Black Canvas and Blackened Steel Ottoman

A native of Canada, artist and designer Stephen Kenn has been working in the design world for nearly a decade, creating multiple denim lines, men’s travel luggage, and now turning his eye towards the world of furniture design. He has a passion for art and a deep respect for the creative process. He considers it a privilege to push the limits of what he understands of artistic mediums, and each project he pursues comes from a place of deep passion. Deeply inspired by the simple design philosophy of the mid-century era and the stories inherent in WWII military fabrics, he created The Inheritance Collection. This collection is both innovative and simplistic in design, and comfortable enough to be conducive to good conversation. Each piece begins as a welded steel frame that has been rusted and then coated with protective polyurethane to stop the aging process and provide a smooth finish. Custom-made webbing and leather belts are then woven together to create the support structure for the cushions. The belts are an exact replica of a 1940s-era Swiss military “mule belt.” The belts were originally used to strap supplies onto pack mules for the soldier’s journey to the front lines. Sitting atop these interwoven straps are the comfortable down-alternative pillows covered in repurposed US military half-shelters that have been washed and softened. These vintage, military-issue half shelters are full of the character that comes with age and extensive use.