When we decided to pull down our duplex that we had owned since 1975, and rebuild it, we had the good fortune to be referred to Jillian Douglas for design help.
From the moment we met Jillian, I knew she was the right choice for us – dispelling my concern that a designer could be opinionated, bossy, inflexible – and expensive. She outlined her fees and there was no deviation from them. She understood that our duplex was to be a practical, rentable property but sufficiently up-market if we chose to live in one of the units ourselves, at some point in the future.
Jillian was nothing short of amazing, full of energy, great ideas and nothing was too much trouble. She was readily available with suggestions and always happy to take us to showrooms and other construction sites or neighbourhoods, and to liaise on every decision that needed to be made. She was with us from the ground up – from bricks and stonework, roofing, windows, flooring, bathrooms and kitchens, fireplaces, railings , closets, paint colours, everything. CONTINUED.
She would offer us a choice of products and we never felt obliged to take the most expensive – she would highlight the pros and cons of something and we would make the decision together.
She had an excellent rapport with all the various trades that were involved in our construction and that was also very reassuring.
Our duplex was completed in Spring 2020 - with some delays, thanks to the Covid pandemic impacting some of the trades. Jillian was with us to the end, and I am so thankful for that. I miss her smiling face, and all the fun and laughter we shared during this time – I can’t wait to have a celebratory glass of bubbly with her when socializing is back to normal.
As someone left with the responsibility of updating a Caribbean Villa, that needed to be transformed from a property of primarily personal use, to an attractive, updated rental home, I needed help! Not to mention, I was on a tight budget.
Jillian’s sensitivity to the colours and layout that reflected the ambience of the Tropical surroundings was spectacular. And her common-sense, straightforward approach to sourcing material and labour, and imagination for repurposing and updating existing pieces, made the exercise as cost effective as possible. Her positive energy and “anything’s possible” attitude, had her turn a daunting task into a wonderful experience. Thanks Jillian, you are a lifesaver!
We were fortunate to work with the incredibly talented and creative designer, Jillian Douglas. Jillian guided us throughout the entire process of our new build to create an original visual story beginning with ground up construction of choosing brick and stone to innovative interior features from flooring, tile, millwork, and furniture. Jillian proved to be a professional and experienced designer from the moment we met by not only guiding us, but also asking questions to illuminate our tastes and personalities in our new home. Jillian created a design full of beauty, skillfully executing ideas which fused our desire to use natural and sustainable materials and blend modern and traditional features.
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Jillian’s distinct style and eye for detail created a beautiful aesthetic space with flow and balance for us to live, work, rest, entertain, and enjoy life as a family. Working with Jillian was the best choice we made which helped guide us through what can be a stressful time of building a new home. Her joyful, professional, and calm demeanor was evident throughout our meetings on site as well as when choosing materials. We were in awe of the many positive relationships she has with builders, trades, as well as many design and boutique stores throughout the city. Thank you, Jillian, for designing our home full of luxury, comfort, and beauty!
We worked with Jillian Douglas Design in 2017/2018 when we undertook a major project to tear down our house and rebuild. At times it was overwhelming, and we were so grateful for Jillian, who helped us through the entire process, from picking fixtures and finishes, to offering opinions on furniture and lighting. She also helped us work with the builder and supervised a lot of the work that was being done on site.
Jillian always made herself available when needed, and we had a lot of laughs along the way. She was a pleasure to work with, from start to finish, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a design professional.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with Jillian on two homes and a cottage. The results of each has been spectacular! She has an incredible ability to listen and understand your tastes and preferences, and therefore can create and execute a vision exactly to your liking. And, importantly, Jillian makes the process from start to finish so much fun. After the completion of each of our projects, I have felt withdrawal because I wanted to move on to the next design project with her!
Jillian helped us with every part of our renovation. She was always smiling, pleasant and reachable. We had lots of laughs and she made the experience so much fun! Her expertise and eye for detail is second to none. She found us both high and low pieces that fit our taste and budget. Every day when we walk into our home, we are in heaven. There’s nothing we don’t love! It’s all thanks to Jillian.
Never could we have imagined how Jillian Douglas Design was able to transform our home. Jillian's dedication to all aspects to our project and understanding our needs is what made all the difference. I continue to say "wow" every time I walk through our front door. Thank you Jillian.