Required Reading: In the Company of Women

We got to know Design Sponge’s Grace Bonney shortly after we launched Remodelista almost a decade ago—when she featured my Mill Valley house or linked to one of our posts, we felt we had arrived. Over the years, she’s built a mini empire and helped launch the careers of dozens of designers, artists, and makers. So we were happy to get our hands on her new book, In the Company of Women, just out from Artisan, which highlights over 100 creators and their stories (Grace calls it her “dream dinner party come to life”). Join us for a look at seven notable designers from the book:

Photographs are excerpted from In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from Over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs by Grace Bonney (Artisan Books). Photography by Sasha Israel, except where noted.

Above: In the Company of Women is currently available for $22.43 on Amazon.

Above: Like Grace, we’re big fans of Australian product and furniture designer Sibella Court (including her new hardware collection for her own company, The Society Inc). “Sibella has an innate sense of style and always knows how to make a home feel welcoming and comfortable,” Grace says. “She constantly inspires me with her ability to turn any room into an uplifting space.” Photograph by William Meppem.

Above: Michele Quan’s ceramic bells and sculptural chains (shown here, in process on a worktable) are a must-have detail in stylish interiors everywhere. “Michele’s work is instantly recognizable no matter where it is,” says Grace. “I’ve followed her work since I first moved to Brooklyn in 2003. Her ceramic bells are one of the few pieces I purchased in those days, with which I will never, ever part.”

Above: One of our favorite names in fashion and eco-conscious design? Eileen Fisher. “Any time I’ve felt uncomfortable in my clothes, I return to Eileen Fisher for designs that I know will make me feel cool, calm, and confident,” Grace says.

Above: Ariele Alasko‘s elongated dark-wood serving spoons and perfectly round cutting boards—seen here hanging on the wall in her Brooklyn studio—add an organic note to any kitchen. Says Grace: “Ariele has introduced a new generation of makers to the art of woodworking.”

Above: Boldness, color, and the occasional irreverent detail are hallmarks of Sheila Bridges’ rooms (case in point: that wall of stripes in her home office in Harlem). “Sheila’s bold point of view is a breath of fresh air in an industry that can too often find comfort in things looking the same,” says Grace.

Above: If you follow Justina Blakeney’s Instagram feed, @thejungalow, you’re familiar with her love for lush plants and bohemian texture. “Justina’s passionate and enthusiastic love of all things colorful and patterned reminds me again and again that design can, and should, be fun,” says Grace. Photograph by Echo and Earl.

Above: For their Block Shop textiles, Hopie and Lily Stockman partner with a master printer in Bagru, India, and use traditional Indian hand-blocking techniques to create modern, California-cool designs. Bonney admires their “dedication to the well being and success of the talented artisans they collaborate with on their designs.”

For more women makers, pick up In the Company of Women and check out our posts:

• Trend Alert: The Sculptural Table Lamp, 5 Examples
• Expert Advice: How to Decorate Like a Frenchwoman
• Bel Étage: At Home with Designer Kerstin Greve in Lisbon, Portugal