Anthony Cristiano has more than 20 years of experience in the world of high fashion—working with photographers such as Ben Watts, Craig McDean and Norma Jean Roy, working on celebrities including Demi Moore, Robert Downey, Jr., and Mariah Carey and being published by magazines, such in the likes of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Marie Claire.

But when he decided to open up a flagship salon, it wasn’t New York or Los Angeles where he set his sights—it was his hometown of Chicago. But he still needed a backdrop of a location that embraced his personal philosophy and aesthetic and allowed him to create an upscale salon for high-end clients who expect the best. He found a home for his 3,400 square-foot namesake salon on the mezzanine level of the Trump International Hotel and Tower, overlooking the beautiful Chicago river a spectacular view of city.

"I devote much thought into everything I do, and I am especially mindful of the clients’ needs,” says Cristiano. “This is what inspired me to bring back sophistication, glamour, and luxury back to the salon environment while making it a relaxed and intimate experience.”

Beautiful, warm herringbone oak floors welcome guests into a spacious reception, but then the floors transition to bright white terrazzo with black and white Sassi furniture for the styling area and color processing table. “We are no different than a designer boutique, we focused our attention on every detail because we wanted the client to experience a chic environment. The stunning architecture of the Trump Tower fits well with our elegant aesthetic.”

The biggest challenge, according to Cristiano, was making the most out of the space while keeping it simple and quite functional. “Sometimes simplicity is very challenging.”

But when it came to designing his salon, he continued to draw influences from his background. “My experience in the fashion and editorial world continue to surprise and inspire me. And, this is what ultimately led me to launch my salon,” he says.

SALONS OF THE YEAR 2013
1ST RUNNER UP
Anthony Cristiano
Chicago, Illinois
Anthonycristiano.com
OWNERS: Anthony Cristiano
SALON STYLE: Chic, elegant, boutique
SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,400
STYLING STATIONS: 24
EQUIPMENT: Sassi
FURNITURE:Fiam Italia Arflex, Molteni & C, Knoll
TOTAL DESIGN INVESTMENT: $1.2 million
RETAIL LINE: Phyto, Leonor Greyl
COLOR LINE: Subtil
DESIGN: DMAC
ARCHITECT: Dwayne MacEwen
PHOTOGRAPHY: Akin Girav

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:
“Love the white..very chic and it adds an elegant look to the space. The styling stations and chairs are beautiful together.”—McGwire

“Perfect execution, encompassing exterior environment into space. Heavenly aesthetics—the future of interior design for salon.”—Labos

“ I love the clever transition from the warmer welcoming reception/concierge service to the crisp white salon floor area—it further emphasizes the specialty of service the client is about to experience.”—Soukhopalova