Whitehouse Salon
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Owner: Tanya Brooks
Salon Style: Urban, Happy, Hip
Square Footage: 1,400
Stations: 15
Equipment: Takara Belmont
Furniture: Tanya Brooks
Total Design Investment: $145,000 
Retail Lines: Unite, Brazilian Blowout
Color Lines: L’oreal
Nail Lines: OPI, CND, Gelish
Design By: Tanya Brooks
Architects: Tanya Brooks
Photographer: Adam Millron

The décor of Whitehouse Salon is right in its name. Almost everything in the salon is white—white walls, white floors, white marble bars, white-framed mirrors, white styling chairs.

“I wanted the salon to look happy, alive and pristine,” says owner Tanya Brooks.

To add to the brightness factor, Brooks was particular about the lighting. “I installed the same light that art galleries use to show off their art pieces,” she explains. “It’s brighter than most lights, and shows the truest of colors which is important for our creations as well. The light is just like the sunshine—you can’t help but feel great when you’re in it.”

Brooks also loved the restaurant trend of an open communal atmosphere—where diners have view of the kitchen and the communal seating introduces them to other patrons. To add that environment into her salon, the front desk also serves as a bar. After guests check in they are offered wine, French-pressed coffee, several types of herbal teas, or individually bottled fresh lemon and cucumber water. “Our beverages are served in crystal and porcelain, with a doily.”

If clients are in for a color service, they are seated at another 20-foot bar, where they can watch their colorist mix their formula.  

To keep the salon efficient, Brooks considered the movement of staff and clients throughout the space, especially at full capacity. “I was working with a very long narrow space in an older building. We have a restaurant below us with an open ceiling, so I was not able to put the plumbing in the floor joist like you’d normally do,” she says.

“To solve the problem, we raised the floor below the shampoo area, sinks and the bathrooms, which we call our wet area,” she continues. “It helps divide the space and add interest and texture to the flooring and space. I gave this area a spa feeling through glass and marble tiles.”

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