In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, let us give a toast to five women who have raised the bar in interior design. Known for their luxurious styles and refined tastes, these women have become a force to be reckoned with in the design field.

Photo by Rei-artur via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0

Victoria Hagan

The founder of Victoria Hagan Interiors and Victoria Hagan Home has been in the interior design business for almost three decades. Known for her clean, sleek style and use of neutral and sophisticated colors, Victoria Hagan creates designs that are a mix of natural, modern, and traditional elements, among others. She has designed residential and corporate interiors as well as her family’s home in Connecticut, which showcases her impeccable style.

Hagan’s expertise in the field has not gone unnoticed; she was inducted into the Design Hall of Fame in 2004 and was named “Furniture Designer of the Year” by ELLE Décor and Architectural Digest in 2006.

Barbara Barry

While it may be true that white is the absence of color, a blank canvas oftentimes is simply an invitation to inspiration. Barbara Barry is perpetually inspired by nature. Her flawlessly designed rooms showcase bright and muted hues that remind homeowners of the different shades of flowers. Earth tones and wood are also commonly seen in her designs. Her office in California is like an empty canvas that draws out her and her staff’s creativity.

A source of inspiration | Photo by MAMJODH via flickr. CC BY 2.0

Barry’s career in interior design spans three decades. She opened Barbara Barry, Inc. in 1985 and, with her eye for elegant styles, has partnered with several renowned companies, namely HBF Furniture, Tufenkian Carpets, and McGuire Furniture, among others, to design signature products for them. With galleries in Singapore, Thailand, and Russia, Barry truly deserves a place in the Interior Design Hall of Fame.

Sheila Bridges

Dubbed “America’s Best Interior Designer” by CNN and TIME Magazine, Sheila Bridges is a household name in the world of interior design. She founded Sheila Bridges Design, Inc. in 1994 and later ventured into designing furniture for Sheila Bridges Home, Inc. Her wallpaper designs are featured in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

One of her most high-profile projects is the offices of Bill Clinton and his staff in Harlem, New York. She has also brought her refined designs to the Ivy League, specifically to Princeton University and Columbia University. Bridges’ designs are described as high-end and her projects include bold statements, ensuring that her preference for the traditional will never be termed old-fashioned.

Madeline Stuart

Being chosen by Architectural Digest to design the 2013 Oscars Greenroom is nothing to scoff at. Madeline Stuart was able to breathe life into her vision of a 1930s setting by designing a room reminiscent of old Hollywood glamor. Her traditional designs are not overpowered by the stuffiness that is often associated with old-world styles.

Stuart, a “Star of Design” recipient from the Pacific Design Center in LA, is known also for restoration and remodeling. She makes architectural wonders out of old houses designed years ago by other famous people from her field.

Charlotte Moss

Charlotte Moss is not afraid to push limits, which is probably why she was given “The Timeless Design Award” and the “Circle of Excellence Award” by the Royal Oak Foundation and the International Furnishings & Design Association, respectively. The images in her portfolio are a mix of several elements at once, a fusion of old and new styles. Patterns and textures are a common sight in Charlotte Moss designs, giving an opulent touch to homes.

Twenty-five years in the interior design business have made Moss a household name, both in residential and commercial designs.