Laminex Goes Uptown

Laminex goes Uptown for Brad Ngata’s exclusive Ivy George Street salon. Right now, Justin Hemmes’ new Ivy mega-complex on Sydney’s George Street is THE place to be. Follow your ears down Sydney’s George Street any night of the week and you’ll find yourself surrounded by the city’s ultra-fashionable, in a sprawling wonderland of bars and restaurants, salons and shops, courtyards, a swimming pool and its own take on the Spanish Steps. Now Laminex, the greatest trend-setter of them all, has joined the party, supplying products for the fitout of Uptown at Ivy: the second salon from stylist-to-the-stars Brad Ngata.

Uptown is a space of dream-like beauty and innovation, conceived by Ngata, architect Scott Weston and designer Gregory Phillips as a theatrical reinterpretation of a luxurious French salon once owned by Madame Pompidour. The design evokes a sense of romanticism, grandeur and glamour, by way of pink velvet curtains, pastel suede banquettes, polished parquetry floors, and of course, elaborate, decorative walls courtesy of Laminex Fusion® Surfaces, Customart®. Used on interior salon walls, splashbacks, benchtops and the reception desk, this revolutionary concept in design surfaces played a crucial role in turning this salon into a truly majestic jewel in the Ivy crown.

Scott Weston Architecture and Design is a leading Sydney design practice recognised for its award-winning architectural, interior and graphic design projects and specialising in singular well-crafted, cost-effective solutions. Going into the Uptown project, Scott Weston’s design philosophy was to create a witty, chic salon with quirky, memorable and unique touches. “Laminex Fusion Surfaces, Customart is a humble product that can be transformed to become visually outstanding like the salon, or it can sit back and fit in harmoniously with a backdrop like a simple bathroom interior,” Scott Weston said. “The product has become part of our stable of materials and finishes which we consider for up-and-coming projects.”

Laminex Fusion Surfaces, Design Source provides designers with a plethora of choice, with hundreds of exclusive designs and colours, or the option of Customart to design an original image and unique graphic identity. At Uptown, it enabled Weston to enhance the French fantasy theme, providing an innovative and stylish design solution which seamlessly blends with and amplifies its lavish surroundings. “We needed a material that was extremely durable, able to withstand the constant wear and tear of a busy Sydney salon,” Weston said. “And we found after rigorous testing that Fusion Surfaces are resistant to staining, easy to clean, and had minimal visible joins: it was the perfect product for this job.”

Considering that Sydney’s most glamorous locals and visiting celebrities will be heading ‘Uptown’ for their pre-party blowdry, its no wonder that The Laminex Group is so proud of the role played by Fusion Surfaces, Customart.