INSIDE

Providing an award-winning customer experience for its clients, KROPPER BARBER is a modern, minimalist space making its mark in Wandsworth and beyond

KROPPER BARBER 161 WANDSWORTH HIGH STREET, LONDON, SW18 4JB

WHEN DID YOU OPEN?

We opened in November 2019, and after only a few short months we went into the first nationwide lockdown. It was a turbulent start, being closed for almost 10 months. Since the lockdowns ended, we have had a good run and have now found our feet.

WHAT WAS YOUR BUDGET FOR THE INTERIOR?

This was a top to bottom refurbishment, so there was a lot more construction than a usual refit. In the end, we spent around £60,000 for the whole project.

WHEN YOU ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY, WHAT WAS IT BEING USED FOR?

We took it on as a disused charity shop. As you can imagine, we had a big task ahead of us.

WHAT WAS YOUR BUDGET?

Our budget was roughly £50,000, however this was exceeded slightly.

HOW WAS THE RENOVATION PROCESS AND WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE?

It was a learning curve from start to finish as this was our first major project. Luckily, we had a great team of builders, designers and friends to help us along the way. The biggest renovation challenge was the floor, which had to be completely redone. We originally wanted a polished concrete or rubber effect flooring, but it was too rotten and unstable, so we opted for vinyl herringbone stick down tiles. They have the benefit of allowing us to carry out repairs without ripping the whole floor up – you simply cut out and replace it.

WHAT IS THE COLOUR SCHEME AND WHY DID YOU PICK IT?

Our colour scheme consists of greys, blues and white. This creates a vibrant, light, yet calming environment. It goes well with the modern look we wanted, and is masculine without being too traditional or off putting to anyone.

WHAT INFLUENCED THE DESIGN?

We were inspired by other barber shops around the country, and took inspiration from other places, such as a trainer shop in Japan and branding from companies like Nike and Vogue.

IS THE BARBERSHOP MEANT TO APPEAL TO ANYONE IN PARTICULAR?

We were trying to find a balance between modern minimalism and trendy, but still welcoming to everyone. Being in London, we wanted to appeal to a wide range of young professionals from all walks of life trying to make their way in the capital; those who want a high-quality bespoke experience without paying a small fortune.

HOW MANY STATIONS ARE THERE?

There are five stations, each fitted with custom drawers and sinks complemented by Takara Belmont Dainty chairs.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE LIGHTING IN EACH AREA AND WHY IT WAS CHOSEN?

Our main source of light in the seating area is natural light and our neon sign. Natural light is key to a barbershop – and it also makes our seating area the nicest place to be on a sunny day. Our neon sign was made by the famous God’s Own Junkyard in London. It’s our centerpiece, so we had to go with the best.

Each workstation has three sources of light: natural light from the main window, artificial light from our vintage style bulbs, and our hanging criss-cross lights. We recently installed wall mounted ring lights to flood the workspace with light too.

DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS OR THINGS YOU WOULD CHANGE?

We can’t say we have any massive regrets, although we would go for a darker coloured floor next time - we’re currently saving for a polished concrete floor for the second shop. Overall, we’re happy with the design and will carry it forward as a company aesthetic for future projects, all while elaborating and expanding it even further. Stay tuned for Kropper 2...