KASANAI
KASANAI is a Belgian design studio founded by Virginie Steeland in 2021. Working across collectible furniture and objects, the studio explores refined materiality through a minimalist design language that values permanence over trends. Inspired by the belief that thoughtful interiors contribute to a more mindful way of living, KASANAI creates sculptural pieces that balance architectural presence with quiet elegance, transforming materials such as hand-finished microcement and stainless steel into timeless forms.
Guided by craftsmanship, restraint, and an enduring appreciation for natural textures, the studio develops collections that celebrate simplicity, durability, and tactile beauty. Each piece is conceived as a lasting investment, encouraging a slower, more intentional relationship with design while enriching everyday spaces through understated sophistication.
Interview
I was born in Kortrijk but raised just outside Brussels.
Going to museums with my mum and recognizing van Gogh’s.
Sort of, I worked for real estate developers. So, in spirit, yes. Even before I formalized my path in design, I was drawn to shaping environments and aesthetics that evoke emotion through restraint.
A need to bring serenity and intention into physical form. It began with a desire to live in beauty—and evolved into the creation of objects that carry that same essence.
My process is intuitive and deeply sensory. It often begins with a feeling—evoked by a place, a material, or a memory from travel or the ocean—and evolves through reduction. I’m constantly editing, seeking the perfect tension between simplicity, soul, and function.
I always begin my day with a coffee and a workout. Some days are tactile – testing textures and pigments. Others are quiet – spent sketching or in reflection.
Each piece is handcrafted and unique, with a focus on materiality and form. I work with custom-made lime plaster formulas that allow for subtle tonal shifts and a tactile, organic finish. Our newest collection introduces stainless steel—chosen for its strength, purity, and reflectivity. The contrast between the raw, mineral softness of plaster and the sleek precision of stainless steel creates a dialogue between nature and structure, light and shadow.
Start by listening—really listening—to materials. Don’t rush the process. Great design emerges when you remove everything that’s not essential.
My work balances minimalism with sensuality.
Le Corbusier, Axel Vervoordt, Tadao Ando– for their clarity and vision and reverence for space.
Rick Owens, Fay Toogood, John Pawson.
James Turrell for his use of light, Agnes Martin for her restraint, and Georgia O’Keeffe for her ability to see the world with sensual simplicity.
Silent Refinement shaped into form.
“Start by listening—really listening—to materials. Don’t rush the process. Great design emerges when you remove everything that’s not essential.”
The Questions
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)
Floating in the ocean at sunrise
Losing wonder
Overthinking
Arrogance
My Partner Michaël
Travel
Quietly determined
Moderation
Integrity
Strength in Softness
Less is more
To speak every language
To worry less
Creating a life that reflects my values
A dolphin
Near the ocean
My wedding ring
A life lived without travel
Creating Beauty
Eye for detail
Presence
Mell Robins, Eckhart Tolle, Phil Knight
Odysseus
Eileen Gray
Women who live with purpose and freedom
Philine, Sam, Madoux Maxelle
Clutter – in spaces and in thought
Not starting Kasanai earlier
In peace, with the sound of waves nearby and before my partner
Beauty is enough
“I’m constantly editing, seeking the perfect tension between simplicity, soul, and function.”
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