Design
Digressing from the stereotypical, You Do You in Mumbai paves the path for new-age salons
JAN 24, 2021 | By Saloni Rege
Breaking away from conventional salons is Mumbai’s You Do You. It is designed by FN Design Studio in collaboration with Mammen Paul from Shiraz Jamali Architects as a testament to unwinding spaces and beings.
Tucked within a tranquil neighbourhood in Bandra, this 800 sq ft salon has been conceived as a casual inviting space alongside its function-oriented nature. It intersperses working zones with leisure areas, allowing patrons to truly relax.
“We have a personalised approach to every project. For us, design needs to be the perfect amalgamation of aesthetics and functionality, and minute details add up to create a larger picture,” shares designer Naazish Nanji, cofounder and interior designer of FN Design Studio.
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The salon’s earthy waiting lounge is supplemented with a cosy seating nook, where visitors may read a book or even relish a freshly brewed (inhouse) cup of coffee. Overall, the design embraces varied aspects of relaxation and curates zones with interrelated functions.
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The core concept of the space reflects a rustic industrial theme paired with a tropical flair. The design intersects the styling stations with hair wash areas with the help of a central, visually binding feature wall.
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Set against a raw concrete backdrop, the styling stations act as a focal point of the salon. The grey undertones take a backseat so as to highlight the vibrant work of the hair artists.
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“The 15 ft-long, raw solid wood table coupled with the frame less mirrors lends a floating visual. This is something we meticulously planned and thoroughly enjoyed executing,” adds Nanji, encapsulating the belief of co-designers Farheen Nanji and Mammen Paul.
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The material palette mainly includes grey concrete finished walls, customised furniture pieces in solid wood and tropical olive tiles. A neutral palette is chosen to age timelessly while being an ideal canvas for the artist. The Nanjis and Paul also created an oasis of calm with the help of air-purifying plants such as Monstera and the Zamioculcas zami folia, which embellish the salon with their tinge of green.
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The designers unanimously agree that completing the project within the “challenging timeline of 21 days to design and execute from start to finish” is an accomplishment they all celebrated.