Robert kirby london: interiors inspiration

Robert Kirby London is the first salon in the capital from acclaimed Irish hairdresser, Robert Kirby. Born and trained in Dublin, Robert spent time in London training at Sassoon before opening his own salon in his hometown in 1998. For the last five years he was a leading light in the Sanrizz group, before making the decision to open his own standalone London salon this year. Nestled in the heart of a conservation area in leafy Balham, Robert's new salon is housed in a Victorian premises with huge windows and plenty of character. "The building reminded me of the first salon I owned in Dublin," says Robert. "I wanted a boutique feel, away from the high street. Our service is a calm and personal so we wanted to have a peaceful location for the salon." Taking its cue from boutique hotels, the salon design was dreamt up entirely by Robert and his partner. French grey is the dominant colour but tonal shades of black, white, silver and wood ensure the look isn't flat. "We love the colour grey and wanted it to be our signature colour," explains Robert. "But having everything grey can be as bad as having everything beige. So we looked to other variations of the colour." As well as ensuring the design was warm, and welcoming, it was important to Robert that the décor was sensitive both to the age of the building and its leafy surroundings. Ancient gently sloping floors and "slightly wonky" walls maintain the heritage of the building while furniture also harks back to more glamorous times. "The stations are styled like a bedroom dressing table," says Robert. "And a small console table in the hall with two small table lamps and silk lampshades transport you immediately to the south of France." "I would describe it as having influences from the French empire circa 19th century, with a heavy classic design aesthetic and a very polished look," says Robert. "The day we added the flowers and candles and potted the trees outside it was like the space finally came alive. One of our neighbours described it as 'Mayfair comes to Balham'."

Robert Kirby London: In Pictures

[hji-gallery-legacy] In Brief Name: Robert Kirby London Address: 70 Emmanuel Road, Balham, London SW12 0HR Owners: Robert Kirby Size: 1,300 sq ft Staff: 7, so far! Number of styling stations: 5 Cutting, 3 Colour Budget: £70,000 Financing: Self Design by: Robert Kirby and his partner What was the most expensive part of the refit/refurb? The mechanical/facilities element. There was no gas supply to the property and the electrical systems were almost frazzled. We hired an amazing mechanical engineer from Norwich called Adam Simpson. He started by tearing out every pipe, wire and cable there was to be seen and then started again from scratch. What was the best buy? It would have to be the chandeliers but we could possibly tell you how much we spent! Is there anything you wouldn't choose with hindsight? I think we stayed true to our initial vision quite well. We probably would use different suppliers for the fixtures and fittings but other than that we are very happy. You live and learn. What would be your top tips for renovating or refurbishing a salon?

• Stick to your vision

• Remember delays happen and they are never the end of the world, even though it may feel like it at the time.

• There’s always alternatives that meet your vision

• Be sure you’re happy.