Glorious grandeur at barbara daley salon

Barbara Daley is a familiar name in the hairdressing industry. An experienced businesswoman who opened her first salon in Liverpool in 1990 followed by a second one six months later, she has a host of celebrity clients to her name.

But when she decided to relocate to an 1850s Grade 2 listed building earlier this year, her patience and perseverance were put to the test.

Initially attracted by six-metre high ceilings and elegant stone Doric columns, the hairdresser's designs on creating an exquisite but modern salon were soon dampened as the reality of the huge project ahead became apparent.

Red tape and planning issues meant took two years before work could even begin, but once the initial problems were overcome, Barbara liaised closely with architects Austin Smith Lord to create a space that not only looked good and architecturally brilliant, but worked as a salon.

"We had to make the salon inviting, not imposing, and yet keep the grandness of its features," Barbara explains. "We stressed that despite the grandeur of the salon, it wasn't to be designed to be elitist. It had to be warm and welcoming to all our clients."

The salon was opened by celebrity client Coleen McCloughlin in March 2008 and the hair work certainly seems to have paid off.

Fact File Name: Barbara Daley Address: Northwestern Halls, Lime Street, Liverpool Owners: Barbara and Paul Daley Size: 4,630sq ft Staff: 20 Styling stations: 25 Budget: £1.5 million Financing: Self and bank loan Design: Austin Smith Lord (architects) Furniture: Bespoke and Capri chairs Features: L'Oréal Colour Studio, Grade 2 listed building with high ceilings, huge windows and Doric columns Budget Box Building works: £300,000 Joinery: £48,000 Electrics: £78,000 Plumbing: £27,000 Heating and ventilation: £110,000 Windows: £25,000 Flooring: £37,000 Styling units: £21,000 Furniture: £25,000 Miscellaneous: £829,000 Top Tips Be prepared for hidden extras - building costs are one part but the planning, accounting and other hidden fees soon add up Get a valuer. They keep everything on a budget and ensure you don't pay for work that is either not done or not up to standard Don't underestimate yourself or your skills. So-called experts don't know as much as they think Get real - this has to be a working salon not some showpiece design space that only looks good in pictures Build in some delay time between completion and opening Get a contract. If you don't, builders can draw out the job for as long as possible.