Le Hideout nail salon gets polished-up on a tight budget

View through glass windows of the Le Hideout nail bar interior featuring wood covered walls, grey floors, pink and black chairs, manicure stations and green plants in white pots

The glass façade of Le Hideout nail bar in Montreal, Canada.

(Image credit: Photography: David Dworkind)

last updated 11 October 2022

Tighter budgets require imaginative design thinking, and Le Hideout beauty bar in Montreal, is a neat example of when innovation wins. Think raw concrete floor, sculpturally formed MDF, and Ikea sinks used as footbaths.

In the vivid cultural hub of Griffintown, one-year-old studio Ménard Dworkind Architecture & Design (MRDK) made sure that the end belies the means, by investing in materials strategically, and agilely manoeuvring the 650 sq ft space. Becoming known for its attention to detail, and ability to work closely to a tricky brief, MRDK forged Le Hideout in an awkwardly geometric, commercial space at the base of one of the many condo buildings rising in this rapidly evolving part of town.

View of the pedicure area at Le Hideout featuring a tiled platform with steps, pink chairs, sinks, taps, wood covered walls, grey floors and a tall window

The design centres around an immovable concrete column that MRDK covered in a computer-cut floral form that grows up and onto the ceiling – not wildly dissimilar in principle to the one designed by Snøhetta in Aesop's Sloane Square London boutique, which opened last year. This structure doubles as a nail polish display, mirror-mount, and useful storage, in the otherwise fairly stripped-back space.

A bottle of 17 Nandan Road fragrance by Ulrich Lang pictured against a light grey background

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The pedicure station consists of the aforementioned IKEA sinks and reasonably priced Structube chairs taken off their legs, and installed on a tiled plinth at the front of the store. A rare but savvy expense, durable (tough as nails) Douglas fir lines the walls, and will last a lifetime, wrapping the room in a warming hue. In an act of economic balance, the concrete is left exposed and untouched throughout in an effective – and efficient – move. Original construction marks double as an abstract flooring pattern – found artwork, that appears new and deliberate.

Design flourishes continue at the reception, where a steel countertop folds over the front of the cabinetry, subtly recalling a painted nail, a fun addition that neatly manages to sidestep gimmick. In all, Le Hideout is a well-thought-out beauty spot, with enough eye-catching aspects to last the length of any mani-pedi.

Interior view of Le Hideout nail bar featuring a large peach coloured structure with shelves and nail polish, wood covered walls, grey floors, pink and black chairs, manicure stations, black lamps and green plants

Two side-by-side photos of Le Hideout. The first photo is a close up of the pedicure area featuring a tiled platform, pink chair, sink and tap. And the second photo is a close up of the concrete base that the peach shelving structure sits on

Two side-by-side photos of Le Hideout. The first photo offers a partial view of a wooden counter with a dark coloured top, wood covered walls, wooden doors and grey floors . And the second photo is a close up of the concrete base and peach shelving structure that sits on top with nail varnish on it

INFORMATION

For more information, visit Ménard Dworkind Architecture & Design's website

ADDRESS

168 Ann St,
Montreal, Canada

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Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.

Montreal’s Le Hideout nail bar polishes-up unconventional materials

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