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Cassidy’s of Harbord Hairdressing used two Corian® colours—Designer White and Elegant Grey—to turn a renovation brief for a “modern, relaxed vibe” into a coordinated client journey. Designer White wraps the oak hair stations and forms the colour-station benchtop, while Elegant Grey shapes the curved, shadow-lit C logo at reception. Cove splashbacks and seamless joins allow the same solid-surface language to continue through the working areas.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The project, published by Architecture & Design on 9 October 2023, was designed by Deanne Crowther of Oldham Services and fabricated by Manooga Products, with photography by Carla McNab of BWRM Sydney North. Its descriptions of durability, stain resistance and formability are project statements, not independent laboratory comparisons or quantified guarantees.
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The salon renovation in one view
Cassidy’s of Harbord Hairdressing retained its existing chairs but rebuilt the visual framework around them. The renovation covered reception, colour and hair stations, benchtops, storage and product display. The front of the shop had to attract people passing by, while the interior needed to feel calm enough for a longer appointment and practical enough for repeated chemical and cleaning exposure.
| Project element | Material or detail described in the case study | Design purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Hair stations | Corian® Designer White combined with oak | Light, clean lines around the retained chairs |
| Colour station | Designer White benchtop with dark timber pigeonholes | Bright work surface with contrasting storage for dye tubes |
| Reception logo | Elegant Grey formed into a curved, shadow-lit C | A dimensional focal point at the entry |
| Splashbacks and joins | Corian® cove splashbacks and seamless connections | Continuous surfaces and softer transitions around work areas |
| Design team | Deanne Crowther, Oldham Services; Manooga Products | Design and fabrication of the commercial fit-out |
The result is not presented as a head-to-head test against laminate, stone, tile or another solid surface. It is a built example showing how a restrained palette and custom fabrication can solve both brand presentation and salon workflow requirements.
What the brief required
A modern but unhurried atmosphere
Crowther described the starting point this way: “The salon’s brief was to develop a modern, relaxed vibe using a colour palette of whites and shades of black incorporating their existing chairs.” The combination of white surfaces, oak and dark timber gives the neutral scheme enough warmth and contrast to avoid looking clinical. White supports the light-filled impression; oak introduces a natural note; black and deep timber details anchor the composition.
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The front of the salon had to be “captivating to entice prospective clients to enter the shop,” according to Crowther. Reception therefore does more than process appointments. The curved, shadow-lit C logo in Elegant Grey acts as a three-dimensional sign that can be read as part of the architecture rather than as an applied graphic. Its placement makes the first few steps inside the shop part of the salon’s identity.
Surfaces for a demanding work environment
The team also needed new storage and product-display areas, plus counters able to cope with salon use and resist hair-dye staining. The case study says the selected surfaces were chosen with those conditions in mind. It does not provide stain-test results, cleaning-cycle data or a numerical durability rating, so those statements should be treated as design intent and project experience rather than a performance guarantee.
How the two Corian® colours were assigned
Designer White: the working backdrop
Designer White was used at the hair stations in combination with oak and on the colour-station benchtop. In this arrangement, the white surface carries the largest visual area and reflects available light around clients and stylists. Oak breaks up the expanse at the stations, making the counters feel less stark while preserving the crisp geometry requested in the brief.
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At the colour area, dark timber pigeonholes for dye tubes sit against the white benchtop. The contrast gives each product a defined location and makes the storage read as a deliberate display rather than a row of miscellaneous containers. It also lets the benchtop remain visually quiet while the darker compartments provide depth.
Elegant Grey: a controlled accent at reception
Elegant Grey was reserved for the curved C logo at reception. Using the darker shade on a single, highly visible feature keeps the overall palette light while giving visitors a strong orientation point. The shadow lighting emphasizes the curve and makes the logo legible through changes in daylight and interior illumination.
This is a useful palette strategy for a small commercial interior: assign the light colour to broad, task-oriented planes and place the darker colour where a sign, edge or sculptural form needs emphasis. The case study does not claim that this two-colour combination is universally suitable; its success depends on the oak tone, lighting design, retained furniture and proportions of Cassidy’s space.
Why the fabrication details mattered
Cove splashbacks
The project used Corian® for cove splashbacks, allowing the counter surface and the upstand to read as one continuous turn. In a salon, that visual continuity can reduce the number of hard junctions around a wet or chemical-use area. The case study identifies formability as the reason the team could achieve these shaped transitions; it does not compare the detail with other materials under standardized conditions.
Seamless joins
Seamless joins were another stated advantage. Fewer visible breaks support the clean-line aesthetic and keep the counter from becoming a patchwork of separate pieces. The quality of any finished seam still depends on the approved joint design, substrate, fabrication, installation and subsequent care. A fabricator should show a sample or drawing of proposed joins before manufacture, particularly where a counter turns into a splashback or wraps a corner.
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Curved reception detailing
The curved, shadow-lit C demonstrates that the material was used for more than flat tops. The logo required a controlled radius, a consistent face and a lighting cavity that could be integrated into the reception construction. These are custom-fabrication decisions, not off-the-shelf colour choices, so the design should be coordinated with shop drawings, lighting access and maintenance routes.
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What this case study does—and does not—prove
Architecture & Design presents the salon as a completed design project, not as a controlled product trial. The evidence supports the following observations:
- Designer White and Elegant Grey can be coordinated with oak, dark timber and retained salon furniture in a contemporary commercial interior.
- A solid-surface specification can be shaped into cove splashbacks, curved signage and visually continuous joins when the fabricator’s process allows it.
- The designers considered staining from hair colour and the need for durable work surfaces when selecting the scheme.
- The visual effect depends on lighting, proportions, detailing and craftsmanship as much as on the colour names themselves.
