Materials | Kalon Studios US

Blue pedestal with a round black glass top outdoors among tall grasses.

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.

Several small wooden blocks scattered on a white surface, casting long shadows.

Close-up of a light wood chair showing the seat edge and curved legs with visible grain patterns against a neutral background.

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.

Light wood block with visible grain on a white textured background, close-up.

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.

Light wooden panel resting on a white textured background, showing subtle wood grain lines.

Maple

Kalon Bare Finish

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

Pale wooden block with visible grain on a white textured background.

Ash

Raw

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

Light wooden block with visible grain against a white textured background, centered in the image, top of the block cut off slightly.

Ash

Kalon Bare Finish

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

Close-up of a light wood block with horizontal grain on a white textured surface.

Ash

Natural Oil/Wax Finish

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

Pale wooden block with distinct vertical grain placed on a white textured surface

Sugar Pine

Kalon Bare Finish

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

Rectangular light oak wooden block against a white textured background.

White Oak

Kalon Bare Finish

Light to medium brown, rich caramel patina

Close-up of a rectangular light brown wooden plank with visible grain on a white background, occupying the bottom center of the image.

White Oak

Natural Oil/Wax Finish

Light to medium brown, rich caramel patina

A light brown wooden plank with visible grain laid on a white textured surface.

Douglas Fir

Kalon Bare Finish

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

Dark brown wooden panel centered on a white background.

Black Walnut

Natural Oil/Wax Finish

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

Open jar of orange liquid on a white surface with a long shadow nearby.

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.

A vertical wood plank with visible grain placed on a white, textured background.

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.

Vertical wooden plank with oak grain on a white textured background, centered toward the bottom of the image.

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.

Close-up of red marble with white veining across the surface, showing natural stone texture.

Iron Red

Polished

Earthy red marble with cream calcite veining

Beige marble texture with subtle orange veining and cloudy patterns.

Mineral Gold

Polished

Warm, golden-beige marble with softer contrast

Close-up of clear ice with brown plant stems embedded, creating dark crisscross lines across the surface.

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

Three gold ribbed metal cylinders arranged vertically on a white surface, resembling small decorative beads or rings.

Brass

Machined, Wax Finish

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

Two black dumbbells on a white textured surface, seen along the bottom edge.

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 silver rectangular metal card with rounded corners lying on a light textured surface

Brushed Aluminum

Close-up of a dark red rectangular card with rounded corners on a white textured surface

Aluminum

Oxblood

Vertical blue rounded rectangle against a white textured wall surface, occupying the center of the image.

Aluminum

Lapis

Beige rectangular wall switch cover mounted on a white textured wall.

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.

Brown leather swatch with natural grain on a white background, irregular bottom edge visible.

Cognac Leather

Vegetable-tanned, Aniline Leather

Medium honey-brown

Brown leather swatch with visible grain texture on a white background, showing a curved top edge and natural creases, as a sample.

Honey

Pure Aniline Leather

Close-up of a brown suede fabric swatch with a diagonal crease on a white background

100% Velvet Mohair

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

Close-up of a dark olive wool fabric swatch with a fuzzy texture on a white background.

100% Velvet Mohair

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

Brown suede/felt fabric swatch lying on a white surface, showing soft, fuzzy texture and slightly curved edges.

Umber

Velvet Mohair

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

Brown textured fabric swatch with a zigzag edge on a white background.

Sage

Stonewashed Belgian Linen

Warm khaki-green with a soft, brushed texture

Olive-brown textured fabric swatch on a white background.

Nopal

Stonewashed Belgian Linen

Mossy, army-green with a soft, brushed texture

Beige textured fabric swatch on white background, with folded corner showing weave pattern

Oatmeal

Cotton Linen Blend

Soft, white with gray undertones

Rectangular swatch of terracotta woven fabric on a white background, showing a textured grid weave and frayed edges at the corners.

Apricot

100% Belgian Linen

Warm yellowish-orange hue

Mustard-yellow fabric swatch with visible weave on a white background

Egg

Cotton Linen Blend

Golden, egg-yolk yellow

Close-up of a royal blue fabric swatch with a rough weave laid on a white surface.

Yves

Cotton Linen Blend

A deep, ultramarine blue

Striped woven fabric swatch with orange and olive bands on a white background.

Toostripe Ochre

Wool Blend

Alexander Girard

Brown fabric swatch with cream and blue floral pattern and leaves.

Macclesfield Walnut

100% Linen

Rose Cumming Archive

Teal-blue fabric swatch with beige floral pattern and visible woven texture

Macclesfield Blue

100% Linen

Rose Cumming Archive

Piece of beige fabric with a cream, brown, and purple floral print on a light background.

Macclesfield Green

100% Linen

Rose Cumming Archive

Brown fabric swatch with a white floral pattern laid on a white surface

Flora Chocolate

Egyptian cotton percale

Warner Textile Archive

A blue-gray fabric swatch with large white floral patterns laid on a white background.

Flora Slate

Egyptian cotton percale

Warner Textile Archive

Green and white checkered fabric swatch with frayed edges on a white background.

Chequerboard

Blue and beige gingham fabric swatch on white background, showing a checkered pattern.

Sonoma Check

100% Linen

Navy, White Check

Beige woven fabric swatch on a white background, showing a tight plain weave and frayed edges at the corners.

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.

Close-up of a burgundy fabric swatch with a coarse woven texture on a light background

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.

Close-up of a dark textured fabric strap with a curved edge on a light background.

Forest

Greenguard Certified 94% Wool blend

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

Close-up of a dark blue denim fabric swatch with a frayed edge on a white background.

Ink

Greenguard Certified 94% Wool blend

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

Close-up of a dark burgundy fabric strap against a white textured background, showing tight weave and stitched edges.

Plum

Greenguard Certified 94% Wool blend

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

Close-up of a cream-colored woven fabric ribbon on a white background.

Salt

Greenguard Certified 94% Wool blend

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

Navy blue corduroy fabric swatch with vertical ridges on a white background, photographed close up.

Ink

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

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

Gray ribbed fabric swatch laid on a white surface, close-up texture detail

Smoke

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

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

Beige striped towel laid on a white surface, close-up of fabric texture on the edge of the cloth.

Paper

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

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

Beige textured carpet swatch laid diagonally on a white background.

100% pure virgin wool bouclé

Soft, white with beige undertones

Beige textured fabric swatch with a folded corner on a light surface.

100% pure virgin wool bouclé

Grey with beige undertones

Close-up of a brown fabric swatch with a small blue and red diamond weave on white background.

Beige Steelcut Trio 225

Wool Blend

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

A beige and white diamond-weave fabric swatch with frayed edges on a white background, showing a textured textile sample.

White Steelcut Trio 105

Wool Blend

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

Close-up of a dark blue woven fabric swatch with teal edging against a white background.

Navy Steelcut Trio 883

Wool Blend

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

Close-up of a gray and black dotted fabric swatch with a frayed bottom edge on a white surface.

Grey Steelcut Trio 113

Wool Blend

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

Pink-and-white woven fabric swatch with yellow edging, folded against a white background.

Pink Steelcut Trio 515

Wool Blend

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

Left: a rough white pumice stone, center: fluffy white feathers, right: a pale bar of soap on a white 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.