Wispers salon wickham: interiors inspiration

The picturesque village of Wickham in Hampshire has been home to Wispers salon for 18 years; the last 13 of which have been in a prime location on the pretty central square. It’s my dream property,” says salon owner Chris Laing. "An old bank situated right in the middle of a busy square – it’s full of character and is a decent size, which came in handy when I wanted to expand. After more than a decade in the same spot, Chris decided it was time to give the salon a fresh look. "I’m still as passionate now about my business as I was when I first opened,"  he explains. "I would never think of moving it anywhere else, which is why I wanted to give it a much-needed makeover." [hji-gallery-legacy] What was the aim of the makeover? I wanted to give my team more space to work in and provide a comfortable and luxurious environment for our clients to enjoy. I also needed to fit in two more stations to accommodate the expansion of the team. Finally, I wanted to reduce the size of my office and create a dedicated consultancy room for our wig business. What was your design brief? Contemporary chic with a hint of retro glamour. I had seen a photo in a magazine of a seamless reception where the desk and the floor blended together for a very light, spacious finish. I loved the simplistic look this achieved, so that’s what I based my ideas around. One of my clients commented that she felt like she’d walked into a salon in New York which I loved; it’s very different to other local salons. How did you bring your vision to life? The colour scheme is a mix of warm, muted tones to create a calm feel, while the rich dark brown tones of the leather seating areas and cutting stations provide a contrast. We opted for LED lights and a reflective floor to keep things bright and add the wow factor – I wanted to create a real impact when people walk through the door or look through the window, which lots of people do now. What personal touches have you added? We have a feature wall which we’ve dubbed the Style Gallery. It’s a real focal point of the salon with 21 photos of iconic hairstyles through the ages. I also have several vases of fresh flowers in the reception area – we opted for more unusual blooms to make them stand out. Who is your target market? Wickham is renowned for being a very picturesque and quaint little village, which subsequently attracts a fairly affluent market. With that in mind, we wanted to create a luxurious environment which fits with the ambience of our surroundings but at the same time acts as an escape from the every day where clients can relax and enjoy the services we provide. FACT FILE Name: Wispers Address: 12 The Square, Wickham, Hampshire Owner: Chris Laing Size: 1,200 sq ft Staff: 18 Styling stations: 20 Design: Self GET THE LOOK Salon furniture: REM - 01282 619977