Guy kremer creates a crisp, clean, comfortable salon interior

Guy Kremer's Winchester salon was created in 1987 in a space that had previously been a silversmith and violin shop. In the years since, he has modernised the premises to keep it contemporary, and recently renovated the space both to look stylish and add comfort to the client experience. With a clear vision in mind, Guy designed the look and feel of the salon himself. 

The only major work to be carried out was the removal of the backwashes to make way for more luxurious replacements. There are three downstairs in the cutting area and the colour area upstairs features slightly wider backwash chairs with longer armrests upholstered in mock-croc leather fabric. 

Says Guy: "The colour department is very busy and clients spend a lot of time sitting around waiting for their colour to process, so I paid great attention to this area of the salon." To keep up-to-date with modern trends, Guy introduced a coffee machine, iPads and WiFi to the salon. 

He says: "Many of our busy business clients get impatient waiting for their hair to process so I created a 'work area' for them which consists of a large granite table and internet access. It's proving very popular." 

To suit all client needs, there is the addition of a colour client waiting lounge, beauty studio, VIP facilities and chill out area which is the perfect antidote to the busy, main cutting room. The retail area has also been made more appealing to clients with modern fittings provided by L'Oréal Professionnel, along with brightly lit, stand-out retail shelving boxes incorporated into the styling stations area.

With a bright white colour scheme, the salon has a clean and fresh feel which doesn't detract from stand-out items such as a handmade marble table and styling surfaces. Guy also updated some of his original furniture to give it a modern edge. Says Guy: "Our first-class Philippe Starck units have stood the test of time, so to make them more 'now' we replaced the original 90s rubber tops with cool granite which is both stylish and practical."

The changes to the salon took six months to complete and Guy sees these updates as a bonus for the business. "If clients feel more relaxed, they are more inclined to have extra treatments, so your income increases," he says. And the team also benefit from their new surroundings. "It's given everyone who works here a morale boost, they feel recharged and proud to work in such a lovely environment, so it's win-win all round."