3 mins
CONTEMPORARY cool
This Huddersfield salon exudes class and style. You can tell a lot of love and care has gone into the design to make it work for both male and female clients
The light-filled Black House Salon in Huddersfield is committed to doing better for the environment, better for the community and giving back to the industry through education. As owner Robbie Woodhead explains: “I wanted Black House to be a multi-use space. The salon has been designed for educational events, our large floor space is perfect for look and learn events which I will be hosting as soon as I can.”
It’s not just the multi-purpose nature of Black House Salon that is worthy of mention. The interior stands out too. The muted pink, black and white colour scheme, complemented by white marble floors, brings a luxurious feel to the open plan space. The shades were chosen for their gender-neutral appeal. With a 50/50 split between male and female clients, Robbie wanted the design to appeal to everyone. The contemporary design features industrial elements giving a nod to the local area and its roots. “I chose concrete furniture throughout to add an industrial feel,” says Robbie. “Real concrete was my ideal choice but once I researched the environmental impact of concrete, I decided to commission a local furniture maker (Gray Furniture Makers) to design and make the reception desk and styling sections.”
The environment was a consideration when it came to the lighting choice as well. “I decided to use LED strip lighting above the shop floor, suspended at various heights above the stylists. I used LEDs because they are much more eco-friendly. I researched the perfect Kelvin rating (whiteness/warmth) of 4,000k to mimic natural daylight as much as possible to give a true image of clients’ hair colour. I used spotlights under the mezzanine at the backwash area which were also 4,000k but chose to go slightly warmer in the bathroom and in the seating area, so it felt a little more inviting and less cold.” It’s Robbie’s technical research that has made this salon such a design success. Robbie is all about the fine details, and after a few false starts with a contractor, he came to realise the importance of great service. “For example, my chairs and backwashes are from Salons Direct –I ended up choosing them because their sales team service was exceptional. Throughout the design process good service was something that became increasingly important for me.”
The effortlessly chic and stylish theme continues with the choice of paint colour. Most of the walls within the salon are painted with Farrow and Ball paint (Off Black, Sulking Room Pink and All White), apart from one wall in the smaller and more intimate waiting area. “This corner is a little homage to my love of interiors. It has ornate gold trimmed wallpaper which has lots of interesting details within it on one wall and another wall has a few of my favourite I-D magazine covers from over the years to give clients something new to look at every time they visit,” he describes.
The artwork in the salon was all bought from a Belgian company called Juniqe who do a broad range of inexpensive but on-trend prints. “Above the reception desk we have the salon’s logo in vinyl vertically placed down the wall so that it’s visible not only from inside the salon, but also from the street outside,” Robbie adds. Eye catching and beautifully executed – Black House Salon is a design success.
ROBBIE’S TOP TIPS
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Make sure you communicate your expectations effectively and continuously to make sure everyone is on the same page.
BUDGET REALISTICALLY
When creating a budget take your time and make sure you include everything – then add 10%. Do not try to make your budget fit your ideas, make sure your ideas are achievable within your budget.
CHOOSE A RELIABLE CONTRACTOR
I had an issue with the original builder and in hindsight I should have gone with someone who was recommended. It’s too easy to go with the cheapest quote but this often costs more in the long run.