Studio CITY

Neil Moodie has had a wide-ranging career, making his mark as a salon founder and renowned Session Stylist, so it was only fitting that his new salon is equally as versatile

"Much of the salon features personal design touches; for instance, the salon furniture made from upcycled materials and Neil’s very own Vogue covers, framed."

Before the pandemic struck, Session Stylist Neil Moodie had started thinking about opening a new salon, and following a lot of thought, Neil Moodie Studio opened in June 2022, in Spitalfields.

Neil admits that Spitalfields was not a location he had initially considered, however after hearing that a listed property was available, his interest was piqued, explaining: “I like the character of old buildings.” Previously a clothing store in the Old Spitalfields Market, all that was left was a shell with raw floorboards and bare brick walls, providing a clean canvas for Richard Evetts from Reis Design.

The salon’s tag line is ‘luxury hair for the consciously minded’, which the design seeks to convey through the combination of Mid-Century Los Angeles décor and environmentallyfriendly touches. “I wanted it to be a homely space, to make it comfortable for clients to walk into,” Neil adds. Five core colours – pink, pale brown, beige, grey/blue and stone – are featured throughout, with some brick walls painted and others left bare. There is also statement tiling on the walls to accentuate certain areas of the salon, and the floor is laid in a chevron parquet style (Neil used Havwoods’ Pallido Select 70mm Block) to complement the natural materials in the space.

Neil’s goal with the lighting was to emulate natural L.A. daylight, and to achieve this, both spotlights and panel lighting were installed – fitted with low energy bulbs. On the lower floor of the salon, lighting is enhanced with white walls, with Neil explaining: “Many salon basements can feel dark, but I wanted the opposite of that – especially if our colourists are working downstairs.”

The basement is not the only area of the salon with its own atmosphere; the colour dispensary is open, to give clients transparency in the products being used, while the reception, featuring a desk made from recycled cardboard tubes and re-upholstered vintage furniture, is intended to feel like a lounge. Elsewhere, furniture was carefully selected in keeping with the Mid-Century design, including the 14 Eames-style pump salon chairs. Placement of furniture was also key, with Neil deciding to install three backwashes in the basement and one on the ground floor, to ensure the space was accessible for all.

Taking a closer look at the details, much of the salon features personal design touches; for instance, the salon furniture made from upcycled materials and Neil’s very own Vogue covers, framed.

Ultimately, Neil admits that the best thing he did during the process was to work with a designer who understood what he wanted, resulting in a dreamy salon space that perfectly matched up to his vision. HJ

KEY FACTS

Name: Neil Moodie Studio

Address: 16A Lamb Street, Spitalfields, London, E1 6EA

Owner: Neil Moodie, Director

Size: 1800 SQ ft, across two floors

How long have you been in the premises: 11 months

How many staff members: Nine (Currently)