Materials | Kalon Studios US

Material Studies Side Table Lapis | Kalon Studios US

Materials With Integrity

Every Kalon piece begins with the material itself. From selection to method of production, each decision is guided by a commitment to clarity, longevity, and environmental responsibility.

We work primarily with natural materials, embracing their inherent variation, movement, and hue as integral to our designs. Each material is chosen not only for its structural qualities but for its ability to evolve — to gain depth, character, and patina through use. Aging is not a flaw to be controlled; it is a fundamental part of how we design.

Our standards prioritize materials that are renewable, biodegradable, and traceable. We avoid synthetic coatings, composite fillers, and chemical treatments, choosing finishes and processes that allow materials to remain open, breathable, and honest in their expression.

For deeper explorations of these ideas, visit our Journal for essays on the materials and processes behind our work, and our With Age Studies,which document how Kalon pieces change and develop over time.

Below is a list of the materials we use and the principles that guide their selection.

Wood
Wood is one of the most renewable and expressive natural materials we work with. All of our lumber is sustainably harvested from forests local to our workshops, ensuring traceability, reduced transport impact, and responsible stewardship of regional ecosystems.

We place minimal restrictions on grain structure and natural variation. This approach reduces waste within the timber industry and honors the full spectrum of the material — its density, figure, color, and the subtle movement that occurs over time. As wood ages, its tone deepens and its surface develops a natural patina, reflecting the life of the piece and the environment in which it’s used.

Maple

Raw

Light, creamy color. Pitch fleck and mineral streaks add a reddish-brown hue. Color deepens with age. Honey-gold patina. Sanded to a smooth finish. No oil.

Maple

Kalon Bare Finish

White with some reddish-brown highlights. Fine, uniform texture

Ash

Raw

Light, pale-beige to light-brown hue. Deep pitted grain structure. Amber patina. Sanded to a smooth finish. No oil.

Ash

Kalon Bare Finish

Light colored, smooth-grained hardwood, beige brown hues, golden patina

Ash

Natural Oil/Wax Finish

Light colored, smooth-grained hardwood, beige brown hues, golden patina

Sugar Pine

Kalon Bare Finish

Pale yellow to nearly white, buff or light brown streaks, occasional knots

White Oak

Kalon Bare Finish

Light to medium brown, rich caramel patina

White Oak

Natural Oil/Wax Finish

Light to medium brown, rich caramel patina

Douglas Fir

Kalon Bare Finish

Light brown with hints of red and yellow. Classic straight, uniform grain. Strong, resilient softwood with a subtle patina.

Black Walnut

Natural Oil/Wax Finish

Rich chocolatey hues, blond highlights. Lighter patina, lighten with notes of honey.

Finishes
Finishing alters not only the appearance of a material but the way it responds to its environment. We use natural, “live” finishes that preserve breathability, protect the surface, and allow materials to age on their own terms. These finishes enhance tone and grain without forming a synthetic barrier, supporting the honest expression of the material and its gradual development of character over time.

Raw Finish

Ash

Sanded to a silken, smooth finish, no oil finish applied

Kalon Bare Finish

Ash

For our lighter woods, we use Kalon Bare Finish, a premium, organic plant-based oil/wax finish, painstakingly developed to preserve the delicate, luminous beauty of raw wood. This hand-rubbed finish is water repellent and allows the wood to remain lighter for longer as the wood develops its natural patina through age and use.

Kalon Bare Finish

White Oak

For our lighter woods, we use Kalon Bare Finish, a premium, organic plant-based oil/wax finish, painstakingly developed to preserve the delicate, luminous beauty of raw wood. This hand-rubbed finish is water repellent and allows the wood to remain lighter for longer as the wood develops its natural patina through age and use.

Natural Oil/Wax Finish

White Oak

Our standard wood finish is a premium, organic plant-based oil/wax finish that brings out rich, honeyed tones in wood. It contains a sophisticated combination of natural resins and waxes that together penetrate the wood to create a durable, water repellent, water-mark resistant finish, enhancing and maintaining wood’s beauty and breathability.

Stone
Stone carries time in its surface. Each slab is singular — its veining, color, and movement shaped by geological processes that cannot be replicated or controlled. These natural variations are integral to the design. In our work, stone is paired with pared-back, structural forms, where the contrast between precise geometry and the unpredictability of the material creates a tension that allows each piece to hold both clarity and complexity.

Iron Red

Polished

Earthy red marble with cream calcite veining

Mineral Gold

Polished

Warm, golden-beige marble with softer contrast

Mineral Blue

Polished

Blue-grey quartzite with dramatic rust and gold veining

Brass

Metals
Elegant, sturdy, tactile, and luminous, metal introduces a quiet clarity to our work — practical in function, poetic in presence. We select metals for their durability and inherent beauty, particularly their ability to age and transform over time. Rather than sealing the surface, we use a natural wax finish that allows each metal to develop a rich, living patina

Brass

Machined, Wax Finish

Our live wax allows our metals to develop a beautiful patina over time

Brass

Machined, Wax Finish

Our live wax allows our metals to develop a beautiful patina over time

Blackened Steel

Machined

Inspired by traditional Japanese metalworking and ironware techniques, particularly tetsubin cast iron kettles and the labor-intensive wara-ibushi patina technique.

