Expert Recs: How the Kalon Studios Founders Achieve Peak Minimalism at Home

When Kalon Studios founders Michaele Simmering and Johannes Pauwen met through mutual friends during their college years, the vibe between them was magnetic from the get-go. "It was a funny moment when we met; it was very intense from the beginning," says Simmering. "Like, Johann moved in [with me] within a week and now we've been together for 22 years. I think that sometimes relationships work when you share the same life vision." It wasn’t until six years into their coupledom—after they had successfully designed their own furniture pieces for the empty home they shared—that the duo realized they could also work together as business partners. "When Johann and I lived together for a long time before we started Kalon, we actually lived without furniture, hilariously, for years, because we just couldn't find anything that we liked that we could afford or that we agreed on. So we just started to make it ourselves," says Simmering.

The Kalon aesthetic is minimal and natural, highly crafted and thoughtfully sourced, and timeless and precise. Ever since its launch in 2007, the studio has held a steadfast commitment to using high-quality, sustainably–managed timber from the New England area, as well as employing a small team of traditional and local woodworkers to craft their designs to life. Simmering and Pauwen’s vision for their home, as it turns out, isn’t entirely different than the one they have for their business. The acquisition of new stuff for their home is very slow and measured, just like the ethos for Kalon. "We are people who hyper consider everything, probably to a fault. We don't really bring something into our home unless we really, really want it or really, really need it. So by default, we just don't have a lot of stuff," says Simmering. "In both our work and home space I need things to be less intense. I appreciate an openness so that there's a lot of space for the individual, so you don't feel dominated by your surroundings."

The couple has lived in a 1923 Spanish–style house in Highland Park for almost six years. "The biggest difference [between our home and the studio, based in the Atwater Village neighborhood of L.A.] is that our home is a collection of objects from our lives, things that we have to practically live with," says Pauwen. "It's our objects, it’s our children’s objects, things that might not 100% align aesthetically with our vision, but still have meaning nonetheless." 

For Simmering and Pauwen, that means anything from a sculptural piece of wood that their daughter found in a desert years ago, a set of well-designed garden tools for the outdoor space they reworked during the pandemic, or finding the perfect multi-use cooking and serving vessel for their beloved bean-focused meals. "We both almost fetishize objects," says Simmering, and adds that they always consult the other if they want to bring anything new into their home space. "Maybe that's why we can do business with each other," says Pauwen. "We have a mutual respect of honoring the other's opinions." 

Below, some of the couple's favorite items for the home. 

"The low slung proportions of this platter make it feel worthy of artful display, in addition to everyday use. The hand-turned wood makes anything you put on it feel instantly special."

"We’re pretty obsessed with living materials. We love how they transform over time with use and age. This is particularly true of our Stumps, which are made from green wood felled in Maine. Each piece is entirely one-of-a-kind and sometimes, they arrive still a little dewy."

"We love L.A. artist and friend Bari Ziperstein’s ceramic pieces and have a few at the showroom. This one has such an interesting form, while the glaze color keeps it feeling timeless. It looks just as good empty as it does with flowers in it. So important in terms of versatility."

"L.A. and Mexico have a lot of cultural crossover and we often find ourselves drawn to brands based out of Mexico City. These ruffled dishes made from Bajio earthenware don’t try to disguise their handmade nature, which we love."

"Hasami is designed by Takuhiro Shinomoto, one of the founders of Tortoise General Store, which is one of our very favorite spots in all of L.A. These are our entire studio’s go-to everyday mugs. Amply sized with a satisfying weight, they’re also made to stack neatly… which is frustratingly rare!"

"We keep bees on our property in Highland Park and find the scent of beeswax to be so grounding and warm."

"We love working with brass for many of the same reasons we love working with wood — because it’s very much alive! These solid brass hooks by fellow L.A. designer and friend, Ramsey Conder, are affordable yet totally opulent while still maintaining an organic rawness we are very drawn to."

"Object obsession runs deep and strong for us. As a child, Johann was obsessed with the spoon from this set. For years, he refused to eat with any other. It took us years to find the set the spoon came from. The wood lends a beautiful and special feel to any table setting."

"We somewhat infamously dislike incense, so a good alternative is a beautiful potpourri nestled in a small bowl or repurposed ashtray. This one is a 300-year-old recipe from one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, with berries, leaves, and flowers typical of the hills around Florence."

"This is hands down the most used item in our kitchen. You can cook with it over an open flame, serve out of it, and store it in the fridge. We are proud Rancho Gordo Bean Club members, so this gets lots of action."

"There is an elegance and magnetism to tools whose whole purpose is to be functional. We find most tools to be very beautiful, and this Japanese trowel is our go-to in our vegetable garden.

"One of the treasures in our kitchen. We were once lucky enough to see a fifth generation artisan demonstrate how to make one of these, a process with more than 130 steps. They’re hammered by hand yet impossibly smooth, to ensure an airtight fit. Everything about the history of these pieces—the inherited craftsmanship, the way no two pieces are alike because they age and patina in ways that are unique to their setting—speaks to us."

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