I was immediately captivated by Life and Wine, a design concept store by Buller and Rice in Wanstead, opposite Snaresbrook station. Here, you’ll find lifestyle products and a sustainable hair salon sharing the same space. The building is painted in a deep, rich clay-red hue, immediately drawing your eye with its calm, elegant presence on the High Street. Buller and Rice is a small chain of salons, but their Wanstead branch is more than just a salon; it’s also a shop offering beautiful items for you, your home, your pet, and any fortunate friend you might buy a gift for. Founded by Stephen Buller and Anita Rice, the concept merges sustainable haircare with design-focused living, blending good taste, ethical standards, and positive vibes in one beautifully curated space.
The Buller and Rice Wanstead Salon
The Wanstead salon is the third addition to the Buller and Rice family, beautifully reflecting the brand’s ethos of sustainable luxury. The interior is bright, inviting, and thoughtfully curated, creating a relaxed atmosphere that feels more like a creative studio than a traditional hair salon. The team partners with eco-friendly brands such as Davines, Oway, and Haeckels, offering expert cuts, colours, and treatments that emphasise both hair health and environmental sustainability.
What You Can Buy At Life And Wine
This location further strengthens the Buller and Rice philosophy by merging the salon with a lifestyle retail concept, allowing guests to experience a sensory, design-oriented environment that feels personal, modern, and wholly aligned with conscious living.
As you’d expect, they sell a selection of haircare products, led by Davines, the Italian brand renowned for its sustainable methods and effective formulas. Shelves are stocked with their complete collections, including OI, Heart of Glass, and Naturaltech, alongside gift sets that make thoughtful presents.
There are also natural beauty products from Haeckels, Herbar, and Oway, all of which celebrate botanical ingredients and prioritise environmental care. The same attention to detail is given to the packaging as to the contents, with recyclable bottles and compostable labels.
Scent is another element of the Buller and Rice experience. Earl of East candles fill the air with notes of Onsen, Greenhouse, and Jardin De La Lune, complemented by Kinfill’s natural soy candles and incense sets. There are home mists, oil diffusers, and sculptural holders to elevate the sensory atmosphere. Each fragrance contributes to the store’s tranquil identity, reminding us that good design is as much about how things make you feel as how they look.
The home section features kitchen and dining items, such as patterned trays, mugs, bowls, and jugs, that are both functional and decorative. It includes vases for fresh-cut flowers, candle holders that also serve as small sculptures, and portable lamps that cast a gentle evening glow. Even the smallest items, such as tea towels or a butter dish, are carefully selected for their quality and design.
Colour and joy flow throughout the homeware range, primarily from the Danish brand Hay, whose playful energy injects life into the store. Their mix of Tint glassware, Colour Crates, and Barro ceramics creates a sense of movement and optimism within the space. Everyday objects are celebrated rather than concealed.
Quiet Town from Brooklyn offers a relaxed, tactile contrast with its sustainable shower curtains, rugs, and towels, which are made from organic and recycled materials. The brand’s muted coastal shades and heavy cotton textures bring a sense of calm to your home.
Another section of the shop is dedicated to books and magazines that celebrate creativity and mindful living. You’ll find titles by Yotam Ottolenghi, Tim Anderson, and Hoxton Mini Press, covering a variety of topics from vegan cooking to independent travel and design. They sit alongside stationery, pouches, and notebooks from brands such as Penco and Hightide, making it easy to find a thoughtful gift or something to brighten your desk.
The deli shelves delight anyone passionate about food. There are bags of Dark Arts Coffee, Ocelot organic chocolate bars in flavours like Sea Salt and Black Cherry, and jars of Field Blends spices and rubs. You can pick up Perelló olives, Chimac sauces, or natural wines from Mother Rock, Tillingham, and Ancre Hill. It’s a selection that feels curated by taste and curiosity rather than trend.
If you’re looking for the perfect gift, consider picking up wooden or soft toys for little ones, accessories for your pet, and something truly adorable for a friend. With greeting cards and wrapping paper, gift buying is simple.
Helpful Information About Buller and Rice Wanstead
You’ll find the salon and shop at 6 Station Parade, London E11 1QF. It’s opposite Snaresbrook Station on the Central line. They are open Tuesday to Sunday, with opening hours starting at 10 am, except on Sundays when they open at 11 am. Closing times vary from 6 to 8 pm. For full details, visit the Buller and Rice website, and you can shop online at Life and Wine. Enjoy your visit.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.