The best in classic-meets-contemporary design Meet Stephen Kenn, Heerenhuis and more

“I purposefully design pieces that will allow for many customisations, many material options or frame finish options. I like that my clients can make choices that tailor my design to fit their own home, and I’m always surprised and delighted to see what they come up with,” says Los Angeles-based furniture designer Stephen Kenn, whose collection uses repurposed materials that tells stories from the past and will age beautifully into the future.

Kenn’s design process has developed over the years, and his Inheritance Collection is a fine example. Based on early to mid-20th century military designs and including military surplus material, the designs are distinguished by a modernist sensibility that sees functional elements displayed and celebrated. “I wanted to learn how things were made, so I took apart some furniture to see what was inside. That taught me about structure and form, and from there I was able to construct some furniture with my own ideas. I liked the way my sofa structure looked better than a completely upholstered sofa, so I built the Inheritance Collection around that idea. Now I do it a bit more consciously, as I feel it’s become part of my personal design language.”

Heerenhuis holds to a similar philosophy for its specialty tables. “We want our designs to be contemporary, yet understated,” says Geert Legein, owner of the iconic Belgian brand. “The tables are characterised by uncomplicated, straightforward design and good-quality carpentry.” As with Kenn, materiality is key. “We only use real materials like solid French oak with knots, non-coated steel and vegetable-tanned leather, with simple but effective finishes such as oil, wax and hand-applied varnish. Small imperfections in the material are an explicit part of the design, and the longer Heerenhuis tables are used the more beautiful they become.” Kenn’s view is similar: “The leather softens, the wood wears in, the steel shows fingerprints from where it’s been touched by the people in our lives. It reflects us.”

Legein views a well-designed piece as able to enhance a space just “by being well-designed”, that is with its inherent beauty. Kenn agrees, and adds that “it serves a functional purpose, and then it functions as a reflection of the owner’s own aesthetic choices and values.” Of course, function is all-important. “I like furniture that feels comfortable when you sit in it, but then kind of disappears into the background so you can focus on the person in front of you,” says Kenn. “Sometimes beautiful furniture can be a conversation-starter, but it’s best when the conversation moves on from that, to a deeper place where we can know each other more.”

Both collections, along with those from Lys Import and designer Bradley Duncan, a finalist in Lane Crawford’s Creative Callout Los Angeles showcasing in Lane Crawford ifc mall, will enhance selected spaces. Duncan constructs sculptures and site-specific environments evoking universal ideals of order, balance and form. “My aesthetic falls into the minimalist tradition and emphasises simplified geometric form, with a reference to modern and ancient architecture,” he says - the perfect space for great designs.