Brushed Aluminum

Aluminum

Oxblood

Aluminum

Lapis

Aluminum

Lime White

Belgian Linen

Textiles
We work primarily with natural fiber textiles — linen, organic cotton, and wool — selected for their purity, traceability, and minimal processing. These materials are sourced with care from farmer to mill and contain no flame retardants or harmful chemical additives. For added durability in select upholstery applications, we allow for a small amount of synthetic content, never more than ten percent.

For outdoor pieces, we use high-performance synthetic textiles designed for exterior conditions. Natural fibers cannot withstand prolonged exposure to moisture and sunlight, and these fabrics offer the longevity and stability required for outdoor use.

Cognac Leather

Vegetable-tanned, Aniline Leather

Medium honey-brown

Honey

Pure Aniline Leather

100% Velvet Mohair

Silvery-Fawn hue. Plush durable & resilient velvet. Resistant to moisture, stretching and creasing and is inherently flame resistant

100% Velvet Mohair

Deep emerald green. Plush durable & resilient velvet. Resistant to moisture, stretching and creasing and is inherently flame resistant

Umber

Velvet Mohair

Rich, caramel-tan hue. Plush durable & resilient velvet. Resistant to moisture, stretching and creasing and is inherently flame resistant

Sage

Stonewashed Belgian Linen

Warm khaki-green with a soft, brushed texture

Nopal

Stonewashed Belgian Linen

Mossy, army-green with a soft, brushed texture

Oatmeal

Cotton Linen Blend

Soft, white with gray undertones

Apricot

100% Belgian Linen

Warm yellowish-orange hue

Egg

Cotton Linen Blend

Golden, egg-yolk yellow

Yves

Cotton Linen Blend

A deep, ultramarine blue

Toostripe Ochre

Wool Blend

Alexander Girard

Macclesfield Walnut

100% Linen

Rose Cumming Archive

Macclesfield Blue

100% Linen

Rose Cumming Archive

Macclesfield Green

100% Linen

Rose Cumming Archive

Flora Chocolate

Egyptian cotton percale

Warner Textile Archive

Flora Slate

Egyptian cotton percale

Warner Textile Archive

Chequerboard

Sonoma Check

100% Linen

Navy, White Check

Clay (Outdoor)

Greenguard Certified 100% Trevira

Soft, lovely hand-feel. PFAS-free, environmentally-focused finish, which is water-repellent and fast-drying. It also provides resistance against chlorine, seawater, artificial weathering and is flame-retardant.

Carmine (Outdoor)

Greenguard Certified 100% Trevira

Rich, deep red with violet undertones. Soft, lovely hand-feel. PFAS-free, environmentally-focused finish, which is water-repellent and fast-drying. It also provides resistance against chlorine, seawater, artificial weathering and is flame-retardant.

Forest

Greenguard Certified 94% Wool blend

A deep, shadowy green. Woven from bouclé yarns with a gentle, satin finish, and an inviting texture.

Ink

Greenguard Certified 94% Wool blend

A midnight blue. Woven from bouclé yarns with a gentle, satin finish, and an inviting texture.

Plum

Greenguard Certified 94% Wool blend

A decadent, dark purple. Woven from bouclé yarns with a gentle, satin finish, and an inviting texture.

Salt

Greenguard Certified 94% Wool blend

A softly shaded white. Woven from bouclé yarns with a gentle, satin finish, and an inviting texture.

Ink

Greenguard Certified cotton-blend (90% cotton, 10% synthetic)

A rich midnight blue. Plush, large-scale ribbed corduroy.

Smoke

Greenguard Certified cotton-blend (90% cotton, 10% synthetic)

A warm, silverly grey. Plush, large-scale ribbed corduroy.

Paper

Greenguard Certified cotton-blend (90% cotton, 10% synthetic)

A shaded, pearl white. Plush, large-scale ribbed corduroy.

100% pure virgin wool bouclé

Soft, white with beige undertones

100% pure virgin wool bouclé

Grey with beige undertones

Beige Steelcut Trio 225

Wool Blend

Weave of red, yellow and blue. Hardwearing with a three-dimensional surface

White Steelcut Trio 105

Wool Blend

Weave of white and grey. Hardwearing with a three-dimensional surface

Navy Steelcut Trio 883

Wool Blend

Weave of deep and electric blue. Hardwearing with a three-dimensional surface

Grey Steelcut Trio 113

Wool Blend

Weave of grey and light blue. Hardwearing with a three-dimensional surface

Pink Steelcut Trio 515

Wool Blend

Weave of red, yellow and white. Hardwearing with a three-dimensional surface

Upholstery Fill, Cushioning & Mattresses
Our upholstery fills and mattresses use only pure, certified natural materials. Each component is carefully sourced and verified for organic content at every stage of production, from farmer and crop to factory. These materials are naturally breathable, hypoallergenic, and resistant to bacteria and mold. They provide inherent fire resistance without chemical flame retardants and are entirely free of additives, synthetic foams, and toxins.