Fox Den Hair Salon

Commercial Built-Out | 2,125 SqFt

Coralville, IA

Fox Den Hair Salon is a boutique salon in Coralville, Iowa, designed to redefine the traditional salon experience, for a customer, and chair owner. Through intentional architecture and interiors, authentic materials—including walnut sourced from the salon owner’s family farm—and a client-centered layout, the space blends comfort, creativity, and hospitality. It offers a refined yet approachable environment where personal story and thoughtful design converge.

The Opportunity

Our friend, Ali, owner of Fox Den Hair Salon, presented Form Function Studio with a unique opportunity to transform an unused commercial unit into an experiential hair and beauty make over destination, reflective of a distinct experience. Ali, envisioned the salon that broke away from the typical open-plan format, favoring a layered, defined approach, crafting out a welcoming space that supports both stylist workflow and guest experience. The goal was to create a salon that felt inspiring, and rooted in an earthy, personalized, narrative.

The Solution

The design reimagined the salon layout as a sequence of spatial experiences or “stations.” Guests enter through a welcoming, eclectically designed lobby, quite literally passing through the “Fox Portal” into the den; the vibrant heart of the entire salon. Eight, individualized stylist stations and two private suites offer flexibility, while thoughtful circulation around, ensures intuitive movement to the supportive spaces for the customer's hair experience. Exposed prestressed concrete “T-Beams” were celebrated with intentionally designed free standing interior walls, bringing attention to the shear depth of the space, and allowing for a common design language to be experienced. The functional zones; clearly defined — wash bays tucked in the back for experiential flow, privacy from the entry, while drying areas, secluded under an acoustic alcove, offer a quiet transition back towards the front for views and natural light, while the mechanical systems and private, employee spaces are discreetly housed behind intentionally hidden pocket doors.

Two single-use bathrooms with a shared vanity provide guests with an intimate and refined space to freshen up post-appointment. The L-shaped bar extending across the west and north walls, serves as a central organizing element that anchors the space visually and functionally. The salon’s signature color, “Fox Hall Green”, and warm walnut wood accent tones create cohesion and comfort throughout.

A deeply individualized touch is the use of walnut wood, sourced from the salon owner’s family farm, having been incorporated into trim, accent columns, and product shelving. The warmth of these details supports the intentional grounding that our friend, Ali, desired for her salon that comes back into the desire for a client to feel truly rooted and at ease during a transformative experience at the salon.

The Impact

The design of Fox Den Hair Salon gave Ali and her team a salon that feels uniquely theirs—elevated yet rooted, functional with an eclectic aesthetic, and a purposefully emotional response to diverge from the standard, white and bright aesthetic of an everyday salon. By weaving personal history and heritage into architecture, we created a layout that supports both stylists and guests. The space has become more than a workplace; it has become a destination that embodies Ali’s vision, values, and ultimately, her heart. The result is a thriving salon that fosters connection, creativity, and a sense of belonging for everyone who walks through its doors.