Inside information: sam burnett shares his top tips for an award-winning salon design

Last year Sam Burnett, creative director and owner of Hare & Bone in London, took home the trophy for Salon Design of the Year at HJ's British Hairdressing Business Awards. We caught up with him to get his tips for creating an award-winning salon interior. 1. Location, Location, Location It’s better to have the smallest salon on a busy street, than the largest salon on a quiet street. 2. Budget Carefully consider your budget and always build in a contingency figure. Be realistic about what you can afford and continuously keep your eye on this. Pinpoint the key areas of the salon and invest your money here. 3. The Legal Stuff Get a good commercial lawyer before you do anything, they could save you money in the long run. Also, it is good to get to know your landlords and neighbours and build relationships with them. This too will make your life easier in the long run. 4. Practical Advice When designing the space and layout be hands on and don’t settle for anything other than the best. This is your baby so only you are fully committed to driving the project. Check your design teams references as the project goes on. Remember you’re the expert when it comes to the functionality of the salon so scrutinise the design and never forget, that design is useless without functionality. Design should be timeless and practical, so never forget the longevity of your salon. Always keep a percentage of the budget back for snagging. 5. Branding Before you even start looking at locations or thinking about the design of your salon, you need to have a clear understanding of your brand. Who are you? What do you stand for? What is your aesthetics? This should be considered every step of the way. Your online and offline branding should all reflect the salon design for a cohesive and full brand experience.