There may not be many names as befitting a home-owned business as Revival Salon and Spa.
First off, Jerrica Mueller and her team of stylists offer a range of services to bring about a newer and better you.
On top of haircuts and styles for the entire family — women, men and children — Revival also offers hair coloring, extensions, perms and relaxers; natural nail treatments; eyelash extensions and lash perms; facial waxings; and even an automatic spray tan booth.
But Revival also is appropriate considering the work Mueller has put in to refurbish her 132-year-old building at 11 W. Madison Ave.
A top-to-bottom renovation is essentially finished aside from a few touch-up items.
“We wanted to create a welcoming, inviting space for men and women,” Mueller explained, “nothing too manly, or too girly.”
The Muellers also replaced the flooring, all of the light fixtures and furniture — even the hair stations are new — and revamped the front entrance to create a spacious new waiting area.
“This looks more like the salon I would have created,” Mueller said. “I was 22 when we bought this building, so we were young. Now, I feel like it’s what we want.”
THE RENOVATION was a chore in itself.
Mueller and husband Josh handled the demolition part, taking out the walls to the bare studs — and then, seeing how old and dilapidated the studs were, replacing them as well. Most of the floor joists had to be replaced as well.
Built in 1892, the structure had a number of studs that were in poor condition, Mueller explained, with many improperly spaced apart.
The Muellers also removed four private rooms that formerly held tanning beds.
“Josh is a good handyman, but this is definitely our biggest project like this,” Mueller said. “I learned how to use a lot of power tools I’d never messed with before.”
From June to November, if the Muellers weren’t with their four children for various activities, they would be at the salon.
“We would either come up together on weekends and have grandparents watch the kids,” she said. “Or, the kids would help. Or, we’d put the kids to bed and one of us would come up and work until 3 in the morning.
“I don’t know if Josh would say he’d want to ever do this again, but we were able to save a lot of money doing it ourselves,” she said.
