Ruffians, London

After success in Edinburgh, Graven designed and implemented Andrew Cannon’s ambitious concept for a masculine yet refined gentleman’s barbers again in London.

The design of the Covent Garden barbers has similarities to the salon’s first award-winning branch, launched in Edinburgh in 2012, but incorporates features unique to the site. Original brick walls and aged timber floors have been kept and restored, giving the space its own distinctive character.

Comprising three distinct sections, the central London salon has been designed to offer a seamless and unfolding journey as guests arrive. The café-style waiting area has two key features: a wood-burning fireplace which, guarded by wing-back chairs on either side, creates a snug complete with iPads for customers to use while they wait; and opposite, a whisky / artisan coffee bar, where there is an evolving menu of beverages, including liquor and freshly ground filtered coffee.

Features include a communal oak cutting desk and traditional barber chairs by Takara Belmont re-upholstered in ‘Ruffians Petroleum Blue’ leather. Our creative yet practical approach has resulted in the use of a palette of robust, quality materials that age well over time, including solid oak and mild steel, in contrast to many contemporary generic salons that use white synthetic materials.

Natural light is plentiful, but large Edison filament bulbs are fixed to the ceiling to add warmth and highlight the existing brick vaults. Pendant lamps create a more subtle light in other feature areas, such as the whisky bar and nickel-plated samples table.