COLE HAIR STUDIO
Interior Design
Location: Double Bay, New South Wales
Photography: Timothy Kaye
Awards: Dezeen Awards 2022, Australian Interior Design Awards 2022
Published: Daily Architecture News, Habitus Living, Australian Design Review, Architecture & Design, In Design Live, We Heart
Cole Hair Double Bay was conceived as a salon that is both fierce and luxurious, set in the opulent heart of Double Bay, Sydney. It is a place to see and be seen. With a stable of high-end and celebrity clients, the brand required a setting equal to its profile. The brief from owner Mariah Rota called for a space that felt luxurious, sexy and sophisticated, where fashion sensibility and hair artistry could meet. The creative direction drew on archival backstage photography from Tom Ford’s early Gucci shows, translating the attitude of the 1990s runway into spatial composition, detailing and mood.
The tenancy had previously operated as a salon in a very different configuration. Through close consultation with the client, the plan was reworked to heighten function and flow. The client journey is now a clear sequence from arrival to exit. A central colour-processing bench anchors the floor as a communal hub that supports everyday service, education and events.
Materiality establishes the tone. A largely monochromatic palette of greys, whites and blacks is layered with richly tactile finishes. Jurassic marble with wave-like veining, reminiscent of flowing hair, sets a signature note. Metals are mixed throughout in polished chrome, mirror, stainless steel and matte black to create depth and reflection. Warmth arrives through 1970s textures, including Milanese bouclé and walnut in custom-designed settees. Architectural cutouts inform the reception counter. Reeded glass introduces a layered transparency that softens thresholds and amplifies light.
Operational performance was a priority. A fully modelled lighting plan minimises fittings and reduces electrical consumption while delivering accurate working illumination. Sheer drapery along the street frontage tempers heat gain and reduces reliance on air conditioning. An integrated filtered-water tap replaces single-use plastic bottles, aligning service rituals with sustainable practice.
Storage is resolved through a bespoke entry installation of staggered, angled mirrored cabinets developed with the joiner. The piece provides capacity for product overflow, coats and umbrellas while reading as a sculptural element that extends the design language.
The completed salon departs from traditional typologies by fusing cues from luxury retail with a focus on ritual and mood. Cole Hair Double Bay invites clients into a world that is bold, seductive and precisely composed. It elevates the experience while supporting the rhythm of the floor.