If you look up the Latin definition of the word Artim, it means “work of art.” And that’s what salon owner Lucia Artimova is creating every day. As her name implies, it’s who she was born to be.
“My father was a barber, and not that I even grew up watching my father, but something drew me to it,” she explained. It’s that intuition that seems to lead her to each success she’s had in her career—an instinct for what works.
She began her cosmetology education at 16, while working in a salon. “My talent grew in the following years, and that’s when I really learned about hair.” In 2009, her mother wanted to open a hair studio in East Hanover and approached Lucia to work there. “I didn’t even know where East Hanover was! I just started telling all of my clients, and thankfully, they followed me here.”
As her clientele grew, so did her need for more space. Her partner, Eddie, found a property right down the road, on Ridgedale Avenue, that was a diamond in the rough. “This property was built in 1928. The building behind here was the original home, built in the 1800s. When I initially walked in, I thought, ‘no’ but as we walked through, I just knew I had to open up my mind to the possibilities,” Lucia said.
The home was built by flower farmers who later owned East Hanover Floral Company. They raised their three children in the house. “As soon as I came in here, I felt a lot of love, because there was a family that lived here. The wife would take actual plants and reseed them. She was the one that held it all together.”
And that was the beginning of Lucia’s latest work of art. The labor of love to create a space that would elevate her career and create a legacy for her future. This home, that was going to be demolished, was given a new life. “I went into this project in December 2024, and we officially opened in August 2025. There was so much to facilitate.”
What began as a renovation included quite a bit of restoration. Original oak floors and wooden ceiling beams were brought back to their former glory. Lucia explained, “Actually, behind the walls was the most gorgeous shiplap, but they made me cover it because of building codes. If people actually saw the walls inside—you just don’t find this anywhere.”
And how has this beautiful space influenced her work? “Knowing that I’m doing this for my daughter’s future, there’s nothing like it. It’s amazing. We love that in the future, this building will still be standing, and I can leave her something.”
The building of this new space is so much more than just a structure. It’s also the people inside. “I feel like we have a really good team. I get to choose who I have in this building. And I love to provide the opportunity for other women to grow their businesses.”
Lucia has created several quiet spaces throughout the salon. Whether it’s at her hair station, the manicure and pedicure room, or the skincare suite, the experience is built to be special. “Our space is cozier and more intimate.”
Artim Studio is a space where its past nurturing energy makes its way into everything that’s done in the present. And that’s purposeful. Lucia has been intentional with every decision, from the restoration of this special place to the staff that works here. Rest assured, every experience here is perfection.