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.
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
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
Walnut and Antique Nickel Dining Set with Four Dining Chairs
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dining goods are one of the newest additions to Stephen Kenn's The Inheritance collection. A solid walnut and steel dining table with simple and modern lines, with a set of four matc...
Steel
$8,500 / item
Ebonized Oak and Antique Brass Large Dining Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid oak and steel dining table, perfect for seating 6-10 people comfortably. This version has an antique brass frame finish and an ebonized oak tabletop. White oak, walnut, or ma...
Steel
$9,500 / set
Ebonized Oak and Antique Copper Dining Set
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clean lines and high quality materials are the basis of Stephen Kenn's Inheritance Collection. This simple yet elegant dining set features a solid ebonized oak tabletop with an antiq...
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
$8,700 / item
Ebonized Oak and Polished Nickel Large Dining Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clean lines and high quality materials are the basis of Stephen Kenn's Inheritance Collection. This simple yet elegant dining table can comfortably seat up to 10 guests, and features...
Nickel
Vintage Henredon Black Lacquer and Burl Dining Set
By Henredon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Chinoiserie-style burl and black lacquer dining set by Henredon of Morganton, NC, USA circa 1980. Oval table is composed of a burl inset surfa...
Burl, Cane, Wood
$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
$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, Charak Furniture Company, Mastercraft
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
Mid-Century Mordern, Brutalist Table and Chairs Set
By Olavi Hanninen, Pierre Chapo, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Description: Enhance your dining experience with this exquisite extending table set (extension of 44 cm), featuring a blend of natural elm wood and handwoven straw. This set, which ...
Elm
$25,061Sale Price|25% Off
H 29.53 in W 137.8 in D 43.31 in
Modern Cacto Dining Table, American Oak, Brass, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Modern Cacto Dining Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Cacto dining table celebrates Portuguese architectural heritage and organic d...
Brass
Italian Dining Chairs by Gianfranco Frattini Reupholstered
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of Four Clean Lined Italian Dining Chairs, designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Lema S.P.A., Italian, circa 1960s. The chairs are currently being reupholstered and can be complete...
Upholstery, Plastic, Wood, Maple
$5,097 / 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
$5,400 / set
H 42 in W 20 in D 20 in
Harlequin Set of 10 Antique Gustavian Style Urn Back Dining Chairs
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A wonderful set of ten English limed oak chairs. Not quite matching. There are actually 3 different models ( 4 + 3 + 3 ). Each chair has a variation of the same basic characteristi...
Oak
$11,500
H 28 in Dm 28 in
Vintage Signed Lion in Frost Lucite Dining Table With 4 Leather Lucite Chairs
By Lion in Frost
Located in North Miami, FL
This 1970s vintage signed Lion In Frost Lucite sculptural base dining table and original tufted leather Lion Frost dining chairs make for a great ensemble. The glass can be a much larger one to put on at your end. The base is solid. It is now at 46" round diameter. This was a replacement glass top. The leather of cream colored is the original leather fabric from the time. These are very comfortable to sit in. The tubular lucite chairs...
Leather, Glass, Lucite
$2,400 / set
H 42.5 in W 20.25 in D 20 in
Set of 4 Antique Gustavian Style Urn Back Dining Chairs.English C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A delightful matching set of 4 English limed oak chairs. They have been recently limed to enhance the beautiful grain in the wood. The seats have been re-upholstered in hessian or...
Oak
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
Set of Six Rattan or Bamboo Dining Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of six rattan or bamboo dining chairs, American, circa 1960s. They retain their warm original patina. This came from an estate with the matchi...
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
Ebonized Oak and Antique Brass Expandable Dining Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid oak and steel dining table with a unique expandable feature. This version has an antique brass frame finish and an ebonized oak tabletop. A leaf sits just beneath the table s...
Steel