Hebrew for beautiful, Naava Salon and Spa is perfectly positioned in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas, on the main floor of a bustling high-rise building. Located in a LEED-certified Class A building, Naava’s owners, brothers Steven and Joshua Chodniewicz, were encouraged to think creatively about resources and options to create the modern aesthetic they craved while living within environmentally sound guidelines.

Throughout the salon, 20-foot ceilings, a contemporary palette of soft neutrals, and high-quality materials such as Carrara marble and walnut envelop clients in sophisticated luxury. Custom-designed salon stations feature 8-foot mirrors, a wood ceiling minimizes sound while creating a warm atmosphere.

“Floor-to-ceiling windows allow the natural Texas sunlight to shine through, while giving clients a view of Austin’s foot traffic,” Joshua Chodniewicz says. “A massive 15-foot walnut and black granite centralized color bar is a focal point of the salon area.”

At first, the building’s cement support pillars challenged the brothers’ desire for a fluid customer experience, but their architect, ItecDesign, came up with a plan to smooth, bleach and sand-blast the pillars and incorporate them into the design. Now, the pillars stand as interesting focal points throughout the space.

When designing the salon, the brothers not only thought about the direction their business would grow, but also anticipated how their city is changing.

“Austin is increasingly becoming an event-oriented city, which creates many opportunities for group bookings, so all of our areas are created to accommodate larger parties,” Chodniewicz says.

2ND-RUNNER UP: NAAVA Salon and Spa
Austin, Texas
naava.com

Owners: Steven Chodniewicz & Joshua Chodniewicz
Established: 2015
Salon style: Urban, sleek, contemporary
Square footage: 6,200
Stations: 28
Treatment rooms: 8
Equipment: Kaemark, custom
Furniture: Michele Pelafas
Total design investment: $1,400,000
Retail lines: Oribe, Kérastase, Morrocanoil
Color lines: Wella, Pravana
Design by: Vaida Chodniewicz
Architects: ItecDesign
Photography: Shannon Lafayette

Owners’ comments:
“Floor-to-ceiling windows allow the natural Texas sunlight to shine through, while giving clients a view of Austin’s foot traffic.”

Judges’ comments:
“The high, dark, textured ceiling adds to the overall design.”—Leger

“The floor-to-ceiling windows and station-to-ceiling mirrors make the space soar. The walnut finishes are rich and elegant.” —Gallagher

“A beautiful blend of color, texture and functionality! Quality finishes, fantastic lighting and timeless interior equal a salon for the ages.” —Redman