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.
Blackened Steel Dining Chair with Black Leather Upholstered Seat
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A steel and leather chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This tonal version has a blackened steel frame with a black leather upholstered seat. S...
Steel
Granite Leather and Antique Brass Dining Chair with Blackened Steel Frame
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A steel and leather chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has a blackened steel frame, am antique brass backrest, and a granite leat...
Steel
Black Leather and Antique Brass Dining Chair with Blackened Steel Frame
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A steel and leather chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has a blackened steel frame, a brass backrest, and a black leather upholst...
Steel
$1,750 / item
Oak and Blackened Steel Dining Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid oak and steel chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has a blackened steel frame with a white oakwood seat and backrest. Also...
Steel
Blackened Steel, Antique Copper and Ebonized Oak Dining Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid oak and steel chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has an antique copper steel frame with an ebonized oakwood seat and blac...
Copper, Steel
$1,750 / item
Walnut and Antique Nickel Dining Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid walnut and steel chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has an antique nickel frame with a walnut wood seat and backrest. Als...
Steel
$1,750 / item
Ebonized Oak and Antique Brass Dining Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid oak and steel chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has an antique brass finished steel frame with an ebonized oakwood seat ...
Steel
$1,300 / item
Black Leather and Antique Brass Dining Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A steel and leather chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has an antique brass frame, an antique brass backrest, and a black leather...
Steel
$1,750 / item
Ebonized Oak and Blackened Steel Dining Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid oak and steel chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has a blackened steel finished steel frame with an ebonized oakwood seat...
Steel
Antique Brass, Blackened Steel & Sunbrella Cream Canvas Dining Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A steel and canvas chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has a blackened steel frame, an antique brass backrest, and a Sunbrella cre...
Steel
$1,600 / item
Outdoor Tan and Charcoal Dining 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 coated for rust resistance, interwoven stretch webbing for a soft and springy seating experience, and UV and weather resistant Sunbrella Heritage fabric. Custom dimensions, materials, and finishes are available. This steel framed dining chair has a bouncy seat feel, allowing for long conversations over quiet meals outdoors. This item is stackable. This version has tan webbing and a charcoal frame. Other webbing and frame options are available. Every Stephen Kenn piece is made to order through our Los Angeles studio in partnership with a number of small businesses and fabricators in the LA area. With this highly customizable pool chaise...
Steel
$1,425 / item
Black Leather and Blackened Steel Dining Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A steel and leather chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has a steel frame with a brass finish, a blackened steel backrest, and a b...
Steel
Natural Nubuck Leather and Antique Brass Dining Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A steel and leather chair with a comfortable seat, easily stackable to save space when needed. This version has a steel frame with an antique brass finish, and a natural nubuck leath...
Steel
$3,741 / set
H 51.19 in W 18.9 in D 14.97 in
Set of 4 Antique Victorian Quality Carved Walnut Dining Chairs
Located in Suffolk, GB
Set of 4 Antique Victorian quality carved walnut dining chairs having a quality carved walnut high back with a super carved eagle to the top, carved scrolls, turned supports and a ca...
Walnut
$4,500 / set
H 29.5 in W 104 in D 44 in
Mastercraft Burl and Brass Extendable Dining Table and Six Chairs
By William Doezema, Mastercraft, Charak Furniture Company
Located in Hanover, MA
Vintage 1960s dining table and six chairs designed by William Doezema for Mastercraft retailed by Charak of Boston. Briar root burl veneer although frequently identified as Amboyna. ...
Brass
$1,995 / set
H 40.5 in W 19 in D 18.25 in
Arthur Umanoff Mid-Century Modern Granada Dining Table with Four Chairs
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous 5-piece dining set which includes 4 high back chairs and a round glass top table that is 29.5 height and 36 in diameter Set is designed by ...
Iron
$1,282Sale Price / item|10% Off
H 29.75 in W 24.25 in D 20.25 in
White Oak Dining Chair with Leather Seat / Dining Chair GH1
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We’ve been tasked to design an effortless, elegant, honest and most importantly comfortable dining chair for Chef Eric Bost, whose restaurant Auburn, we've been designing for the past few years. After a good year...
Leather, Oak
$1,210Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 29.75 in W 24.25 in D 20.25 in
Blackened White Oak Dining Chair with Leather Seat / Dining Chair GH1
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We’ve been tasked to design an effortless, elegant, honest and most importantly comfortable dining chair for chef Eric Bost, whose restaurant Auburn, we've been designing for the past few years. After a good year...
Leather, Oak
$17,400 / set
H 36 in W 17.25 in D 22.5 in
CraftAssociates Caned Dining Chairs, Bonnie Caned Dining Chairs, Leather Walnut
By Laura Trenchard, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Craft caned dining chairs, bonnie caned dining chairs, leather and walnut Designer: Laura Trenchard Manufacturer: Craft Associates Furniture Pe...
Cane, Walnut, Leather
Matteo Grassi Dining Chairs in Leather and Steel
By Matteo Grassi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Matteo Grassi, set of four dining chairs, leather and steel, Italy, 1980s. Sophisticated set of four dining chairs designed by Italian designer Matteo Grassi in the 1980s. These cha...
Steel
Norman Cherner Dining Chairs, Set of Eight
By Norman Cherner
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of eight sculptural dining chairs, designed by Norman Cherner for Plycraft, American, circa 1950s. They have all been refinished and reupholstered in black vinyl. They measure: 3...
Upholstery, Wood
$6,495 / set
H 31.75 in W 84.5 in D 45.5 in
Chinese Hard Wood Dining Table & Eight Matching Chairs all with Stylized Carving
Located in London, GB
A super quality Chinese hardwood dining table, with eight matching chairs including two armchairs. The dining table with a wipeable rice impregna...
Teak
$4,955 / set
H 28.15 in Dm 51.19 in
Dining Room Set with Table and Four Chairs by Giotto Stoppino, Italy 1970s
By Giotto Stoppino
Located in Hellouw, NL
Very nice dining room set by Giotto Stoppino from the 1970s in Italy. This set consists of a dining table and four matching dining room chairs. The table has a tubular, chrome-plated...
Metal, Chrome
$14,000 / set
H 31 in W 22 in D 25 in
Mid-Century Modern Chrome Set of 8 Chairs and Dining Conference Table
By Milo Baughman
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Milo Baughman attributed dining or conference room set consisting of 8 chrome upholstered chairs and sqaure 60x60 dining table. The chairs upholstered in suede light...
Chrome
$5,280Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 45.5 in W 18 in D 18 in
Antonio Pavia Set of Eight Dining Chairs Nickel and Lacquer
By Antonio Pavia
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE 20 July 2024 Set of eight high-back dining chairs by Antonio Pavia of Italy, circa 1970s. Nickel-plated brass and black lacquered round wood. Each chair is signed "AP"...
Brass, Nickel