Stylish salon interiors from around the world
Blaze, Auckland, New Zealand
Run of the mill just will not do at Blaze, an altogether new salon experience created by some of New Zealand’s brightest design talents. Blaze’s backwash stations include chairs by emerging furniture designer Jamie McLellan, the Vola tapware is by Arne Jacobsen and the salon’s Eames modular seating and Pedro stools are created by Candywhistle. The lighting is however, a UK design classic, Anglepoise.
The idea is to create an environment where younger customers can engage with the salon’s ideals in new and interesting ways – artworks, photography, stunning books and magazines. Designer Katie Lockhart wanted the interiors to be a functional and fun canvas for the personalities that work there, which include international Redken stylist Mana Dave, who leads the salon team.
Within the salon, colour plays a leading role. Running the entire length of the workspace are back-coloured glass panels that give a sense of depth and light. Fully-functioning drawers and cupboards are recessed in the walls of glass. Katie also lent her own hand to the design of Blaze-only items that add character and practicality to the staff’s everyday duties. Each stylist has a custom-made stool for their guest (the preferred name for a Blaze customer), and their tools are housed in a box akin to a tool-kit with a bright orange-coated metal finish.
Other quirks include a library at the front of the salon containing volumes of the best magazines and books that style can buy. Of course, no contemporary salon would be complete without a cool soundtrack, so Blaze employed the masterful ears of DJs Karn Hall and Grant Fell to handpick tracks for the perfect morning, afternoon and weekend experience!
