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
$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
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
$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
$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
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
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
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
$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
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
$5,800 / set
H 42.5 in W 21.5 in D 21 in
Set of Eight French Dining Chairs Purchased from Ralph Lauren
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of eight French dining chairs, originally purchased from Ralph Lauren, NYC, when they were selling antiques in the early 2000s. The chai...
Upholstery, Wood
$6,585 / 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
Knoll Marble Dining Table With 5 Chairs by Eero Saarinen, 1960s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Magnificent and fully original Tulip dining set designed by Eero Saarinen. It is produced by Knoll International in the 1960s. The set consists of 5 original tulip chairs and the o...
Carrara Marble, Metal
$5,000 / 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
$3,200 / set
H 42 in W 20 in D 20 in
Harlequin Set of 6 Antique Gustavian Style Urn Back Dining Chairs.English C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A wonderful set of six English limed oak chairs. Not quite matching. They are actually 2 different models ( 3 + 3 ). The chairs have the same basic characteristics. Firstly, the de...
Oak
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
Frank Pollaro Custom Large Square Dining Table
By Pollaro
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Art Deco style custom dining table, hand made by Frank Pollaro, American, circa 2000. This custom dining creation, made of hand rubbed plum puddin...
Mahogany
Frits Henningsen Danish Modern Dining Chairs, circa 1930s
By Frits Henningsen
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish Modern mahogany dining chairs by Frits Henningsen, Denmark, circa 1930s. They have probably been refinished and reupholstered at some point. Beautiful caramel color leather se...
Leather, Wood, Mahogany
Arne Vodder Teak Dining Set with Eight Chairs for Sibast
By Arne Vodder
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Teak Danish modern six-leg table and eight matching chairs by Arne Vodder for Sibast. Measure: Oval table expands from 78" to 117" with two leaves. Perfect large-scale dining set wit...
Upholstery, Teak
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