M salon bishop's stortford: interiors inspiration

When Kevin Miller decided to relaunch his business, M Salon Bishop’s Stortford, last year, he wanted to create a space that blended the contemporary with the classic. "I wanted the salon to feel luxurious and spacious but still have a friendly atmosphere and vibe to suit our wide variety of clients," he says. Kevin believes his time in the salon prior to the relaunch stood him in good stead. "Having worked in the building for seven years, I knew all the faults and how to maximise what we had and make it work better for everyone – clients and employees alike." Once the decision had been made to redesign the salon, Kevin took no half measures. It was a case of taking the space back to the brickwork, ­replacing the existing plumbing system and ­ripping up and replacing all the flooring with Karndean flooring, which was chosen for its durable properties and to create uniformity. Inspiration for the finished look came from other salon interiors Kevin had seen, and also from hotels, restaurants and bars he had visited both in the UK and abroad. "I opted for dark wood for the floor and much of the furniture," says Kevin, "I kept the walls lighter for a feeling of space and to complement the darker wood tones. A few feature walls were painted in slightly darker grey tones to help highlight different areas of the salon." [hji-gallery-legacy] Space in the waiting area has been maximised and incorporates four seats, surrounded by retail, allowing guests to browse at their leisure while they wait. The reception desk curves at a 90-degree angle, allowing people to enter and leave the salon and pay easily without getting in each other’s way. Styling stations are made from simple aluminium-edged mirrors, running floor to ceiling, with chrome shelving and custom-made cupboards attached to walls behind the mirrors meeting stylists’ storage needs and ensuring tidy stations. Kevin opted for Takara Belmont Dainty Barber Chairs with the headrests removed, which he felt were timeless and high quality. High standards of quality are maintained in the backwash area, which features four Pietranera units. These proved space-efficient, but comfortable for clients. The results of all his efforts, says Kevin, is "a modern, forward-thinking salon that appeals to all kinds of people, of all ages." Name: M Address: 68 South Street, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire Salon owner: Kevin Miller Size: 1,400sq ft Styling Stations: 11 Furniture: Takara Belmont and Pietranera, LSE