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 Sunbrella Cream & Marbled Rust Sofa
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Outdoor Collection Sofa was designed to be as comfortable as it is modern and durable. It can be used on its own or paired with other elements of the Outdoor Collection to create...
Steel
Natural Canvas and Marbled Rust Sofa with Contrast Belting
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Conceived in 2011, this sofa design was the first piece in The Inheritance Collection by Stephen Kenn. Beginning from a place of curiosity about how furniture was constructed, the co...
Steel
Natural Canvas and Marbled Rust Two-Seat Sofa
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Slightly smaller in size, the two seat sofa is ideal for apartments or smaller spaces requiring a smaller footprint. This variation is upholstered in a natural canvas.. The foam sea...
Steel
Natural Canvas and Marbled Rust Sofa with Tonal Belting
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Inheritance Sofa by Stephen Kenn is as comfortable as it is unique. The design features an exposed construction composed of three elements - a steel frame, plush upholstery, and ...
Steel
Outdoor Cream and Charcoal Sectional
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
Desert Tan Heavy Canvas and Marbled Rust Sofa
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Inheritance Sofa by Stephen Kenn is as comfortable as it is unique. The design features an exposed construction composed of three elements - a steel frame, plush upholstery, and ...
Steel
Minimalist Sofa in Hardwood, Metal and Fabric, Usable Outdoors
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
This sofa is made of of hardwood, metal and fabrics. 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 engeneering. 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 essencial and timeless set of objects...
Metal
Saba Pixel Light Outdoor Sofa in Kami Upholstery & Champagne by Sergio Bicego
By Sergio Bicego
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pixel Light, the new seating system design by Sergio Bicego, stems from the desire to expand on the concept of form flexibility to reach a more sophisticated one of fluidity of spaces. We investigated new possibilities and uses for the Pixel sofa, the iconic project for Saba, that this year celebrates its tenth anniversary. We lightened its form by improving the technical performances but while still maintaining intact its unique style that now allows it to inhabit both interior and exterior spaces. The thought that accompanied us through this project was indeed the desire of dissolving the boundaries between inside and outside. Pixel Light outdoor...
Upholstery
Vintage Patio Outdoor Sofa Faux Bamboo Metal New Powdercoat Sunbrella Cushions
By Brown Jordan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage 1970s faux bamboo metal outdoor patio porch sofa. Chinese Chippendale with fretwork. This has been professionally powder-coated white. All cushions are custom & new. New foam...
Metal
Saba Pixel Light Outdoor Sofa in Extra Upholstery & Champagne by Sergio Bicego
By Sergio Bicego
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pixel Light, the new seating system design by Sergio Bicego, stems from the desire to expand on the concept of form flexibility to reach a more sophisticated one of fluidity of spaces. We investigated new possibilities and uses for the Pixel sofa, the iconic project for Saba, that this year celebrates its tenth anniversary. We lightened its form by improving the technical performances but while still maintaining intact its unique style that now allows it to inhabit both interior and exterior spaces. The thought that accompanied us through this project was indeed the desire of dissolving the boundaries between inside and outside. Pixel Light outdoor...
Upholstery
Link-Bisque Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Three-Seater Outdoor Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Link-Bisque Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Three-Seater Outdoor Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 85,5 x W 230 x H 63 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Aluminium, wicker, and Luminesce fabric. ...
Aluminum
Sofa, Outdoor Upholstered Design, Solid Teak Wood, Light Gray Fabric, Italy
By Living Divani, David Lopez Quincoces
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Sofa, Outdoor Upholstered Design, Solid Teak Structure, Light Gray Fabric, Italy Two cushions included. TITLE: Kasbah Sofa DESIGNER: David Lopez Quincoces STYLE: Modern MATERIALS: ...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
