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Owner Rodger Azadganian has pulled out all the stops with the second location of his trendy hair salon, strategically located next to Nordstrom in Bellevue Square. The space is a work of art. The exterior features two massive 18th century Chinese Elmwood doors with tiger-head door pulls. Giant Buddha heads from China and Indonesia gaze peacefully from either side of the doors. Inside is a reproduction painting by Belgian artist Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur De Merprès. The sensuous scene features four voluptuous women in a tropical setting.

Once inside, you’ll find a stunning, thousand-gallon aquarium filled with exotic fish including an uber-skinny Mexican Lookdown (you can see goldfish in his tummy after he eats). A barista works the espresso bar, and above him a DJ spins tracks from a suspended cage. Presiding over it all is a golden-seated Buddha from Burma perched high above the floor. The Enlightened One has a birds'-eye view of the business below.

With 36 stations, the enormous salon buzzes with activity and is filled with clients dressed in black kimonos with the Seven logo on back. Attractive black-clad stylists sporting unspeakably hip haircuts mix color, highlight and snip tresses. Their forté is cutting hair to complement bone structure and coloring hair to enhance skin and eye color. With more than 20 years in the business, Azadganian is relentless in training stylists to his standards. He’s also sought perfection in hair products and naturally decided to create his own line of Seven products, due to hit shelves this year.

By Kathy Schultz
NWsource shopping columnist