After designing two previous salons, one salon being the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, KOEDAM DESIGN was asked by one of their oldest clients to move their salon to new premises at Beecroft. This salon was to occupy two levels of a heritage listed shop.
Downsizing from the existing large salon space with thirty cutting stations, ten wash basins, offices, childminding rooms, beauty rooms plus separate staff spaces and lockers, salon laundry, change room and storage facilities, was to be an interesting prospect. This salon in the heritage building, was to occupy two levels, but was in a much reduced floor plan space.
The client, a leading Australian and international educator, also used her salon as training space, as well as studio space for her photographic and video presentations. On occasion, the space was also used by other trainers and educators, as well as a photographic studio space. The space became a lecture space too.
The design was to honour the heritage building, but to allow the contemporary usage and equipment of a hair salon. The ground floor houses reception, with traditional style designed counter and retail display, housed the salon cutting and styling area, plus three wash basins as well as a child minding room, open kitchen, closed laundry and client bathroom facilities. Large floor timber vintage framed mirrors and contemporary circular glass wall hung client tables sat on taupe aged walls along with a spectacular chandelier. Vintage furniture, Bergere armchairs were hand finished with black to the frames and then upholsterered in a combination of black and taupe stripe and traditional style floral fabrics. These chairs were placed in reception and on the first floor to allow for clients to relax and catch up with a friend or sit with a magazine and a cuppa.
The first floor was dedicated to the colour space with three wash basins and walls lined with mirrored storage cupboards, that were used as colour stations, as well as the training space. Long benches, that looked through to the heritage buildings facade windows, were used as training benches to clip mannequin heads to, as well as for clients to work at or read a magazine with their refreshments, while their colour processes.
On the first floor an office was located as well as a colour lab and small tea/ coffee facility. The first floor timber floor boards were stained with an anthracite and walnut stain to attain a perfect colour to juxtapose with the contemporary mirrored walls. The ground floor’s original floor was removed during building and due to the wear and tear of a hair salon, a timber look vinyl board was laid to match the first floor. Due to the success of the vinyl, both usage wise and visually, this floor was also laid at their Breakfast Point salon.
“ Once one has found something of a personal and unique character, it’s execution must be exploited and pursued without stopping ”