Designing a Hair Salon - Part 4
If you have never collaborated with an Interior Designer, you may be unfamiliar with the design process. In our previous blog post, we reviewed Phase 1 – the Programming Phase. Once your Designer has gathered and synthesized the information, and has drafted the base drawing (the outline of the existing space), Phase 2 begins.
PHASE 2 – CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
All projects need a concept - a direction for the aesthetic and function of the interior. The initial ideas formulated by the Designer may be abstract. A Designer may use key words, abstract visuals or other methods for the initial inspiration or direction. Some Designers may begin by space planning – loosely creating a bubble diagram or adjacency plan (meaning locating a zone next to another zone for flow and function), in order to get a feel for the space. Travel patterns and aisles are also analysed.
CONCEPT IMAGES
Inspiration images used for the Concept Presentation to establish colour palette, shapes, and texture.
Additional inspiration images used to establish design direction.
Inspiration images and collages may be used by your Designer to help you visualise an idea but should not be taken literally. The inspiration images are a tool and can be helpful in gauging whether the Designer is on the right path. Images may indicate colours, textures, and overall mood.
FLOOR PLAN
A great Floor Plan is key to a great outcome. Typically, there can be many solutions developed during this phase. It is the Designer’s responsibility to refine the plan and arrive at one or two plans that best address your needs and wishes (based on the information gathered during Phase 1). During Phase 1, the floor plan is typically a scaled, two-dimensional, black and white drawing.
One of the Floor Plan options presented by Proggetti Inc. to our Client during the Concept Presentation.
HOW IS A FLOOR PLAN DEVELOPED?
Here are ten thought processes your Designer may use when developing the Floor Plan:
How many styling stations can be comfortably accommodated?
How does one area flow into another?
How should a guest experience the space?
How does the layout support the staff needs?
How much natural light do we have? How does the natural light affect the space?
How does someone with special needs navigate the space?
How much storage is needed?
What are the building code requirements?
How many washrooms are required by the building code (the minimum)?
How can we design the retail space to increase sales while minimising potential theft (an unfortunate reality)?
THE CONCEPT PRESENTATION
Your Designer will usually set up an in-person presentation. During the presentation meeting, the Designer presents their ideas and images via a printed or digital presentation. They will ask for feedback from the salon owner(s), take notes, and clarify any key concepts. Your Designer will take into consideration all feedback and make any necessary revisions before proceeding with the Design Development phase – Phase 3.
This planning and ideating stage can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks or longer, depending on the scale of the project.
PHASE 3 – DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Once the Designer makes any revisions and adjustments, they will request a signed approval to proceed with Phase 3.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT? WHY CAN’T WE JUST SKIP AHEAD TO CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AFTER CONCEPT?
Design is a process. It is a journey of exploration and refinement. Phase 2 establishes a direction and Phase 3 further develops the concept.
THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATION
Design Studios have different offerings but generally include some key elements in their presentation. You may be presented with the following:
A rendered two-dimensional Floor Plan (a drawing showing material finishes)
Two-dimensional Elevations of key walls, millwork, and fixtures (either rendered or black and white)
Images of proposed salon equipment and furniture.
A Lighting Plan and images of proposed light fixtures.
Three-dimensional renderings or sketches of key areas.
Physical samples of materials selected (i.e. flooring, millwork finishes, wall finishes, countertops, etc.)
A rendered Floor Plan helps illustrate placement of proposed materials.
Rendered Elevations were presented to illustrate the proposed design.
Rendered Elevations were presented to illustrate the proposed design.
Decorative light fixtures proposed by Proggetti Inc.
A sample board of the proposed materials for our design proposal.
During this in-person presentation, your Designer will again request feedback and answer any questions. Sign-off will be required once again, to proceed with Phase 4.
ORDERING YOUR SALON EQUIPMENT
Within days of your presentation, you may also wish to schedule a visit to the salon furniture showroom to sit and test out the salon equipment selected by your Designer, and to review the quality and function. Showrooms do not typically carry everything available in the catalogue and may only inventory the most popular salon equipment, in black. If you and your Designer wish to have more options, and if the items are manufactured in Europe, for instance, it is best to allow a minimum of 16 weeks for this process (from initial showroom visit to shipment arrival at the vendor’s warehouse).
EXPECTED TIMELINE
Phase 3 may take 2-4 weeks or longer, depending on the scale and customization of details.
Please continue to follow along in our salon design blog post series as we explain what is included during Phases 4 and 5.