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
BrassMetals
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 LinenTextiles
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.
Organic Cotton Ticking
GOTS-Certified
Breathable, durable, hypoallergenic, allows for natural temperature regulation and cooling
Organic Raw Cotton Fiber
GOTS-Certified
Absorbent, breathable, hypoallergenic, non-toxic, wicking
Natural Premium Rustic Wool
GOTS-Certified
Naturally fire-retardant & antimicrobial, resilient, durable and moisture-wicking, superior to all other fibers in its ability to handle body moisture in both warm and cool environments
Organic Cotton Lining
GOTS-Certified
Breathable, hypoallergenic, allows for natural temperature regulation and cooling
Organic Palm Coir
ECO Institute Certified
Naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to bacteria, dust mites, and mold, naturally cooling — coconut fiber from recycled coconut husks
Organic Natural Latex
Hand-molded, GOLS-Certified
Naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to bacteria, dust mites, and mold, naturally cooling — Derived from organic rubber trees
