Stā QUALITY

With an accessible location and a universally appealing aesthetic, Stā Studios is now open for business. Come one, come all..

Samantha Cusick is no stranger to setting up a salon space having previously founded two others, but her newest endeavour, Stā Studios, has been established as an entirely separate business – a co-working space with its own image and independent ethos.

When Samantha first viewed the space that was to become Stā Studios, it was an empty shell, however there were three key aspects that attracted her to the property: first impressions, potential and location. Breaking these down, she shares: “The shop features a Grade II Listed limestone exterior, and has a great industrial aesthetic with warehouse height ceilings; and is reachable by over 70% of the wider TfL network without a single change.”

Now transformed, the salon exudes a welcoming, high-end ambiance while remaining brandless and genderless. Achieving this was vital, with Stã Studios having the task of appealing to its members, their clients, and potential brands looking to utilise the space. “If we’ve done our job, the space isn’t designed to appeal to any one person,” Samantha reflects. As such, the colour palette was selected to ensure no one colour is too strong and cannot be affiliated to any brand.

While the paint selected for the internal walls of the space – a bespoke Casein Distemper – adheres to this desired neutrality, it was also chosen for two other reasons. Firstly, it’s matte, ensuring hair colour and texture will not be influenced by colour pollution reflecting from walls and lights, and secondly, it’s sourced from sustainable materials from the UK. The commercial grade LVT textured floor also followed a similar selection process and was chosen for its reduced reflective properties and high durability.

Aside from colour, lighting was a fundamental aspect of the design process, with different areas each requiring different adjustments. For example, the lighting in the main room features custom suspended aluminium light bars, housing LED bulbs – chosen to produce high density, wide-angle light distribution. They also have a high CRI lighting output to best replicate daylight. Away from the technical spaces, a more lounge-like feeling was achieved through the addition of softer focal lighting and recessed LED strips within woodwork.

Although salons often feature a reception space, waiting areas have been kept to a minimum in Stā Studios, with Samantha noting: “Since Covid, we have changed the way we look at waiting areas.” As such, guests are welcomed straight into one of the 22 styling stations – all chairs are the same, for client experience consistency – with an additional 10 backwashes also on offer. Consistency is a core theme throughout the space, which was designed as a single, cohesive unit. “Stā Studios is designed to feel accessible to all who come, stakeholders should expect the same experience whatever their usage of the space,” Samantha concludes.