Hj interiors: conscious decadence at taylor taylor london

With the feel of a members’ club, rather than a hairdressing salon, the flagship Taylor Taylor London salon is a masterpiece in thoughtful interior design. Name:  Taylor Taylor London (Flagship Salon) Address: 137 Commercial Street, London, E1 6BJ Owners: The Perfumery Ltd’s Sarah Brass and Cameron Amos Size: Approx 150 sq m How many staff: Approximately 50 Design: 18^th Century Inspired Furniture: Vintage Situated on London’s hip Commercial Street in Shoreditch, the flagship Taylor Taylor London salon features vaulted rooms, a central staircase, double height ceilings and of course the famous luxe cocktail bar. To say it feels decadent is an understatement. The pieces of one-of-a-kind furniture sourced at flea markets and local artist’s work painted straight onto the walls make it feel like luxury design with a conscience. Owners Sarah Brass and Cameron Amos explain: “As well as being more sustainable this has always been a design decision for us. We like the eclectic feel.” There are 17 styling stations across two floors and each station is individual, ranging from full on 1930s Art Deco dressing tables to French nightstands. “It was important to have a single style of chair to pull the theme together, so we had them made in Italy with gold crocodile effect ‘leather’ and diamante studs,” explains Sarah and Cameron. “It sounds pretty out there but it looks fabulous.” Owners Sarah and Cameron bought the premises back in 2006 and took it from a derelict shell of a Grade-2 listed building (with rats) to the sociable space it is today. “When our clients walk into the salon, we want them to feel as though they have discovered a hidden gem.” The duo add: “We wanted to be different to other salons on the high street which can be quite monochrome and clinical-looking.”

When our clients walk into the salon, we want them to feel as though they have discovered a hidden gem

With a signature colour scheme of black and gold, the salon has no chance of appearing clinical. One of the biggest challenges of the renovation was the lighting thanks to the lack of natural light in the basement. Sarah and Cameron explain: “We spent a fortune installing ‘specialist daylight’ units in the basement working area as we have no natural light in this section. Despite the expense it was terrible. We ended up going back to the drawing board and doubling the number of light sources within that area and now use multiple LED bulbs.” The pair have created a high-end atmosphere using softer lights from lamps and uplighters which highlight architectural features and heighten the overall luxurious ambience of the salon. Taylor Taylor London’s top tips  Don’t wing it Get your plans in place before you start and always include your team as they know the practicalities of the salon better than anyone. Have a dry run Always give yourself a couple of days grace before you reopen as a dry run is worth its weight it gold. Break new ground Don’t stick with tradition – take the opportunity to mix things up.