Excellently crafted materials and a clean aesthetic are some qualities that describe North American furniture designer and architect, Kipp Stewart’s style. His simple and delicate manner in creating functional design is exemplified in all of his pieces.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Stewart was sent away to live with his family in Oakland, California at a young age. His interest in furniture design was piqued when he was only fifteen years old. Walking past a furniture studio on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, he saw a storefront with sketches posted on the windows. With this, Stewart knew that he wanted to pursue a career in design. Stewart enrolled at Chouinard Art Institute in the late 1940s.

Stewart went on to win several awards as a furniture designer, the first being when he entered “The Good Design Show” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, taking first place for a piece he designed when he was still in college. Having a background in architecture, Stewart was able to build his family a beach house in Santa Barbara, CA. After selling it to a man, he took his family on an adventure to Europe where he continued to design furniture. Stewarts love for the arts and vast capability has led him to design furniture and buildings, including the Ventana Inn in Big Sur. In his retirement, Stewart used his artistic talents to continue creating art, though in a different medium.

Kipp Stewart collaborated with some of the most significant Mid-Century modern manufacturers such as Drexel and Glenn of California. Today, the pieces designed for these companies, alongside his colleague, Stewart MacDougall, continue to garner interest.

Excellently crafted materials and a clean aesthetic are some qualities that describe North American furniture designer and architect, Kipp Stewart’s style. His simple and delicate manner in creating functional design is exemplified in all of his pieces.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Stewart was sent away to live with his family in Oakland, California at a young age. His interest in furniture design was piqued when he was only fifteen years old. Walking past a furniture studio on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, he saw a storefront with sketches posted on the windows. With this, Stewart knew that he wanted to pursue a career in design. Stewart enrolled at Chouinard Art Institute in the late 1940s.

Stewart went on to win several awards as a furniture designer, the first being when he entered “The Good Design Show” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, taking first place for a piece he designed when he was still in college. Having a background in architecture, Stewart was able to build his family a beach house in Santa Barbara, CA. After selling it to a man, he took his family on an adventure to Europe where he continued to design furniture. Stewarts love for the arts and vast capability has led him to design furniture and buildings, including the Ventana Inn in Big Sur. In his retirement, Stewart used his artistic talents to continue creating art, though in a different medium.

Kipp Stewart collaborated with some of the most significant Mid-Century modern manufacturers such as Drexel and Glenn of California. Today, the pieces designed for these companies, alongside his colleague, Stewart MacDougall, continue to garner interest.