An eclectic london look for gary ingham lifestyle salon & spa

Gary Ingham and Sean Spence opened their first salon in Hampstead in 2008, just six months before the recession hit - but the salon did so well that after a few years it had outgrown its initial 600sq ft space and the hunt was on for a new, larger premises.

"We needed a space of 2,000sq ft or more, and there were only about six locations of that size in Hampstead," explains Gary. "In the past two years, every single one of them had come onto the market, and we'd discounted them for one reason or another. The store we settled on was the last one to become available after the previous business went into receivership in December. We moved quickly and by February the shop was ours."

Although the premises were in a fairly poor state when they were taken over, Gary and Sean were attracted by the large double front of the property, plus the first floor, which offered a perfect location for the planned spa.

The pair recruited Richard Evetts of Reis Design to help them turn their visions into reality.  "A large part of the success of our previous salon was the intimate, relaxing, laidback atmosphere, and the high-end boutique finish," says Gary. "We needed a bigger salon, but we didn't want a big salon atmosphere. We also needed to bring together our own brand values with those of our product partner Aveda. Richard  did an amazing job of amalgamating our personality with Aveda's and creating a great space to work and relax."

The salon is divided into separate areas, with an oak screen separating the six backwashes from the main salon floor and a long staircase flanked with bamboo leading to the spa area upstairs. 

The colour scheme also varies - downstairs there are natural earthy tones of brown and grey, complemented by blue and black, while in the spa a more muted palette gives a relaxed feel.

One of the most interesting features of the salon is the oak parquet floor in the retail area, reclaimed from Christies Auction House in Mayfair. The wall tiles offer another slice of London history, as they were created by H E Smith, the company that produces tiles for the London Underground. 

"The back wall is a mixture of tiles, created just for us," says Gary. "There are 11 colours in a random pattern, providing a wonderful effect that reflects the Victorian tube station opposite."

Directional light above the backs of the chairs offers a natural working light for stylists, while low, moody lighting in the toilets, corridors and staircase area gives a boutique hotel feel. Gold-flecked granite flooring provides added sparkle in the main salon area, which contains 18 walnut-veneered styling stations divided into 

three banks.

"We wanted the finished salon to reflect a combination of elegance, comfort and environmental responsibility," says Gary. "We finished the project on budget and on schedule - quite an achievement."