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.
$11,600 / set
Dark Olive Heavy Canvas Sofa and Ottoman Set
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Sofa set from the Stephen Kenn Inheritance Collection was designed for maximum comfort and functionality. The Sofa was originally conceived in 2011 as the first piece in The In...
Steel
$11,800 / set
Waxed Potomac Tan Leather and Antique Brass Sofa Set
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This set, featuring the two-seat sofa and two ottomans from Stephen Kenn's Inheritance collection, is ideal for apartments or smaller spaces requiring a smaller footprint. This set ...
Steel
$1,993
H 35.44 in W 77.56 in D 34.85 in
LUXURY VIVA ITALIAN DESIGNER TAN LEATHER 3 SEATER SOFA ARMCHAiR ALSO AVAILABLE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this luxury Viva Italian designer tan leather 3 seater sofa. A stunning designer collection with boastful proportions. ...
Leather
$10,477 / set
H 27 in W 70 in D 28 in
Le Corbusier LC2 Armchair + 3-Seat Sofa Set in Black Leather & Chrome, Alivar
By Cassina, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand Cassina, Alivar
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Timelessly iconic Le Corbusier LC2 set of 3-seater sofa and armchair in chrome tube steel and black leather. Made in Italy by Alivar, a highly collectible licensed / authorized produ...
Steel, Chrome
$4,812
H 34.65 in W 79.53 in D 35.04 in
Lovely Hand Dyed Brown Leather Edwardian Style Studded Three Seat Sofa Part Set
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand dyed tan brown leather three seat sofa with ornate stud work all over The sofa is well made and stylish, the leather is fully a...
Leather
$10,595 / set
H 27.17 in W 33.47 in D 94.49 in
Saporiti Italia Confidential Sofa, Armchair and Ottoman Living Room Set, 1970s
By Saporiti
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This living room set is from Italian manufacture Saporiti Italia and the model is confidential design by Alberto Rosselli. It consist a 3-seat sofa, an armchair and a rare ottoman. ...
Upholstery, Plastic, Leather
$14,850
H 31 in W 88 in D 42 in
Robert Venturi Grandma Sofa in the Original Tan / Taupe Leather for Knoll.
By Knoll, Robert Venturi
Located in Kansas City, MO
A single Robert Venturi matching leather Grandma Sofa manufactured by Knoll, 1980s. Very good original condition. No tears or scuffs to the leather. Light signs of use. Minimal hone...
Leather
$32,950 / set
H 29.93 in W 79.93 in D 53.15 in
Set of Two Croissant Sofas by Raphael Raffel Leather and Bouclé 1970s
By Maison Honoré, Raphael Raffel
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare set of two small croissant sofas by Raphaël Raffel for Maison Honoré Paris made in the mid 1970s. The sofas have been fully resto...
Leather, Bouclé
$11,550
H 28.75 in W 68.12 in D 34.65 in
Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Sofa for B&B Italia, Dark Brown Suede, 1971
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” sofa for B&B Italia, dark brown suede, Italy, 1971. This is a timeless Postmodern design icon. The starting point was a shopping bag containing formle...
Foam, Suede
$8,476 / item
H 27.56 in W 82.68 in D 41.34 in
Wood Frame, Organic Dark Brown Fabric Modular Sofa by kar
Located in Geneve, CH
Modular sofa by kar Dimensions: W 210 x D 105 x H 70 cm Materials: Fabric, MDF Frame Kar, is the root of Sanskrit Karma, meaning karmic repetition. We seek the cause and effect in ...
Fabric
$75,621 / set
H 27.37 in W 77.17 in D 36.03 in
Fine Important Restored Pair of Antique Howard & Sons Leather Chesterfield Sofas
By Howard Chairs Ltd., Howard & Sons Ltd, Howard and Sons
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning exceptionally rare pair of original early Victorian Howard & Son’s Berners street cigar brown leather, fully restored Chesterfield bu...
Leather
$7,722Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.35 in W 118.12 in D 35.44 in
4-Seater Sofa Gray Leather with Silk and Leather Cushions, Sormani Italy, 1980s
By Luigi Sormani and Casabella Design Miami, Sormani
Located in Arosio, IT
This four-seater, designed in the early 1980s by Luigi Sormani and Casabella Miami for a line of maxi-furniture destined to the United States is a comfortable one-block sofa for a luxury villa. The structure is in a warm gray leather and the fabric was especially made for this series called "Intrigue": a special very light grey silk fabric interwoven with burgundy leather threads. All cushions have grey leather inlays, entirely hand sewn. Julio Iglesias...
Leather, Fabric
$1,306
H 35.83 in W 55.91 in D 37.41 in
Nice Small Wide Chesterfield Tan Brown Leather Tufted Sofa with High Back
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this very nice tan brown leather Chesterfield sofa This is a very comfortable and good looking sofa, it has a high back so you can rest your whole back i...
Leather
$37,663
H 39.38 in W 81.89 in D 41.34 in
Venetian Rococo Armchairs Sofa set hand-carved walnut , leather upholstered
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Early 20th Century Venetian Rococò armchairs and sofa by Atelier Cadorin Venice in hand-carved walnut and leather upholstered, wax polished Al...
Leather, Walnut