My name is Sally Bridge, and I am the Founder and Creative Director of Sally Bridge Design and designer of Couture Rustic Modern, Wrought Iron furnishings and lighting. My furniture is made in the rolling green hills of Umbria, Italy.
Why Iron?
I view iron as a painterly line, ideal for the gestural quality and aesthetic I aim to achieve in my pieces. I distill my concepts of gestural lines and graphic shapes to create a visual image, which then informs my pattern-making and specifications.
My Design Journey
My design career began in the fashion industry, where I created a clothing line that gained national recognition for 14 years. I designed mid-century modern classic pieces suitable for both office and evening wear, and I became particularly well-known for my dresses. Examples of my work can be viewed by clicking on the Fashion Days tab.
I started my education at the University of Toledo, my hometown, where I studied at the Toledo Museum of Art with a focus on sculpture. My father was a sculptor who made props for movie sets, ensuring I always had access to materials for creating art and opportunities for research through museum visits.
My transition to furniture design occurred after I retired from the clothing line in 2009 and purchased an apartment in a ruin just outside Panicale, Italy. Determined to craft most of the furniture for my new home, this endeavor evolved into an international business in 2008. My work caught the attention of AD Magazine Russia through my website, which significantly propelled my business forward. Shortly thereafter, I was invited to join the prestigious gallery Maria Elena Kravets in Cordoba, Argentina, where I showcased my work at elite art shows, including Art Palm Beach and SOFA New York (Sculptural Objects and Functional Art). I was honored to be featured in The New York Times
“Women on the Street.”
Passion for Furniture Design
Furniture design is an absolute passion for me; it nourishes me creatively, emotionally, and spiritually. Everything is intertwined with fashion and design- your home, your community, how you live, and how you present yourself to the world. The objects you choose to wear and surround yourself with reflect your appreciation for craftsmanship, even down to the intricacies of how hinges are made.
Helena Bonham Carter encapsulates this sentiment beautifully with her quote:
“I think everything in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone, and how you talk. Your smile and your personality. What you believe in and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How you decorate your home or party. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks. And the way you feel. Life is Art”