The article supplies no numerical project-performance figures, independent stain-resistance tests, comparative costings or ranking against alternative materials. A salon owner should not convert the case study’s qualitative language into a guaranteed service life, an unlimited chemical-resistance claim or a promise that every fabricator can reproduce the same curves.
A practical specification path for another salon
1. Translate the brief into zones
List the surfaces by job rather than by room: reception face, logo or sign, retail display, colour mixing, shampoo or wet areas, cutting stations, storage and staff-only worktops. Note where dye, peroxide, heat, water, tools and repeated wiping occur. This prevents a decorative feature from being specified as though it has the same exposure as a mixing counter.
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2. Build a palette around the existing furniture
Cassidy’s retained its chairs, so the new materials had to support what was already in the room. Photograph existing upholstery and timber in daylight and under the salon’s planned artificial lighting. Decide which surface is the broad background colour and which elements are accents. A white such as Designer White can carry large areas; a grey such as Elegant Grey can be limited to signage, edges or a focal object.
3. Check the actual colour, not only a screen image
Corian®’s manufacturer cautions that colours shown on screens may differ from the installed material and recommends ordering a physical sample for colour and aesthetic accuracy. View the sample beside oak, dark timber, tiles, paint and upholstery, then check it in morning, afternoon and evening light. Record the lighting temperature and the sample orientation so the approval is reproducible.
4. Draw the junctions before approving the order
Ask for elevations and sections showing counter thickness, splashback height, cove radius, edge profile, access panels and the location of every seam. For a curved logo, request the radius, face build-up, shadow gap and lighting specification. The drawing should identify which surfaces are visible to clients and which are serviceable from behind.
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5. Confirm salon-specific care requirements
Obtain written cleaning and stain-care guidance for the exact product and finish from the manufacturer or fabricator. Ask how hair colour, developer, bleach, acetone-containing products, heat tools and abrasive pads should be handled, and what to do if a spill dries. The case study’s intent to resist staining is not a substitute for these instructions.
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Corian® directs professionals to local distributors to find a sales representative or fabricator. Request a commercial quotation that separates material, templating, fabrication, delivery, installation, cut-outs, splashbacks, lighting coordination and any aftercare. Confirm warranty terms, exclusions, repair procedures and the party responsible for site measurements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Questions to take to a fabricator
- Can you reproduce the proposed cove, radius and shadow gap in the available sheet size?
- Where will seams fall, and how will they be finished so they remain inconspicuous?
- What substrate, support spacing and fixing method will the counters require?
- How will sink, tap, electrical and cable openings be sealed and serviced?
- Which finish is specified, and how will it look under the salon’s lighting?
- What cleaning products and procedures are approved after hair-colour exposure?
- What happens if a section is damaged: local repair, replacement or both?
- Which dimensions must be confirmed on site before fabrication?
- What lead time applies to samples, shop drawings, fabrication and installation?
- Which warranty documents and care instructions will be handed over at completion?
Using the Cassidy’s palette without copying the room
The lesson is a method, not a template. Start with the customer experience you want at the door, then assign materials according to exposure and visibility. A different salon might use the white surface only at reception, place the grey on a long retail plinth, or replace oak with another warm material. The transferable principles are the contrast between broad light planes and darker accents, the deliberate coordination of storage with the worktop, and the early resolution of curved or coved details.
Lighting deserves its own design pass. The C logo at Cassidy’s uses shadow lighting, so its appearance is tied to the direction, colour temperature and controllability of the light source. Test a mock-up or sample under the actual fittings before final approval. A colour that looks soft in diffuse daylight can read cooler under high-output LEDs, while a deep grey can lose edge definition if the shadow gap is too narrow.
Where to verify colours, samples and installers
The current Corian® Design colour information is intended for exploration, but the manufacturer advises using physical samples for final colour decisions. Its “Where to Buy Corian® Solid Surface” guidance points commercial customers toward local distributors, sales representatives and fabricators. Availability, fabrication capability and service terms can vary by location, so confirm those details in the region where the salon will be built.
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For a project with visible curves, integrated lighting and chemical-use counters, the installer’s portfolio is as important as the colour card. Ask to see completed commercial work with comparable seams, edges and radius details, and inspect a finished sample before signing off production.
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The design takeaway
Cassidy’s of Harbord shows how a limited surface palette can support a complete salon narrative. Designer White gives the stations and colour counter a bright, orderly base; oak and dark timber add warmth and contrast; Elegant Grey turns reception into a recognizable feature. Cove splashbacks, seamless joins and a curved, shadow-lit logo extend the same idea into the construction details.
For anyone planning a similar facelift, the responsible sequence is clear: define the work zones, sample the colours in the real lighting, resolve every junction with the fabricator, and obtain written care and warranty information. The finished atmosphere may be relaxed and modern, but achieving it is a detailed coordination exercise rather than a colour-only decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Corian® colours were specified for Cassidy’s of Harbord Hairdressing?
The case study names Corian® Designer White and Elegant Grey. Designer White was used at the oak hair stations and on the colour-station benchtop; Elegant Grey formed the curved, shadow-lit C logo at reception.
Who designed and fabricated the salon renovation?
Deanne Crowther of Oldham Services was the designer, and Manooga Products was the fabricator. Carla McNab of BWRM Sydney North is credited with photography.
Does the project prove that Corian® will never stain from hair colour?
No. The brief required surfaces that could resist hair-dye staining, and the case study describes the selected surfaces in that context. It provides no independent stain tests or quantified guarantee, so salons should obtain product-specific care and warranty information.
How should a salon approve a Corian® colour before fabrication?
Order a physical sample, because screen images may differ from the installed material. Check it beside the project’s timber, upholstery, paint and lighting at different times of day, then approve shop drawings for seams, coves, curves and service access.
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