In Hyderabad, Designary reimagines the salon typology for Nailashes and N-Salon through sculptural form and spatial clarity.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Perspectives by V; courtesy Designary
The brief
The owners of Nailashes, a nail-art brand with 70 locations across India, set out to elevate their salon vertical, N-Salon, into a modern luxury destination. The vision was clear: a minimalist white interior layered with an unmistakable X-factor that would distinguish it within a competitive market. To bring this ambition to life, they turned to Designary, a practice known for using architectural form and colour as tools for spatial branding in commercial and retail environments. Led by interior designers Deeksha Jiwani and Sushant Madan, the studio was tasked with evoking a sense of surreal grandeur while ensuring seamless integration of both brands within one cohesive environment.
The space required distinct yet visually connected frontages, clear zoning for core and overlapping services, and intelligent storage solutions within a compact footprint. Retail shelving needed to be strategically positioned to strengthen product visibility and support sales without overwhelming the minimalist aesthetic.
The spatial planning had to prioritise a smooth customer journey alongside operational efficiency, ensuring that functionality did not compromise the desired visual impact. The final outcome needed to strike a careful balance between aesthetics and practicality, optimising the layout to showcase the unique identity of each brand while maintaining a unified, fluid experience.
The design intent
Located within a premium mall in Kokapet, Hyderabad, part of the city’s rapidly evolving tech corridor, the space offered a rare 16-foot clear ceiling height that immediately shaped the project’s direction. Rather than treating it as a conventional retail interior, the studio approached it as an exercise in architectural form-making, responding volumetrically instead of relying on surface-led styling. “Within the high-end commercial setting, the design needed to move beyond the predictable 9 to 5 retail shell. The ambition was to create a spatial experience that felt calm, expansive, and monumental, breaking the monotony of enclosed mall interiors through scale and restraint,” shares Deeksha.
Anchored in the philosophy of “Void and Form,” the concept balances expansive monotoned volumes (the Void) with bold sculptural interventions (the Form). Muted matte finishes heighten the sense of understated luxury, allowing the architecture to take precedence. The voluminous forms act as both artistic statements and functional anchors, seamlessly integrating the distinct yet interconnected services of Nailashes and N-Salon.
Thoughtful spatial planning ensures intuitive zoning and fluid movement within the compact footprint. The result is a refined and immersive environment that merges architectural clarity with brand identity, elevating the salon experience while reinforcing the evolution of both brands.
The spatial configurations
A strength of the project lies in its zoning and carefully choreographed movement. Upon entry, clients are welcomed by a tall, narrow reception framed by sculptural forms and an integrated retail display. From this threshold, circulation unfolds in a deliberate sequence. Hair treatment zones are positioned centrally to ensure operational efficiency, while nail and lash stations are located toward the rear, where they benefit from softer natural light and a more focused atmosphere.
Two organic arches frame the individual brand frontages, allowing N-Salon and Nailashes to retain distinct identities while maintaining a cohesive visual rhythm across the space. These architectural gestures guide movement without the need for rigid partitions. At the heart of the layout stands a freestanding sculptural arch—the spatial focal point. Beyond its visual impact, it functions as a subtle divider, offering a degree of privacy to the pedicure zone without disrupting openness.
The design and material details
Enveloped in a monochrome shell of earthy-futuristic tones, the salon is defined by a restrained yet layered material palette that adds depth without visual excess. The design relies on a deliberate interplay of sculptural form, natural light, and textured finishes rather than ornamentation. Customised POP features introduce fluidity and movement, anchoring the architectural language. At the entrance, stretch ceiling lighting recreates the softness of a skylight, setting a tone of serene luxury from the first step inside.
Rustic textured paint in warm brown-pink and cool grey tones pairs with muted brown-beige leatherette and brushed gold accents, creating tonal variation across zones while maintaining cohesion. The reception and retail areas establish high-contrast drama, while the hair zone unfolds through subtle material layering. Toward the glazed facade, the nail and pedicure stations embrace calming greys, benefiting from natural daylight. In contrast, the enclosed beauty room wraps clients in a warm monochromatic envelope.
Sculptural spheres punctuate the space as recurring visual markers, reinforcing rhythm and continuity. An on-site design shift during the hair zone flooring—where an initially overpowering pattern was reworked into a spontaneous abstract composition—reflects the studio’s adaptive approach, transforming constraint into a defining aesthetic moment.
The highlights
“A defining highlight of the project is the central freestanding sculptural arch, conceived as both an architectural landmark and a functional spatial device. More than a visual anchor, the arch orchestrates movement, subtly zoning the pedicure area while maintaining openness and visual continuity. Its organic geometry reinforces the project’s core idea of form emerging from restraint—monumental yet fluid, bold yet quietly immersive,” asserts Sushant.
Equally distinctive are the customised POP sculptural spheres distributed across the salon. Positioned strategically, these elements function as visual markers, guiding visitors through the space. They introduce focal pauses within circulation, transforming movement into a composed spatial experience. Together, the arch and spheres establish a cohesive architectural rhythm, connecting varied zones without relying on rigid partitions.
The challenges
“One of the key challenges during the design and execution phase was resolving the precise curvature and structural stability of the central freestanding arch. As a self-supporting sculptural element, the arch demanded rigorous coordination between form, proportion, and material logic. Also, achieving a geometry that felt effortless and fluid—while ensuring on-site feasibility and long-term stability—required multiple iterations, mock-ups, and close collaboration with execution teams,” the designers explain.
Fact File
Project: Void and Form
Client: Nailashes and N-Salon
Location: Kokapet, Hyderabad
Area: 1,660 sq ft
Principal designers: Deeksha Jiwani and Sushant Madan
Design team: Ananya Raj
Contracting consultant: Samagra Interiors
Salon Furniture: Marc Salon Furniture
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