Man made london takes its cue from members' clubs

With 13 years’ experience as a barber, working in shops across the UK, Daniel Gregory had already ­established a loyal client base by the time he opened Man Made London. He wanted to ensure his first salon venture would appeal to all of them. “I have a mixed clientele, from actors to hotel workers,” says Daniel. “I wanted to create a place where men could come in, enjoy a drink in a setting that is professional and comfortable with a members’ club feel and look.” All three partners in the business – Daniel, his wife Sarah and his uncle, Dr Peter Gregory – provided input into the design of the salon. Daniel focused on the barbering lounge area, Sarah designed the overall flow and aesthetics of the space, while Peter designed the private “clinic” space, where he offers injectable services. The trio certainly had their work cut out creating the stylish, masculine space that is Man Made. Prior to the refit, the premises were used as a beauty salon, but had been vacant for some time. However, the size of the outlet and its location in Marylebone made it a venture worth taking on. The secret to the overall feel of the space was to keep the colour scheme simple. Says Daniel: “We had the ceiling painted charcoal black and kept the walls egg shell white to create a feeling of space and height. In the barbering lounge we have a wood panelled wall as a feature with the styling mirrors attached to it.”

Man Made London: Interiors Inspiration

[hji-gallery-legacy] FACT FILE Name: Man Made London Location: Marylebone, London Owners: Daniel and Sarah Gregory, Dr Peter Gregory Size: 969sq ft Budget: £110,000 TOP TIPS • Choose your builders based on past work and recommendations/testimonials. • Ask your clients what they want from your salon. • Be prepared for things to not always go according to plan. • Whatever furniture/salon equipment you are going to choose, try to see it and use it before buying it. • Expect to go over your original budget by at least 25%.