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Surface Area

Pretty and playful tilework and wallcoverings are the finishing flourishes for California facial spa Cheeks & Co.


By Lauren Mang


Pewter rile pops amid a neutral backdrop in this California facial spa, designed by Proem Studio. The dark-burgundy ceiling adds extra drama to the space. Image by Tim Hirschmann.



LA interior design firm Proem Studio had a small, narrow footprint to work with for the debut location of skincare spot Cheeks & Co. in Pasadena, California.

Measuring in at a little more than 1,000 square feet, the space manages to feel bright and open, thanks to its refreshing color palette of pink, varying shades of blue, and white—a color scheme created for the brand by Studio Lowlights—with deep burgundy added for drama and contrast. Pewter-colored mosaic tile covers the reception desk, whose curved shape was inspired by American furniture designer Karl Springer’s Free-Form pieces. Down the long hallway leading to treatment rooms, the design team recessed floor tiles in a playful, diagonal diamond pattern, which draws the eye to a light-blue stacked-tile wall, featuring a single black sconce.


Other playful details include a light-blue Maison C wallcovering in the bathroom, which Proem founders Ashley Drost and Marie Trohman chose for its beauty and femininity. “To us, it evokes a sense of women celebrating their skin,” they say, “which is what Cheeks is all about.”


LEFT: Treatment rooms go halfsies with pink paint to lighten the mood and striped accents that ground the look. RIGHT: A minimal nook for pulling oneself together post-facial. Images by Tim Hirschmann.





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