Medusa Spa & Beauty
A £460K turnkey spa and beauty clinic fit-out in Knightsbridge: 180 sq m across four floors, designed and built in 17 weeks.
Our brief for the Medusa Beauty Salon in Knightsbridge was to create a bold and luxurious space reminiscent of the underwater world that’s home to the jellyfish, the inspiration behind the salon’s name.
We pulled on our skills and knowledge across multiple disciplines to provide innovative and affordable design solutions that offer high-quality results – all through a global pandemic. The result is a fresh and eclectic salon space that oozes beauty and allure.
- Project value
- £460K
- Timeframe
- 17 weeks
- Total size
- 180 sq m over 4 floors
- location
- Knightsbridge, London
Underwater inspired salon makeover
When contacted by the client, Medusa Beauty Salon was at RIBA stage II in the design process – this means the design was at concept stage only with some 3D visuals. Our in-house team stepped in to create an incredible finished design concept.
Our client wanted a complete re-do, therefore we fully stripped out the four floors of the old salon and added new flooring, partitions, ceilings, and plastering.
We also fitted new electrics, fire and intruder alarms, and CCTV, alongside AC and new ventilation.
In line with the underwater theme, we used jellyfish patterned wallpaper combined with blue and purple Italian Valpaint for a water-like wall effect.
Reliant on special application techniques, we trained our decorators in Valpaint application to ensure a professional finish.
Our interior designers used these same cool tones consistently throughout the salon, from the turquoise chandeliers to the fish scale tiles, all procured by our team.
The installation of bespoke mirrors also acts functionally while being carefully positioned to create the illusion of space and dimension. This saw the transformation of Medusa Salon to a quirky, fun, and eclectic space.
The design work continued outside the salon floor. The wooden staircase was completely refurbished and brought back to life, giving the space a high-end feel throughout.
We also completed external remedial works and redecorated the shopfront for an eye-catching entrance designed to draw customers in.
Challenges and solutions
One of the main challenges here was budget. Having received the project at RIBA Stage II, cost estimations had already been discussed in the previous steps.
However, thanks to Craftex being an in-house company offering turnkey servicing, we were able to understand the full impact of the design concept on construction costs and offer more affordable solutions.
Our industry connections also helped us with affordable procurement and supplies. The final result was an adapted more efficient design solution that aligned the client’s vision with her budget for a high-end yet affordable result.
Our work at Medusa was also completed during the COVID-19 global pandemic, meaning our team had to shift our usual processes in line with government restrictions and social distancing regulations.
All client meetings were conducted over Zoom, and we sourced all furniture, fixings, and equipment from UK suppliers to avoid potential overseas delays.
Our client visited the site only once during the construction process, highlighting Craftex’s capabilities, exceptional management, and high standards of work. Upon completion, our client had no complaints, and expectations were exceeded.
Our gallery
Our team
- in
Sviatoslav is a self-made entrepreneur with a degree in mechanical engineering and over 10 years of hands-on experience in the UK construction industry. Starting as a demolition labourer and carpenter on London job sites, he personally worked through every stage of the building process — from groundwork and fit-out to project planning, estimating, procurement, and full-scale management.
This unique, bottom-up experience allows him to run projects with maximum efficiency, clear communication, and minimal friction — both on site and with clients.
Under his leadership, Craftex has delivered high-end residential and commercial projects across London, known for their snag-free finishes, smooth execution, and strong pre-construction planning.
Today, Sviatoslav oversees the company's operations and delivery teams while spearheading its expansion into design & build and high-value commercial sectors, including office fit-outs, data centres, and property development ventures.
Clients value his deep technical insight, clear leadership, and relentless focus on delivering clean results — on time, on budget, and to the highest standard.
-
Rob leads Craftex's development partnerships with landowners, investors and family offices.
Over 20 years he has held Managing Director and Land Director roles at plc housebuilders, including Berkeley Homes, Countryside and St Modwen, and has been directly responsible for delivering more than 3,000 private homes, 1,000 affordable homes and 750 build-to-rent homes. His schemes include Acton Gardens (2,340 homes), St Andrew's Park, Uxbridge (1,340 homes) and the Old Vinyl Factory, Hayes.
Rob has served as a non-executive director of three housing associations and two private housebuilders. He holds a first-class engineering degree, a postgraduate diploma in financial strategy from Oxford, an MBA from London Business School and a Master of Studies from Cambridge, where his research focused on AI in construction.
-
Joe has 37 years of experience working on both the commercial and operational side of construction. His previous works cover multiple sectors, including high-end residential refurbishments, new build construction, and commercial property renovations. Examples include the fit-out of Dior’s flagship store on Bond Street and residential developments in Belgravia. Budgets have also varied, with projects ranging from £100K to £135M. This experience and the transferrable skills gained enable Joe to successfully manage any project, regardless of type, style, or value.
At Craftex, Joe is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of all designs and builds. With a collaborative approach and strategic thinking, he ensures our high standards and happy customers are maintained. He is heavily involved in developing and implementing innovative procurement solutions, as well as envisaging any potential problems along the way for proactive and preventative project management. Joe also takes on the role of influencing the design process and supporting development in others, passing on his wealth of skills and knowledge to the team.
-
Martin has over 50 years of experience in construction having started in the industry as a labourer at the age of 16. Since then, he progressed to site manager before running his own company from 1987 to 1996. Turning to contracts management shortly after, Martin now has 18 years of experience in the role. During this time, he has led multiple high-quality building projects, with a particular passion for sustainable methods and technological advancements in construction.
At Craftex, Martin is responsible for preconstruction and project management, offering innovative solutions and ensuring all aspects of the projects run smoothly. He is also pivotal in the implementation of digital solutions and SAAS tools, enabling more efficient project management and process analysis, besides pushing us closer to our 100% paper-free pledge.
-
With a unique set of skills honed over the past 16 years in the retail and commercial sector both in the UK and overseas, Konstantin Jegorovs brings a wealth of experience, insights and knowledge to his role as Craftex’s Projects Director.
A graduate of construction management from Oxford Brookes university, Konstantin has led flagship projects of up to £5 million in value for commercial banks, complex fit outs of occupied commercial office premises, innovative and challenging aparthotels and high-end residential projects for the UAE Royal Family.
Overseeing every single element of each project from the initial consultation to delivery phase, Konstantin is intrinsic to Craftex’s customer service and collaboration offering, thanks to a proactive and forward-thinking approach. He deploys his experience in the development and improvement of policies, processes and strict adherence to ISO business management systems to ensure the flawless delivery of Craftex projects across the globe, with an unwavering commitment to quality that ensures each clients get the maximum return for their investment.
Fluent in both Russian and English and with a plethora of industry-relevant qualifications, Konstantin is a valuable asset to the Craftex team and committed to helping our clients see their visions become reality.
Similar project?
Tell us about your space and get a fixed-price proposal.
