Interiors: Pink Perfection
Melbourne’s premium blow dry bar, The BLOW, is a delicious pink confection that is anything but soft. We ask founder PHOEBE SIMMONDS and Texture’s Head of Interior Design LAUREN FOY to share their inspiration behind the aesthetic.
Phoebe and I have been friends since childhood and she came to me with her idea for The BLOW and who The BLWO woman is. She gave us free rein over the visual/spatial language with the exception of the colours - pink and red! Pink is often a feminine colour but not necessarily one that exudes sophistication and strength, so finding the exact tones of the Ammo Pink and the Power Red were important to convey this feeling that would resonate and empower The BLOW woman.
We were fortunate enough to find many off-the-shelf products that tied in perfectly, such as the velvet curtains, and especially the Karaman Pink Marble from Signorino! The pink X-Bond flooring by Alt Surfaces was a custom colour, Phoebe Prima Rosa, especially for the salon.
The mottled pink walls are treated in a French Wash finish from Porter’s Paints. All of the joinery was custom designed and made. The BLOW occupies only 50spm so it was imperative that every inch of space work hard.
The brief was that The BLOW experience needed to be special and what we took from that was to create a journey through the space where the arrival, the wash station, and the styling station felt like three distinctive zones - not an easy task with only 50spm to work with! The swathes of pink velvet bring high drama to the wash stations, but they also conceal a cloak cupboard and the entry to the storeroom.
From the outset, it was important that we created a visual and spatial language for The BLOW, one that could then potentially flow on to more sites in the future. Architectural devices such as the square mosaic tiled wall were key to achieving a recognisable design language, and with the addition of the ‘good hustle’ neon sign, it’s definitely one of the more photographed spots at The BLOW!
We fell in love with the Karaman Pink Marble, sourced from Signorino, and had to incorporate it somehow. The reception desk is one item or area that clients touch, so we wanted to give them something special.
The screening at the reception was firstly about defining an entry zone; we felt that it was important for clients to walk in and feel that they were at The BLOW and hadn’t just walked into the middle of a hair salon. Secondly, it creates privacy for clients, so they only feel on show when it’s showtime.
The styling stations feature the Pavlova terrazzo from Fibonacci. This was another finish that we immediately knew that we had to get it into the fit-out. Giving each zone its own identity was key to making the salon feel spacious, so the pink terrazzo features only at the styling stations for this reason.
The mirrors framed in Power Red focus the attention on the client, with catch cries such as ‘get it girl’ and ‘femme and fierce’ adding personality and humour. These little touches have really made clients feel like they are almost a part of the space.
The Lord Sconces by Dowel Jones were custom powder-coated in the Ammo Pink, and they also provide front-facing light at the styling stations to help minimise those harsh hair salon shadows.
All of the salon and wash chairs are from Space Salon Furniture. The chairs don’t feature any bells and whistles, which was a decision made to ensure they fit with the ‘get in, get out, get it girl’ motto of The BLOW. theblow.com
The BLOW founder, PHOEBE SIMMONDS explains the ethos behind the salon expressed through the interiors.
“The BLOW isn’t a salon, it’s a space where women come together to lift each other up. So of course, it needed to feel inviting and different to any other space seen in Australia.
We pack a punch. Our boutique is in the heart of corporate Melbourne, so our space, with its high ceilings, bright lights, and pink and red accents really stand out.
We wanted it to feel incredibly warm and welcoming, to make our guests smile. Their reactions are always incredibly gratifying and made the attention to detail all worth it.
We use R+Co, a premium US brand with an emphasis on styling and aesthetic. We want our guests to smile when they look at the products, to feel luxurious but also playful. We also sell products that support The BLOW lifestyle, including Zove Rose Quartz Facial Rollers, Aceology Face Masks, Slip Silk Pillowcases and Choose Jonny Condoms as well as all our own merchandise.”