Aging with beauty
With Age is a series of images of pieces at various stages of age and use. Through these, we offer an honest illustration of the way Kalon pieces age through real world use. The materials we use are carefully selected to grow more beautiful with age. Here, we show you what that looks like.
Kalon is a materials-focused practice. Our material selections are a primary driving force of our designs. ‘Living Materials’ is a series of journal pieces exploring Kalon’s relationship with living materials. Read about Flax, Brass and Wood.
RUGOSA BOOKSHELF — New
This just made piece has the soft luminosity of freshly milled wood.
RUGOSA BOOKSHELF — Five years old
This piece was moved between multiple houses and rooms. Through age and use, UV exposure and the accumulation of oils picked up from skin, the wood developed a golden patina.
SIMPLE BED & SIDE TABLE ASH — Mixed ages
This bed frame was built shortly before this photo and had never been used. At the time of the photo, the side table was approximately 6 years old and had been refinished at least once; its deep, golden patina reflects years of use. The brass hardware has also developed a lovely patina.
BOUGH STOOL ASH — Mixed Ages
Both of these stools are made of Ash. The stool on the left is about 2 years old and has seen minimal use. The wood tones are still milky and pale. The stool on the right is 9 years old with heavy, daily use in a kitchen. Its rich caramel hue has been built slowly and reflects its many years around the table.
Brass Study
We love brass because it ages and transforms over time. How it changes mostly depends on a piece’s environment. Air flow, light, amount of use, and natural oils from your hands all conspire to create a singular, unique appearance over time. The various brass accents in our home carry with them an inherent time register: new pieces shine while older pieces boast a wonderfully rich depth of near-black oxidation.
WHITE OAK MIXED PRODUCT — Study
In this image you can see two pieces made from White Oak. On the left is a 2 year old stool that has seen minimal use. On the right is a chair that has been used as a desk chair for a decade. Heavy, daily use of the chair has softened the wood, lightly wearing the edges. Dust and oils have collected on the surface, creating a rich, amber patina.
BLACK WALNUT MIXED PRODUCT — Study
Oiled Black Walnut has a rich warmth from the outset. This warmth grows through use and periodic oiling. Despite frequent use, like all woods, Black Walnut will dry over time. As it does, its color will become duller and more ashen. When oiled, the depth of color glows. On the left is a 1 year old stool. On the right is a chair that's been used daily for a decade. Deeper red and brown tones emerge over time as the wood darkens through UV exposure and use. Water marks are visible on the chairs surface and lend a marbling effect to the patina.
Ash — Grain detail
Ash is known for its deep, pitted grain and pale hues. The grain patterns move in almost a liquid like way, creating swells and valleys that reflect the conditions the tree lived in and its growth cycles. Its beige, brown hue becomes more golden through age.
SIMPLE BED & SIDE TABLE ASH — 7 years old
These are the original prototypes we built for the Simple Collection. At the time this photo was taken they had seen 7 years of daily use and heavy abuse as we tested various finishes, repeatedly sanding and re-oiling the piece. Note the rich, dark patina that's developed on the brass as well.
SIMPLE MIRROR — New
This image is of our prototype for the Simple Mirror. It's the first piece we made and the photo was taken when it was brand new. The freshly milled and oiled Ash is luminous and pale. On the upper left, is a natural beauty mark
SIMPLE MIRROR — 9 years later
This is the same mirror 9 years later. The mirror has been moved several times, hauled to various photoshoots and events. At times, it has hung on the wall. Other times, it's leaned like it does here. Because mirrors aren't touched often, this is a lovely example of the way wood ages through sunlight. The natural darkening here comes almost exclusively through UV exposure and the passage of time.
WHITE OAK MIXED PRODUCT — Study
In this image you can see two pieces made from White Oak. On the left is a 2 year old stool that has seen minimal use. On the right is a chair that has been used as a desk chair for a decade. Heavy, daily use of the chair has softened the wood, lightly wearing the edges. Dust and oils have collected on the surface, creating a rich, amber patina.
RUGOSA SOFA SUGAR PINE — New
A freshly constructed Rugosa Sofa. Sugar Pine has a soft, pale beauty. The knots in the wood show where branches grew in the tree.
RUGOSA SOFA SUGAR PINE — 2 years old
This oatmeal Rugosa Sofa was in our showroom for 2 years where it sat in front of a floor to ceiling glass window with full sun exposure. The golden patina seen here developed naturally through both use and sun exposure. The even tone indicates that the darkening was due mostly to sunlight.
ISOMETRIC CHAIR — 10 years old
These two images are of the same chair. Used daily as a desk chair, it's sat in for long stretches of time and has seen approximately 13,000 hours of use. We've included images of the chair from multiple angles to illustrate what an Isometric Chair looks like after a decade of hardwearing use.
