That’s a Wrap 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, I find myself savouring this time to pause and reflect on everything the year has brought. There’s something incredibly grounding about looking back at the journey—celebrating the highs, learning from the challenges, and setting intentions for the future.

This year has been a vibrant tapestry (I’m still in love with all that I saw at the Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh this fall, hence the tapestry reference) of inspiration, growth, and connection. From meaningful collaborations – thank you Christopher Farr Cloth – to crafting homes that embrace the power of frictionless living and holistic design, 2024 has been about creating spaces that truly support and enhance the lives of those who inhabit them. Travel continued to fuel my imagination, introducing me to fresh perspectives (Cape Town and Amsterdam to name just two), stunning designs, and people who share a passion for beauty and craftsmanship.

As I wrap up the year, I feel more inspired than ever to push the boundaries of my creativity, and I can’t wait to share the ideas and projects already coming to life for 2025.

This year, our industry has seen its share of ups and downs, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have stayed so busy with clients who come to us not just because they need a designer, but because they truly connect with who we are and what we stand for. There’s a profound difference when someone seeks us out because they love our aesthetic and align with the values and vision we bring to every project. Those connections make our work deeply rewarding and allow us to create homes that feel authentic, thoughtful, and transformative.

When we have our clients trust its seen from every angle in every room we touch. 

For me, sanctuary is more than an idea or a theme—it’s the very essence of what home should be. This year has reaffirmed my belief that a home isn’t just a place to live—it’s a space to truly thrive. It’s where beauty, functionality, and intentionality come together to create harmony and ease in our daily lives.

This year, I’ve been reminded of the transformative power of thoughtful design. From crafting spaces that embrace frictionless, holistic living to fostering a deep sense of connection between people and their homes, every project has been about creating environments that nurture and inspire. It’s been a joy to work with clients who share this vision and to bring their dreams to life in ways that feel authentic, restorative, and uniquely theirs.

Several clients have significantly elevated—or are in the process of elevating—their bathrooms this year. These spaces are transforming into retreats designed to soothe and nurture, with features like Japanese soaking tubs and infrared saunas creating environments focused on health and well-being. 

These projects are also technically complex, requiring precise specification and installation. I am deeply grateful to our incredible partners—vendors, architects, engineers, and builders—whose expertise and collaboration bring our designs to life, making our clients’ visions a reality.

Last September, we celebrated our 20th anniversary in business! For me, this was undoubtedly one of the standout moments of 2023. I could hardly believe that I’ve been working in Canada for two decades and that my studio has become so well-established (I was tempted to say old, but established sounds so much better!).

I felt incredibly blessed to share this milestone with so many wonderful people—friends and family, past and current clients, professional partners, and my incredible team, both past and present. 

It was a truly special evening, filled with joy and connection, and the happy energy from that celebration stayed with me for a long time afterwards.

So that’s a wrap on 2024 and our newsletters – thank you for your continued support and readership. 

A heartfelt thank you to all our amazing clients for inviting us into their homes and lives and trusting us to create spaces that truly reflect and support them.

Thank you to everyone that we collaborate with on our projects – other key professionals, trades, workrooms, makers, and vendors.

And last but certainly not least, a huge thank you to my incredible team—Monique, Silvia, Cristina, Kate, Tricia, Bonnie & Reba the Bear. Your talent, dedication, and support make everything we do possible, and I’m so grateful to have each of you by my side.

However, you choose to spend this season, I wish you peace, joy, and good health.

This year Gillian Gillies Interiors has donated to the North York Harvest Food Bank as part of our annual client gifting, and we have donated the profits from sales on our Studio Collection cushions & tissue box covers to Shelter Movers.

Thank you all for your continued support and readership.

Credits and Other Misc Musings – Hot chocolate, plaid trousers and a knitted sweater and a pile of cut firewood – all are images that to me resonate with this time of year!  Images from our Seasonal Board on Pinterest, All other images belong to GGI and are from our client projects – well apart from the one featuring our guest book from our holiday party! 

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