Designer Jonathan Pugh on Salon & Spa Design
Q: So Jonathan, what do you do at Takara Belmont?
A: My job is to make sure our customers are taken care of, the best way possible. “Treating the customer with care” was the philosophy of Takara Belmont when they began trading in Japan in 1921 and that tradition continues today. Along with the daily duties of running the showroom and design office in Laguna Hills, I work with clients on a daily basis in all aspects of the salon design and open process. Now I'm the Spa Director, and do the same for them.
We work with all types of clients from small salons in a clients home, large 50+ station locations, destination resort salons and spas and of course day spas as well. There is no project too small or too large; we have experience with all types and sizes.
Q: Sounds like you have your hands full! You said you deal with salons and spas of all types and sizes, as an existing salon or spa, how would you advise them to rethink or rejuvenate their decor?
A: Design should be forward thinking, flexible and lasting. The flexibility in the design can be in the wall finishes, light fixtures, accessories or artwork. Anything that can be changed out easily and will aid in creating a new impact on the space will make the design flexible. This should be done every 2 – 3 years to keep the space fresh and updated. In some cases details like this can be changed more often, just don’t go crazy changing everything all of the time!
Clients and employees alike find comfort in familiarity with their environment. Changing things slowly but consistently can make the space look and feel fresh without taking away from the comfort and familiarity of what is hopefully a GREAT design to begin with!
Q: That sounds about right to me, but how do you know where to start?
A: I am a big believer in painting! With paint you can change the entire look of a space for very little money, time and effort. Simple changes like taking white walls and painting them a color two thirds of the way up a wall can make a substantial impact on the overall look and feel of the space.
Along with painting, updating the equipment that you use can also make the space look cleaner and more organized. Keeping your dryers and styling chairs up-to-date and well maintained have a pretty big impact on the salons overall appearance. Nobody likes to sit in a dirty color stained chair! It just doesn’t feel good!!
Q: Sounds like there are a few options for a salon or spa to play around with. What do you advise for businesses that are ready for an entire facelift?
A: I have come across many, many salons that have gone a “year or two” beyond the “need-to-refinishline!!!” Typically you shouldn’t wait longer than 10 years before you do a total overhaul of your space. Even then, that is a long time to wait. In very few cases where the design is truly timeless can the design hold up against the test of time!
As a general rule, the more fashion-forward you become, the more often you are going to have to renovate. Trends come and go, fads only stick around for a short time, but true style has staying power! If you plan on waiting for 10+ years to renovate, don’t go for something that is a trend or a fad… stick with style, elegance and simplicity! It will pay off in 10 years when your salon still looks great!
Q: What is the first thing that a salon owner should think about when it comes to doing any sort of image uplift?
A: This one is easy!! What amount of money do you want to invest in the entire venture! What is the budget!? So many times I have people come into my office and ask me, “How much does it cost to open a salon?” I really wish I had a good answer for that one. How much do you want to invest in opening this business or how much can you afford to invest in opening this business?
When it comes to design and equipment, we work with just about any reasonable budget from the economy approach to the ultra high-end. We just need to know what you need and what can be afforded. You might be surprised how much you can get for not a whole lot of money.
Q: If you could give some words of wisdom on the topic or things to watch out for, what would you tell our readers?
A: Work with someone you feel comfortable with and have confidence in and work with a reputable company that has experience in what they do, like Takara Belmont! Before choosing a designer, sit down and talk with them. Look at their portfolio, ask lots of questions. If you like what you see and hear you’re a good match. If you have a hard time conveying what you want or the style that you like, maybe it isn’t such a good match. This process should be fun and exciting, not strenuous. Of course there will be stress and some scary situations but with the right team, any future salon or spa owner should have the benefit of an amazing end-result and hopefully, a long-term business relationship between designer and owner.