Bringing Mala Beauty Lounge to Life: The Story Behind Our Canterbury Salon

When we opened the doors to Mala Beauty Lounge inside Fenwick Canterbury, we wanted to create more than just another beauty salon.

We wanted to create a space that felt calm, welcoming, and considered. A place where clients could pause, switch off, and enjoy a moment of luxury in the middle of a busy day.

To bring that vision to life, we partnered with Blue Feather Designs, a female-founded interior design studio renowned for creating thoughtful commercial spaces that balance beauty with functionality.

Together, we transformed what was once a café into the home of Mala Beauty Lounge.

Designing a Space with Meaning

Every detail of Mala Beauty Lounge was designed to reflect the values behind the brand.

The name Mala itself carries a deeply personal meaning. Inspired by founder Shivani's mother, Mala represents strength, dignity, and timeless beauty. It also reflects Shivani's own journey — from learning the art of threading and starting off her business in a small stockroom, to building a trusted beauty brand in Canterbury over more than a decade.

As the business has evolved over the years, it was important that this new salon in Canterbury reflected both its heritage and its future.

The brief was to create a space that felt luxurious without being intimidating, modern without losing warmth, and memorable while remaining functional for both clients and therapists.

The Vision Behind the Design

Led by founder Natasha Gupta, Blue Feather Designs approached the project with a focus on customer experience, flow, and atmosphere.

Although compact and unusually shaped, the space offered an exciting opportunity to create something unique.

Through careful planning, layered lighting, premium finishes, and considered zoning, the studio transformed the salon into a destination that feels both intimate and spacious.

From the moment clients walk through the door, every element has been designed to make them feel comfortable, looked after, and immersed in the MALA experience.

A Collaboration Between Female Founders

The project brought together two female entrepreneurs, each passionate about building businesses that put people at the centre.

Natasha Gupta founded Blue Feather Designs after transitioning from investment banking into commercial interior design. Today, her studio is recognised for creating impactful hospitality, retail, and workplace spaces while championing sustainable design principles.

For Shivani, the new salon represented a significant milestone in the evolution of Mala.

"Opening Mala Beauty Lounge felt like the natural next step in our journey. We wanted a space that reflected who we are today while honouring where we started. Natasha and the team immediately understood that vision and created something that feels unmistakably Mala — warm, elegant, welcoming, and designed entirely around the client experience."

— Shivani Singal, Founder of Mala

More Than a Salon

Today, Mala Beauty Lounge is home to expert nail services, Korean lash lifts, and brows. But more importantly, it has become a space where clients can enjoy a moment for themselves.

Whether it's a luxury manicure with a drink in hand, or a quick treatment during a shopping trip to Canterbury Fenwick, the salon was designed to feel like an experience rather than simply an appointment.

As Mala continues to grow, the Beauty Lounge stands as a reflection of everything the brand believes in: expertise, care, confidence, and beautifully considered details.

And none of it would have been possible without the vision, creativity, and expertise of Blue Feather Designs.