Say No Mo Social Nail Bar by Balbek bureau Architects

Combining a completely licensed bar, a café and a luxury beauty parlor that is available also for private events are possible in Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv. In numerous other cities around the globe, home rental expenses, liquor licensing rules, and other barriers would make this type of enterprise impossible. However Say No Mo Social Nail Bar is not just genuine, it is completely cool. It is located at 36 Shota Rustaveli Street in a brought back pale-yellow historic structure in the very heart of old Kyiv.

The two-level 200 square-meter (2,153 sq.ft) area was designed by the widely known Kyiv-based Balbek Bureau with designers Slava Balbek, Sofiia Hupalovska and Nataliya Stukonog in charge of style and Natalia Kozak accountable for general project management.

Over 10 months, the Balbek group and the salon's Canadian owner worked to produce this distinct job making the most of the historical vibes of the location and the building while checking out the idea of a unisex salon environment. Breaking away from the worn-out traditions pastel, girly salon-spas for women and a wood-paneled dark-leather gentlemen's club-ambiance for guys-- the designers set out to emphasize the four-meter (13 ft) high ceilings and the openness of the very first flooring. Without putting up dividing walls that would decrease the splendor and hinder the flexibility of the space, they produced plainly unique zones for the various functions of the hair salon. The ground level includes the reception, lounge, manicure, and pedicure spaces. The primary floor's distinguishing characteristics consist of the central cast-in-situ rough-concrete slab that functions as the reception desk and the damaged arch that surrounds it. The unfinished appearance of the two evokes the concept of a surge-- the designers' not-so-subtle reference to exploding traditional stereotypes.

The retail area and bar area surrounded by polished stainless-steel panels with golden titanium nitride covering. Integrating rough, unfinished, and tough products with curvy and soft accents-- all in soft colors of white, grey, silver, and gold-- produces a beautiful balance and a peaceful background. The lower level houses makeup, hair care, cosmetology, restrooms, and numerous utility centers. With its lower ceilings and lack of natural light, the basement is finished completely in white and enhanced with mirrors.