As the BBC’s Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr descends on Bristol, we catch up with the co-owners of Noco Hair and designer Jack Kinsey to chat all about the new renovation…
The fourth series of BBC One’s Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr has been entertaining the British public every Tuesday evening for the last eight weeks as 10 talented designers battle it out for one life-changing contract. Over the last two months, the contestants have created wedding accommodation on the banks of Rutland Water, redecorated 1930s beachside chalets in Eastbourne, transformed independent shops in Harrogate and redesigned hotel rooms at a five-star golf and spa resort on the River Clyde.
For the people of Bristol, however, the most exciting moment came in episode seven, when the semi-final brought Tom Power, Monika Charchula and Jack Kinsey to the city’s streets. Tasked to work on their own to give three hair salons a fresh look, the designers were introduced to Noco Hair on Whiteladies Road, McQueens on Park Street and Hobbs on Park Row. With each salon boasting its own identity and unique style, Tom, Monika and Jack were given individual briefs along with a budget of £3,000. Following a productive zoom call with the owners of each salon, learning more about their requirements, the clock started ticking on the two-day deadline.
Tom redesigned Hobbs – an edgy industrial salon split across two floors. He had the challenge of giving a fresh edge to Hobbs’s rugged and characterful interior. Monika renovated McQueens – a classic salon with a unique charm. With a brief to convert her classic salon into a bold alternative space, Monika decided to embrace her gothic maximalist signature style. Jack took on Noco, which was keen to deliver a high-end, luxury experience. He decided to go for a ‘Japandi’ (Scandi and Japan) theme despite the owners asking for a Scandi makeover.
As chief judge Michelle Ogundehin arrived with queen of the high street Mary Portas to critique the final creations, they were wowed by the boldness and clever features on display. But despite impressing Mary and Michelle with his considered lighting, and delighting Hobbs’s owner and manager with his makeover of their dated industrial chic interior, Tom sadly didn’t make the cut. This has left Monika and Jack to face their biggest challenge yet – transforming two pubs in the series finale.
As the last episode draws near, we caught up with co-owner of Noco Hair Noel Halligan and designer Jack, who took us behind the scenes of the renovation.
Our first question for Noel was an easy one, did you like it? “We asked for Scandi and we got Japandi, which was not what we were expecting – but it was even better than we were expecting,” he laughs.
“We wanted it to be a place where people could rest and digest, completely chill out and enjoy a luxury environment. We’re a high-quality salon, we’re not cheap so we’re all about going the extra mile, providing an indulgent experience – and Jack understood exactly what we wanted. We love the geometric shapes; the way that he’s got the solid structures with a darker colour against a lighter colour and then the plants that trail along the stations to soften it all out. The textures are really engaging for people when they’re walking through – there’s just so much to look at and take in.
“It was a shock when we first came in and saw it. They filmed us walk in and Corey [Taylor, Noco Hair co-owner] cried when she saw it because it was just so different. We just didn’t know what to expect.”
Although the design was a success, Jack was originally hesitant about Noel and Corey’s requests. “When I was given the brief, I wasn’t sure if I wanted it because it was asking for Scandinavian and I can’t relate much to Scandi. The salon was quite pared back and muted and I like more rich colours – I thought I was the worst person for this job. I decided to give them something a bit different, I gave them Japandi. I thought I was going to go home that week so I thought I’ll risk it and see what happens.
“I started by taking inspiration from Japanese culture and finding colours that resonated with the theme. I went with quite rich colours and wanted to create a spa vibe.”
One of the judges’ favourite elements of Jack’s design was a mural featuring Japanese bamboo and maple trees climbing the four walls and ceiling that surround the shampoo station. “I wanted to have a tree going up and over so when you get your hair washed, you can look up and feel like you’re underneath a canopy. I didn’t know how to do it, though and wondered whether I could paint it. It was the first time I’d ever painted a mural. It was another risk but it paid off and that was one of my favourite parts.”
Throughout each episode, we follow the contestants’ highs and lows as they attempt to overcome various design challenges. We wonder how Jack handled the pressure: “When I used to watch the show previously, I’d appreciate what the designers had done but I’d always think why have they done that or I wouldn’t have done that, but it’s so different when you’re thrown into it. We never see the spaces beforehand; we just get given photographs and some basic measurements and basically told to get on with it. That’s why sometimes things don’t quite fit.
“I’d say the salon week was one of my smoothest weeks. It was different from previous weeks because it was a real client. If they weren’t happy with it, I’d have been devastated. I met with Noel and Corey right at the beginning and they told me just to have fun with it – they were the nicest clients I could’ve had, and I don’t think they’ve really changed a thing. I think them being so on board and so welcoming made the whole design come together. I also loved Bristol as well, walking down to get my lunch and passing a Banksy.”
The feelings between Jack and Noco’s owners were clearly mutual: “If we were to open another salon, we would definitely work with Jack again, we really loved him. This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing that you get the opportunity to have your business revamped and rebranded.”
This year is looking to be a busy one for Noco as it prepares to celebrate its five-year anniversary in November. The owners have endured turbulent times during the pandemic but are on a high following the filming of Interior Design Masters: “We won Independent Newcomer of the Year at HJ’s British Hairdressing Business Awards just 10 months after opening but then Covid hit while we were taking on another salon and we ended up closing that salon down. At that time, mood and morale was pretty low. The show has given us a chance to work on the business as a whole. The consultations with Jack made us think about who we are. We’ve probably been thinking that we’re not as good as we are but actually, we did win Independent Newcomer of the Year, and we are delivering. We’ve got great reviews; we’ve attracted amazing people and it’s been pretty good.
“Since we filmed the episode, we’ve really got stuck into the industry. We’re doing a lot of training with inspiring people. We’re doing photo shoots and are back doing everything we used to do before the pandemic. I think the next few years are looking bright for Noco, we’ve got a much more robust business and now a great salon to work from.”
As for Jack, although the results of the final show are not yet in, it’s clear to see that he’s got far to go. A born creative, the designer is currently working on a wallpaper range set to launch in the coming months. The idea for the range was sparked by the Japanese mural that Jack created in Bristol. Find out more on his website jackkinsey.co.uk and follow him on Instagram @jackkinsey.
Find out more about Noco Hair at: nocohair.com and follow them on Instagram at: @nocohair. Images courtesy of Noco Hair
