It’s all about wood. Integrity, solidity and clarity define the work of KWH Furniture, “founded on the philosophy that beauty lies in simplicity.” Designed and built to exploit the natural grain patterns and the material’s natural color, ornamentation is unnecessary. Surfaces are smooth and beautifully patterned, bringing attention to none other than the material itself.

. End Grain Lamp. Designed by Kai-wei Hsu of KWH Furniture.

Last week’s Weekly Wrap-Up, “It’s Official, Brooklyn Designers Really Like Wood,” obviously suggests that neither 3Rings or BKLYN DESIGNS is a stranger to this material; and if you have been tuned into 3rings, you might think you’ve seen wood in every shape and size. But it continues…from the sleek curves of the Mod Rocker by Iglooplay to Ecosystem Brand’s flat-packable Bamba Chair and Uhuru’s honorable upcycling: it’s evident that there is a world of wood in BKLYN. KWH Furniture continues this trend, introducing their own take on the material, also in furniture form.

Cube Tables. Designed by Kai-wei Hsu of KWH Furniture.

Tealight Candelabra. Designed by Kai-wei Hsu of KWH Furniture.

Small Tables. Designed by Kai-wei Hsu of KWH Furniture.

Given the premise of simplicity and material driven design, their most impressive pieces are those which exploit the material properties of wood including color and grain pattern. The small table, with its smooth surface and simple legs, is stylistically as basic as a table can get. Pedauk, an African wood with a natural rich red color, is the material of choice, taking center stage in this minimal piece. With the color and grain pattern, it really doesn’t need anything else.

KWH has completed several versions of the end grain lamp: the original, the poplar end grain lamp, the sandblasted end grain lamp and the tall end grain lamp. Stack-matched oak or poplar (depending on the version) creates beautiful patterns on the (again) very simple lamp base. A column of thick wood, the matched grain patterning provides all the necessary detailing to create a beautiful piece.

Designer and craftsman Kai-wei Hsu (KWH) is the designer and craftsman of these pieces. The clarity and simplicity of the work is likely inspired by Hsu’s experiences living and traveling in China. His work, ranging from furniture and lighting to accessories, all embodies a material-based aesthetic. The tealight candelabra (the large version in black walnut and the small in cherry), trays and boxes even enable us to accessorize our home in wood.