When Sean and Carrie Stotts noticed something missing from the salon industry, the pair set out to create it themselves. With a combined 30-plus years in the industry, it only made sense as the next step in the evolution of their careers together. “Our search started after feeling like there was an elevated experience missing for our guests,” Carrie says. “We signed our lease right before the pandemic started and then used that time of salon closures to build our dream space.”
Unlike a typical brick and mortar salon, Stotts Atelier is set in an old home in the heart of Costa Mesa, CA. “From the comfortable, warm design or our shop to the concierge that gets you a beverage when you arrive, our goal is for every client to feel like they’re at home,” Carrie says. “We wanted to create an upscale and boutique family-owned salon, and we want our guests to truly decompress when they are here. For us, it’s quality over quantity.”
Inside, the reception area—which the Stotts refer to as the living room—is furnished with a comfortable leather sofa where guests can sip on a latté or a mimosa while they wait for their service. While color is processing, clients can enjoy some fresh air on the patio and then drift off into an oasis in the dimly lit shampoo room. And, when it’s time to go, every guest leaves with the knowledge and product they need to help them recreate their just-left-the-salon look at home.
Although opening a salon in a post-pandemic world is not something the Stotts ever anticipated, they both admit that it helped them grow. “With a team, you can achieve anything,” Carrie says. “This past year was a hard year for our industry, especially in California, but with the help of our team and our loyal clients, we are thriving,” she adds. “It truly takes a village.”