Favoring used materials that wear well and tell a story, Canadian artist and furniture designer Stephen Kenn aims “to create products worthy of repair.” For instance, making comfortable pillows out of vintage, military-issued shelter halves is one way in which Kenn’s pieces facilitate a conversation as rich as the history that inspires them.
Kenn is a passionate designer and entrepreneur. In his early 20s, Kenn set up shop in Los Angeles and co-created two denim companies before selling them to investors. Kenn then focused on constructing men’s travel luggage through his third company. Once again, he went on to sell the company to investors. He shifted to making industrial-style furniture to match his loft apartment. Kenn took apart a vintage sofa and armchair to discover their inner workings and repurposed them into his designs. Through this experimentation, his fourth business, Stephen Kenn Furniture, was born. His wife, Beks Opperman, handled the business end while Kenn advanced his creative process.
Kenn had access to a large array of military fabrics, which became central to his Inheritance Collection. Along with repurposing the fabrics, Kenn welded rusted steel frames covered in a protective coating. Replica “mule belts,” originally used for pack mules in World War II, complemented the tarnished metal and supported the backs of his sofas.
In 2019, Kenn partially opened his downtown Los Angeles loft to the public as an experiential showroom that holds a collection of his work and favorite items from the past. It is open for community events and overnight stays and houses a popular neighborhood coffee shop.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Stephen Kenn’s seating, tables and more.
Outdoor Leaf and Charcoal Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by weekend visits to the stark desert landscapes found a few hours east of Los Angeles, this collection is composed of steel frames that have been zinc primed and powder coa...
Steel
Outdoor Leaf and Charcoal Loveseat
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by weekend visits to the stark desert landscapes found a few hours east of Los Angeles, this collection is composed of steel frames that have been zinc primed and powder coa...
Steel
Outdoor Cream and Charcoal Corner Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by weekend visits to the stark desert landscapes found a few hours east of Los Angeles, this collection is composed of steel frames that have been zinc primed and powder coa...
Steel
Outdoor Cream and Charcoal Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by weekend visits to the stark desert landscapes found a few hours east of Los Angeles, this collection is composed of steel frames that have been zinc primed and powder coa...
Steel
Black & Charcoal Outdoor Lounge Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by weekend visits to the stark desert landscapes found a few hours east of Los Angeles, the Outdoor Collection by Stephen Kenn is composed of steel frames that have been zin...
Steel
Outdoor Cream and Charcoal Loveseat
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by weekend visits to the stark desert landscapes found a few hours east of Los Angeles, this collection is composed of steel frames that have been zinc primed and powder coa...
Steel
Outdoor Sierra Accent Chair by Croft House
Located in Los Angeles, CA
CHAIR: 35 1/2"W + 36"D + 30"H OTTOMAN: 35 1/2"W + 20"D + 18"H OUTDOOR FABRIC + POLYFIBER + INDUSTRIAL STEEL POWDER COAT FINISH The Outdoor Sierra Chair by Croft House is handma...
Metal
Minimalist Outdoor Lounge Chair in Hardwood, Metal and Fabric
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
This outdoor Lounge chair is made to order in hardwood, metal and fabrics. Also classified as an armchair, the multi-finish structure is combined with outdoor fabrics such as the Batyline to create an interesting outdoor solution. Bellow the full Skyfolding collection concept: Skyfolding In-Outdoor Collection, the collection concept is inspired by the Asian building scaffoldings, where a structure is composed by bamboo sticks crossed to create this inspiring and fascinating structures. We combined elements of this structures and also references from the ballet stretching bars that often combine metal and wood, this combo is the concept very soul. All the figurative elements are abstracted in the design process to extract the precise best of each world, and by then resulting in a collection of delicate objects, cult and curated to the minimum details, in design and engineering. The collection is composed by outdoor net, batyline or plastic, in a portion leaving room to a more soft design approach that is harmonious, this elements are combined to a structure made of wood and metal that transcends to tech and soft, a paradigm of past, present and future that invite all the viewers to contemplate and reflect in this philosophical matters in a tactile and visual way. Resulting is a essential and timeless set of...
Metal
Link-Terra Wicker And Aluminum Outdoor Armchair With Cushions by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Link-Terra Wicker And Aluminum Outdoor Armchair With Cushions by SNOC Dimensions: D 85,5 x W 78 x H 63 cm. Materials: Aluminium, wicker, and Luminesce fabric. Link-Terra When desig...
Aluminum
Bertu Outdoor Lounge Chair, Black Mahogany, Bali Collection
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Contact us for designer/trade pricing. The Bali Outdoor Lounge Chair in Black is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. This silhouette is simple, modern, and sleek w...
Fabric, Mahogany, Sapele Wood
Outdoor Lulu Easy Armchair by Kenneth Cobonpue
By Kenneth Cobonpue
Located in Geneve, CH
Outdoor Lulu easy armchair by Kenneth Cobonpue Materials: Polyethelene, Steel. Also available in other colors and for indoors. Dimensions: 87.5 cm x 90 cm x H 76 cm Lulu adds ...
Steel
Van Keppel Green "VKG" Outdoor/Indoor Lounge Chair Design
Located in Chicago, IL
Van Keppel Green "VKG" Outdoor/Indoor Lounge Chair Design 1955c. Custom made by California Living 2000c. Metal Frame with mesh seat and back covered by 3" thick cushion' Dimension: ...
Metal
