Salon Furniture
DirGroup Salon Furniture & Design Articles
New beauty boutique opens in Stroud
Apr 10th
A new beauty business has opened its doors in the Gloucestershire town of Stroud, offering a whole range of pampering treatments for clients to enjoy.
The Shine Nails and Beauty boutique is based in Bankfield House, in the Wallbridge region of Stroud. It offers a range of treatments, with everything from facials, manicures and pedicures to waxing, spray tans and eyebrow threading on the beauty menu.
As well as the extensive list of treatments and the very latest salon equipment on offer, business owner and experienced beautician Julie Tyndall wanted to make sure that the Shine Nails and Beauty boutique offered luxurious surroundings to clients too. She explained:
“My clients can be assured they will receive a quality service by an experienced therapist in a relaxing and luxurious environment,”
“We spent a long time looking for the perfect premises in the town centre with its own car parking that met our high standards and now we have found that.
“I have been in this business for almost a decade and I want every visit to be an enjoyable experience – like your own mini spa treat.”
Salon design: how to do it differently and stand out from the crowd
Apr 9th
So many hair salons and beauty spas these days end up looking the same, their design schemes a product of playing it safe and a lack of imagination.
Some salon owners think that the one look that you see everywhere– white walls, black salon chairs, identi-kit mirrors and styling stations – is what a hair and beauty space should look like. The truth is, this same uninspired look is boring, unoriginal and completely forgettable. It will make your salon look like every other salon out there.
You need to instead have a very clear vision for your salon, drawing on many sources of inspiration and using expert advice to realise it. Use your own tastes and personality to inspire your choices, and don’t be afraid to experiment.
If you don’t know where to start with designing your salon, these tips should help:
• Combine simple, functional salon furniture with more original, bespoke and exciting pieces
• Get rid of the graphic displays of models and haircuts; consider putting up some soothing artwork or promoting a local artist
• Get only the highest quality, decorative mirrors – your clients need to be able to fully appreciate the sterling work of your stylists
• Experiment with lighting to create different moods and effects
Nicky Clarke opens new hair salon in Spinningfields, Manchester
Apr 8th
Celebrity hairdresser Nicky Clarke has opened a brand new hair salon in the up-and-coming area of Spinningfields in Manchester.
The launch event for the new Nicky Clarke salon, located on the Avenue, took place last week and was attended by a host of famous faces.
Amongst the 200 VIP guests present at the launch were soap stars Kieron Richardson, Jorgie Porter and Hollie-Jay Bowes from Hollyoaks, England cricketer James Anderson, the actor John Thomson and premiership footballer Morten Gamst Pederson. The guests enjoyed complimentary cocktails from The Alchemist bar and also cake-shaped treats courtesy of Hey Little Cupcake, both of which are nearby.
The stunning new salon is notably very spacious, being as it is spread over two floors and with elegant and luxurious high ceilings. Along with state-of-the-art salon equipment and two private treatment rooms for VIP clients, the salon boasts a team of experienced stylists on hand to deliver expert advice and inspiration.
Nicky Clarke has other plans for 2011 aside from the new Spinningfields salon, as he is set to launch a care and styling range as well as a line of innovative electrical products.
Salon design inspiration: Atelier in Hertfordshire
Apr 7th
The Atelier Salon & Spa is based in a Grade II listed building in the beautiful Hertfordshire village of Redbourn. The charm of the building’s exteriors is echoed indoors, with salon décor that is contemporary yet homely and welcoming.
The look created in Atelier by owners Lorraine Fletcher and Karen Hyam is in keeping with the overall style of the building. Matching the traditional wooden ceiling beams which date back to 1637 is a collection of bespoke oak salon furniture, with everything from the juice bar to the reception desk created out of the finest natural materials.
The salon has plenty of modern touches too, the most striking being the chic patterned wallpaper on feature walls and the stylish leather and stainless steel waiting chairs. Atelier is beautifully lit by a combination of chandeliers, candles and a flood of natural light, creating a sense of space and freshness in a comfortingly cosy salon.
Speaking to the HJi Hairdressers Journal, Owners Karen and Lorraine explained that creating a balance between contemporary design and décor that matched the traditional nature of the building was important to them. Karen said:
“We had a clear idea of what we wanted to achieve from the beginning, so sourced all the fittings and furniture ourselves and worked closely with the architect,”
Five top tips for choosing the best salon equipment
Apr 6th
Starting up a new salon or spa from scratch can be an extremely daunting prospect, as there is so much to design and buy. However, you need to get organised and make plans before even thinking about spending money.
It’s a good idea to sit down and plan out exactly what equipment you will need for your salon and how it will all fit in. Follow these tips:
• Draft a menu of treatments and services (i.e. manicures, facials) and work out what salon equipment you will need to be able to offer them. Revise your treatment menu and list of equipment according to your budget. Consider the space you have available in your salon, and how much equipment you can feasibly fit in without overcrowding the space.
• Get the basics right. Ensure that you look for salon equipment that is comfortable, high quality and easy to clean.
• Consider style and extra features. The salon equipment you choose needs to fit in with your salon’s décor, offer extra facilities and features to enhance the clients’ visit, as well as being simple for your staff to use.
• Grab a bargain. Buying items like salon chairs in bulk is often a good way to get a discount, as is comparing prices before buying.
