Hair & Beauty

First images of iconic Spats’ building transformation revealed

First images have been revealed of what the former Spats dessert lounge on King William Road is set to look like once Fon Salon Adelaide move in after renovations are complete.

Image renders: Arc Two Architects

Arc Two Architects has finally unveiled the initial renderings of Fon Salon Adelaide, set to open in the iconic location of the former Spats dessert lounge on King William Road in Hyde Park. This transformation promises to keep luxury at the fore as it’s situated on one of Adelaide’s well-known shopping strips.

Local owners, Alex Collicelli and business partner Martino, who already operate the nearby Fon Salon, have taken on a substantial renovation project to breathe new life into the beloved Spats building.

“We wanted to do something Adelaide hadn’t seen before,” Alex tells Glam Adelaide.

The historic property had been a fixture on King William Road for over two decades, primarily serving as the Spats dessert lounge, which garnered popularity for late-night snacks and romantic rendezvous. Unfortunately, in December 2022, the business running the venue went into liquidation, marking the end of an era for the cherished dessert cafe.

The plans for the transformation into a show-stopping salon showcase contemporary sophistication while preserving the classic character of the structure’s facade. The design takes into consideration the historical significance of the area, paying homage to the rich heritage of King William Road.

“The inspiration for this space is minimalistic luxury. We also wanted to honour the heritage building and King William Road’s history by restoring the frontage and keeping some of the buildings features eg. the fireplace and the stone walls internally. Arc Two Architects were the talent to bring our vision to life,” Alex says.

“Every detail has been carefully thought about. Our brand is all about a luxury experience from every touch point from the massage chairs to our wine offering so we needed to set the tone with our fit out.”

Fon Salon has been working on King William Road since its inception in 2015, so there’s no doubt the business has a strong connection to the area.

“We are currently in one of the few heritage buildings on King William Road, so it was the perfect move up the strip into another heritage building for us. It’s in the heart of King William Road and there’s three public car parks and street parking in walking distance. I love that this space also has the trademark King William Road vines out the front,” Alex says.

“My husband and I also had a connection to the building, we used to eat waffles at Spats years ago when we first met. So this project is quite nostalgic for us both.”

Fon Salon is known for its innovative team of Hair Artists and Colour Specialists, drawing inspiration from Berlin’s vibrant street art, culture, and fashion. One notable aspect of Fon Salon’s ethos is its dedication to inclusivity, being the first salon in Adelaide to implement gender-neutral pricing.

“We wanted [our new space] to be purpose built and have our whole team included in the ideas and planning stages so that every stylist would be excited to work in such an inspiring space [with a] courtyard for breaks and meetings, natural light to see true hair colour and large sized colour mixing areas with adequate airflow,” Alex says.

“It’s been created for our type of clientele in mind adding those extras that not every standard salon in Australia would have like custom built skylights, 5m ceiling height and marble imported from Italy.”

The new and luxurious Fon Salon is set to be completed by mid-year, with call-outs for new staff members to join the stylist team already in motion.

For more information about Fon Salon, head here.

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