The Blue Giraffe featured in Ashland Magazine Summer Edition 2006
The following is a featured article found in Ashland Magazine summer 2006 edition.
Trisha and Jimmy Kolker opened the doors to The Blue Giraffe Day Spa Salon in August of 20002. The couple came to Ashland to be near family and to allow Trisha to pursue a long time dream of opening a spa. They found the site during a vacation and were impressed with the property’s beautiful park-like setting, and proximity to downtown. The Blue Giraffe is located on Ashland Creek, one block from the Plaza in an exquisite park-like setting. The sound of the rushing water is eve-present, as the building is literally surrounded with outdoor fountains, pounds and waterfalls.
Why the name The Blue Giraffe? Trisha, and interior designer, has a three foot tall ceramic giraffe that, strangely enough, is hand painted blue on white. The Giraffe has always been one of her favorite decorative pieces as it was a gift from Jimmy when they were living in Florida: large “objects de arte” were popular in Florida for decorations around the swimming pool. Shortly after receiving the fragile gift, it was knocked off its platform and broke into dozens of pieces. Understandably, Trisha was quite upset and the pieces were swept into a paper bag for disposal. Many months later, unbeknownst to Trisha, Jimmy pieced and glued the Giraffe back together in a painstaking process. He presented it to her again and she was totally surprised. Upon moving to Ashland Trisha decided she wanted to name the spa after the Blue Giraffe, which is now located in the lobby of the spa for all to see. If you look closely you will see that it has many cracks, chips and some missing pieces.
The spa is decorated in A “world travel” motif as a logical extension of the name and logo. As soon as the guest walks through they can feel the tranquil safari like atmosphere with animal prints, exotic décor, masks, dark rustic furniture and a Serengeti sunset mural painted by Jimmy on the wall in the lounge. Trisha’s design skills are quite evident throughout the spa, where she has used a rich and exciting palette of colors to decorate the walls and rooms.
The Blue Giraffe currently has two lounges, six double treatment rooms ( soon to be eight), two double treatment rooms, a large manicure and pedicure room, a hydrotherapy area, a private steam room, a full-service salon, make-up, and large retail area. The “nail room” features a triple pedicure station and three manicure stations.
A spa service begins when the guest is escorted into the designated men’s of women’s dressing room to change into a robe and spa slippers. Once the guest has finished changing, they continue to the lounge where their service technician greets them ands offers an elixir beverage and warm neck wrap. After the guest has had time to relax a moment, their technician escorts them to the appropriate treatment room. The treatment rooms at the spa feature state of the art equipment, with comfortable furnishings, piped in music and individual temperature controls. The list of serviced offered at the spa is quite extensive, including massage, facial s, body wraps, masks and scrubs, steam/shower, aromatic hydrotherapy, manicures, pedicures, waxing , cosmetic application, hair cuts/color, styling, perms, up-dos, hair and eyelash extensions and an array of specialty treatments.
The spa staff is focused on providing the highest possible level professionalism and personal attention to its guests, starting with the reservation through the client’s departure. The entire atmosphere is geared for the relaxing, rejuvenating, and beautifying experience complete wit ha luxurious setting, pampering treatments, soft spa music and lovely fragrances. This unique retreat has been designed for the guest’s comfort and nurturing: a special place where you can abandon your cares, awaken your senses,and escape into a world of pleasure.
Products at the spa have been carefully selected by the owner Trisha. “I have spent a lifetime testing different product lines, even before I contemplated owning a spa, and have chosen products that are truly effective.” Skin care products include Comfort Zone from Parma, Italy, the enzyme based Epicurean, Vitamin C based Cellex-C holistic oriented Mlis and Acca Kappa, to name but a few. The Blue Giraffe also carries mineral based cosmetics including Jane Iredale and Idibenon based True Cosmetics. Hair products include Bumble & bumble and Pureology as well as Ion hair equipment. Nail products features are Essie, Creative, Dani and Light Concept Gel Nails. The spa also carries numerous specialty items; including Lainee B. Finer Jewlery, Van Klee Robes, Dreamtime Comfort Products, Clarisonic skin care brushes, and Go-Smile teeth whitening system.
The Blue Giraffe received one of its highest honors in 2003, Susan Hauser; a travel journalist for The New York Times described the spa as “excellent”. The article was entitled “Plays the Thing in Ashland” and it reviewed the town’s theatre, events, sightseeing, places to stay and where to eat.
The spa is also very committed to creating relationships with the community. One way the spa is able to give back to the community is through its annual “Pamper for Cancer” event, held at the end of February each year. During this day long fundraiser, the spa offers discounted services, and all the proceeds are donated to the American Cancer Society. Jimmy and Trisha recognize the impact of cancer. “I think it is safe to say that almost everyone either knows someone who has battled cancer or someone who has lost their life to the disease,” said Jimmy. “We are happy to do anything we can to support the great efforts of the American Cancer Society.”
The Blue Giraffe Spa Salon is a full-service day spa offering clients a wide range of services and products. TheBlue Giraffe is committed to building enduring and rewarding relationships with its guest and community, through knowledge, wellness and superior service. For more information call (541) 488-3335 or emailinfo@bluegiraffespa.com.
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