“Every threat is a hidden opportunity and we have to keep remembering that so we can get to the other side.” 

- Cindy Allen, Editor in Chief of Interior Design 

Always a spirited voice for the design world, Cindy Allen’s sentiment is fitting for these topsy-turvy times—by accelerating ideas rather than accepting defeat in the face of challenge, some businesses have proven to emerge out of difficult market conditions stronger and with a competitive edge.

Over the last year, a wide range of A&D projects persevered despite manufacturing suspensions, shipping delays, a remote workforce, and unprecedented public health protocols. While these projects are a testament to global teamwork, many also represent an enduring desire for quality craftsmanship, imaginative details, and engaging experiences that promote self-care and provide freedom from chaos.

Celebrating the industry’s progress in 2020, Interior Design magazine’s DesignTV recently featured a full day of product launches and collaborations unique to Kohler brands. Viewers were presented with the comprehensive picture of a project from ideation to installment. Architects applying leading-edge wellness features, and artists working with unexpected surfaces and spaces were just a few of the conversations that encouraged fresh concepts and shed light on the process.

Most important, those conversations reflect the perspective of Kohler President and CEO David Kohler who believes that design has a responsibility to inspire the world, improve upon existing conditions, and make a positive impact—a compelling assignment in any climate.

In case you missed it, some highlights below.

For more from Kohler’s takeover of Interior Design TV, click here.

Roaring ‘20s Architecture Inspires a Romantic Sink and Bath Collection

Those who enjoy a stroll along the stately art deco-lined streets of cities such as Manhattan, Chicago, Shanghai, or London have likely laid eyes on the work of Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA). The firm’s enthusiasm for sustaining the glamour of prewar construction among other architectural styles has earned it numerous awards for projects ranging from residential buildings and hospitality settings to academic institutions and public venues. One such high-profile assignment, 15 Central Park West, recently influenced a jazz era bathroom fixture collection when RAMSA teamed up with Kohler brand KALLISTA for an unusual approach to product design.

“We envisioned the romance of the penthouse apartments of New York’s Central Park West, where modern, classical buildings like the San Remo, the Century, the Beresford have all been glamorized in movie musicals,” said RAMSA’s Dan Lobitz. “And we really wanted to tie into that.”

“Many cities throughout the world had this art deco-inspired period from the ‘20s that was a very romantic one,” added the firm’s Alex Lamis. “Extremely talented architects and designers in the period created this sense of romance, not just as a place to live, but almost like you were living in a movie and we tried to capture that in this collection.”

Indeed, the collaborative Central Park West™ bath collection conjures images of the grand facades and lobbies of turn-of-the-century New York, long treasured for their geometric forms, opulent materials, and innovative craftsmanship.

“Our goal was to create details that were distilled from historical precedence to establish a distinctive modern, yet classical, character,” described Lobitz. “We studied product fixtures from the early twentieth century and adapted them to give the collection some of its signature notes.”

For example, the faucets feature a monogrammed “H” and “C” engraved into each handle, a nod to the earliest stages of indoor plumbing when hot and cold taps were individually marked. Taking a cue from the Greek and Roman typefaces of stone carvings and monuments, the inscription adds an unexpected element of bespoke luxury.

The fluting on the handles and the knurling on the spout are architectural details that repeat throughout the collection, which is available in Chrome, Polished Nickel, Brushed Bronze, and Unlacquered Brass. According to Lobitz, these silhouettes and textures were important when addressing one’s senses.

“You have something that is beautiful to the eye and also wonderful to the touch.” “We hope people will see an architectural quality in it,” said Lamis. “When we are designing a building, a lot of time it is the base that touches the street, the middle, and the top. The same thing works at any scale. If one could imagine blowing this [product] up to a different scale, and it having the quality of an architectural building’s proportion and detail.”

Trying to emulate the intricate details of prewar architecture in a bathroom fixture collection had its tricky moments, including perfecting the incisions and the rotary piece on the handle. However, Lobitz insisted that while they were a challenge, “KALLISTA loved the challenge!”

And how do the RAMSA architects feel about pivoting to product design?

“Buildings have so many aspects to them, and they take so long to do,” said Lamis. “Products are just about design, and in a controlled space, which makes it a nice thing to do.” He added, “We wanted to do some things that hadn’t really been done before.”

With a full line that includes sink and bath faucets, showering hardware and a shower door, and accessories such as towel bars and door handles, the Central Park West collection combines historical design with modern-day living.

Mission accomplished!

For more from Kohler’s takeover of Interior Design TV, click here.

It Doesn’t Need to be White to be Clean

“In the bathroom and kitchen, ‘clean’ and ‘hygiene’ are fundamental needs upon which great experiences are based,” says Booth. “Better bathroom experiences provide businesses with a competitive edge.”

While voice control, hands-free technology, UV sanitization, and temperature settings are established hygiene-friendly features, they have become more reliable and user-friendly in recent years. The need to mitigate germ transmission in part due to COVID-19 has helped accelerate these kitchen and bath improvements. At the same time, a desire to protect the environment and reduce exposure to chemical toxicities has spurred innovation.

For example, Booth was among a team of engineers and designers that introduced Kohler’s ContinuousClean toilet, which releases a carefully measured cleaner into the flush every time.

“From a personal health and environmental point of view, we’re reducing the amount of harsh chemicals required to clean the toilet,” said Booth. “Not only do I have to buy less in terms of cleaning product, but I’m not exposing myself to those concentrations seen in typical toilet bowl cleaners. And I’m not throwing away the trash that’s associated with the bottles that contain the cleaners. We see this as a win on a variety of fronts.”

To the eye, a sparkly white surface gives one a sense of physical cleanliness and the absence of germs. Beyond this perception are the unseen benefits. Booth reminds us that as we become more comfortable with technology’s role in improving our personal hygiene and our surroundings, we will feel cleaner, healthier, and happier as a result.