The Theme’s the Thing: Industrial Chic

Clean, chic, and “Instagrammable” were the adjectives nail tech Joanna Xu and husband Lambert Hahm had in mind when they designed their new salon, Nailbox LA, located in Los Angeles’ Arts District. “My wife visited nail salons across the U.S., but none of them ever really caught her attention visually. She always said that if she ever opened up a salon, there were so many design aspects she wanted to improve on,” says Hahm. “When the time came that we were fortunate enough to open our own salon, she pulled in inspirations from all over — Pinterest, art shows, magazines, etc.” The industrial look, including the open ceiling, was a nod to the Arts District. “We wanted a space that not only embodied our design goals, but also stayed true to the location,” he says.

The couple also wanted to create a space that would inspire people to take photos — from the copper bowls to the signature pink chairs to the green wall. “We incorporated the green wall to bring plants into the salon,” Hahm notes. One unique aspect of the salon is the “garage door” that can be rolled up when the weather is nice. “We thought it would be something totally different, innovative, and fresh. Our customers love it! It brings fresh air into the environment and is very welcoming,” he says.

On a practical note, retaining that pristine look in a working salon is a challenge. “It has been difficult to remain uncluttered, but we are fortunate to have a back room where we are able to store most of our supplies and equipment,” he says.