Smith + Simms Hair Company

9916 Clayton Road
St. Louis, MO 63124

Several years ago, Smith + Simms had purchased a blowout bar salon, and made minor changes to turn it into their full-service salon. Now it was time to fully reimagine the space to reflect their brand and style of service. The salon could only be closed for eight weeks, so updates needed to be planned carefully between the construction schedule and mobilizing as much work ahead of time to meet the deadline. 

The salon’s floorplan is tricky: it has two front doors, so we had to create an unusual front desk that could greet clients from either direction, while providing plenty of circulation and queueing space. Retail was worked into the salon where space allowed. In addition, a spiral staircase to the office in the center of the salon had to remain. Aesthetically, our client wanted a more open-feeling space in a more contemporary style, a larger shampoo area, and a more efficient color formulary and back-of-house space. 

The new contemporary space is open and welcoming. Our team removed as many walls as possible, and the new custom styling stations (that were pre-fabbed before construction on the space started) are suspended off the ground for a light look and easy sweeping. Stylish arched mirrors and white oak casework balanced with a rich wood-look floor create a warm and welcoming salon for clients. The new two-desk reception area is able to greet clients from either entry, and a large consolidated retail area makes a full statement of merchandise. Accents of brushed gold round out the comfortable new space. 

A well-considered design with close communication between suppliers, subcontractors, and the design team brought the project in on-time and at the client’s budget.