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.
Brentwood Tan Leather and Antique Brass Armchair and Walnut Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Inheritance Armchair by Stephen Kenn is as comfortable as it is unique. The design features an exposed construction composed of three elements - a steel frame, plush upholstery, ...
Steel
$1,800 / item
White Oak & Antique Nickel Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to be used as an easy surface for dining or working from a laptop while lounging, this table can be paired with your own furniture or the matching sofa or chair from the Inh...
Steel
$2,950 / item
Antique Brass Block Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A modular stool and storage system created to accessorize a living space. Can be used facedown to act as stools or a small coffee table or turned upright...
Steel
$1,600 / item
White Oak & Blackened Steel Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to be used as an easy surface for dining or working from a laptop while lounging, this table can be paired with your own furniture or the matching sofa or chair from the Inh...
Steel
Grounded Collection Double Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Conceived while in lockdown in 2020, the Grounded Collection from Stephen Kenn is a mediation on being grounded in peaceful creative work, while enduring forced isolation from commun...
Cast Stone, Steel
Blue Smoke Leather and Blackened Steel Armchair with Black Marble Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Inheritance Armchair by Stephen Kenn is as comfortable as it is unique. The design features an exposed construction composed of three elements - a steel frame, plush upholstery, ...
Steel
$2,000 / item
Antique Copper & Antique Nickel Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to be used as an easy surface for dining or working from a laptop while lounging, this table can be paired with your own furniture or the matching sofa or chair from the Inh...
Steel
Side Table with Antique Brass Frame and Blackened Steel Top
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to be used as an easy surface for dining or working from a laptop while lounging, this table can be paired with your own furniture or the matching sofa or chair from the Inh...
Brass, Steel
$1,800 / item
Antique Nickel & Blackened Steel Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to be used as an easy surface for dining or working from a laptop while lounging, this table can be paired with your own furniture or the matching sofa or chair from the Inh...
Steel
$2,400 / item
Grounded Collection Circle Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Conceived while in lockdown in 2020, the Grounded Collection from Stephen Kenn is a mediation on being grounded in peaceful creative work, while enduring forced isolation from commun...
Cast Stone, Steel
$2,000 / item
Antique Nickel Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to be used as an easy surface for dining or working from a laptop while lounging, this table can be paired with your own furniture or the matching sofa or chair from the Inh...
Steel
$1,500 / item
Blackened Steel Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to be used as an easy surface for dining or working from a laptop while lounging, this table can be paired with your own furniture or the matching sofa or chair from the Inheritance Collection by Stephen Kenn. The low profile base slips under the edge of most sofas or chairs. This version features a matching blackened steel...
Steel
$1,800 / item
Antique Brass and Blackened Steel Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to be used as an easy surface for dining or working from a laptop while lounging, this table can be paired with your own furniture or the matching sofa or chair from the Inh...
Steel
$1,200 / item
Antique Copper & Marbled Rust Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This unique table was designed specifically to pair with the Inheritance Sofa, Two Seat Sofa, or Armchair by Stephen Kenn. It clips to the side of the frame and can be easily secured...
Metal, Steel, Copper
$1,600 / item
Antique Copper & Blackened Steel Side Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to be used as an easy surface for dining or working from a laptop while lounging, this table can be paired with your own furniture or the matching sofa or chair from the Inh...
Steel
$1,600 / item
Black Marble & Polished Brass Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This unique table was designed specifically to pair with the Inheritance sofa, two seat sofa, or armchair by Stephen Kenn. It clips to the side of the frame and can be easily secured...
Marble, Metal, Steel
$1,600 / item
White Marble & Antique Nickel Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This unique table was designed specifically to pair with the Inheritance sofa, two seat sofa, or armchair by Stephen Kenn. It clips to the side of the frame and can be easily secured...
Marble, Steel, Metal
Antique Nickel and Charcoal Powdercoat Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A slim table that easily clips onto the side of any of our Inheritance Collection seating pieces. Shown here with a charcoal powder-coated frame and antique nickel tabletop, but also...
