Designer Crush: Barbra Bright Design
Author:Lindsey ShookBay Area designer Barbra Bright was born to be a creative star. Starting her career as a dancer, she moved into design early on, where she found her passion for mid-century style. Known for her keen ability to mix color, texture and pattern, her work is both fun and functional. Here, she shares with us what inspires her daily to be both creative and happy.
-How did you get your start in design? I was a dancer in a nineteen-piece show band, and it was time for a career change. Through friends, I met Larry Lowenthal (owner of Gilmans Kitchens and Baths) and he asked if I would be interested in a design assistant position. Well, I loved it and went on to study design at Canada college.
-How do you describe your style and what makes it unique? I love mixing color, patterns and textures to create bold, livable interiors.
–Who are some of the artisans and furnishing brands you love to work with and why? Daniel Ogassian makes the most beautiful tiles that bring interest and dimensionality to walls and floors. Flavor Paper is my go-to wallpaper for their visually striking designs. Their motto is “not your gramma’s wallpaper.”
-Who are your biggest professional role models and why? Martha Stewart, she has done it all—publishing, broadcasting, merchandising and prison. Her brand is always evolving—she even had a cooking show with Snoop Dog.
–Describe one particularly memorable project and what made it so special. That would be a vacation home in Discovery Bay. Part of what makes any project special are clients who are kind and open to suggestions. These clients were both. I assembled a team of craftsmen and together we created an environment that was unique and timeless.
–What’s your dream vacation destination and itinerary? Hiking the Cinque Terra on the Italy’s northern coast. The centuries old seaside villages have sweeping vistas of the sea and classic Italian cuisine.
-What’s your ideal Saturday from a.m. to p.m.? Coffee, then a five-mile hike with my dog, Jupiter. Big, big breakfast. Relax and read the rest of the day.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
–Favorite cocktail? Michter’s Rye, neat
–Most quotable movie or TV show? “Gooble, gobble, we accept her, we accept her, one of us, one of us.” – from Freaks (1932 movie)
–First concert? I wish I could remember!
–Current celebrity crush? Colin Kaepernick
–Favorite book? One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez,
