A breathtaking view provided the inspiration for a stylish sydney salon
As far as locations go, a waterfront spot on Sydney Harbour takes some beating - especially for a salon that describes itself as quintessentially Sydney.
After 17 years in their previous premises and the opening of a second, now-established salon, Wild Life Hair was ready to move and upgrade to a new space, and the ideally situated Point building overlooking the famous Harbour Bridge and leafy Bradfield Park provided the perfect location.
The building was in the process of being converted from commercial to residential premises, and when salon owners Phil Cordony, Jayne Wild and Gary Latham found out that the bottom floor was still empty, they decided to investigate.
Although the space was scheduled to be used for offices, they convinced the owners to change their plans and allow a salon instead. They even negotiated to have the building works included in the contract by the builders who had originally developed the site.
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In a further money-saving move, Gary enlisted the skills of his interior designer sister Michelle Latham to plan the décor. Taking inspiration from upmarket Sydney restaurants, and working with the building's unique panoramic windows, Michelle has enhanced the light and space. Unusual Japanese-inspired slatted black timber walls in the backwash area provide a point of difference, and give a relaxed, earthy feel.
"The theme of our salon is an extension of the surroundings," explains Jayne. "It's very light, clean and bright with white or mirrored walls, green accents and timber flooring."
It took just 14 weeks to complete the work, and with the entire company effectively moving house, they were able to close the original salon on Sunday and open the new premises the following Wednesday.
The salon takes full advantage of its spacious premises, with sliding mirrors on tracks and furniture on castors to roll away. It can even be transformed into an entirely open room, enabling the space to be used for functions and launches. The addition of a projector and drop-down screen makes it the ideal location for education and presentations too, and the salon is already scheduled to host ghd's Australian education classes this year.
Jayne says: "From our first day 17 years ago, we wanted a space that we would want to work in and which people would want to visit. It's a special experience for everyone and has true warmth. It's like visiting someone's house - someone's very nice house!"
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Fact File
Name: Wild Life HairTop Tips
- Agree a fixed price for work in advance.
- Allow 20% more time than you think you'll need.
- Plan ahead.
- If you're using a designer let them know what is important to you and then let them do their job.
- Ensure your salon reflects you and your business; it is your biggest branding asset.
Wild Life Hair in Brief...
How would you describe the salon's image?
Relaxed sophistication
What was the most expensive part of the refit? The air conditioning and slatted feature walls.
