When solid beech wood flows from floor to backrest in a single steam-bent arc, you’re witnessing KFI Studios push the boundaries of what wood furniture can achieve. Silva, the company’s first fully wood collection, exemplifies material honesty and sculptural restraint.
Designer: KFI Studios
Designed in collaboration with Union Design, Silva rejects the noise of contemporary furniture design in favor of something more enduring: curves that follow the wood’s natural character, finishes that reveal rather than conceal grain patterns, and forms that balance timeless craft with approachable modern sensibility.
A Collection Built on Natural Warmth
Silva includes guest chairs, lounge chairs, stools, and coordinating tables across occasional, standard, counter, and bar heights. The versatility makes it equally at home in workplace lounges, hospitality environments, and social spaces where warmth matters more than clinical precision.
“It’s our first full wood collection, and something we’ve wanted to do for a long time,” says Chris Smith, CEO of KFI Studios. “It’s got that natural warmth and character that makes spaces feel instantly inviting.”
The signature detail defining the collection is that steam-bent rear leg. It flows in a single graceful line from floor to backrest, giving each piece a sculptural quietness that traditional joinery methods simply can’t achieve. The lounge chair in particular pushes wood bending techniques into elegant, continuous arcs that demonstrate what happens when material capability meets design ambition.
Design Details That Honor the Material
Every curve, edge, and contour in Silva was calibrated to highlight beech wood’s natural grain and inherent character. Gently rounded edges on seating pieces create tactile comfort without over-designing. Softly shaped square tabletops offer practical surface area while maintaining the collection’s organic aesthetic language.
“Every curve, edge, and contour was carefully considered to highlight the material, create comfort, and offer a sense of simplicity,” says Jeff Theesfeld, founder of Union Design.
The solid wood construction extends throughout the collection, with subtle engineering details that enhance functionality without compromising aesthetic purity. Guest chairs stack three high for space-efficient storage, making them practical for venues that need flexible seating arrangements. Stools feature chromed steel footrests that add durability and comfort while maintaining visual lightness. Table tops come in two configurations: wood tops with soft edge profiles that emphasize organic warmth, or optional laminate tops with knife edge profiles for environments requiring enhanced durability.
The finish palette expands beyond traditional wood tones into territory that feels distinctly contemporary. Seven stain options include Natural, Timber, Coffee, and Black alongside modern color-drenched hues: Navy, Evergreen, and Clay. These colored finishes don’t obscure the wood grain. They enhance it, letting the material’s natural texture show through while introducing unexpected color depth.
Chairs can be specified with or without upholstered seats. When upholstery enters the equation, KFI Studios offers a wide selection of graded-in textiles or COM options, allowing designers to calibrate comfort and aesthetic expression to specific project requirements.
Silva and the Biophilic Design Resurgence
According to Jeff Theesfeld, Silva arrives at a moment when designers are increasingly prioritizing wellbeing through material choices. Biophilic design, the practice of connecting interior environments to natural elements, continues gaining momentum as research confirms what intuition already suggested: natural materials and calming tactility improve how people experience spaces.
Silva’s all-wood construction, paired with finishes that enhance rather than hide wood grain, brings grounding presence to environments that benefit from nature-inspired warmth. As workplace design evolves beyond stark minimalism and hospitality spaces seek differentiation through material authenticity, collections like Silva offer designers tools to create environments that feel both contemporary and fundamentally human.
The collection represents more than aesthetic preference. It signals a broader shift toward furniture that prioritizes enduring material quality over trend-driven surface treatments, toward forms that respect craft traditions while serving modern spatial requirements.
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