We had the good fortune of connecting with Gillian Segal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gillian, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
resilience – as an entrepreneur and in many things in life – we make mistakes, we have failures and we have setbacks. Always making the choice to learn from these is something I know has contributed to any success I have had. Giving up just isn’t an option for me, even though there have been times I have felt like it.

trusting my gut – whether it’s about a hire, a potential client or a design idea I always try to go with my intuition and instincts – times when I’ve ignored this have quickly reminded me to listen to that little voice in your head.

Done for the day list – I am an obsessive list maker. When I have a lot to do, making a list is my first step in organizing my thoughts. The problem with a list, is that for every item you tick off, 10 more are ready to be added. One thing I’ve found has really helped me to dive into deeper “real work” vs. small tasks is making a done for the day list. This consists of 6 items (3 personal and 3 professional) that must be accomplished before I can turn off for the evening. I focus on both the most urgent things, but also deeper creative tasks that can sometimes be left by the wayside when you are just focusing on the day to day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I reflect on the spaces we’ve designed, the things I’m most proud of is the diversity of styles and elements and the relationships we have formed with our clients and the project team.

Starting your own business is not the easiest path by any means, but for me it’s the most rewarding. There are constant challenges, however having grit and relying on my team – both at home and at my studio has been the way through. When it comes to our team, that’s another thing I’m extremely proud of. Each and every employee is an incredibly kind, talented and supportive person who contributes to an amazing culture at our studio. Finding and keeping amazing talent is the pillar of my business.

There have been too many lessons learned the hard way, but a favourite related to my team is hire slow and fire fast. Finding the right people takes time, and even when you’re desperate for more help, you are only as strong as your staff. At the same time, if something isn’t working, it’s usually pretty obvious and time to make a change.

Our brand is all about creative collaboration. This applies to our team, to the makers/artists/builders/trades we work with, and most importantly our clients. The partnership we have with our clients while working on their spaces is truly magical and is what keeps me going. Our clients truly are our project muse.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love this question! We are actually based in Vancouver, but work a lot in LA, so I will give you my favourite spots for when I am in town visiting:

On my last trip to LA I stayed at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel and it lived up to the hype. The customer service is unparalleled and if you want a truly LA experience this is a great place to stay. Drinks at the polo bar and a good book by the pool at the BHH is so peaceful and luxurious. When I’m on this side of town, I generally spend a lot of time in the WeHo Design district checking out furniture and decor, like a true design nerd. A few favourite spots include Formations, Woven and Rose Tarlow. I also love seeing what Art Angels has on display and generally cant resist a pop in to The Real Real for a little shop. Some of my favourite restuarants and watering holes on this side of town are: Charcuterie and wine at Wally’s, chefs tasting menu at Matsuhisa, Olivietta Cecconi’s. To offset all my eatin and drinking I love to hike Runyon or do a quick Barry’s.

On the other side of town, I stay at one of my all time favourite hotel’s, the Santa Monica proper. I love being close to the beach, and the design of this hotel is truly unparalleled (thank you, Kelly Wearstler!). Their rooftop pool and bar are favourite hang out spots for sure. I love biking around Venice and Santa Monica and have some favourite spots to go there too – Great White for lunch, and Gjelina for dinner. An afternoon trip down to Malibu for sushi and cocktails at Nobu is another favourite.

One of my all-time favourite LA activities however is vintage furniture shopping. I love wandering through JF Chen, Obselete, Maxfield, Blackman Cruz, The Mart Collective and Galerie Half. A few other must-hit design destinations: The Future Perfect, Nicky Kehoe and Kelly Wearstler’s Flagship store.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Adam who is a constant cheerleader and gives me the best business advice.

x

Website: www.gilliansegaldesign.com

Instagram: @gilliansegaldesign

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFe8G4UsZeV914iueRDO7Rw?app=desktop

Image Credits
Nick Mele Photography, Ema Peter Photography, The Collective You

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