Float Studio

When we founded Float Studio 13 years ago we set out to create beautiful, branded and highly functional spaces for start-ups and creative companies. We started small and extremely scrappy (Brad physically built Food52’s first headquarters himself), and while he has mostly hung up his hammer and the startup landscape has shifted dramatically, the need for quality workspaces across sectors and scales has not. Which is where we come in. These days our team really does it all, big and small. From workplaces and hospitality, to residential and retail, or experiential and tradeshow; our team of vastly experienced designers is continuously working to be a part of that shift. Our full-service design firm tailors its offerings to meet the needs of each client. We work with clients to develop their interior brand identity or personal style, and also collaborate closely with those who come with a more established perspective. Our team of architects and interior designers understand the process holistically and are equipped to respond to a wide range needs. Come Float with us. -Nina and Brad, Float Studio Photo: William Jess Laird @william.jess.laird

Introducing Float Notes, a new series where we aim to give you a closer look at the details of our latest project: a 10 000 sq ft highly customized headquarters in NoMad. Follow along for Part 1, coming soon. Design: Float Studio @float.studio Float [notes] Created and Directed by @robertbroadhurst

Today we’re sharing our latest project: the headquarters of a financial firm in NoMad. The highly customized space features a mix of sophisticated hues and bespoke detailing, all designed to respond to the existing framework of the 1970s architecture. This is our second project with the client, housed in Manhattan’s Cooper-Bregstein Building. “​​In this workspace, understated brand colours, bespoke detailing, and purposeful layout combine to create an environment that feels both professional and welcoming. It’s the kind of space that honours architectural history while meeting the demands of a growing firm.” – Float Studio We’re revealing the project today on Yellowtrace. Head to our link in bio to see it first. Design: Float Studio @float.studio Photography: William Jess Laird @william.jess.laird

“There are certain elements in design that no one outside of the industry really thinks about until they are forced to, and commercial carpeting is a big one! It is not particularly glamorous, it is rarely the thing that clients get excited about first, and yet it ends up affecting almost everything about how a workplace feels once people are actually in it. So that’s why at Float Studio, we spend an absurd amount of time thinking about carpet.” This excerpt comes from Brad’s @brad.sherman latest article on Sightlines, a Substack blog that shares all the things in his line of sight. From studio level insight to the coolest new spot that just opened downtown, its part design journal meets group chat. Read the full article “The Problem With Commercial Carpeting” now. You can find a link in our stories and our bio. Photography by William Jess Laird @william.jess.laird for our financial firm project in NoMad.

For deep work and spontaneous gathering 🤎🍐 Antiwork Offices designed by Float Studio and photographed by Felix Speller @felixspeller

The design of this space leans into variety and definition, proving that a cohesive environment doesn’t have to feel the same at every turn. We designed this 45 000 square foot space to have a layered sense of depth throughout, with open sight lines and careful planning to maintain a strong sense of flow despite the number of programs housed within one office. Each area carries its own identity, and is ultimately tied together through a carefully curated residentially leaning palette, along with subtle references to the brand’s own product lines. Food52 @food52 Offices designed by Float Studio and photographed by William Jess Laird @william.jess.laird

A space filled with light, air, and a soft glow. This space by @float.studio is a study in quiet and intentional design. Our three-globe chandelier brings soft contrast and balance to this bright, textural space. Paired with grounding wood tones and layered materials.

After working closely to find a location that could truly support their team, this three-floor office became home to @schumacher1889 . Back in 2023, we explored plan after plan, testing how best to organize their workflow across multiple levels before moving into the interior architecture and full drawing set. The main level transitions from reception into a shared workspace with a mix of desking options, a tucked-away kitchenette, and a central printer station, with enclosed meeting rooms positioned nearby. Photos by @maxkimbee

Every room inside this office was designed to feel like the heart of the home. In this lounge space, a faux hearth nestled between a neatly arranged collection of recent and vintage cookbooks creates a space to pause and gather inspiration. Photography by William Jess Laird @william.jess.laird

Every workplace has their own heart and for this one it’s no surprise that food is what keeps it beating. The ability for staff to prepare their own meals in a meaningful and functional way was especially important for the team at @food52 To do this, we took the hospitality concept of “back of house” and” front of house” and created a back of house kitchen for the team’s personal use. In this way, we were able to provide meaningful, functional amenities to the team members while keeping the action hidden behind this gateway between the two spaces. Photo: William Jess Laird @william.jess.laird

The latest project from Float Studio demonstrates how rethinking an existing footprint can have as much impact as expanding into a larger office. By introducing clear spatial organisation, areas for deep work, places for spontaneous gathering and warm, tactile materials, this new office space for Antiwork, creators of Gumroad, encourages meaningful human interaction in a digitally intensive field of work. “The compact workspace reflects Antiwork’s experimental spirit and their vision of an office that evokes ‘the future of the past’,” says Sherman. Read more online at OnOffice magazine @onofficemag today. Photography by Felix Speller @felixspeller

As designers, the language we speak is visual. We tell the story of a company through material, lighting, furniture, and atmosphere. A well designed reception area has the ability to shape an interaction before a single conversation takes place. The time someone spends waiting before a meeting can quietly introduce the values, personality, and culture of a brand, if you seize the opportunity. Learn more about how we create a sense of identity and place on Brad’s latest Substack Article “Designing Reception Areas That Aren’t Boring”. ✉️ LINK IN BIO