- Art & Design
The return to sustainable, natural materials and organic design has been manifesting itself for a while and still continues. It is an evolution that designer Inge Lagae looks at with great enthusiasm. Under the slogan ‘Timeless beauty to pass on’, she creates timeless furniture pieces that converge in her collection Kāna Objects.
With her designs, Inge Lagae wants to get away from the idea of a consumer society, where trends follow each other quickly and the environment is often the last aspect that is considered. For years, she has been creating bespoke furniture for residential projects, because existing brands did not always offer what she needed. A selection of her own designs was recently moulded into a small, exclusive collection, and thus Kāna Objects was born. This collection did not just come about, but was preceded by many years of experience and a great love of design. 
One thing that immediately strikes you, is that Lagae loves to work with organic materials, and especially with wood. The designer therefore selects the wood at the tree sawmill herself. She also checks its processing before the material leaves for the furniture maker. The latter makes all pieces by hand. The wood is heavily and often manually brushed or sandblasted, because the rougher it is, the better it combines with the clean lines of the designs. The designer is also a fan of elegant types of natural stone such as marble and travertine. In general, she has a penchant for colours that are difficult to define. Lagae explains that while designing, she does not think like a product developer, but puts her creative ideas on paper and leaves the difficulty of construction to the furniture maker. Unsurprisingly, every piece therefore becomes a new challenge, because designs are not made in function of their economical or technical feasibility, but mostly with an eye for aesthetic aspects. It is that difficulty that makes this collection stand out. Because they are adorned by a certain simplicity, the designs will fit into many interiors. Each piece stands on its own and does not need a certain context or style.
Pieces are designed with aesthetics in mind
The craftsmanship she encountered in different cultures and the people she met on her travels now culminate in the designs of Kāna Objects. All models in the collection are handmade from noble oak materials of your choice. The wooden Labyrinth bookcase may be the collection’s most striking piece. This graphic bookshelf is functional enough to store your favourite books and other objects, but, above all, carries an extraordinary aesthetic, making it an absolute eyecatcher. 
In the next years, Lagae wants to expand the collection and continue to create innovating pieces, although it is precisely this drive for continuous innovation that sometimes poses a challenge. Her plans include expanding the collection to include lighting and decorative objects. We are already very curious to see what the future holds.
Header image: Hiku Dinner Table
Image 2: Hiku Coffee Table
Image 3: Float Table
Image 4: Labyrinth Bookcase
Image 5: Seikou Sideboard
Text by Elke Aerts