Mike Greenfield, the creative force behind the popular YouTube channel Pro Home Cooks, has upgraded his culinary workspace from a cramped Brooklyn galley kitchen to a state-of-the-art studio in Gowanus, NYC. After six years and millions of views creating cooking content in a tiny apartment kitchen, Mike designed and built his dream studio, optimizing it for both production and creative flow. This new space represents a significant leap forward, enabling Mike to elevate his content creation to a whole new level. The studio blends a professional kitchen setup with comfortable lounge and office areas, fostering a productive yet welcoming environment.
The studio’s layout is thoughtfully designed to maximize efficiency and creativity. A dedicated office area features a custom-built standing desk crafted from natural wood, providing a comfortable and inspiring workspace for editing and other tasks. Adjacent to the office is a lounge area, designed for meetings and relaxation. This area features artistic acoustic panels, ensuring high-quality sound recording while also adding a visually appealing element to the space. This thoughtful addition reflects Mike’s commitment to both aesthetics and functionality.
The heart of the studio, of course, is the kitchen. Designed as a single-wall layout with open shelving, the kitchen prioritizes accessibility and on-camera functionality. Every item is within easy reach, creating a dynamic and engaging filming environment.
The custom shelving units, crafted from reclaimed wood, not only provide ample storage but also add a touch of rustic charm.
The kitchen’s centerpiece is a large, mobile worktable built by Mike and his father. This unique table, a blend of woodworking craftsmanship and culinary practicality, allows for versatile shooting setups and easy cleanup. Its mobility allows Mike to capture stunning shots in natural light.
A custom mosaic backsplash adds a vibrant pop of color and personality to the kitchen, featuring the local subway line and the Gowanus neighborhood name. A custom-designed olive oil and vinegar rack, along with a sleek knife block, further enhance the kitchen’s stylish aesthetic.
Built-in bookshelves wrapping around the refrigerator provide convenient access to cookbooks and add a unique design element. The colorful spines of the cookbooks add visual interest and warmth to the space.
A dedicated spice rack, cleverly designed to hold aprons as well, keeps essential ingredients organized and readily available.
Beyond the main kitchen area, a designated fermentation and pantry area houses ongoing food projects like kombucha brewing, beer making, and cheese aging. This area is strategically located away from direct natural light to protect the sensitive fermentation processes. Mike’s passion for food experimentation is evident in the variety of projects underway in this dedicated space.
A temperature and humidity-controlled cheese cave allows Mike to explore the art of cheesemaking. Inside, various cheeses age under carefully monitored conditions, developing complex flavors and textures.
A future project involves converting a refrigerator into a kegerator for dispensing homemade beer and kombucha, further enhancing the studio’s entertaining capabilities.
A final touch of tech-savvy design is a custom subway sign displaying real-time train schedules for the nearby station. This functional and eye-catching feature adds a unique element to the studio.
One of the most significant benefits of the new studio is its ability to facilitate collaboration. The dedicated workspace makes it easy to invite guests and collaborators, fostering a creative and productive environment.
The transition to the new studio has also brought a welcomed sense of structure to Mike’s workday. The dedicated workspace promotes focus and efficiency, allowing him to maintain a more consistent schedule. This increased productivity has allowed Mike to significantly increase his content output.
The new studio marks a transformative chapter for Pro Home Cooks. With enhanced production capabilities, a dedicated workspace, and a welcoming environment for collaboration, Mike is well-equipped to continue creating high-quality culinary content for years to come.
