A new home in frome for melanie giles

Following the first birthday of her eponymous flagship salon in Bath, Melanie Giles decided it was time to bring her successful business to a wider audience with a second branch in Frome, Somerset. 

Home to vintage boutiques, a local farmers' market, artisan restaurants and independent retailers, Melanie knew that the historic market town was the ideal location for her own unique brand of independent hairdressing.

The Grade II listed building housing the salon proved to be an irresistible choice, packed with character despite having been empty for three years and in need of major refurbishment.

"I fell in love with the building. It is light, has high ceilings and has amazing architectural features," says Melanie. "I knew it was going to be a major job as it had been unloved for a long time - it's what attracted me to the project."

Following some serious structural works - including underpinning the foundations, replacing the floor and ceiling joists, upgrading the sewage and water and demolishing the back of the building - Melanie was left with a blank canvas, complete with all of the building's original features which were carefully maintained during the overhaul. 

In keeping with the original Bath model and inspired by her own home and personal tastes, the salon combines shabby chic and heritage fixtures with Melanie's trademark vintage finds and salvaged materials.

"I made sure nothing went to waste when we stripped the building," she explains. "I kept all of the old floorboards, doors, skirting boards and sinks. With a little imagination, and the help of an amazing carpenter, everything was reused."

One of the most unusual features of the salon is the bathroom, which is housed in a salvaged shed. Spotted in a skip, the shed was transported to the salon and lovingly restored to become a fully-equipped disabled toilet. One of the most talked-about features in the salon, the shed is so popular among clients it even has its own Twitter following!