A Partner in Business and in Life
At Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair and Beauty, Director of Operations Natasha McMillen helps bring her wife Janet St. Paul's vision to life, elevating every system from education to operations.
by Stacey Soble
J. Bentley Studio & Spa - Ohio
High-tech and high-fashion go hand-in-hand at this cutting-edge beauty haven.
by Molly Noonan
July 10, 20112 min to read
Computer monitors allow clients to check out digital snapshots of their finished looks.
High-tech and high-fashion go hand-in-hand at this cutting-edge beauty haven.
In case the big-wigs behind New York City Fashion Week haven't heard, the J. Bentley Studio & Spa, located about 15 miles northwest of Columbus, Ohio, could give Bryant Park a run for its money. The 6,000 square-foot space features a 40-seat theater where a stage and fashion runway regularly play host to models donning local designs.
"We were really looking for that fashion connection," explains J. Bentley owner John Paton. "The color, seasons and looks of the fashion industry had to be part of our design. It was meant to be colorful, artistic and a little unusual."
But fashion is just one part of J. Bentley's design equation. Technology is also front-and-center in this warm, chai latte-hued space. After salon clients are coiffed to perfection, stylists take a digital snapshot of their finished look and store it in their virtual library. Flat-screen monitors next to each styling station can quickly recall past looks.
Caramel curtains and artisan light fixtures add elegance to the nail spa.
"People love this," Paton says. "It takes away this myth that the stylist will always remember what you look like."
Despite the strip-mall setting, Paton and his associates managed to include posh lounging areas for both male and female clients, in addition to a sprawling mani-pedi area, a bustling salon floor and, of course, the theater.
"Our ideas were bigger than the building," Paton says. "We could've easily filled up twice the space."
J. Bentley Studio & Spa
Owner: John Paton
Location: Powell, Ohio
Opened: September 2007
Total square feet: 6,000
Salon setup: 18 styling stations, 6 treatment rooms, 8 manicure/pedicure stations
Construction time: 10 months
Construction cost: $2 million
Equipment/installations: Belvedere, Sofa Express
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