“What would the waiting room look like at the best salon in the world?” the retail director of the hair salon Bumble & bumble, Erik Heywood, asked one recent afternoon. The question was somewhat rhetorical.

According to Mr. Heywood, it would look a lot like Bumble & bumble’s meatpacking district salon’s newly redesigned reception area, which officially opened last month. And there are more changes to come at the 50,000-square-foot space.

Sure, you can make an appointment or settle your tab in this new reception area, but don’t expect to find a stack of Short Hairstyles magazine preserved in acetate. Instead you’ll be flipping through Diana Vreeland’s book “Allure” while sitting in a Bertoia wire chair. You might not sit at all: You could browse the art books for sale, order a cup of Parisian tea, or have a pair of jeans custom-made by a bespoke tailor. There are tiers of free almond cookies, chocolates, and mini-palmiers atop every table. This isn’t just a waiting room, it’s a destination.

A Bumble haircut has long been a must-have for many New York City fashionistas, from uptown socialites looking for a hip hairdo to downtown students ducking in for one of the famed free “model” haircuts executed by a stylist in training. For three decades, the salon’s only salon was hidden in the East 50s. Then, three years ago, it opened its six-floor outpost on West 13th Street. In addition to the salon, the building houses its haircutting “university” and the company’s business offices.

Last year was full of transformations for Bumble, which was founded by British hair-care entrepreneur Michael Gordon in 1977. Estée Lauder, which purchased a majority stake in the company in 2000, completed its buyout last year, and Mr. Gordon stepped down as president. The company is now estimated to be worth around $90 million.

Yet Mr. Gordon’s influence on the new space lingers. According to the vice president of special projects, Kim Smith, and Mr. Heywood, the idea to expand was part of his original vision. “The fact that this is happening right when he left is just coincidental,” Ms. Smith said.

The most drastic physical transformation took place on the salon’s 6,500-square-foot eighth floor, which used to be a sprawling loft area with a stainless steel café, floodlights, and an array of hair products for sale. A few fashion shows and parties were held there in recent years, but mostly it was a place to do what most people do at a salon when they’re not getting their hair cut: wait.

Early last year, however, Mr. Gordon made plans to renovate. “We felt like this huge space could give us a nice opportunity to build an experience for our customers,” Ms. Smith said.

Like any destination, the new Bumble space almost requires a map. The right side of the room houses the café, which has been redesigned to be less tinny and more cozy. It serves teas from Mariage Frères, Mr. Gordon’s favorite Parisian tea shop. Continue past the café to find an area that will soon become a Bumble museum of sorts. “We’ll show the history of a certain product, or we’ll profile a hair dresser we admire,” Mr. Heywood said. “We want people to learn a little more about us every time they come.”

The far left corner is now occupied by London tailor Timothy Everest, a favorite of Brad Pitt and David Beckham, and a longtime friend of Michael Gordon. The salon sells his made-to-measure suits, shirts, and jeans, as well as ready-to-wear shirts, ties, and accessories. Prices range from $90 for a tie or wallet to $315 for a pair of jeans.

Near the reception desk, there’s a wide selection of Bumble & bumble hair products, an array of art and architecture books, and a few glass-encased rare editions by Vidal Sassoon and Cecil Beaton. There is also a selection of limited edition T-shirts by celebrity hairdresser Christiaan Houtenbos; oil lamps made from hand grenades, created by Christiaan’s son, Piet Houtenbos, and a selection of leather bags by Bill Amberg — all selected by Mr. Gordon. According to Mr. Heywood, the retail section was modeled on the Paris boutique and Milan’s 10 Corso Como.

Can the average salon-goer swallow this much concept in the amount of time it takes to take off her coat and put on a smock? “I like that it doesn’t feel like I’m at a dentist office waiting for my name to be called,” Alison Avera, who came in for a recent appointment just as the sun was starting to set over the river, said.

But Tim Lagasse, a professional puppeteer, wasn’t as upbeat about the new space. He said he preferred the salon before the seating area turned into a shopping area. “I liked sitting over there,” he said. “It had the better view.”