Teamwork makes the Dream Work

Michael Purcell shares how working with the right people can make or break a salon refurbishment

In the heart of Hook, a village in Hampshire, on a roundabout with traffic coming from three different directions, The Purcell Rooms has benefitted from a high footfall – but the journey to achieve this wasn’t all smooth sailing. “Sadly, the building was a complete and utter mess, and while renovating we came across many issues, including damp and asbestos,” says owner Michael Purcell. To add to his woes, the initial designer and project manager had “no empathy or integrity,” according to Michael. The real turning point of the project was meeting Rebecca De Feu and MPL Interiors, who, with kindness, compassion and professionalism, helped Michael transform the space into the salon of his dreams, which Michael summarises by explaining:“Our aim is to encourage continual professional development, while serving our clientele in a friendly, courteous way, set in luxury surroundings.”

“Our aim is to encourage continual professional development, while serving our clientele in a friendly, courteous way, set in luxury surroundings.”

The salon features an eclectic colour scheme of dark greens, opulent blues and earthy tones, with accents of gold and marble. However, the real show-stopper is the statement wallpaper from Graham and Brown, while the addition of wood panelling adds depth to the space. Meanwhile, Michael shares some of his favourite features of the salon, including the new black and gold trolleys, which combine practicality with a touch of luxury.

Michael sourced furniture from a range of suppliers, enabling him to piece together a one-of-a-kind space that perfectly reflects the salon’s ethos; this includes Karisma Miami Styling Chairs from Salon Services and storage solutions from Howdens.

Due to issues that arose from the discovery of asbestos, and the unforeseen costs that came with this, compromises had to be made, including the flooring. Polyflor was selected in place of Karndean, as this was a more affordable alternative, however to ensure its durability, it has been covered in a resin from Dr.Schutz that aims to protect against hair colour stains. Something that was prioritised was the lighting – an essential in every salon. While the effect of this is different in each area, to match its purpose, the changes of lighting throughout the space also work to guide the client through a journey, highlighting the different stages of the salon experience.

Reflecting on his own journey to create the salon, Michael shares that if he were to do anything differently, it would be to investigate the people involved with the project more thoroughly, especially when it comes to references of their previous work. As for the best thing he did? “I had lots of meetings and discussions with Rebecca to ensure we were aligned on the final look of the salon – and I also spoilt the tradesmen with lots of refreshments!”