Stephen
Kenn
Art: 'It Felt Good' by Stephen Kenn
A candid conversation about reinvention, naivety, and what’s next, with acclaimed furniture designer Stephen Kenn at his studio in Los Angeles, California.
1
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Who are you?
S
K
My name is Stephen Kenn. I’m originally from Canada, but I’ve been living in Los Angeles for 20 years. I love making things with my hands and trying to see the world as a connected space.
1
9
9
3
What was your upbringing like?
S
K
I’d say there was a consistent theme of “you can do anything.” There was a lot of encouragement around creative ideas. Nothing was ever looked down upon as impossible or unrealistic. That freedom shaped how I approach creativity.
1
9
9
3
What was one of your first big creative endeavors?
S
K
After high school, my friend and I wanted to start a clothing company. At the time, everyone seemed to be making t-shirts, so we thought, “What if we tried to make jeans?” It was a completely preposterous idea. But that naivety led us on an incredible journey—finding a manufacturer in Montreal, putting a collection together, doing a trade show in Las Vegas, and eventually moving to LA. Fast forward, we started a brand called City of Others. I remember shipping a huge order to Nordstrom right before the economy crashed, and we were forced to pull out and end the brand abruptly. It was tough. From that dark place, I stumbled upon this massive warehouse full of military fabric called KoKo's. On weekends, I’d go there to write and journal in solitude. Being surrounded by so much history, dust, and cobwebs felt surreal—like being in a time capsule.
1
9
9
3
Can you tell me more about that experience and any reflections you may have had?
S
K
Yes, it was this huge space owned by five brothers, all named KoKo. After World War II, they pooled their money together and bought military surplus from different countries. They stored everything in a warehouse the size of a Costco in East LA. I bought fabric from them for years. Looking back, it’s incredible how the dots connected—it became the foundation for so much of what I do now.
1
9
9
3
You’ve been running Stephen Kenn for over a decade. What’s your secret to keeping things original?
S
K
The challenge—and the opportunity—with Stephen Kenn is figuring out how to keep designing and creating from that same curious, burning, naive place. At the same time, we’re a brand that constantly needs reinvention. It’s about maintaining a thread of consistency from something I dreamed up 13 years ago while continuing to evolve as a creative person. So I see our products less as extensions of my current creativity and more as something fulfilling an important need in someone’s life—furniture that champions originality and creativity.
For me, it’s about helping customers choose materials and create pieces that feel personal and meaningful. When a guest visits their home, the furniture becomes a conversation starter. Instead of saying, “I just bought it online,” they can share a story—like how it’s made by a designer in LA, or how it uses vintage military fabric. That kind of storytelling reflects their values and adds depth to the objects in their home. I think it encourages conversation that goes deeper than just the object itself. It becomes a spark for new ways of thinking and consuming.
1
9
9
3
What’s an idea you’ve always wanted to explore but haven’t acted on yet?
S
K
Lighting. For years, I’ve been intimidated by it. Seating has always felt like a clear, unobstructed path for me. Furniture gets lived on—it has to handle dogs jumping, kids spilling, and everyday life, so it needs to be durable and improve with age. Lighting, though, is so delicate and fragile—it’s installed or hung, and no one really interacts with it. It creates beauty and ambiance in a way that’s equal parts utility and art. I’ve had friends with lighting brands encourage me, saying, “You have to do it. I want to see what you’d create.”
1
9
9
3
Is there anything you're working on that you've yet to share?
S
K
Art. I’ve been working on art commissions for the past few years, but I haven’t shared much about it publicly. I think it’s because I have a certain reverence for art—it feels like the purest form of creativity. There’s no functionality to it. It’s just aesthetics, beauty, and storytelling. If I’m going to do it, I want to be all in. There’s a piece I did for Kato, a Taiwanese restaurant at The Row in LA. It’s a 10x10-foot quilt made of scrap military fabric, puffy and textured. I recently made a piece for my friends at Klein Agency who allowed me to run free with my imagination and create something special. I'm grateful for that type of freedom and belief because every time I create something like that, it sparks an entirely new design aesthetic. Eventually, my hope is that these pieces can become a series.
'It Felt Good' by Stephen Kenn
1
9
9
3
You seem to constantly be creating new things. Where do your ideas start?
S
K
They often start as gifts. For example, my wife Beks is my muse - though she would disagree. She asked for a pair of big, loose pants, so I made them for her. I liked them so much I posted a video, and within hours, I had 60 DMs from people saying, “I’d buy those today.” So we made them, and they sold out quickly. That’s how a lot of ideas begin—with the intention to create something meaningful for someone else.
1
9
9
3
What’s it like running a business with your partner?
S
K
Beks is the other half of Stephen Kenn. She’s wired so differently from me, and we both respect each other’s strengths. It’s challenging, though. We’ve had to learn how to turn off work and just be present with each other—whether it’s going on a date or traveling. If a work idea pops up, we’ve agreed to hash it out for five minutes and then table it until the next morning. It’s about finding routines that respect our relationship beyond just work.
1
9
9
3
What’s been inspiring you lately?
S
K
The weight and challenges of life have been an opportunity to lean in and step up. I’ve cut out sugar and alcohol and committed to a workout routine. I’m also reimagining what the brand and studio can offer to a larger community which bring me back to the quote I believe in which is “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” That’s made me intentional about who I surround myself with. The other is an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Right now, building intentional community feels more important than ever.
