Our Team

Owner Cheryl Renella

Cheryl has over 30 years experience within all facets of the beauty industry. She apprenticed under industry stalwart Syd Simons, and has balanced owning and operating her own spa/studio along with freelance work in LA for TV shows and movies and in New York City for Fashion Week. She also accompanied European tours such as the Rolling Stones as a freelance artist.

Cheryl currently owns Channing’s Spa and Studio located on prestigious Oak St. in Chicago. Her specialty in corrective brow shaping has garnered significant media attention and multiple “Best of Best” honors in Allure, Michigan Avenue Magazine, NBC Chicago, ABC Chicago, Fox Chicago and the Chicago Tribune.

She has been fortunate to list as clients multiple Presidents of the US, First Lady of the United States, Angelina Jolie, Whitney Houston, Terri Hatcher, Julia Roberts, Joan Cusack, Vince Vaughn, Ted Kennedy and numerous high profile individuals on both coasts.

Our Lash Master & Nail Technician Grace

Grace Sokolowska found herself in the world of cosmetology after arriving from Poland. She obtained her cosmetics degree in 1996; leading her to discover her passion, extensions – eyelash extensions that is! Grace is truly a lash artist. She is certified by Xtreme Faux Mink eyelash extensions since 2006; however, Grace became a certified Xtreme Lash Master in 2008. Grace only uses high quality lashes to enhance your look. Her expertise and precision separates her from the rest of the Lashing community.

Grace is also an amazing Nail technician; for both hands & feet! She also provides services in reflexology. Eyelash & brow tinting are a forte for Grace as well. Grace caters to her clientele making her the ideal technician with a range of services to provide.

Grace’s other love is her family! On days off, you can find Grace spending time with her grandson teaching him both American and Polish culture.

Our Lead Aesthecian & Certified Health Coach Natallia

Natallia explains the approach she brings to her position: “Being an aesthecian is a passion that gives me a feeling of a great satisfaction. Having a nutritional background, I approach the skin from the stand point of understanding the wholeness of our body, and how everything is interconnected in it.

“Modern technology gives me many tools to provide creative and effective service during every single client visit. It’s a lot of fun to observe my clients’ beautiful transformation and I am grateful to be a part of it!”

Our Acupuncturist Hona

Dr. Hona Backstrom is a board certified acupuncturist and herbalist. She has her Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine and is currently finishing her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

Hona’s holistic approach focuses on treating mental, emotional and physical health. Raised by a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Doctor of Holistic Therapy she intuitively instills these philosophies into her practice to deepen the mind-body connection. Hona believes in gently guiding each patient on their path to wellbeing and empowers them to take change of their health.

Hona speaks both Spanish and English and received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Translation and Business with a background in modern dance. Today she enjoys continuing her studies of dance, along with camping, hiking, and horseback riding.

Our Massage Therapist Violeta

Violeta Barbolyuk’s greatest passion is to find a solution for your pain and restore the equilibrium (the state in which one feels emotionally and physically rejuvenated.) Violeta feels it is her duty as a therapist to teach you how to maintain your well-being at home with self-treatment tools to enhance your healing experience.

Violeta became Licensed Massage Therapist soon after arriving to the United States in 2008, quickly realizing her gift of healing. She graduated from Estelle Medical Academy in Skokie, Illinois. While working as an LMT, she has also completed a 2 year MRI program at Aquarius Institute becoming an ARMRIT Registered MRI Technologist.

Violeta has realized that in studying all aspects of the human body, focusing on perfecting her art of body therapy, and actively emerging herself in the teachings and outlooks of Myofascial Release Therapy lead by John F. Barnes (an internationally recognized physical therapist, lecturer, author, and the leading authority on Myofascial Release), gives her the knowledge she applies to her clients every day. Always in search of excellence and additional education on the human body and its fascia keeps Violeta motivated and excited to pass on her knowledge and beliefs of healing.

Our Team

Owner Cheryl Renella

Our Lash Master & Nail Technician Grace

Our Lead Aesthecian & Certified Health Coach Natallia

Our Acupuncturist Hona

Our Massage Therapist Violeta

Channing’s Studio & Spa

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