Gregory dean salon brings art deco elegance to essex

Classic glamour is brought up to date at Gregory Dean in Leigh-on-Sea, in a salon which is inspired by Art Deco elegance. "We wanted to create a space which felt grand and opulent, but at the same time inviting, relaxed and comfortable," explains co-owner Ben Gregory. 

Black and gold dominate, but the palette is given a modern twist by combining high gloss and matte finishes and pairing high-spec fittings from Salon Ambience with quirky vintage finds.

"We wanted to avoid replicating what other salons have done in the past," agrees Dean Beavis, co-owner with Ben. "We were keen to avoid the rococo-inspired looks so popular in recent years and move away from the French mirrors, chandeliers and flocked wallpaper look - we just wanted to make a real statement that Gregory Dean is different."

The size and the bold location - we're on a corner and with some clever branding and design, we felt we could make a statement in this spot. This, coupled with the location and the fact that there is parking readily available, meant it ticked all the boxes. 

We loved the decadence of the Beaufort Bar at London's Savoy hotel - grand and opulent, but still inviting. The graphic, clean lines of the Art Deco movement were an inspiration and this era also inspired the colour scheme. Black and gold is the general theme - matte and gloss shades of black paint, antique gold and even a touch of fur. It all nods to the fabulousness of the Art Deco era.

We bought most of it from Salon Ambience including the basins, styling chairs and reception desk. We sourced some vintage pieces in antique shops to bring to life our deco vision and create a bespoke feel.

We saw the "bum feature" chairs in a hotel when we were working in 

Florence and knew that we had to have them! It took a while, but we tracked them down and had them imported over from Italy. We know that salon receptions can be intimidating, so we have these right at the front along with a sofa covered in fur cushions.

The space was very run down when we took it over, so it was a challenge to get it into shape. We started the work in September and finished just before the opening party on 22 November. We project-managed and oversaw every detail ourselves - and just to keep us on our toes, did a lot of it while we were in New York, Milan and Paris during fashion season.

This is our first salon, but the colours, textures, logo and overall look of the place were all chosen with the thought of Gregory Dean becoming a bigger brand in mind. When our second salon opens and we launch our planned range of products, the whole look will be consistent with our original flagship salon. 

Name: Gregory Dean

Address: 121 Rectory Grove, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

Owners: Ben Gregory and Dean Beavis

Size: 1,000 sq ft

Staff: Seven

Styling stations: 10

Design: Self