African American Designers don’t often get their flowers and I wanted to take this time in the middle of Black History Month to salute them and their achievements. These are my favorites and I know there are many more, but I’ve listed my seven favorites. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy learning about these incredible ladies and their wonderful achievements.
Sheila Bridges Design – Sheila Bridges
I consider Sheila Bridges to be the OG Black Interior Designer for me. I remember seeing her for the first time on her TV show “Designer Living” on the Fine Living Network and being fascinated that there was actually a career in interior design. I know I’m dating myself, but this was around 2002 when I first saw the show.
I never knew you could make a career out of it. I know you’re probably thinking to yourself “that can’t be”, but as a woman of a certain age, I only knew the basic doctor, lawyer, teacher and business professions for black people. Of course, I knew of black fashion designers and artists, but interior design wasn’t even on my radar. So when I saw Sheila, I was smitten. She was from the Northeast (Philadelphia) like me (Connecticut) and her family was similar to mine in that they collected art and were well versed in antiques.
She is touted as becoming mainstream when she designed President Bill Clinton’s offices in Harlem, but those in the know knew about her way before then.
She was also the first interior designer I saw who created products to sell. Living and working in Harlem, she designed the Harlem Toile du Jouy pattern which takes the original French toile pattern with scenes of country living and turned it on its head by showing black people and their everyday activities like double dutch and picnics among other scenes.
I follow her on Instagram and she’s always traveling to exciting places in Europe and even has an apartment in Iceland! She has been named Best Interior Designer by Times and CNN and has won numerous other awards. It really is a beautiful life when you do what you love.
On the grounds of the US Naval Observatory, Number One Observatory Circle has been the official residence of the Vice President of The United States since 1977. Sheila Bridges is honored to have redesigned the public spaces of this historic residence in 2022. According to Bridges, the primary objective of her design and decoration was to honor the talent and ingenuity of modern American artists, makers and craftspeople by furnishing the first floor with a diverse cross-section of furniture styles and pieces designed and fabricated in the United States.
This pastoral wallpaper paired with the detailed molding, patterned sofa and pillow creates a very special vignette in this picture.
Hay House located in Hudson Valley, NY is a 1600 sq ft barn that has been updated to still blend in with the environment. Her designs have an elegant classicism but always include a certain something that makes you smile, whether it’s art, wallpaper, or the
“Watermelon” flag on the outside.
This is the famous Harlem Toile which is on wallpaper, decorative accessories, soft furnishings, fashion, etc. She also has other wallpaper lines, writes books and collaborations with Williams and Sonoma, Le Creuset, Wedgewood, Gingerlily, Converse and too many more to name. As you can tell, she is my shero.
Sheila Bridges x Williams-Sonoma
Malene B. – Malene Barnett
Malene Barnett is a Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist-designer and owner of Malene B, an art and design studio from which she produces textiles and ceramics. I first became acquainted with her by seeing some of her textile rugs
In November of 2018, Barnett founded the Black Artists and Designers Guild (BADG): a “curated collective of Black artists and designers throughout the African diaspora,” as Barnett succinctly describes the group. As a champion of black designers, she has a searchable directory of not only interior designers, but architects, fine artists, ceramicists, textile and furniture designers from North America, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean.
She just wrote a book called “Crafted Kinship”. It’s available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop and Bam@ Books-a-Million. She’ll also be on a book tour throughout 2025. Please check out her website for dates and locations.
This living room is a neutral lover’s dream. By no means boring, the combination of her wallpaper, pillows, rattan coffee table, textural pendant in the dining room, natural rug, and the wispy plant with fluffy moss, makes this a symphony of texture. Her wallpaper is in collaboration with Lulu and Georgia.
I love this rug with this improvisational, organic pattern designed for Ruggable.
Her process of breaking tile to create large scale mosaic art pieces is one of her signatures.
I could go on and on with her artistry, but I’ll end with one of her ceramic pieces. She received an MFA in Ceramics and these pieces are absolutely stunning.
Blessed Little Bungalow – Amber Guyton
I started following Amber Guyton and her Blessed Little Bungalow brand on Instagram and fell in love with her and her colorful designs. She designs with joy, patterns and colors that you wouldn’t think to put together, but in her hands, it works. Her gallery wall game is unmatched and she’s come out with a line of wallpaper that is killer.
Based in Atlanta but born in South Carolina, Amber’s work has been featured and recognized by notable organizations and publications such as HGTV Magazine, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Forbes, Ebony, Apartment Therapy, Domino, Hunker, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Atlanta Magazine’s HOME, Good Housekeeping, and many more. She’s definitely on the rise, but I love her for being transparent about mental wellness and how she deals with life. She’s like my daughter in my head.
This is just one of the many colorful designs by Amber Guyton including her famous use of artl. I keep coming back to this room because that blue color on the walls just makes me happy.
Blessed Little Bungalow Portfolio
REAL SIMPLE Home in Brooklyn, NY. I would gladly do laundry so I could be in this room, wouldn’t you?
Blessed Little Bungalow Portfolio
Since I’m a thrifting and vintage shopping girl, this telephone booth made me go crazy and the pop of red against the purple is fabulous.
