Set on one of the wealthiest streets in the capital, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Neil Cornelius 1st Floor salon might be just a little too flash. But as stunning as the salon is, Neil kept it as warm and comfortable as possible. “The salon has a home-from-home feel, like a plush private club. Even the smallest details have been thought about, right down to the shape and size of the hand towels in the lavatory.”
Neil, who honed his skills at top West End salons Michaeljohn and Jo Hansford, created the interiors with Martin Brudnizki – the man responsible for the decor of top London restaurant Scott’s of Mayfair. Another reason for the homely feel, says Neil, is his 24-hour appointment service. “We have clients who come in at 3am to get their hair done – they might be presenting the morning news or about to get on a flight,” Neil explains. “There’s a certain psychology to it – it’s almost as if you’re going to their house and they’re in their personal space.” But client comfort wasn’t the only thing Neil had in mind. “Staff want to work in a salon they feel at home in, and whether they working during the day or in the wee small hours, I don’t want them to feel as though they’re constantly on edge.”
The economic climate also factored in Neil’s decisions. “We’re in tough times at the moment and I didn’t want to be one of those salons that spends a fortune on interiors and then goes out of business after a year. I focused on the parts that were the most important to clients and don’t cost the earth. No-one wants a boss who’s stressing over money.”
The prestigious New Bond Street address had previously been a salon and there were some parts Neil wanted to keep. “The focal point for me is the chairs,” he says. “Barber chairs have so much character about them and new chairs never have the same feel.” They even have ashtrays in the arm: “It’s like you’re kicking back at home, lighting up a cigarette,” says Neil.
While he may have been frugal when putting the salon together, the finished result does not look cheap. Neil wanted the space to feel like a townhouse, and it works. A luxurious townhouse, but it feels like a home nonetheless – a home we’d want to live in.