Feeling the squeeze? Top tips for small salons
Apr 5th
If your salon is larger or smaller than the average establishment, you may have to do some extra planning to figure out how best to use the space.
For large spaces this means planning the layout and finding ways to avoid an empty, cavernous ambience and make the space more welcoming. However, the challenges are greater for the owners of small salon spaces.
Whilst you can’t add any space onto your small salon or adjust anything about it structurally, you can design your interiors so that it appears larger. Above all, your salon should feel cosy, not cramped.
So, if you’re feeling the squeeze, try these handy tips:
• Install floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets, with doors that slide across rather than open out.
• Make full use of any windows. Don’t block them off, as the natural light they let in will help to open up the space.
• Use mirrors effectively. This means using them to make the salon seem larger, but not placing so many that the client feels on display from all angles.
• Have a place for everything. For example, you could fit a little shelf near the floor under styling stations for the client’s handbag.
• Be creative with lighting
• Use the same flooring material throughout the salon
Mandara opens new spa in Moscow
Apr 4th
The luxury spa management company Mandara Spa has opened its first spa in Moscow, Russia, after conquering everywhere from the Bahamas and the South Pacific to Thailand and Japan with over 70 unique beauty spas.
Based at the Lotte Hotel, the 1,500 square metre Moscow Mandara Spa is designed to deliver the ultimate spa experience. Drawing on the Balinese influences that the brand is known for, the spa offers treatments which include:
• Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial
• Mandara Massage
• Oxygen Therapy Massage
Taking its inspiration from the breathtaking landscapes of Asia, the spa is designed with the theme of nature in mind. Along with the latest salon equipment, the Moscow Mandara Spa boasts a hydrotherapy area, Jacuzzi, sauna, silk bath, relaxation lounge and seven earth-toned treatment rooms complete with gold and black mosaic tiles.
Noticeable decorative features in the Mandara Spa include lotus metal sculptures, a subtle lighting scheme, a gorgeous beige and coffee colour palette, chandeliers and a whole corridor filled with stunning Asian artifacts.
The President of Mandara Spa Asia Limited, Jeff Matthews, has said:
“We are very excited with our first introduction into Moscow in collaboration with the esteemed Lotte Hotels and Resorts and look forward to sharing the unique ambiance, design and distinctive Mandara Spa experience with guests of the Lotte Hotel Moscow.”
Razor-sharp design at Manchester men’s salon
Apr 3rd
Razor 34 in Manchester is another fine example of what you can achieve with a combination of traditional and contemporary design.
There seems to be a bit of a trend among new salons at the moment, where the stakes are upped by taking on near-derelict buildings that have been empty for years, and transforming them into havens that lead the way in terms of salon design.
Set in a former textile mill which also happens to be a Grade II listed building, Razor 34 has used reconditioned antique furniture, original features and modern touches to create a stylish but welcoming barber shop.
The waiting area boasts comfortable leather sofas, while an antique trunk serves as a coffee table. The wall behind is decorated with wallpaper printed with books on bookshelves – one of the interior design trends for 2011 which perfectly complements the feel of the salon.
Classic barber chairs face framed mirrors, while a Union Jack painted onto the original industrial wooden flooring adds colour and a focal point to the room.
The combination of dark leather, wood and substantial solid furniture sits in happy contrast with this splash of colour and the chandelier lighting, and creates a masculine space that also feels warm and comfortable.
Offer your clients added relaxation with a massage chair
Apr 2nd
Seated massage has been practised for centuries – ancient Japanese block prints illustrate massage practises with the receiver sitting on a low stool.
It was only in the 70s and 80s, however, that seated massage began to be more widely practised both in corporate and therapeutic contexts, and its profile was raised within the community of massage professionals.
Then, in 1986, a massage therapist in California developed a chair specifically designed for chair massages. His original aim was to develop the demand for massage in Western culture by removing the need for people to undress behind closed doors, and to create a more affordable service.
The first chair was a simple portable wooden chair that allowed the masseur easy access to the client – a far cry from the sophisticated models on the market today that no longer require the human massage practitioner.
Our chairs can offer manual, automatic, air pressure and vibration massage, with added features such as heating functions and even an mp3 player!
Whilst employing a masseur in your salon may not be an affordable or practical option, our sophisticated models of massage chair mean that you can offer your clients accessible luxury and relaxation, which could be an attractive additional feature that makes your salon stand out from the rest.
Is it time to shed some light on your salon’s cleanliness?
Apr 1st
The right lighting scheme is essential in any successful salon. If you invest in high-quality lighting and put some thought into the design of your lighting, the finished effect makes your salon and your clients look good.
For inspiration when designing your dream lighting scheme, interior designer Karen Poole has some sage advice. Speaking to Behind The Chair, she said:
“Too many landlords offer salon tenants a package of drop ceilings with those 2 x 4 rectangular fluorescent fixtures. Don’t take it!”
Poole advises using a combination of fluorescent, halogen and incandescent lighting.
Once you install new lighting…
You may notice that your salon is far dirtier, dustier and generally grimier than you previously imagined. The dull, drab lighting you had before may have hid a multitude of sins, but your new lighting will expose every flaw. This is why it’s essential to keep your salon spotless, starting with these handy tips:
• Hire a cleaner to come in regularly or make cleaning more a part of staff duties
• Keep an eye out for damaged or scratched salon furniture or equipment
• Organise a deep clean session in the salon once a month