Stephen
Kenn
Art: 'It Felt Good' by Stephen Kenn
A candid conversation about reinvention, naivety, and what’s next, with acclaimed furniture designer Stephen Kenn at his studio in Los Angeles, California.
1
9
9
3
Who are you?
S
K
My name is Stephen Kenn. I’m originally from Canada, but I’ve been living in Los Angeles for 20 years. I love making things with my hands and trying to see the world as a connected space.
1
9
9
3
What was your upbringing like?
S
K
I’d say there was a consistent theme of “you can do anything.” There was a lot of encouragement around creative ideas. Nothing was ever looked down upon as impossible or unrealistic. That freedom shaped how I approach creativity.
1
9
9
3
What was one of your first big creative endeavors?
S
K
After high school, my friend and I wanted to start a clothing company. At the time, everyone seemed to be making t-shirts, so we thought, “What if we tried to make jeans?” It was a completely preposterous idea. But that naivety led us on an incredible journey—finding a manufacturer in Montreal, putting a collection together, doing a trade show in Las Vegas, and eventually moving to LA. Fast forward, we started a brand called City of Others. I remember shipping a huge order to Nordstrom right before the economy crashed, and we were forced to pull out and end the brand abruptly. It was tough. From that dark place, I stumbled upon this massive warehouse full of military fabric called KoKo's. On weekends, I’d go there to write and journal in solitude. Being surrounded by so much history, dust, and cobwebs felt surreal—like being in a time capsule.
1
9
9
3
Can you tell me more about that experience and any reflections you may have had?
S
K
Yes, it was this huge space owned by five brothers, all named KoKo. After World War II, they pooled their money together and bought military surplus from different countries. They stored everything in a warehouse the size of a Costco in East LA. I bought fabric from them for years. Looking back, it’s incredible how the dots connected—it became the foundation for so much of what I do now.
1
9
9
3
You’ve been running Stephen Kenn for over a decade. What’s your secret to keeping things original?
S
K
The challenge—and the opportunity—with Stephen Kenn is figuring out how to keep designing and creating from that same curious, burning, naive place. At the same time, we’re a brand that constantly needs reinvention. It’s about maintaining a thread of consistency from something I dreamed up 13 years ago while continuing to evolve as a creative person.
So I see our products less as extensions of my current creativity and more as something fulfilling an important need in someone’s life—furniture that champions originality and creativity.
For me, it’s about helping customers choose materials and create pieces that feel personal and meaningful. When a guest visits their home, the furniture becomes a conversation starter. Instead of saying, “I just bought it online,” they can share a story—like how it’s made by a designer in LA, or how it uses vintage military fabric. That kind of storytelling reflects their values and adds depth to the objects in their home. I think it encourages conversation that goes deeper than just the object itself - it becomes a spark for new ways of thinking and consuming.
1
9
9
3
What’s an idea you’ve always wanted to explore but haven’t acted on yet?
S
K
Lighting. For years, I’ve been intimidated by it. Seating has always felt like a clear, unobstructed path for me. Furniture gets lived on—it has to handle dogs jumping, kids spilling, and everyday life, so it needs to be durable and improve with age. Lighting, though, is so delicate and fragile—it’s installed or hung, and no one really interacts with it. It creates beauty and ambiance in a way that’s equal parts utility and art. I’ve had friends with lighting brands encourage me, saying, “You have to do it. I want to see what you’d create.”
1
9
9
3
Is there anything you're working on that you've yet to share?
S
K
Art. I’ve been working on art commissions for the past few years, but I haven’t shared much about it publicly. I think it’s because I have a certain reverence for art—it feels like the purest form of creativity. There’s no functionality to it. It’s just aesthetics, beauty, and storytelling. If I’m going to do it, I want to be all in. There’s a piece I did for Kato, a Taiwanese restaurant at The Row in LA. It’s a 10x10-foot quilt made of scrap military fabric, puffy and textured. I recently made a piece for my friends at Klein Agency who allowed me to run free with my imagination and create something special. I'm grateful for that type of freedom and belief because every time I create something like that, it sparks an entirely new design aesthetic. Eventually, my hope is that these pieces can become a series.
'It Felt Good' by Stephen Kenn
1
9
9
3
You seem to constantly be creating new things. Where do your ideas start?
S
K
They often start as gifts. For example, my wife Beks is my muse - though she would disagree. She asked for a pair of big, loose pants, so I made them for her. I liked them so much I posted a video, and within hours, I had 60 DMs from people saying, “I’d buy those today.” So we made them, and they sold out quickly. That’s how a lot of ideas begin—with the intention to create something meaningful for someone else.
1
9
9
3
What’s it like running a business with your partner?
S
K
Beks is the other half of Stephen Kenn. She’s wired so differently from me, and we both respect each other’s strengths. It’s challenging, though. We’ve had to learn how to turn off work and just be present with each other—whether it’s going on a date or traveling. If a work idea pops up, we’ve agreed to hash it out for five minutes and then table it until the next morning. It’s about finding routines that respect our relationship beyond just work.
1
9
9
3
What’s been inspiring you lately?
S
K
The weight and challenges of life have been an opportunity to lean in and step up. I’ve cut out sugar and alcohol and committed to a workout routine. I’m also reimagining what the brand and studio can offer to a larger community which bring me back to the quote I believe in which is “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” That’s made me intentional about who I surround myself with. The other is an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Right now, building intentional community feels more important than ever.