THE PERFECT CANVAS

Find out how one former freelancer was able to transform the space of her dreams into the salon of her reality

Katie Mulcahy used to sit in a local gin bar, her favourite hangout in Stafford, and imagine what a beautiful salon it would make – so you can imagine her delight when the property was put on the market. However, achieving this vision wasn’t simple; the space had no heating, was very dark, and its thick walls meant there were problems accessing the pipe work. Fast-forward four years, and the space now has a boutique feel with plenty of pastel accents, transforming the historic 16th Century building into a warm and inviting environment.

" Fast-forward four years, and the space now has a boutique feel with plenty of pastel accents, transforming the historic 16th Century building into a warm and inviting environment."

Katie opted to design the salon herself, with the help of Pinterest and a team of traders, who she worked closely with to bring her vision to life. Although advised to cover the uneven walls, she decided to embrace the uniqueness and simply painted them, while Karndean flooring was selected with both endurance and aesthetics in mind – "The choice of styles and colours available was amazing." The salon features shades of plaster pink and sage green, colours which Katie says she was naturally drawn to. “The name Paint and Powder fits the colours and the branding perfectly,” she adds, “as it has a soft, powdery feel with all the muted tones we used.”

When it came to furnishing the salon, Katie invested in comfort, purchasing six styling chairs from REM and two backwashes from Aston and Fincher. However, she also took advantage of high street stores for décor and storage solutions, and enlisted the help of her photographer brother for finishing touches with a personal edge.

Lighting was a crucial element of the design, with Katie striving to make clients feel at ease in the chair. To achieve this, warm lighting was installed on either side of the mirror to enhance the styling experience, while down lighting was avoided. Meanwhile, the washroom features an art deco light fixture, which was restored to exaggerate the ambience of the space. Elsewhere in the salon, the cosy and comforting theme continues, with the reception featuring an original working fireplace and large sofa – the perfect spot for informal consultations.

Sharing her future aspirations for Paint & Powder, Katie explains: “One day I would love to take on the whole building – we have two additional floors above us and acquiring them would give us the capacity to grow as a salon and offer more treatments. We’re working towards making that a reality.”