The story behind Harpo Hair’s biggest design project yet.
Before designing Harpo Hair’s biggest renovation yet, founder Posey Broomhall had already caught the attention of the design world.
Her Brighton family home has been featured by The Design Files, Homeworthy and Kip&Co, with The Design Filesdescribing it as a “Romantic English cottage-inspired Melbourne family home,” celebrating its layered interiors, bold use of colour and welcoming feel.
Now, Posey is bringing that same eye for design to Harpo Hair’s most exciting chapter yet.
“I’ve never wanted Harpo to look like every other salon,” says Posey.
“When I opened my first salon, so many salons were black, silver and cold. They looked beautiful, but they didn’t feel welcoming. I wanted Harpo to feel light, bright and colourful—somewhere people could enjoy a little bit of luxury without ever feeling intimidated.”
That philosophy has shaped Harpo Hair from day one.
While many people assume Posey’s inspiration comes from magazines or Pinterest, she says it actually started much closer to home.
“My mum, grandmother and aunties all had beautifully designed homes. They were all completely different, but they had one thing in common—they felt warm, welcoming and full of personality.”
But it was spending time at her cousin Deb’s home that truly shaped her eye for design.
“I grew up spending so much time at Deb’s house. It was unlike anywhere else I’d been. It was colourful, layered and beautifully curated, but it never felt untouchable. It always felt warm, homely and welcoming.”
Every month, a fresh stack of interior magazines would arrive at Deb’s house. There was just one rule.
“As long as Deb had read them first, she’d let me sit there and flip through every single one. I was fascinated. I could spend hours looking at the homes, the fabrics, the colours and all the little details.”
As she got older, Deb introduced Posey to the work of celebrated designers including Kit Kemp and Anna Spiro, whose fearless use of colour, pattern and collected pieces gave her the confidence to embrace the style she’d always loved.
“I realised I didn’t have to follow trends,” says Posey. “The spaces I was drawn to all had one thing in common—they felt warm, homely and welcoming. That’s always been the feeling I wanted to create, whether it’s in my home or in Harpo Hair.”
For Posey, designing a salon has never been about creating something that simply looks beautiful in a photograph.
“It still has to be practical,” she says. “It has to work for the way our team works every day, and it has to be somewhere they genuinely love coming to work. At the same time, I want every client to feel like they’re stepping into a luxurious space that is warm, welcoming and comfortable.”
Behind the paper-covered windows, every room has been designed with that balance in mind. Every finish has been carefully selected. Every piece of furniture has been chosen with purpose. Every detail is there to create an experience—not just a beautiful salon.
While Posey admits she’s tempted to reveal more, she’s enjoying keeping a few surprises.
“I want people walking past to wonder what’s happening behind these windows,” she says. “The anticipation is all part of the fun.”
When the doors finally open, she isn’t hoping people notice the wallpaper, the cabinetry or the furniture first.
She’s hoping they simply walk in and say,
“This feels like Posey.”
“This feels like Harpo.”
“This could be anywhere in the world… but somehow it still feels like home.”
