Where the Mermaid Lives

I cannot wait to read The Bald Mermaid, the memoir of interior designer Sheila Bridges. The book, published by Pointed Leaf Press and available for sale August 1, 2013, details Ms. Bridges's diagnosis of alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that took her hair and changed her life. " 'There's a lot about decorating and design in my new book, because that's part of my DNA,' Sheila Bridges says [in House Beautiful, July - August 2013]. 'But when I lost my hair as a result of alopecia, that presented a whole new set of challenges for me, both personally and professionally. I got through it, but I wanted to write about issues of self-esteem. I hope the book will help people to feel more comfortable in their own skin." A high-profile black woman in the rather white world of design, Ms. Bridges began her career as an assistant at Shelton, Mindel and Associates, and later designed the Harlem office of former president Bill Clinton. The July 18, 2013 edition of the Wall Street Journal features Ms. Bridges's Harlem home, while her kitchen appears in the July/August 2013 edition of House Beautiful. I share the photos here. Enjoy . . . 


Ms. Bridges is "known for her use of color. On the walls of her front hall, Orange Blossom by Benjamin Moore. The 'B' pillow was made by Pintura Studio." Ms. Bridges found the painting at the 26th Street flea market."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"In the dining room, a collection of horse-themed plates from Hermes. Ms. Bridges uses the painted console to store china."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"A painted French antique desk in the living room. The convex mirror above is one of Ms. Bridges's favorite objects. The striped silk on the chair is from Beacon Hill Fabrics."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"The Swedish grandfather clock is 18th century, and from Evergreen (now shuttered). Ms. Bridges collects all manner of timepieces."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"In the dining room, a gouache by Samella Lewis from 1949 belonged to Ms. Bridges's parents."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"In the dining room, a Venetian glass chandelier from Sutter Antiques in Hudson, N.Y. The Swedish salon chairs are upholstered in linen. Ms. Bridges bought the Roman bust in the corner from the D and D Building when she was 30."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"Ms. Bridges found this painting at a gallery in Quebec. The piece in the vitrine, a head with a diving mask, is from Hudson, N.Y. The dog painting is by Earl Swanigan, an outsider artist in Hudson. Ms. Bridges bought it to remind her of Dolby, her Jack Russell, who died in 2008. The '70s ball light, under the table, is from Ms. Bridges's parents' home in Philadelphia."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"The walls of the guest room are painted with phrases from Ms. Bridges's favorite authors, from Dr. Seuss to Zora Neale Hurston to Langston Hughes. She had so many books, she said, she ran out of space to store them. 'I realized it wasn't so much about the books, but the words that mattered,' she said. The pair of ink on paper works were painted by a monk in Vietnam. The velvet settee is one of Ms. Bridges's own designs." 
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"Ms. Bridges made her dining table by pushing two Swedish demi-lune tables together."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"The faux-marble-topped painted console table is from Tepper Galleries (an early favorite of Ms. Bridges that closed in 2010). The painting above is from Elliott Galleries."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"In the guest room, another painting by Earl Swanigan, the Hudson outsider artist."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"Before Ms. Bridges moved in, her apartment was used for film shoots. Spike Lee's 'Jungle Fever' was the last film shot there. The floor under the rug in the living room is still stained with fake blood from Samuel Jackson's character."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).

"In the front hall, Ms. Bridges' collection of Moroccan slippers."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).


"The designer Sheila Bridges in the Harlem apartment that has become her calling card. (The building, Graham Court, was constructed in 1901 by the Astor family and designed by the architects responsible for the Apthorp. Before she moved in 20 years ago, the apartment was used for film shoots. That blue is Oval Room Blue from Farrow and Ball."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
"Weeding Out the Riffraff" by Penelope Green.
New York Times (Thursday, July 18, 2013).
   
"The glint of silver in the Torino Damask wallpaper by Sheila Bridges works well with stainless steel; a Fisher and Paykel refrigerator, a Bosch dishwasher, a Bertazzoni range, and a GE microwave. Globe lantern by Alison Spear for Stephanie Odegard. Paint is Benjamin Moore's Hemlock on cabinets and Farrow and Ball's All White on floor."
New York, New York, kitchen of interior designer Sheila Bridges.
Photography by Annie Schlechter.
Styled by Gregory Bissonnette.
Interview by Christine Pittel.
"Kitchen of the Month" produced by Samantha Emmerling.
House Beautiful (July - August 2013). 


 "Grecian White polished-marble subway tile complements the Carrara Marble countertops; both from Home Depot; the range is Bertazzoni."
New York, New York, kitchen of interior designer Sheila Bridges.
Photography by Annie Schlechter.
Styled by Gregory Bissonnette.
Interview by Christine Pittel.
"Kitchen of the Month" produced by Samantha Emmerling.
House Beautiful (July - August 2013). 

"An antique pot rack frees up cupboard space. Friends can sit on the antique Swedish chairs and talk with the cook."
New York, New York, kitchen of interior designer Sheila Bridges.
Photography by Annie Schlechter.
Styled by Gregory Bissonnette.
Interview by Christine Pittel.
"Kitchen of the Month" produced by Samantha Emmerling.
House Beautiful (July - August 2013). 


 "A pattern of interlocking cubes - Osborne and Little's Balyan, from the Maharani collection - makes antique chairs look more contemporary and picks up the color palette."
New York, New York, kitchen of interior designer Sheila Bridges.
Photography by Annie Schlechter.
Styled by Gregory Bissonnette.
Interview by Christine Pittel.
"Kitchen of the Month" produced by Samantha Emmerling.
House Beautiful (July - August 2013). 

 "Kohler's farmhouse sink is paired with a Kingston Brass Heritage Collection faucet."
New York, New York, kitchen of interior designer Sheila Bridges.
Photography by Annie Schlechter.
Styled by Gregory Bissonnette.
Interview by Christine Pittel.
"Kitchen of the Month" produced by Samantha Emmerling.
House Beautiful (July - August 2013).

" 'I never met a stripe I didn't like,' says Bridges, who chose Osborne and Little's Killarney, embroidered with white ovals, for the Roman shade."
New York, New York, kitchen of interior designer Sheila Bridges.
 Photography by Annie Schlechter.
Styled by Gregory Bissonnette.
Interview by Christine Pittel.
"Kitchen of the Month" produced by Samantha Emmerling.
House Beautiful (July - August 2013). 

"Bridges's Torino Damask wallpaper in Blue Metallic has a reflective quality that catches the light. It shimmers in the daytime and adds a glow at night."
New York, New York, kitchen of interior designer Sheila Bridges.
 Photography by Annie Schlechter.
Styled by Gregory Bissonnette.
Interview by Christine Pittel.
"Kitchen of the Month" produced by Samantha Emmerling.
House Beautiful (July - August 2013). 

"Lugarno pulls in polished nickel by Restoration Hardware add a silvery note to the cabinetry (bird not included)."
New York, New York, kitchen of interior designer Sheila Bridges.
Photography by Annie Schlechter.
Styled by Gregory Bissonnette.
Interview by Christine Pittel.
"Kitchen of the Month" produced by Samantha Emmerling.
House Beautiful (July - August 2013). 

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