Salon of Distinction: Mizu, New York

Mizu New York, New York mizunewyork.com Owners: Michael Barsamian, Damian Santiago, Vaughn Acord, Elan Sassoon
Salon established: November 2008 Salon style: Modern, sophisticated, elegant Square footage: 5,800 Styling stations: 34 Treatment rooms: 0 Equipment: Maletti Furniture: RG Shakour, Maletti Total design investment: $2 million Top retail lines: Kerastase, Shu Uemura, Aveda Architect: Leslie Jill Hanson Architects

Judges comments: “The red literally pulls you to the styling station, while the cobalt staircase transcends.” — Cicela “The lighting is the best feature here, including the backlit stations and the efficient, ambient lighting with many reflective materials to add to this sharp minimalist palette.” — Soukhopalov

“The blue resin panels that we have throughout the salon, including up the stairway, give a hint of color throughout the pristine white space. Clients walking up the stairs always comment that it is like they are walking on water.”