“I am tired of waste, especially in the home design world, where you just swap everything out,” he says.

Instead, he prefers classic and timeless designs, such as a slender pair of award-winning scissors from the 1960s, or the modern manufactured lines coming from foreign meccas of design like Copenhagen. Those are the types of objects that he loves and wants to share with the world.

With his design ethos grounded in natural materials and clean—but not stark—lines, Jason dipped a toe in the Kansas City waters with a popup shop a few years ago. “I used it as a test to see if beautiful objects from Scandinavia and Japan would resonate here—and they did,” he says.

That temporary shop has since grown in business—but not necessarily in square footage.  Kanso—The Japanese Zen principle of simplicity or elimination of clutter—embodies his ethos (literally and figuratively) in a few hundred square feet of space in the Crossroads, purveying beautiful and sustainable items ranging from nail clippers to sofas.

This tiny storefront has only enough room for a few favorites, while a huge online retailership supports brisk business. Kanso ships thousands of items each month from a local warehouse.

Jason personally handpicks and tests everything before offering it for sale.

“It all must fit our narrative,” he says. “Everything is cohesive and streamlined. When you’re browsing, it feels right.”

KANSO

The Bauer (alley entrance)
115 W. 18th Street, Suite 106
Kansas City, Mo.
shopkanso.com