French boutique style at lara johnson lifestyle

Husband and wife team Lara Johnson and Dom Capel wanted to challenge the simplistic style and clean lines that many modern salons have adopted. Their vision was to create a salon with an eclectic mix of French boutique and lavish gentleman's club. With their new salon located just down the road from their original salon in Swansea, and double its size, the couple wanted a new look. "We wanted to create an ambience unmatched in Wales and give it the same feel as our home," says Lara. Their team completely transformed the three-storey building - formerly a simple retail and residential space. "The building was completely gutted from the front elevation backwards," adds Lara. This created a blank canvas for their design, which they devised with the help of designer Marc Smith. At a cost of £200,000 the project, self-financed by Lara and Dom, represented a big risk.  However, having spent 18 months in the planning stage, and having a clear idea of what they wanted to achieve the duo managed to avoid any unexpected problems. The finished product reflects the vast amount of time and attention to detail that has been dedicated to the salon and certainly achieves their objective of a salon full of luxury and unlike any other in Wales. Lara Johnson salon pictures>>

Fact File Name: Lara Johnson Lifestyle Address: 71 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea Owners: Lara Johnson and Dom Capel Size: 1,800sq ft Staff: 35 Clientele: Professionals Styling stations: 23 Budget: £200,000 Financing: Self Design: Lara Johnson, Dom Capel and Marc Smith from MS Interiors Furniture:Welonda and antique Features:Gallery staircase, 6ft crystal chandelier from the French Embassy, orange leather padded walls, glass atrium, church pulpit reception desk, mix of French palace and gentleman's club inspirations. How to Achieve the Look Furniture: Welonda - 01256 320202 Desing: Marc Smith Top Tips Do lots of preparation and planning Select your renovation team carefully Stick to, and scrutinise, your budget and know the exact costs before you begin Be at the salon as often as you can, meet your project manager daily for updates Go with your instincts and don't be afraid to put in touches of your personality.

Lara Johnson pictures