Salon Refurbishment

Are a stickler for a refurb story? Here's how me, my wife and a few friends changed a dilapidated shop into a lovely calm welcoming space that i now call "work".

I picked up the keys on December 1st, and from the moment I walked in, I knew this space had potential—though, to be honest, I almost overlooked it at first! I’d scrolled past the listing a few times, but a thumbnail image of the basement caught my eye. It had so much character, and something about it made me stop and take a closer look.

When I went for a viewing, the shop was a far cry from what I had envisioned for my salon. It had been used to sell bike parts, with a floating ceiling, navy blue carpet, and an awkwardly partitioned office space. The walls were thick with layers of fresco wallpaper, the shopfront signage was peeling, and the downstairs was filled with old storage shelving. And the bathroom? Even the toilet surround was covered in carpet! But despite all that, I could see past the clutter and outdated design, there was something special about the bones of the building. I knew with the right touch, it could be transformed into something beautiful.

My wife and I did nearly all the renovation work ourselves, except for the electrical work (our electrician was worth her weight in gold) and plumbing. We had a little help from friends who stripped wallpaper, filled holes and worked on the flooring.

Two of the biggest challenges were the ceiling and the floor, both of which turned out to be far more complicated than we’d anticipated....

The ceiling was a flashy floating structure, which, as most people know, usually hides a few dirty little secrets. When we took it down, we uncovered an absolute mess—a tangled web of wires, most of which led nowhere. Above that, there was a layer of polystyrene stuck to boards with black caulk. Now, I’m not pointing fingers at any particular generation, but for someone who values sustainability, removing 16 bin bags of polystyrene and hauling them to the tip was not my idea of fun! The caulk had practically welded the tiles in place, so we tried sanding, but they wouldn’t budge. Eventually, I decided to have the whole ceiling sandblasted—by far the biggest expense of the renovation, even more than the plumbing and electrical work. But looking at it now, I have no regrets. It completely transformed the space.

Of course, that wasn’t the end of the ceiling saga. Later that day, the sandblaster casually mentioned that the neighbours from the flat above had popped down to complain… Turns out, the ceiling wasn’t fully sealed, and they had walked into their kitchen to find a cloud of dust hanging in the air! Thankfully, they were incredibly understanding, and when we officially opened, I made sure to bring them a big bouquet of flowers as an apology, because let’s be real, introducing yourself via an unintentional dust storm isn’t the best first impression!

Then came the floor. What I thought would be a simple job quickly turned into an archaeological dig, carpet glued to laminate, then foam, then wooden boards, and finally layers of paper and glue. We rented a floor sander for the weekend, but hidden beneath the paper were rogue nails just waiting to destroy our sanding sheets. After burning through six of the eight we had, I tried to buy more, only to realise it was the weekend, and nowhere was open! So, we stripped the remaining paper and glue by hand, pried out the nails, and I sanded the rest of the floor with the last two sheets.

Each board was bowed, some curving in, some out, so I had to sand them individually. Rustic was the only way forward at that point! Once we stained the wood, though, it all came together beautifully.

I designed the salon myself, though I wouldn’t say there was ever a rigid plan. Instead, I took a more intuitive, holistic approach. As we stripped the space right back to its bones, I wanted the room to guide me, to reveal what it needed rather than forcing a predetermined vision onto it. I knew where the chairs should go, and the basin had a fixed place, but beyond that, it was about listening to the space and letting it evolve naturally.

The salon’s colour palette is earthy greens, natural wood, and exposed brick, tones that feel grounding, warm, and organic. Someone once told me that if I were a room, this would be it, and I couldn’t agree more. I also heard that forest green is the new Mrs. Hinch grey, which made me smile! But green has always been a colour of calm and restoration for me, funny enough, it was even our wedding colour last year. It brings the outside in, much like the abundance of plants throughout the space, and creates a sense of stillness. That’s exactly what I want for my clients, to feel instantly at ease as soon as they walk through the door, allowing any salon anxiety to melt away.

Soft, intentional lighting was also a top priority. I’ve worked in salons with harsh track lighting that creates nothing but glare and discomfort, and I’ve been in spaces so brightly lit that they highlight every imperfection, making you feel washed out and self-conscious. That was the last thing I wanted for my salon.

Luckily, I have two large windows that flood the space with natural light. To enhance this, I added privacy film that not only provides discretion but also casts beautiful prisms as the sunlight filters through, creating a serene and uplifting atmosphere.

For the main seating area, I chose LED vintage filament bulbs, hanging from an old ladder my wife and father-in law found in a skip! They're all set on dimmers, allowing me to adjust the ambiance based on the time of day and the service being performed. Elsewhere, large LED bulbs housed in rattan shades bring a soft, diffused glow that complements the natural textures and earthy tones of the space. Every choice was made to ensure that the lighting is calming, flattering, and welcoming, like a gentle, warm embrace rather than a stark, clinical spotlight.

One of my favourite discoveries during the renovation was a piece of history hidden within the walls. When we removed the floating ceiling, I caught a glimpse of an exposed brick wall, which led me to take down the plasterboard on one side. What we uncovered was a full brick wall with a painted-over window in the centre, and on the glass, a message from the past ‘Kilroy was here ’66.’ The phrase, originally a form of graffiti from World War II, gave the space a story of its own. I knew instantly that I had to preserve it. Today, it remains a quiet feature, tucked behind the herbal dresser, adding to the layers of character in the salon.

Encouraged by that discovery, I removed another section of plasterboard on the adjacent wall. Unfortunately, that reveal wasn’t quite as poetic, just a blocked-up door filled with breeze blocks.

After playing around with a few ideas, I decided on reclaimed pallet wood planks, which I originally stained for a raw, natural feel. But once in place, it looked more saloon than salon. While I wanted a rustic aesthetic, I also wanted an element of understated luxury, so I opted for a deep, grounding green paint instead.

Every piece of furniture in the salon has a story, and not a single item was bought brand new. I sourced nearly everything second-hand or free, mainly from Facebook Marketplace, it’s amazing what you can find if you’re patient!

The styling chairs were a steal at £30, the beautiful French dresser was just £20, and even the first basin was only £50. The electric reclining basin was my biggest investment at £550, but well worth it for the comfort it offers my clients. The drawers were free, as were the wooden reels I repurposed into product displays. The butchers block table, coffee table, and various storage boxes had been tucked away in my garage, just waiting for the right space.

One of the most special pieces is the tabletop for the backwash area. It’s made from Victorian wooden planks that my father-in-law had saved for "something special"—turns out, this was it!

I’ve always loved breathing new life into old things, a passion that’s reflected in my home as much as in the salon. I rarely buy anything new, not just because vintage pieces have more character, but also because modern furniture often just doesn’t have the same longevity. When I choose something for a space, I ask myself: Where can I use this? What will it add? If it doesn’t have a clear purpose, I won’t bring it in. This approach isn’t just about aesthetics, it aligns with my values of refusing waste, recycling wherever possible, and repurposing with intention.

Everything in the salon has been chosen with love and care, creating an environment that’s as ethical as it is beautiful.... I want both clients and myself to feel relaxed and calm and I have poured my heart into this room to acheive this!