HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON THE STYLE OF YOUR SALON INTERIOR?
I was inspired by my surroundings in the Cotswolds and sensitive to the nature of the building which is made from stone. Décor wise, I wanted to keep things soft, modern, contemporary but with a country feel.
WHERE DID YOU FIND THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR DESIGN?
I am lucky that my manager Jane is very good at interior design and one of my closest friends is an interior designer so I had a good team of people around me. When I was planning the salon we had lots of evenings with moodboards and a glass of wine to talk through ideas and inspirations. It was great to get different opinions on what might work and what might not practical for our team as well as the clients.
DID YOU USE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
I worked closely with my friend Rachel Bird. It was great to work with someone who brought my ideas to life and added her own sparkle to make it even more special.
DESCRIBE THE VIBE CREATED BY YOUR INTERIOR
One of the main aspects was creating an environment that was luxurious, relaxing and sophisticated. We’re in the middle of the country and wanted to create a real secluded but private atmosphere. There’s no passing trade – our only neighbours are the sheep in the fields!
WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR CLIENTS’ FIRST IMPRESSION TO BE WHEN THEY WALK IN?
I hope they get the feeling of space when they walk in. We’re situated in the middle of a 5,000 acre estate and there is nothing around us. We are a destination salon –people have to make a decision to come to us rather than walk past the door – so we have to create somewhere that they want to come to. We have a secure car park and have an exclusive feeling for those who take their hair seriously.
TELL US WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS OF YOUR SALON DESIGN?
Exposed beams, original Cotswold stones, lots of space and contemporary furnishings.
DO YOU HAVE ANY CURATED PIECES OR SPECIAL FEATURES/AREAS IN THE SALON?
Our bronze chandeliers are a real talking point. They hang from our high ceilings and are very opulent. Our exposed beams have the original Roman numerals engrained in them and our clients love reading them when they are at the backwash.
HOW HAVE YOU EMBRACED SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE DESIGN?
The building was built with original Cotswold stones and we have used natural materials throughout wherever possible. Our lighting is all LED and we have a comprehensive recycling system.
WHAT SALON SOFTWARE DO YOU USE AND WHAT FEATURE OF IT DO YOU FIND MOST USEFUL?
We use iSalon in the salon which is great for our business. We can print out reports, see different ways of gaining new clients, what services are working for us and how we can improve on our retail.
WHAT SALON FURNITURE HAVE YOU CHOSEN AND WHY?
It’s a bit of a mixture of REM and Gama furniture and bespoke pieces.
DO YOU HAVE DRESS CODE/UNIFORM FOR YOUR TEAM?
We tend to stick to the traditional black, but I do like a pop of colour every now and then!
