Biggest Design Challenges
Published: June 21, 2010
This month, we asked salon owners who
had recently completed renovations or
new salons the following:
What was the biggest
challenge about your
design and how did you
overcome it?
“OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE was ensuring the quality
of light within the salon. In order to do their best work,
our stylists need diffused, shadow-free illumination that
renders color and texture with absolute accuracy. We spent
a lot of time experimenting with mock-ups of the salon’s
lighting system, modeling the way in which light would
be distributed within the space. Our final solution was to
mount our light fixtures above a free-floating, ceiling plane,
which was perforated with a series of round openings. This
ceiling, which we dubbed the “cloud of light,” mediated
and diffuses lighting throughout the work area, giving us
exact quality of illumination we were seeking.”
EILEEN LEFEVER AND GORDON NIXON
CITRINE SALON
CHAPEL HILL, NC
“HOW DO YOU IMPROVE an award-winning design
and well-established brand image? This was the design
dilemma that challenged our design team. How could we
make our new salon current and fresh, be consistent with
our brand image, and at the same time, not date the design
of two other salons that we have in the region? As it turned
out, the design challenges for our new salon gave us the
opportunity for our brand to evolve, broaden and improve.
The spa area in particular has become quiet, intimate and
sophisticated. Each zone of the spa has been given its own
temperature controls—something that doesn’t show, but
which makes a significant difference to the comfort of our
clients. The finishes and details are more luxurious and
refined. The Corian vanities and Toto sinks in each of the
treatment rooms are lit by low-voltage undercabinet lights.
The view through the frameless glass shower door reveals
textured stone tiles and a river stone floor.”
RANDY CURRIE
CURRIE HAIR SKIN NAILS
WILMINGTON, DE
MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE was striking just the right
balance between being a contemporary salon to attract
younger clients, but remaining warm and friendly enough
to entice older clients. I overcame these challenges by
designing the interior to be fun, yet warm and inviting. I
chose warm colors and decor. All cabinetry is made of an
eco-friendly faux wood with black trim. Furniture and decor
is done in primarily black and white, offset by a rich, red
trim. The walls contain photographs of my family and other
friends, adding a soft, personal touch. The photos, done
by an award-winning local photographer, are done in black
and white, with splashes of red. Also, storage space was
incorporated into the dispensary, as well as the cabinetry
at each stylist’s station to improve our appearance and
eliminate clutter.”
DANA J. HOWARD
EVOLVE SALON
MECHANICSBURG, PA
“CREATING A SALON that encompasses all of our design
aspirations and functionality within 1,200 square feet was our
most challenging part of this project. We began our design
processes by challenging how to best coordinate the traffic
flow between stations and amenities, albeit creating a small
but accessible retail area in the lobby. Once we laid out the
floor plan we challenged our designer to create a space that
brought in water, earth and fire elements within the design.”
SHELLY JOSEPH AND KATIE PAULSON
BLUE H2O SALON
ROCHESTER, MN
