LENOX, Mass. — Mother and daughter duo Paula Mlynarski and Casey Christopher have a passion for art and they are expressing their creativity together through nail design. 

 

They opened House of Polish, a nail studio, last month on Housatonic Street. 

 

Mlynarski has been a licensed cosmetologist since 2006 and worked as a nail technician at Nails by Silvia and at Evergreen Salon in Pittsfield. Christopher says she always had a passion for art and got her manicurist license through the Monarch School of Cosmetology.

 

Mlynarski says she convinced her daughter to go to nail school last summer.

 

"It's actually amazing," she said of Christopher. "She's got this natural ability for it and picked it up so fast and she's getting ready to surpass me."

 

The two also took classes with Dylan Pritchard, known as the "Nail Whisperer" on Instagram.

 

"I've always wanted to do something with art and my mom was showing me what she was doing, and I was like this was cool, I could see myself doing this," Christopher said. "So seeing what she was doing everyday, these little tiny pictures on so many different set of nails, it was something I was very drawn to."

 

Mlynarski was looking for space when she drove by 4 Housatonic St., the former Lenox Chamber of Commerce, and saw it was for lease. Within the week, she called, met with the landlord, and signed a five-year lease on Oct. 1 last year.

 

"It was empty for quite some time while they renovated it, so it was a blank slate and I was like, yes, I can do this here, I can put this here, I can already see it," she said, adding she told her landlord, "I was like sign me up if you're ready, I'm ready."

 

The space features large windows, vintage tile flooring, and bright pink, purple and red plush seating, and several comfortable nail stations.

 

They would eventually like to host events and parties for their customers.

 

"I would love to incorporate some other events in the space. I'd like to maybe do a book club or a monthly some sort of art meet and greet," Mlynarski said.

 

Mlynarski and Christopher hope to be a place where patrons can enjoy getting their nails done and hang out as well as educate their customers on their nails and care.

 

"You have someone come in and they have some fungus underneath their toes or under their finger, instead of just servicing them and putting polish back on it, let's help them and teach them and give them the product to get rid of it," Mlynarski said. "Let's help make it better for you and give you a more positive experience, so I want to help educate customers too because its important. When you walk into a nail salon you should know what the products are that people are using on you."

 

One of the inspirations behind Mlynarski starting this business was to have a place for her daughter to make a career.

 

"It's been nice to be able to work together and have our own space together," she said. "Just be together working and trying to make her financially independent. So, my goal is for her to be able to afford the space herself and then once she can it will be hers. So that's the plan to give her a career."

 

Christopher, in turn, see this as an inspiring opportunities for her son.

 

"A lot of it's for him and for him to have a better future and to, you know, see that there are jobs out there that you don't have to feel like you're grinding away every single day, mindlessly, like there is definitely jobs out there that do make people genuinely happy and I think I've found mine which is just nice," she said.

 

They also would like to continue that inspiration by helping others who are interested in learning how to do nails.

 

"I want to share my knowledge with all of the young girls who want to do nails. If you want to learn, my door is open for you to come anytime and sit and ask questions," Mlynarski said.

 

House of Polish offers pedicures, manicures and art nails. Prices range from $45 to $70, with add-ons extra. Services are by appointment but they have had walk-ins now that the weather is warmer.

 

"It's nice weather, there's lots of foot traffic, people are banging on the door and calling and it's just been a really nice slow and steady uptick of customers," Mlynarski said.

 

Make an appointment or ask a question through the website; walk-in appointments are by availability Monday through Saturday, 10 to 5.