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A three-dimensional cutaway of the salon interior — a long narrow tenancy with the cutting stations and mirrors down one side, the wash lounge and beauty room beyond, and the retail display and reception at the shopfront end

Architecture, Interiors, Model Making & Furniture Design

Hair Salon

Urban Classics & Contemporary Elegance

Hair salon interior  |  Retail design  |  Material & spatial design

Design
Lee Anchor
Project
Hair Salon Interior & Retail Design
Location
MacArthur Central Shopping Centre
Year
2016

The Hair Salon explores the idea of urban classic elegance, combining refined materials, timeless detailing and artistic elements to create a sophisticated and distinctive interior.

A restrained palette and durable materials establish a sense of lasting elegance, while gold detailing, ornate mirrors, shimmering surfaces and carefully considered retail displays introduce artistic expression and elements of surprise.

The design brings together functionality, durability and visual character to create a salon environment that is both distinctive and memorable.

01Design Philosophy — Urban Classics & Elegance

The design was developed around a philosophy of urban classics, elegance, artistic expression and durable elegance, with distinctive elements introduced to create moments of surprise.

Rather than following a purely contemporary or minimalist approach, the interior combines timeless qualities with unexpected details. The intention was to create a space with a strong identity — sophisticated and refined, yet individual and visually engaging.

The restrained material palette provides a calm foundation, allowing the more distinctive elements of the interior to become focal points.

The philosophy boardSix qualities set down at the start, with reference images gathered beneath them to hold the direction steady while the interior was designed.

02Material & Detail — Durable Elegance

Materials were selected to provide both visual refinement and durability appropriate to a working salon environment.

Large-format porcelain slabs were used at the shopfront facade to create a clean and substantial architectural presence. Corian was selected for the reception and cutting-station countertops, providing a seamless and refined appearance.

Gold powder-coated finishes introduce warmth and detail to the shopfront and retail display areas, while the combination of neutral surfaces and carefully controlled detailing reinforces the overall sense of quality.

The intention was to create durable elegance — materials and finishes that could withstand everyday use while maintaining a sophisticated appearance.

Specified, then handledThe finishes schedule names every surface and where it goes; the sample board is the same palette in the hand, where weight, sheen and texture can actually be judged against one another.

03Element of Surprise

The interior introduces unexpected elements to create moments of visual interest.

A shimmering feature wall provides an element of surprise, adding depth, reflection and movement to the interior. Rather than treating every surface in the same way, the feature creates a change in atmosphere and encourages the eye to move through the space.

The use of distinctive feature elements allows the salon to move beyond a purely functional environment and develop its own artistic identity.

04Retail & Street Presence

The shopfront was designed to communicate the character of the salon from the street.

A large-format porcelain facade establishes a strong and refined architectural presence, while gold detailing and the feature retail display create points of attraction for passing customers.

The retail display was positioned as an important visual element rather than simply a storage requirement, helping to connect the interior experience with the street.

The retail display, documentedPlan, elevation, perspective and fabrication notes on one sheet — a fully welded frame, powder coated, fixed back to structure, so the display reads as part of the shopfront rather than a fitting added to it. open it full size ↗

05Focal Points — Distinctive & Unique

Ornate mirrors were introduced as focal points within the salon, adding a classic and decorative quality to the otherwise restrained interior.

Together with the shimmering wall, gold detailing and feature retail display, these elements create a series of visual moments throughout the space.

The intention was not to make the interior decorative for its own sake, but to carefully balance simplicity with distinctive character.

06The Resolved Interior

The completed design brings together the different aspects of the design philosophy — urban classics, elegance, artistic expression, durability, surprise and individuality.

The restrained palette and refined materials provide a timeless foundation, while the feature elements give the salon its distinctive personality.

The result is an interior that seeks to balance function and beauty, simplicity and richness, and timeless elegance with a contemporary urban character.

The resolved planThe whole salon in one drawing: entrance and glass frontage at the street, retail display and reception, the run of cutting stations along the length, and the wash lounge, beauty room and staff areas at the far end. open it full size ↗

© 2026 Lee Anchor Sculpture. All rights reserved. I acknowledge the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) people as the traditional custodians of this land on which we walk, work, learn and gather. I honour and pay respects to their ancestors, elders and emerging generations.