In 1993, Sheila Bridges made the bold move to Harlem, New York, drawn by the neighborhood’s vibrant cultural legacy of celebrated influential African American writers, artists, and activists. It wasn’t long before she established Sheila Bridges Design, Inc.—a firm that would soon become synonymous with visionary creativity and impeccable style.

Bridges is revered as a tastemaker with a keen eye for both the classic and the contemporary. For over thirty years, she has crafted interiors that are not just beautiful, but also reflect her profound appreciation for timeless aesthetics and quality craftsmanship. From reimagining the Harlem offices of former President Bill Clinton to redecorating One Observatory Circle (the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris), she has attracted a diverse and high-profile clientele. Her signature style has also graced the halls of Columbia University and Princeton University, where her work seamlessly blends history and modernity.

Bridges’s often vibrant and richly layered interiors are deeply informed by their architectural and historical contexts. This ability to translate cultural narratives into visual form has earned her international acclaim, with her designs collected by the Brooklyn Museum, the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian National Design Museum, the RISD Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and most recently, the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Originally from Philadelphia, Bridges has earned degrees from Brown University and the Parsons School of Design, with further studies in the decorative arts at Polimoda in Florence, Italy. Today, she divides her time between her homes in Harlem, the Hudson Valley, and Reykjavik, Iceland, where she continues to push the boundaries of design across continents. 

As a designer in residence at AAR during fall 2024, Bridges will return to the city that sparked her interest in interior design while studying abroad at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture in 1985, and use her time in Rome to gather inspiration for the next chapter of her design career.

The photograph of Sheila Bridges was taken by Nick Carter.