Blessed Little Bungalow Portfolio
I saw this powder room in person at the Atlanta Holiday Showhouse and the artwork and art spoke to me. A powder room is always a good place to go over the top.
This is just one of the many patterns of wallpaper she has designed for Mitchell Black. This was a natural progression for her since she’s a master at mixing patterns and textures.
Blessed Little Bungalow x Mitchell Black Wallpaper
Indigo Pruitt Design Studio – Marie Cloud
Marie Cloud of Indigo Pruitt is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and she’s a girl after my own heart with her love of mountains in the fall over beaches in the summer. I love her even before I’ve even met her. Her design firm is a firm believer that home design and wellness are intertwined. Her spaces are a testament to her building relationships with her customers in order to create classic and timeless designs with a modern touch. After working for Sherwin Williams before starting her own firm in 2017, she is a color expert and that’s evident in her creations.
She is a leader in her community and has led several initiatives for the homeless in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. She is also on the board for Highpoint x Design leading the movement for diversity and inclusion. This year she has even been picked as a designer for the Kips Bay Palm Beach Showhouse. You go girl!
What can I say about this kitchen? It is stunning with the green backsplash and the stunning yellow/gold light fixture.
Large scale art, patterns and textures make this neutral room sing.
I love a dark and moody room and this office doesn’t disappoint. I love the way the purple patterned curtains play off of the green walls.
Love the attention to detail on every single surface of this bathroom. It could have just been “normal”, but she turned it into something spectacular. That’s my kind of designer..
Forbes + Masters – Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters
Tavia and Monet have crafted a boutique, luxury design firm that is nothing short of astonishing. I found them on Instagram a few years ago and have been impressed with them ever since. Based in Atlanta, they each had separate companies that would come in contact with each other frequently. In 2015 they decided to combine forces and become Forbes + Masters. They create bold, eclectic designs that are unique and custom to their clients.
Featured in Architectural Digest as “9 Designers on the Rise” as well as “The New Creatives”, they have also appeared in House Beautiful and Luxe among others. They are also quite the fashionistas which I appreciate; having a complete brand from head to toe complements their design aesthetic.
Check out this eclectic office by F+M. The mix of Mid-Century Modern and Art Deco is a pairing that is unique and custom for their clients.
Rich green and gold makes this bedroom look so cozy.
A design collaboration with Mitchell Black featuring the modern style of Forbes + Masters. It’s like a work of art.
Forbes + Masters x Mitchell Black Wallpaper
Again, their wallpaper is really art isn’t it?
Forbes + Masters x Mitchell Black Wallpaper
Romanek Design Studio – Bridgette Romanek
Bridgette is based in Los Angeles and is a designer to the stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce and Joe Jonas. She has been in the AD100 for the past five years straight and is also on Elle Decor’s “A” List and 1st Dibs “50” List for the last three years. She thought she wanted to be a lawyer, but when someone heard her sing, she was snapped up by a record company for a girl group. After leaving the music industry, she was designing handbags for friends and it soon led to Barney’s and other high end department stores ordering her designs. After having several sample sales in her home, everybody raved about her home and a star was born. Opening her own firm in 2018, she creates stunning interiors that embrace the historical touches but brings in modern silhouettes.
She’s collaborated with Maison Margiela, Christie’s and Birdie’s to name a few and wrote a book called “Livable Luxe”. A lighting collaboration with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams was the first collaboration they had ever done with an outside designer. Let’s just say that Ms.Romanek is one talented woman.
She specializes in this classic California Casual look and she is one of the best at it.
Another California Casual bright living room.
From the paper chandelier to the light aqua chairs and the art, this dining room is so chic. An older project but it is one of my all time favorite rooms!
Romanek Design Studio Portfolio
Bridgette and Loloi rugs have collaborated on a rug and pillow collection that follows her design vision. This fluffy natural rug is just gorgeous.
Laura Hodges Studio – Laura Hodges
Out of all the designers in this series, Laura Hodges is the one that is closest to my design style. A mix of Organic Modern and Industrial, she uses unique vintage finds and art to create an eclectic design. Located in the Baltimore/DC area, Laura was actually born in Northern England. She got her Interior Design degree in New York and opened her boutique firm in 2016. Being a mother of two young children, she started out part time and gradually developed a very loyal clientele.
Honored by both House Beautiful as a “Next Wave” designer and Traditional Home, she was also named one of the top 20 designers by Sothebys in 2020. With a LEED certification for sustainable design, she wants to increase the awareness for sustainable design in the world. DOMAIN is her brick and mortar shop and online store located in Maryland.
This kitchen is the perfect mix of Organic, Rustic and Industrial.
I am crazy about the design of the outside of this house. All of the wood is so beautiful.
This beautiful kitchen from the Southern Living Showhouse is a master class on classic design and she even used her own cabinetry line with Unique Kitchens & Baths.
These are some of the products at her store called Domain.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but every one of these designers speaks to my personal style and I wanted to share them with you so you can see their talent. If you know of any African American designers that you love, please let me know and in the spirit of Black History Month, we will celebrate them.
See ya next time!
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