Second Runner Up: Globe Salon

When most salons move to a new location, they typically are seeking more space. Las Vegas’ Globe Salon decided to leave their bland strip-mall location to find a new and exciting space that better fulfilled the reputation and image of their brand.

They found the perfect location—a storefront in a loft-style residential building in the downtown Arts District. But to move there, the salon had to sacrifice 40-percent
of its existing space and squeeze its operation into 1,000 square feet.

With efficiency a top concern, the new design takes its cues from the hospitality industry with high-end finishes, including hardwood floors and cabinetry, designer chairs, imported wallpaper, a glass-topped desk and Shiatsu massaging shampoo shuttles. “Designer Kevin Brailsford aimed to capitalize on the cube-like dimensions and make the space feel like an urban jewel box,” says Staci Linklater, president of the salon’s development company. “Rather than close in the ceiling, the solution was to enclose the HVAC unit in a wallpapered soffit and accent it with hanging strands of glass beads to make it feel like a giant black chandelier.”

To deal with reduced space concerns, the salon reduced its station count by three and positioned stations closer together, allowing the team to work more productively together. The architect positioned the skin care treatment room directly behind the front desk and created a hidden door that becomes a seamless part of the wall. Potential noise was reduced in the small space with wood panels on the wall and soft layers of insulation in the concrete ceiling.

“We believe Globe Salon captures the essence of upcoming salon design trends perfectly—a manageably sized space that is intimate, yet spacious, designed with high-end finishes and intimate touches that reflect the fact that we are first and foremost a hospitality business,” says Linklater.