The Building AMS.

HAIRDRESSER
150M2
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

A hair salon restyle using key elements of vintage luxury to elevate the atmosphere and improve the functionality of the space.

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A hair salon restyle using key elements of vintage luxury to elevate the atmosphere and improve the functionality of the space.

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A hair salon restyle using key elements of vintage luxury to elevate the atmosphere and improve the functionality of the space.

Studio 34 South circles back to personal care and wellness with a restyle of The Building Amsterdam, a hair salon located in Amsterdam’s upscale Oud Zuid neighbourhood. The salon was started by three young entrepreneurs whose aim was to bring the sophisticated hair design from the fashion industry to the public – in a relaxed and comfortable environment. After nearly a decade of successful business, the co-founders decided it was time to give their space an injection of luxury to match the exclusivity of their services.⁠

When we were asked to renovate this impressive 1905 home in an elegant district of Amsterdam, there were 3 key motivations from the client: it needed to be spacious and connected for entertaining; it had to maintain its grand character yet still feel relaxed (as the Dutch are well known for their pragmatism); and since the clients are avid Danish design lovers, it needed to have a warm Scandinavian vintage feel.

Studio 34 South circles back to personal care and wellness with a restyle of The Building Amsterdam, a hair salon located in Amsterdam’s upscale Oud Zuid neighbourhood. The salon was started by three young entrepreneurs whose aim was to bring the sophisticated hair design from the fashion industry to the public – in a relaxed and comfortable environment. After nearly a decade of successful business, the co-founders decided it was time to give their space an injection of luxury to match the exclusivity of their services.⁠

They enlisted the help of Studio 34 South and frequent collaborator Ramses Caesar to lend a designer’s eye to lacklustre rooms and pinpoint key opportunities for elevating the space. The designers were tasked with incorporating pre-existing elements into a new, cohesive design, giving more character to the space while increasing the number of hairdressing stations.

The main salon on the ground floor was enriched with a deep wood stain on the floor to offset gold brass elements such as the gilded triptych mirrors and welcome reception. Behind the reception, new brass shelves disguise everyday knick-knacks and office supplies. Black marble and walnut laptop tables act as perfect chair-side stands to set down reading materials and drinks.

What were once bare white walls are now clad in an unusual lichen blue to bring out the warmth of various wood elements in the room, including a vintage art deco mahogany showcase shelf for hair product display.⁠ Curated art pieces are displayed in new window arrangements and on bronze mirrored pedestals throughout the salon.

What were once bare white walls are now clad in an unusual lichen blue to bring out the warmth of various wood elements in the room, including a vintage art deco mahogany showcase shelf for hair product display.⁠ Curated art pieces are displayed in new window arrangements and on bronze mirrored pedestals throughout the salon.

The waiting area now houses a vintage walnut gloss-lacquered communal table, bespoke artwork and an upholstered Bordeaux window seat.⁠ Johannes Andersen chairs for Uldum Mobelfabrik, designed with classic Danish sophistication in the 1960s, surround the table, adding to the home-like atmosphere. Their off-white upholstery works with the colourful walls to brighten the waiting area – now a long way from a nondescript row of seats along the wall.

The original panelling, ceiling frames, mouldings and doors provide subtle reminders of the building’s history and provenance as a ‘buitenplaats’ or a spacious summer residence for the wealthy Amsterdammers of the Golden Age.

The waiting area now houses a vintage walnut gloss-lacquered communal table, bespoke artwork and an upholstered Bordeaux window seat.⁠ Johannes Andersen chairs for Uldum Mobelfabrik, designed with classic Danish sophistication in the 1960s, surround the table, adding to the home-like atmosphere. Their off-white upholstery works with the colourful walls to brighten the waiting area – now a long way from a nondescript row of seats along the wall.

A level below, stately leather recliners are poised before hair-washing basins and accompanied by glossy, multi-purpose rust stools that bring warmth and playfulness to a largely black and white area. Subtle touches like the new brass spotlights make clients’ view of the ceiling just that little bit more pleasant, tying in with the warmth and shine that threads through the entire salon’s design.

Studio 34 South and Ramses Caesar worked with pre-existing elements in the salon to make a few key decisions go a long way. The Building Amsterdam is now equipped with more chairs for clients, an inviting waiting area and a more polished look overall to better reflect the vitality of the salon and its team. Here’s to enjoying a pampered life, if only for an hour!

A level below, stately leather recliners are poised before hair-washing basins and accompanied by glossy, multi-purpose rust stools that bring warmth and playfulness to a largely black and white area. Subtle touches like the new brass spotlights make clients’ view of the ceiling just that little bit more pleasant, tying in with the warmth and shine that threads through the entire salon’s design.

Studio 34 South and Ramses Caesar worked with pre-existing elements in the salon to make a few key decisions go a long way. The Building Amsterdam is now equipped with more chairs for clients, an inviting waiting area and a more polished look overall to better reflect the vitality of the salon and its team. Here’s to enjoying a pampered life, if only for an hour!

A level below, stately leather recliners are poised before hair-washing basins and accompanied by glossy, multi-purpose rust stools that bring warmth and playfulness to a largely black and white area. Subtle touches like the new brass spotlights make clients’ view of the ceiling just that little bit more pleasant, tying in with the warmth and shine that threads through the entire salon’s design.

Studio 34 South and Ramses Caesar worked with pre-existing elements in the salon to make a few key decisions go a long way. The Building Amsterdam is now equipped with more chairs for clients, an inviting waiting area and a more polished look overall to better reflect the vitality of the salon and its team. Here’s to enjoying a pampered life, if only for an hour!

A level below, stately leather recliners are poised before hair-washing basins and accompanied by glossy, multi-purpose rust stools that bring warmth and playfulness to a largely black and white area. Subtle touches like the new brass spotlights make clients’ view of the ceiling just that little bit more pleasant, tying in with the warmth and shine that threads through the entire salon’s design.

Studio 34 South and Ramses Caesar worked with pre-existing elements in the salon to make a few key decisions go a long way. The Building Amsterdam is now equipped with more chairs for clients, an inviting waiting area and a more polished look overall to better reflect the vitality of the salon and its team. Here’s to enjoying a pampered life, if only for an hour!