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PERHAM — Now, Perham men looking to get their hair cut at the well-known area barbershop, Schiller's House, won't have to travel far. On Wednesday, Aug. 10, this shop's brand new Perham location opened to the community at 131 East Main Street.
"With men's hair cutting, there was really no one in the area who was doing it," Katie Schiller, the owner of Schiller's House said. "I love doing men's hair. I'm good at doing men's hair… Men are just cool to work with."
There were many reasons Schiller wanted to open a location in Perham, but the main two were expansion and client locations. Schiller said that many of her shop's regular clients actually live in the Perham, Frazee, and Vergas areas, despite the original location being in Detroit Lakes.
The men of Perham were clearly anticipating the opening of a location in town, because, on the very first day, Schiller said she and her fellow hairdresser were both fully booked.
For area men who enter the new location, they may be shocked at just how different the building looks from when it was the Hair Haven just a few months ago. The floors and walls were lighter. The ceiling was lower. The space was smaller with several different rooms.
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Now, when someone walks in, they're greeted with darkly painted walls, dark wood flooring and black leather chairs to lounge in and wait for their appointments. Products clients can purchase sit on exposed wood shelving, and even the front desk is sharp and sleek.
Next to the lounge and behind a half-wall sits two hair stations. Rustic brown seats sit before long, rectangular mirrors hanging from an exposed brick wall. Even the lighting in the space is brand new — brighter and more natural — to ensure hair-cutting precision.
With walls torn down for a more open space, the ceiling is also about a foot and a half higher now, which makes the building feel even larger.
"I think that height makes such a difference to when you walk in this space," Schiller said.
While the interior is still being designed, several outdoorsy paintings sit throughout the space, filling empty walls and creating an inviting atmosphere. In the back of the building is a small space with machines to wash towels and capes as well as a quiet sitting area for stylists to eat and take breaks.
The interior isn't the only part of the building that looks different. Even the outside sports dark-painted brick and a brand-new white sign reading "Schiller's House" in a rustic font to really make its name pop. The back of the structure, which faces the parking lot, has a path and a green space that Schiller hopes to do something with in the future.
So far, Schiller has loved being part of the Perham business community. She's received help from surrounding businesses with setting up the space and received a warm welcome on opening day.
The Perham Schiller’s House is open Tuesday through Friday and offers cuts, beard trims, waxes, and more. For more information, go to Schiller's House Facebook @schillershouse or their Instagram @schillershouse . To book an appointment, visit their website, schillershouse.com .
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The Detroit Lakes location is still open and running, so Schiller will be splitting her time between the two locations.
"(Perham is) such a welcoming community with great ideas," Schiller concluded. "With opening, there was so many people that came in to say hi and check out the place and do friendly things. Perham people are so friendly."
