By using recycled materials and eco-friendly products, does Anne Veck Salon mark the way forward for salon interiors? And just how cost effective and easy is it for eco-conscious salon owners to do the same?
A well known and well respected figure in the UK hair industry, Parisian trained coiffure Anne Veck opened her first salon in Oxford in 1991 which was followed 10 years later by one in Bicester. Both salons had some environmentally friendly aspects, but the need to relocate in 2016 provided Anne with an opportunity to really consider the environmental impact of her business and look to create a new brand identity more in keeping with her ethical views.
African Inspirations
Wanting expand the businesses eco credentials in the new Bicester salon, Anne took inspiration from a visit to the African town of Swakopmund in Namibia. Here disregarded wood, packing materials and everyday items didn’t go to waste, but were put to use in construction of local houses and businesses. This inspired Anne to source these types of materials for her salon and combine them with eco-friendly systems to create a truly environmentally friendly salon.
Rough and Ready
From first glance it is clear that this salon has a concept that differs from most you will see on the High Street. The unit’s industrial shell of rough brick and breeze block interior walls and open ceiling of RSJ beams and corrugated metal are left all but untouched and a weathered red brick tiled floor adds to the raw unfinished warehouse feel . Surprisingly though, this ‘warehouse effect’ is not cold and stark as you would think, but actually forms the foundation for the overall look. The open planning also delivers and a sense of space, something Anne is particularly pleased with.
New Uses For Old Wood
It is the use of reclaimed wood and packing materials that strikes you on first seeing the salon. Multi coloured random sized strips of wood on the facade and the reception desk of the same material are a wonderful use of old wood and set the tone for the interior. Behind the desk, the coat rack and bag storage is cleverly constructed of disused palettes and fruit boxes. The salon’s retail shelving is made from old tea-chest packing cases while the waiting area has recycled sofas and a coffee table of stacked of palettes.
The inspired use of an old cable drum as a colour table is for Anne one of the best features in the salon. The large circular drum doubles both as a technical table for colour work and a social hub for clients and staff to sit and chat.
The New Compliments The Old
Understandably it was not practical to solely utilise recycled items for all the furniture so Anne looked to Maletti Group to provide some key items on the advice of the project’s salon designer Alan Cowling. Having led the way in environmental and sustainable production for over a decade, for Alan of 100% Salon Ltd, Maletti were the obvious choice to partner Anne’s in her eco-friendly salon concept.
Care was needed when choosing furniture for this project as it could easily become the focal point or look out of place. The square and simple design of the Paloma styling chairs on the polished five star base has a look that compliments the industrial feel of the salon, while the eco-leather upholstery and sustainable production methods marries with the salon’s ethos.
For Anne however it’s the Oregon backwashes that are the pick of the salon furniture. Though new, the Oregon’s soft, simple design has a look that reminiscent of a 1970’s worn leather couch which ties in perfectly with the recycled style. But while it may look retro, with its body supporting motorised recline and adjustable massage, Maletti’s Oregon wash unit is state of the art with features and functions at the forefront of contemporary wash unit design.
Ethical Environment and Happy Clients
The salon has a number of eco-features that aren’t so obvious such as the infrared heaters made from recycled materials, that consume 60% less energy and produce no CO2, and even uses a telephone and broadband provider is 100% carbon neutral.
As for the clients, according to Anne, they absolutely love it; especially the DIY aspect. They really appreciate all the efforts Anne has made to consider the environmental impact of her business while ensuring a visit to the salon remains and relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Realising the new salon was a team effort and Anne looked to 100% Salons to help realise her design concept and mainly to friends and family to help deliver it. This enabled Anne to succeed where many salon projects fail and that’s setting a budget and sticking to it.
Eco and Economic Sense
Anne Veck Bicester is a great example of recycling and reusing old materials , many of which have been thrown away. This is both cost effective and has an environmental benefit. True this type of project requires the need to go out and source the pallets and packing cases, all which take an element of time and effort, but the savings were notable. Plus incorporating the unit’s raw brick and metal construction as a feature, saved on the building materials and labour costs it would have taken to cover it up. All of this meant that Anne could better use her budget to invest on quality backwash units and styling chairs that deliver the practicality and comfort a salon needs to function as a successful business.
Overall the newly revamped Anne Veck Bicester salon shows that with a bit of ingenuity and creative thinking it’s possible to create a cost effective salon environment that’s eco-friendly but also practical, comfortable and above all, looks amazing!
Salon Details
Anne Veck Salon 17 Crown Walk Bicester OX26 6HY
Salon Design
W:https://100percentsalons.co.uk E: alan@100percentsalons.co.uk
Maletti Furniture
Paloma Styling Chair
malettiblog 