Food52 Life

An Inside Look at Food52's New HQ

A guide to all the furniture, accents, and appliances you’ll find in our Brooklyn Navy Yard space.

by:
September 12, 2023
Photo by James Ransom

Dear Food52ers,

After seven years crammed into a rabbit warren of offices in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, we moved our headquarters to the Brooklyn Navy Yard this spring. Working with our good friends Brad Sherman and Nina Etnier at Float Studio, who have designed all of our previous offices, we set out to create a space that focused on our core team and community needs: gathering, creating, and entertaining. It took us three years (and heroic project management by our office operations director Karen Levi!) to build out a slew of test kitchens, studios, and work and huddle spaces that are both deeply functional and welcoming—a place that feels like home.

Now that we’ve settled in, I’m excited to show it to you! In our newest episode of Founder Files, I take you on a tour through our light-filled floor at Dock72, which is well-stocked with everything from vintage Dansk tableware to whisks and sauté pans to cozy sofas. We’ve created a cheat sheet to the appliances, furniture, and fixtures that I selected to outfit our new space. Read on to learn more about each one. And check out the video!—Amanda Hesser, Food52 Founder


In the Test Kitchens

Bertazzoni ovens in our test kitchen. Photo by James Ransom

Bertazoni Appliances

The family-run Italian brand Bertazoni is the test kitchen’s oven, cooktop and dishwasher maker of choice. Their Double Electric Convection Wall Ovens, Microwave Speed Ovens, and Gas Burner Cooktops power all of our recipe development and testing. You’ll also find their refrigerator in our team kitchen alongside the same appliances.

The Broderick® True Bar Kitchen Faucet. Photo by James Ransom

Delta® Faucets

The Trinsic® Single-Handle Pull-Down Faucet, Broderick® True Bar Kitchen Faucet, and Broderick® Two Handle Pull-Down Bridge Kitchen Faucet from Delta® are installed throughout the test kitchen, our video studio sinks, and our “Town Hall” area, where we gather for lunch and host gatherings.

A Walker Zanger backsplash in our team kitchen. Photo by James Ransom

Walker Zanger Tile

This backsplash brings a pop of color and texture to our office kitchen by way of luxury tile maker Walker Zanger. The collections we used throughout the office include City Bricks tile, Velluto porcelain tile, and the Robert A.M. Stern tile.

We used Cosentino's Sirius Dekton Solid Collection for our Test Kitchen countertops. Photo by James Ransom

Cosentino Countertops

You’ll find heat-, scratch-, and stain-resistant Sirius Dekton Solid Collection countertops in our test kitchen and Cincel Grey silestone countertops in our social kitchen and Town Hall kitchens, both made by Cosentino.


Around the office

Katy Skelton's Perry Double sconce. Photo by James Ransom

Katy Skelton Lighting

Katy Skelton’s Perry Double Sconce, made in Savannah, GA, casts a warm glow in the entrance area of Food52.

The Carl Hansen & Søn Sideways sofa. Photo by James Ransom

Carl Hansen & Søn Furniture

Throughout the office you’ll find nooks perfect for our photo shoots, hosting guests, and impromptu meetings. Among the seating options are the T-Chairs, Signature Chair and Sideways Sofa by Carl Hansen & Søn.

The Audo Copenhagen Knitting Chair. Photo by James Ransom

Audo Copenhagen Furniture and Lighting

In our first meeting space as you enter the office (which is filled with a rainbow of new and vintage Dansk pieces), you’ll find more striking chairs and lighting from Audo Copenhagen like their cozy Knitting Chair, pictured, the JWDA Floor Lamp, and Eave Sofa.

The Hem Zig Zag Shelf. Photo by James Ransom

Hem Shelving and Furniture

In our parent/meditation room, Hem’s Zig Zag shelf is a stylish showcase for our vases and books. We also have their Bookmatch Bench and Koti Sofa.

Armadillo's Atlas rug. Photo by James Ransom

Armadillo Rugs

To define and add warmth to our seating areas, we added these Armadillo rugs throughout: the Atlas Classic Collection area rug, the Drift Classic Collection area rug, and the Agra Heirloom Collection area rug.

The Normann Copenhagen Turn Table. Photo by James Ransom

Normann Copenhagen Tables and Seating

Our Normann Copenhagen tables, including the Turn Table and Grow Table, are the perfect pedestals for accent pieces. We also have their Ace Lounge Chair.

The TRNK Maura Modular sofa. Photo by James Ransom

TRNK Furniture

Just off our library area, filled with hundreds of cookbooks, is this mod, chocolate velvet Maura Modular sofa from TRNK. We also have their Arc sofa.

The Blackhouse Factory Twist stool. Photo by James Ransom

Blackhouse Seating and Side Table

To pull up a seat to the island in our social kitchen, we use the industrial chic Blackhouse Factory Twist stool. You’ll find their Evans Iron Pedestal side table nearby.

Uhuru's Workstation. Photo by James Ransom

Uhuru Desks

Uhuru’s sleek Workstations are where much of the team works. The electric panel in the middle console can be cleverly covered when the laptops are gone. We also have their Sit Stand Team Table for standing meetings.

The Trestle Table by Vermont Table in our Town Hall dining and entertaining area. Photo by James Ransom

Vermont Table

In the Town Hall gathering area, we sit at Vermont Table’s Trestle table for lunch, and mingle around the tables during evening parties. We use their A-Frame table and Dovetail table, too.

The Moors wallpaper by Calico in Amanda Hesser's office. Photo by James Ransom

Calico Wallpaper

Inside Amanda’s office, the Moors wallpaper by Calico acts as a gorgeous, painterly backdrop.

Modern Matter and Float Studio collaborated on two hardware lines found in our office. These pulls are from their Marcelle collection. Photo by James Ransom

Modern Matter and Float Studio Hardware

For the perfect, luxe addition to our cabinetry, we used the Marcelle and Otto collections of knobs, hooks, pulls, label holders and brackets from Modern Matter and Float Studio.

More from Food52


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  • AlainB
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2 Comments

AlainB September 16, 2023
Congrats Amanda! I was blown away by the space, it is simply stunning. You continue to amaze, taking food52 to higher and higher levels.
I'm not too often in the Brooklyn Navy Yard area, but if I am I will be sure to stop in. Congrats again to you and your team!
 
sandra September 14, 2023
Such an amazing space! Must be so inspiring to work in such a creative and well thought out place. Wishing you many happy years their. Hopefully if I get to New York, I will be able to visit and see it in person.