A warm and inviting interior for review in southsea
Established in 1989 by Elaine Armitage and Paul Hawes, Review recently continued its expansion with the opening of a third salon in Southsea, Hampshire, along with Drew Clutton and Helen Ray.
With numerous awards recognising the team and its customer service - including Salon Team of the Year at HJ's 2008 British Hairdressing Business Awards - creating a warm, welcoming design that would appeal to a wide audience was always going to be a priority.
Taking inspiration from restaurants, bars and other boutique salons, the finished look combines an airy, open-plan space with cosy shades of brown and cream and quirky features for an inviting interior.
"We wanted to create a warm, luxurious salon that didn't intimidate clients but still had a unique atmosphere," says Paul. "The design needed to appeal to a wide audience to avoid alienating anyone - client comfort was top of the list."
Terry Watson of Changing Salons oversaw the transformation and eight months later, the finished result is a comfortable yet chic salon with universal appeal - and plenty of those all-important personal touches.
Fact File
Name: Review
Address: 74/76 Osborne Road, Southsea, Hampshire
Owner: Drew Clutton, Helen Ray, Elaine Armitage and Paul Hawes
Size: 944sq ft
Staff: Three
Styling Stations: Ten
Design: Terry Watson at Changing Salons - 07799334617
Features: Curved glass shop front, long styling bar, separate island units.
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Top Tips
- Get a great project manager who you trust.
- Be strict with your budget, but accept it will need to be flexible.
- Be aware of the impact on other staff in your existing salons as change can cause disruption.
- Remember that your aim is to be successful for years to come, so plan your finances carefully. Nothing brings more pleasure than happy clients and long-term success.
- Try to enjoy the experience of creating something new, but save some energy for the unexpected.
