Holley & Gill

Ever felt love at first sight? I did when I received a message from Michelle on twitter. Michelle, along with her husband Conrad, recently opened a shop in Montreal dedicated to handmade headboards. I would describe their style as modern, sophisticated, and refreshing. And what sets them apart from other shops I know is they not only share their processes but their mission is to educate the consumer and teach them how much love and hard work goes into every piece. So let’s meet the sweet couple behind Holley & Gill, shall we, eh?

Tell us about yourselves.
I’ve been a graphic designer and illustrator by trade for over 10 years but needed a wider outlet for my creativity. My husband who works in business development and marketing supported and helped me with realizing this new venture. We opened up our Etsy store in December but have been building Holley & Gill up for the last year. When I say “we”, I do mean myself, Michelle, and my husband Conrad. We live in Montreal, Quebec but Conrad is originally from Hampshire, England. With two young children, we strive to always push ourselves outside of our comfort-zones. Holley & Gill is an ongoing project that allows us to follow our dreams, become better parents and hopefully use this as an example to our children that they should never let anything hold them back.

What do you specialize in?
We specialize in designing original products for the home that are environmentally conscious and have a story to tell. Each and every piece we have made and will make in the future will have some unique quality in the craftsmanship and design. We also collaborate with artists who compliment our design and production process resulting in a vision that we can be proud to put H&G’s stamp on.

How did you come up with the name Holley & Gill?
Holley is my grandmother’s maiden name and Gill is Conrad’s mothers maiden name, so naturally it provides a great basis for a family partnership.

Why do you share your process?
We want to make products that evoke curiosity. Our customers want to know when it was made, who made it and how it was made. Sometimes we will make a new product and just let it sit in our studio for weeks before we decide on whether to go ahead and put it out there under our banner. Other times, we just get pleasure out of making something even if we never sell it. We share our process to emphasize that all of our pieces are designed and made in Montreal, Qc. It also gives us complete control over every stage from conception through to creation. For us, it’s about a quest to offer the finest in quality, design and style combined with product provenance; “The purpose or history behind the design of the product.”

What are your hobbies?
Having two young children certainly keeps us busy! However, we always surround ourselves with hobbies that revolve around our passion for living with design. Whether it’s surfing the web on our favorite blogs or simply seeing the beauty in nature on our family walks, our hobbies always lead us to people or places that inevitably inspire.

Thank you Michelle & Conrad!
website | etsy | twitter | flickr