to combine my client’s pieces with new ones I bring into the space.
Q: You have a keen eye for color. What is your favorite paint brand and a few favorite color combinations?
A: I use many different brands of paints but one that I use most often is Farrow and Ball. I find they consistently have more pigmentation and greater depth of color and their colors are more historical. I am especially fond of their blues and greens. I like to experiment with different color combinations. On one project, it may be greens and grays, the next it may be pinks, yellows, and blacks, or blues and browns.
Q: Who and what are you most inspired by?
A: I am most inspired by travel and nature. It could be travel anywhere that inspires me – Miami, LA, South Africa, or Hong Kong. Whenever I travel, I am like a sponge – soaking up all the visual cues and color combinations.
Q: What is your most recent hidden travel “gem”?
A: I can’t share or it wouldn’t be a gem! I love those sort of hidden, quiet places… This year I am traveling to Argentina, the Galapagos Islands, and Beijing for the Olympics. I know I will find a lot of inspiration to draw from those trips.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant?
A: I don’t have a favorite – I prefer to cook at home, actually. I’m a home-body – that’s why I became a professional nester. I tend to cook at home on weekends. I love having small intimate gatherings with friends – dinner parties and cocktail parties, especially when the weather is nice and we can go outdoors. I like any opportunity where I can play with decorating – choosing the right napkins, and stemware, and planning the food.
Q: How has having a blog changed the way you do business?
A: It forces me to keep up with new resources and trends in the marketplace. People look to my blog for the same information as when they watched my TV show – they have the same expectation. It helps me be current with these products and services. It is also helping me reach out to a younger generation of design-savvy consumers.
Q: What’s the newest project up your sleeve?
A: I will be working on several residential projects in Manhattan – an apartment in the Village and one on the east side. My wallpaper design, “Harlem Toile“, was recently accepted into the permanent collection of The Cooper-Hewitt Museum. In the past, I have done a lot of custom design for clients. But not everyone can afford custom design so I am working on designing some home furnishings products available through Bed Bath and Beyond, Arthur Lauer, and other sources.
Q: What would you get up early for?
A: Any flea market anywhere in the world, a run in Central Park with Dolby, or a flight to somewhere interesting or exotic.
