How Brent Neale Transformed a 1917 Manhattan Landmark Into a Jewelry Salon

By Karen Dybis | September 23, 2026

With her new salon, jewelry designer Brent Neale Winston says her connection with clients has grown and the energy since her Manhattan space opened is game-changing.

“I love having clients in, and September has been full-on,” Winston says. “Returning clients are so proud of us, and new clients, I think, are just having a lovely experience. I get to pop into the showroom and say hello, which I love.”

The 7,000-square-foot office, showroom, and design studio officially opened in May inside New York City’s Astor Trust Building at 501 5th Avenue. The view is the first thing you notice: It overlooks the Chrysler and Empire State buildings, showing Winston’s connection to the city.

The 1917 building influenced much of the salon’s design. Architect F.P. Burns designed the building for the Astor Trust Co. in what Winston called a modernized Italian Renaissance style. Winston says she chose the building because of its potential for large, open spaces and to pay tribute to the Big Apple.

Brent Neale wood — *Intimate spaces within the new Brent Neale salon allow for private meetings as well as design work by the company’s founder, Brent Neale Winston.*

Keeping its unique details in mind, Winston envisioned the salon in collaboration with architecture firm Palma Design and her sister’s interior design company, Ramsey Lyons Design. The sisters wanted the space to feel modern, classic, and more like an elegant home filled with fine art than a traditional retail store.

“The project was unique, as this was my first commercial project, but we wanted it to feel like my sister and her brand. It had to feel as genuine as her pieces. Everything feels like home. Comfortable, elevated, valued, and loved,” Lyons says.

The interior has a series of connected rooms, including private shopping spaces, bridal consultation rooms, and lounge-inspired seating areas. Lyons and Winston brought in pale wood millwork, Murano lighting, and sculptural display cases as the salon’s foundation.

From there, the duo added in vintage furnishings, layered textures, and lots of artwork. Within the design studio, they added a focus on craftsmanship, hanging photos, and original sketches from Winston’s jewelry work. Winston says one highlight is that she can collaborate directly with clients on custom jewelry.

Table Brent Neale — *Brent Neale Winston says she wanted her salon to feel like a home rather than a traditional retail store, so she added comfortable seating and lots of artwork.*

“Our custom and private client business has grown tremendously over the last few years, and we really wanted to create a space where clients could feel comfortable spending time. It was important that the showroom feel warm, personal, and deeply connected to both our brand and New York City.”

The new space also is the perfect backdrop for her most recent collection, Back to Basics, which came out in September. Back to Basics revisits the jewelry pieces her clients request most, reimagined as one-of-a-kind designs through unexpected combinations of color and stones—a hallmark of the Brent Neale brand.

“These pieces are some of our classic silhouettes, and by basic, I mean that you can wear these pieces a lot,” Winston says. “Yes, they feel special, but they are wonderful for daily life and special occasions. Our client loves color and whimsical pieces first and foremost, but they also love to layer and switch things up with classic silhouettes being their core.”

Top: Brent Neale founder Brent Neale Winston says she chose the space for her new salon because of its openness and connection to New York City. (Photos courtesy of Brent Neale)