Malcolm hurphy hair: interiors inspiration

After three years in their original location, Malcolm Murphy Hair have relocated to a brand new luxurious spot in Leicester - with "more gold than you can shake a stick at" according to co-owner Jo Causier. Designed entirely by Joe and Malcolm, the new salon is a continuation of the first Malcolm Murphy Hair, but "taken to a new level stylistically". "We had built a strong brand identity and didn't want to change what made us distinctive," says Joe. "We have become known for the ornate details and accents of gold, so we really wanted to take that and make it even better." Greater attention to client comfort was another objective the Murphy team were keen to tackle. "We asked our electrician to create a suspended panel to house LED lighting and emit a warm glow at the backwash," he continues. "Clients don't want to have to stare at bright lights when having their hair washed." This level of care was continued throughout the design process. "The backwash area is divided off to create a more tranquil, relaxed environment with Shiatsu massage chairs specifically designed to relax the muscles and ease tension, dimmed lighting and scented candles." Gold baroque mirrors from the former salon have made the move, along with gold styling chairs, black glass side tables and spherical copper-gold Tom Dixon pendants in reception. When asked to describe the new salon, the terms 'decadent' and 'opulent' spring to mind, but Joe is happy add 'quirky' into the mix. "We revamped a genuine antique church pulpit from a closed-down church in Surrey. We then got a skilled carpenter to transform it into a workable salon reception desk, varnished it and added the golden ram skull. We also have a larger than life-size golden bull head and a golden statue of our pug, Orlando!" If the transformation sounds too smooth to be true, think again. "Malcolm partly project managed the build himself while running a busy salon and maintaining a fully booked schedule of clients," reveals Joe. "We would be lying if we said it was a stress-free eight months. It was incredibly hard but so rewarding in the end."

Malcolm Murphy Hair: In Pictures

[hji-gallery-legacy] In brief Name: Malcolm Murphy Hair Address: 54 Hinckley Road, Leicester, LE3 0RB Contact details: www.malcolmmurphyhair.co.uk Owner/s: Malcolm Murphy & Joe Causier Number of staff: 8 Number of styling stations: 12 Budget: £40,000 Financing: Self Design by: Malcolm Murphy and Joe Causier Sources: Mirrors - Classics Direct; basins and chairs - Salon Ambience Top tips 1. Make sure you have a clear grasp of your budget. 2. Have a realistic timeframe and make this clear to any contractors. 3. Source special pieces from small independent shops and antique fairs to make sure your salon is unique. 4. Keep in mind that hairdressing sections mean money, so be careful about placement to maximise the space you have. 5. If possible, try to plan where you could expand in the future and how that would work with what you are doing now. It’s good to have a future plan.