Take pics of your salon now Chris. It will help us get a idea of what you are talking about when you say you have mirrors "The thing is, I don't want to lose the line of mirrors on the downstairs wall now because it looks great. I'm debating getting rid of the tables in the colourstudio, and moving the colours downstairs again, but infront of mirrors. Or perhaps I could keep the mirrors and put the tables next to them?"

I can't picture what you are saying..so Pics please??

The black shop front is a great idea, it takes the eye directly to the window and the black is really suited to the antique style of arched windows.
Chris I was refering to plants in general, living or life like. They tend to give a suburban or "Miss Betty's" feel to the salon and detract fromt he clean lines of a modern salon.
I have found, from talking to other salon owners, that they are taking out their color tables and going back to applying the color infront of the mirror. They found that most clients didnt like sitting across a table from a stranger, while processing with color on, without something inbetween so they couldnt be seen by the other person.
I asked a lot of my clients what they thought about the color table idea and they said that the prefered sitting in front of a mirror, cuz it was like their own little space and felt more private.
I would diffinately move your Color bar back down stairs and take adventage of the empty cutting stations, more people are attracted to a busy looking salon then one that appears quiet ( but i am not telling you something that you dont already know )
There is a book that you need to ready, its by a guy by the name of Peter Millard called Reinventing Space. He designs shops and point of sale areas for Chanel, Ralf Laurer and now Redken. If you go on to www.redkensalon.com and register there is a drop down "grow you business" click on business education and there is a bit of info from him in there under "reinventing Space" I was lucky enough to see him live and not only is he amazing with his idea he is also a very funny man. I have some of him on video, but i think that i have drowned him out from laughing so hard. He spells out the do's and donts of salon design in a very straight forward ( you will burn in hell if you dont listen ) kinda way.

Plants give Miss Betty feel?

Holy heck!! I have one or two in the salon. Mostly on high shelves to fill in blank space and I really don't think they give a Miss Betty feel...But that might be the difference to Aussies opinions and Americans eh?
They tend to be placed in a way that shows off the other objects that I want the attention drawn to.
(memo to Jazz! Time to change up on the accessories in the salon)

The black front is a very classy look. With arched windows you are going for a very Classy but antique look. Or Retro is what we call it.

Hey Jazz, Plants dont sell your retail for you. So why put then on the shelves to "fill in spaces" Unless the plants are on sale too.Why not make a shelf talker that tell people to BUY with a discription of the product and why the should buy it. You get to fill in your space and the client gets some info while browsing. Everyone should buy Peter Millards book, No salon owner should be with out it. He speaks the truth and in very plain english. As well as giving you examples and good reasons why you says what he says.

OK Phill...you have me convinced.

The book isn't available on Amazon or anything, so I am tracking it down.
I'm wating for a call from our Redken rep to see if she has any in her car boot stock. I was given her number after ringing Redken direct.
It's a while since I've ordered from Redken, so I hope she calls me back. I can't wait to get it now!
If they have none left, do you know where else I can get it?
I'm about to start interviewing builders for the refurb (I need it completed within a week, and Vince would take longer than that!), so I need a copy of this book ASAP.
Do you have a scanner LOL?

When i talked about a color bar i meant literally a bar. Like you go to a bar and get a drink. I like the idea of mixing the color behind the bar and getting the color on right there. I suppose you could put mirrors behind it but I find that putting colors in front of a mirror to process makes the clients question why their hair looks purple when the wanted a dark red brown. Or why there are pieces not in foils and quite frankly I am to busy to answer those questions, cause the clients where I am from are panicky. Seating the clients away from mirrors and giving them plenty of reading material seems to keep them occupied until they are done processing.
Good Luck!!
**Krista**