John Frieda Flagship Salon London

John Frieda Flagship Salon London

The John Frieda Salon on Margaret Street is a carefully restructured commercial interior set within a 1960s building in central London. Occupying both ground and lower ground floors, the project required a clear spatial strategy to unify two levels into a coherent, legible salon environment while supporting the operational demands of a flagship hairdressing space.

The design begins with reorganisation. All former internal partitions were removed to establish a continuous spatial flow, allowing circulation, workstations and customer areas to be clearly defined and intuitively connected. A new entrance sequence and stair act as primary organising elements, mediating between levels and establishing a clear sense of arrival and transition. Repetition of styling stations introduces rhythm and structure, guiding movement through the salon while maintaining visual continuity.

Material choices are restrained and robust. Bespoke metal fixtures, cast concrete surfaces and blackened steel frames are combined with brass detailing to create a palette that balances industrial clarity with tactile refinement. Each workstation is custom designed, integrating storage and services within a compact, precise footprint to support day-to-day use while maintaining an uncluttered environment.

Light plays a central role in shaping atmosphere. New glazed floor openings draw daylight down into the lower level, strengthening the connection between floors and softening the depth of the plan. Artificial lighting is carefully layered to support both task requirements and ambient conditions, ensuring consistency throughout the day.

Key elements such as the reception desk, staircase and balustrade are treated as architectural anchors. Crafted in concrete, steel and timber, these components define thresholds, organise movement and reinforce the overall material language of the space.

The resulting salon is calm, efficient and durable — a working interior shaped by clarity, material integrity and careful attention to detail, supporting both brand identity and everyday use.