Materials With Integrity
Kalon is a materials-focused practice. Our material selections are a primary driving force of our designs. Within our body of work, simplicity of form lets each material tell its story.
We work primarily with natural materials, embracing their unique character and color as an integral part of design. Our wood is sustainably harvested from forests local to our factory. Our textiles and fill are natural fibers carefully sourced from farmer to mill. These high-quality materials have minimal to no chemical processing and no harmful additives. Each material is selected for longevity and the ability to grow more beautiful with age and use.
Visit our Journal for a series of pieces exploring Kalon’s relationship with living materials (Flax, Wood and Brass).
Wood
Wood is a living, breathing material; as pieces weather and age, their tonality transforms and takes on something akin to the patina of well-loved leather. Take a look at our ‘With Age Studies’ for an honest illustration of what that looks like.
Wood is also our most renewable natural resource. All our woods are sustainably harvested from forests local to our factory. We put minimal restriction on the grain structure of the woods that we select, which is vitally important to reducing waste in the timber industry. Take a closer look at where our wood comes from and sustainable forestry on our journal.
Finishes
The choice of whether and how to finish is something we consider from the very beginning. Wood is a living, breathing material. It responds to its environment and, like all living things, it ages. Finishing changes more than just the look of the wood, it changes how the wood interacts with the environment. And, different finishes have very different impacts.
Metals
The metals for our custom parts and hardware are selected for their durability and beauty. Our standard finish for metal is wax. Wax allows our metals to develop a beautiful patina over time.
Textiles
We select the purest, all-natural fiber textiles, working primarily with linen, organic cotton and wool. These textiles are reverently sourced from farmer to mill, and minimally processed with no flame retardants or harmful additives, which means no off-gassing.
For durability, we allow for up to 10% synthetic content in our upholstery fabrics.
Upholstery Fill, Cushioning & Mattresses
Chosen with the belief that less is more, our upholstery fill and mattresses use only pure materials. Each is carefully sourced and certified for natural, organic content at the various stages of production, from farmer and crop to factory. They are naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to bacteria and mold, naturally fire-retardant and naturally cooling. They are entirely free of additives, chemical flame retardants, and toxins.