Classic meets contemporary at capelli

Gemma and her husband Jason Cheesman had long dreamed of owning a salon in the town of Corbridge, Northumberland. All they needed was for the right site to become available. When a former clothes shop appeared on the market, the couple knew they had to go for it.

Says Gemma: "The building was a good size and in the right location. It needed a complete makeover, but I knew it was in the perfect position for my salon."

Before the couple could begin creating their dream interior, they had to take care of a lot of basics, including stripping the building to a shell for rewiring, new plumbing and plastering. 

Once work started, the couple made some interesting discoveries, including an original wall featuring the date the shop had been built - 1900. Keen to retain such features, the couple paid for a stone mason to restore the wall to its former beauty, and it now stands proudly behind the reception desk.

The couple wanted to create a salon environment that mixed old with new, combining the heritage of the building with some modern touches. Much of the inspiration for the design came from the furniture, most of which was imported from Italy through LSE. One of their favourite finds was the baroque-style mirrors at each styling station, spotted at a local Next store.

Fact File

Name: Capelli Hair Design

Address: 16 Watling Street, Corbridge, Northumberland

Owner: Gemma and Jason Cheesman

Size: 500sq ft

Staff: Three

Styling Stations: Six

Budget: £45,000

Design: Robin Watson Sign and Design - 01434 632089

Features: Grade II-listed building      

• Ensure you find dependable workers.
• Know exactly what you want and have a clear plan of the salon before work starts.
• Ensure you have all the necessary planning permission.
• Make full use of lighting.
• Invest in good quality furniture.