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Business Pages > Salon Interiors > Glorious Grandeur at Barbara Daley Salon

Glorious Grandeur at Barbara Daley Salon

Posted by Kate
Dated: September 21, 2008 5:21 PM

Barbara Daley is a familiar name in the hairdressing industry. An experienced businesswoman who opened her first salon in Liverpool in 1990 followed by a second one six months later, she has a host of celebrity clients to her name.

But when she decided to relocate to an 1850s Grade 2 listed building earlier this year, her patience and perseverance were put to the test.

Initially attracted by six-metre high ceilings and elegant stone Doric columns, the hairdresser's designs on creating an exquisite but modern salon were soon dampened as the reality of the huge project ahead became apparent.

Red tape and planning issues meant took two years before work could even begin, but once the initial problems were overcome, Barbara liaised closely with architects Austin Smith Lord to create a space that not only looked good and architecturally brilliant, but worked as a salon.

"We had to make the salon inviting, not imposing, and yet keep the grandness of its features," Barbara explains. "We stressed that despite the grandeur of the salon, it wasn't to be designed to be elitist. It had to be warm and welcoming to all our clients."

The salon was opened by celebrity client Coleen McCloughlin in March 2008 and the hair work certainly seems to have paid off.

Fact File

Name: Barbara Daley
Address: Northwestern Halls, Lime Street, Liverpool
Owners: Barbara and Paul Daley
Size: 4,630sq ft
Staff: 20
Styling stations: 25
Budget: £1.5 million
Financing: Self and bank loan
Design: Austin Smith Lord (architects)
Furniture: Bespoke and Capri chairs
Features: L'Oréal Colour Studio, Grade 2 listed building with high ceilings, huge windows and Doric columns

Budget Box

Building works: £300,000
Joinery: £48,000
Electrics: £78,000
Plumbing: £27,000
Heating and ventilation: £110,000
Windows: £25,000
Flooring: £37,000
Styling units: £21,000
Furniture: £25,000
Miscellaneous: £829,000

Top Tips

Be prepared for hidden extras - building costs are one part but the planning, accounting and other hidden fees soon add up
Get a valuer. They keep everything on a budget and ensure you don't pay for work that is either not done or not up to standard
Don't underestimate yourself or your skills. So-called experts don't know as much as they think
Get real - this has to be a working salon not some showpiece design space that only looks good in pictures
Build in some delay time between completion and opening
Get a contract. If you don't, builders can draw out the job for as long as possible.