As most of you regular kids know, one of my most active (and favorite) clients is Birds Barbershop.  Lately I’ve been (happily) up to my ears in work due to their latest endeavor:  Birds on East 6th.  The third shop in 3 years just opened last Wednesday, our own Mrs. Erin photographed the new digs:

For those of you in Austin, the new shop is located just east of I-35, a stones throw from my new favorite bars, Shangri La, Rio Rita, and The Good Knight.

The interior design was a collaboration between co-owner, Michael Portman; local design fave, Joel Mozersky; and graphic designer, Bryan Keplesky.  PSST… Erin and I scored that blue bench while thrifting a couple of weeks ago, so I guess I got to play dress up as well.  And, yes, that is a Joust machine you see lurking in the corner.  

The red Eames shell chairs were a craigslist score, as were most of the shop’s accessories.

Bryan Keplesky used images from around Austin’s east side to piece together his awesome mural.  Austin Style Watch has a great write up (with photos!) about the mural creation.  Here’s the short version:  The mural was printed in black and white on long strips of 36″ wide paper and applied like wallpaper.  A second version of the mural was printed on long strips of 36″ wide yellow paper that was then torn to pieces and wheat pasted in little bits over the first layer.

Bryan also created the mural at the first Birds Barbershop:

The boys then used a cherry picker and screen printed the mural directly onto the shop’s wall:

et, voila:

Erin didn’t take these pictures… but raise your hand if you think we should get her in there.

Just to prove my point that Bryan is a graphics genius, I’m going to veer off topic for a minute

Selected works from his portfolio, top row: Posters for author events at local book shop, Bookpeople; Bottom left: Allen Demling campaign fundraiser poster; bottom right: Gang of Four poster (I own this one but haven’t found a home for it yet)

Bryan also did these early Birds promo posters:

Luckily for me, Bryan has a day job at local ad agency, Door Number 3, so I do all the graphics for Birds now.

Above is the space-invaders inspired second Birds location on Burnet Road.  Sorry, I don’t have a good mural shot of this store, but it’s real real pretty.

Incase you weren’t inspired by the badass interiors, you may be interested to know that Birds throws down several times a year.  Above is my boyfriend Dizzee Rascal playing at Birds on Lamar during SXSW last year.  Here’s what our lineup is looking like this year:

This year’s show will take place at the new shop, you can see a larger version of the poster here.

If I still haven’t won you over, what if I told you that every customer over 21 gets a free beer? 

photo by Cory Ryan

yes, they cut ladies hair, too, and do a mighty fine job.  Guys and gals can download a coupon for the new shop here.  (Did I mention that I do their marketing, too)

So, there you have it, now you dudes know where I’m spending my days, and nights, and weekends.  Not too shabby, huh?

Related posts:

1. Designer Spotlight: Joel Mozersky
2. Tacky Is as Travel Does
3. Picture Pages
4. TrendStoppers!