The Beam Collection is a series of furniture and objects created by Brooklyn-based KLN Studio and available through Afternoon Light. The collection is hand-carved from old-growth pine beams originally used in a five-storey horse stable built in Harlem during the late 19th century.
The 13-by-13-inch structural timbers were removed during a renovation project and previously repurposed by the studio as outdoor tables and seating. Remaining material was later transformed into sculptural pedestals and home objects. Each piece is shaped in response to the existing condition of the wood, preserving growth rings, cracks, and surface markings accumulated over time.
KLN Studio begins production with hand sketches before using chainsaws, angle grinders, hand tools, and sanding equipment to refine each form. The finished pieces are treated with a natural oil-and-wax blend.
Image Credit: KLN Studio
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Reclaimed Heritage Furniture
- Historic structural timber is becoming a premium design input, creating room for collectible furniture that combines sustainability, provenance, and one-of-a-kind material character.
- Material Provenance Design
- Visible growth rings, cracks, and surface markings are shifting product value toward traceable material histories that differentiate objects in a crowded home goods market.
- Sculptural Salvage Objects
- Discarded renovation materials are gaining new relevance as expressive decor, opening space for limited-run collections that blur the line between functional product and art object.
Where This Applies
- Furniture
- Furniture makers are finding new competitive advantage in reclaimed materials that support small-batch production, distinctive forms, and environmentally conscious luxury positioning.
- Interior Design
- Residential and hospitality interiors increasingly favor pieces with embedded stories, making salvaged architectural elements a compelling source of authenticity and visual texture.
- Sustainable Materials
- The reuse of old-growth wood highlights a growing market for circular material streams that preserve scarce resources while supporting premium design applications.
