Space was at a premium for Angelo and Donovan Ortega when creating Don Angelos Aveda Lifestyle Salon in Bay City, Michigan. At just over 2,000 square feet, the new salon was less than half the amount of space the brothers were used to in their first location. 

“We wanted to make sure our guests’ expectations were met, even in the smaller space,” Angelo Ortega says. “We had the advantage that this was new construction, but we also had to make sure every inch was accounted for.”

The Ortegas leveraged the advantage created by the location’s 13-foot ceilings by creating tall, skinny furnishings. The stations are 8 feet tall, and all the cabinetry is shallow but reaches from floor to ceiling.

“We didn’t have room for a wall, but we needed a division between the cutting floor and the rest of the salon,” Angelo says. “So we broke the bank on a glass wall, which makes the space seem large, open and modern.”

The location had just enough space for two treatment rooms, which the Ortegas felt was important, but they decided to create a relaxation room that doubled as the nail services area.

“The positive side of this lack of space made us look at nail services in a whole new way—we took the experience to a new level, and our custom-designed new stations are mocked after loungers, allowing the guest to lay in total relaxation instead of sitting up in a chair,” he says. “The loungers are jet-free, use 50 percent less water than traditional pedicure chairs and have larger armrests, so clients can have a manicure and pedicure in half the time.”

The Ortegas even found the space to accommodate a barbering area. Designed to be private, the space gives male clients a sense of comfort within the salon, and its location near an exterior window draws the attention of passersby—as a result their appointments stay booked. On the salon cutting floor, custom stainless-steel stations feature LED technology paired with full-spectrum lighting, which provides the perfect environment for coloring hair.

“Our philosophy is to train our staff to the highest level and equip them with the latest technology to give clients the best results.”

Don Angelos Aveda Lifestyle Salon
Bay City, Michigan
donangelos.com

Owners: Angelo and Donovan Ortega
Established: 2015
Salon style: State-of-the-art
Square footage: 2,050
Stations: 7
Treatment rooms: 2
Equipment: Takara Belmont, Novvo Etopa, Pietranera
Furniture: Angelo Ortega
Total design investment: $165,000
Retail line: Aveda
Color line: Aveda
Design by: Angelo Ortega
Architects: SSP
Photography: Avram Golden

Owners’ comments:
“We didn’t have room for a wall, but we needed a division between the cutting floor and the rest of the salon, so we broke the bank on a glass wall, which makes the space seem large, open and modern.”

Judges’ comments:
“The glassed-in cutting room with the wood walls and ceiling is truly unique, I love it!”—Nelson

 “The retail space is inviting and I love the privacy offered at the barbering chair.”—Gallagher

“Fabulous salon—great use of space. It’s modern but comfortable and the colors and textures are perfect.” —Redman