The owner of a quirky new hair and beauty salon in County Durham has been on cloud nine as her dreams of becoming a business owner came true.
Business is booming at Clique Salon in Newton Aycliffe ran by award-winning stylist Cheryl Balcombe who made her dreams of running her own salon come true after 23 years in the industry.
Cheryl, 39, set up Clique which she calls a "hidden gem" last summer but has only now, much to her delight, finished works on the bright jungle-themed salon this month.
Offering up everything from cuts and colours to beauty work including facials and aesthetic procedures, Cheryl and her team have been hard at work to expand their client list.
"I just knew I wanted that freedom of having my own place and harness that freedom to be able to go and do my own thing", she said.
"I had always known I wanted to open my own salon, and a vision board I had for the interior has been the same for years.
"Eventually, we just decided to go for it and we've been given the freedom to do everything ourselves and make it the way we want it. I felt like now was the right time to branch off and do it on my own."
Pictures of inside the salon show walls and mirrors covered in bright flowers and greenery paired with bold and flamboyant wallpaper.
Gold and black accents were then picked by Cheryl for the chairs and mirrors to compliment the bursts of loud colour.
"I'm a big advocate for colour," Cheryl explained, stating she did extensive research into schemes that would work together whilst she was decorating.
"We did a lot of research on colour schemes as I know there are a lot of salons which have white walls and black tiles - but I knew that isn't what I wanted my salon to look like.
"We want it to be calming and for the clients to feel relaxed, they tell me that every time they come in they look around and there is something new to see."
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Also part of the team is beautician Iona, stylist Jackie and their apprentice Ellie, who have all seen a huge amount of support from the community since the salon opened.
"So far, it has been amazing. It feels really emotional," Cheryl said.
"I never thought that I would be in this position - it has been an absolute wild ride. We just did it all on our own and it's so sentimental for us.
"It feels like this is where I'm meant to be."
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