MAKING A HAUS A HOME

Philipp and Siobhan Haug share the decisions they made in their salon design process to ensure the space felt welcoming to all

“We wanted a space that makes you want to stay a while, sip your drink and chat or watch the world go by.”

Philipp and Siobhan Haug have a long history of working together, having both been employed at a global hairdressing chain for many years, however in 2022, the couple decided to take the plunge and open up their own salon. Their vision? To create an environment full of warmth and thoughtful touches that would combine to create a truly homely feel.

The duo selected a property in Fitzrovia to plant their roots, with Philipp sharing: “We really loved the feel of the area.” While the building had previously been a salon, they still opted to shift the space around considerably, to create more of an intimate feel. For example, they decided to steer clear of a reception desk as they wanted their clients’ first impression of the space to be welcoming, and also made the unconventional decision to enlist the help of a residential and hospitality interior designer to achieve the desired look and feel of the salon. “While they were not salon specialists,” Siobhan notes, “we collaborated to blend salon functionality with a beautiful design, focusing on warmth and relaxation.”

She goes on to explain that the most important thing in their eyes was to create salon spaces that could function independently; to achieve this, they invested in bringing a basin upstairs as well as having two more downstairs, meaning they can run the day-to-day salon clients upstairs while hosting education courses downstairs. They also added in plumbing for the Haus Bar, which was inspired by the comfort of a host's kitchen.

Premium finishes paired with a variety of textures and tactile elements were on the couple’s wish-list for the space, while an array of earthy tones – think rosewood, almond and emerald – were selected to add warmth and bring the space to life. The use of tiles throughout the space was an aesthetic choice just as much as it was practical, with the various colours and designs inviting you in to take a closer look. “We wanted a space that makes you want to stay a while, sip your drink and chat or watch the world go by,” Siobhan explains. Dual functionality was also a consideration when it came to furniture – the couple selected larger pieces from REM due to the brand’s extensive colour options and high comfort, while smaller details like light switches and USB charging points were purchased from Soho Home.

Reflecting on the salon’s design, Siobhan shares: “The Haus Colour Lounge is one of my favourite spaces, we created a purpose-built lounge area with stunning soft furnishings, chairs, sofas and gorgeous gold side tables for maximum comfort.” To further emphasise the homely nature of the salon, clients are thus able to spend quality time with a friend or family member, who can sit opposite them on the sofa, all whilst enjoying a coffee or chilled glass of fizz as their colour processes. It’s the well-thoughtout decisions such as these that make this salon haus a home.