Steel
$1,100 / item
Walnut and Blackened Steel Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A slim table that easily clips onto the side of any seating pieces from Stephen Kenn's Inheritance Collection as a convenient surface for a drink or a book. Shown here with a blacken...
Steel
$1,300 / item
Walnut and Antique Brass Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A slim table that easily clips onto the side of any of our Inheritance Collection seating pieces with simple thumbscrews. Shown here with an antique brass frame and walnut tabletop, ...
Steel
$1,200 / item
Blackened Steel and Antique Brass Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A slim table that easily clips onto the side of any of our Inheritance Collection seating pieces. Shown here with a blackened steel frame and brass tabletop, but also available in se...
Steel
$7,290
H 21.26 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Contemporary Side Table, HOT Collection, Gradient Stainless Steel
By Buzao
Located in Paris, IDF
Side table, coffee table Electroplated stainless steel (nylon table top) Measures: H 54cm – D 50cm. Production lead time: 3 to 4 weeks Side table from “HOT” collection, a cre...
Stainless Steel
Walnut and Brass Side Tables Large
By Poul Kjærholm
Located in Miami, FL
Walnut and Brass Side Tables. Fine lightweight tables with brass base and walnut veneered tops. Tops sit on base and are held in position by four pins. Tables are not built for heavy...
Brass
$3,200 / item
H 23 in Dm 12 in
Cocktail Side Table Modern Round Handmade Sculpted Blackened Waxed Steel
By J.M. Szymanski
Located in Bronx, NY
TABLE NO. 3 - LARGE J.M. Szymanski D. 2017 Playfully imagined, this sculpted bottom-frame supports a smooth top-surface that is ideal for drinks and small items--some might say it’s...
Steel, Iron
Eos Small C Table in Walnut by Chi Wing Lo
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Chi Wing Lo
Located in Boston, MA
Eos is a small table perfect to be a servant amidst armchairs and sofas. Small rectangular table in Maple. Small table with the frame in so...
Walnut
Instock Cocktail Side End Table Modern Round Handmade Blackened Steel
By J.M. Szymanski
Located in Bronx, NY
TABLE NO. 8 - STOOL OR SIDE TABLE J.M. Szymanski d. 2021 A perfectly simple stool or side table. Solid 3/4” steel components are combined to make a dynamic form. Finished in black w...
Steel, Iron
$3,172
H 30.12 in W 17.13 in D 14.77 in
Fine French Antique Hardwood & Brass Etagere Three Tiered Side End Lamp Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning, highly collectable circa 1880 French Mahogany and cast brass Etagere table. A truly stunning p...
Brass
Low Minimal Coffee Table in Blackened Oak
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The coffee table focuses on the simplicity and natural beauty of wood. Whether natural or the black lacquered finish, the grain patterns of this contemporary oak tabletop seduce the ...
Oak
Vintage Brass and Leather Side Table
Located in London, GB
A smart and extremely well made vintage brass and leather side table. This was made in England, it dates from the 1960’s. The quality is superb, the frame is solid brass with lovely...
Brass
White Oak Side Table
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
This white oak side table is made in the heart of Ohio with locally sourced wood. Each table is a hand-made mitered box from white oak veneer and ...
Oak
$6,350 / item
H 20 in W 24 in D 24 in
Black Side Table Modern Geometric Handmade Carved Blackened Waxed Steel
By J.M. Szymanski
Located in Bronx, NY
TABLE NO. 2 - SQUARE J.M. Szymanski d. 2017 This geometric, solid, steel structure is supported by a cast-sphere base. The refined simplicity of this des...
Steel, Iron
Contemporary Italian Side Table in Glass and Brass
Located in New York, NY
Side, occasional or drinks table in thick beveled glass with small brass handle detail on patinated brass tripod base, Italy, 2023. This chic modern side table is beautifully constru...
Brass
$2,995
H 34 in W 27.5 in D 27.5 in
Vintage Swedish Butcher Block Side Table with Geometric Skirt and Angular Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A vintage Swedish butcher block table. This square shaped butcher block table features a thick butcher block top over a single, large drawer. The...
Metal