Kohler Plumbing Combines Luxury and Innovation

Founded in 1873, Kohler Co. is an American manufacturing company best known for its plumbing products. The family-owned private company also manufactures furniture, cabinetry, tile, engines, and generators.

Kohler is one of our go-to brands for fixtures. They offer innovative, high-quality, and classic looks for bathrooms and kitchens. Laura’s previous family home on North Boulevard in Houston featured Kohler throughout. Because bathrooms and kitchens are high-traffic areas, investing in quality ensures you will have beautiful fixtures for years to come. For the Mountain Lane Show House, Laura also selected KALLISTA products, which is Kohler’s sister-brand offering premium bath and kitchen solutions that are artfully crafted.

Plumbing fixtures are a component of your home that must be addressed early on in the construction process. We sat down with Kohler to get all the details behind their products and find out what will be showcased in Mountain Lane Show House.

A Conversation with Kohler

Laura U Design Collective (LUDC): We will be using Kohler & KALLISTA throughout the home. We are super excited to see the Brockway cast iron sink in the powder bath and the Cairn farmhouse sink in the kitchen. What trends are you seeing now with people spending more time at home and wanting beautiful focal points in their kitchen and/or bathrooms ?

Kohler (K): As a result of this additional time at home, we have definitely experienced an increase in kitchen and bath remodels. Actually, it’s interesting that Brockway was introduced as a commercial product and designers have fallen in love with the look of it. It’s now a top residential hit on Houzz. We are seeing more of this crossover with industrial styles – breaking down barriers and incorporating these products into residential spaces.

Farmhouse sinks and modern farmhouse style remains popular. The Cairn sink that Laura chose is a durable and has a matte composite with a great little towel hook on the front. Kohler’s proprietary self-trimming feature is a hit with installers as the cabinet cutout doesn’t have to be perfect to look great.

Technology and smart home advances are big trends now. In faucets and hardware, we are seeing minimalist styles and decorative elements of gold and matte black finishes.

LUDC: You are known for innovation and exceptional craftsmanship. What should people be aware of when they are selecting plumbing/kitchen fixtures?

K: First and foremost, choose a brand that is tried and true, and stands behind its products with a solid warranty. Kohler tests its products two times the industry standard requirement to ensure reliability for users. Once you have the confidence in the manufacturer, there are many technological product advances in the bath and kitchen spaces to explore – touchless, app/voice control, and digital are some examples. These features can help to personalize the space.

LUDC: Since COVID, we've seen more interest from homeowners in products that help keep them safe. Kohler uses state-of-the-art sensor technology to provide beautiful solutions. Which of your products use sensor technology and have you seen any changes in what products are being purchased?

K: We are seeing this interest as well - especially in the kitchen space, where food preparation takes place. Kohler uses response technology as an option on pulldown kitchen faucets. The placement of the sensor ensures no false actuations. And since there are no batteries for the homeowner to change, there are no worries about crawling under cabinets later. Wall mounted toilets have touchless actuator options. Touchless trip levers are an option for some. Touchless/sensor products are driving more sales today, and is a trend that is worth exploring.

LUDC: In the primary bath, you will be providing the Invigoration Steam Generator and the control kit. Laura and Michael are super excited about this - especially for the winter months! What other products do you produce that homeowners may not be aware of to make their space luxurious?

K: Yes, they will love the benefit that steam provides! Kohler’s steam head also includes an aromatherapy well, so it will be great to start the day with energizing essential oils or wind down with lavender in the evening. If anyone feels under the weather, there are oils for that too.

Wellness and luxury go hand-in-hand today. More than ever, people want their styling spaces to be a retreat, and feel like a spa. Kohler offers premium options such as multiple shower outlets, rain panels, digital thermostatic valves that allow for multiple sensory experiences the include steam and water, and music streamed via Bluetooth. Lighted mirrors, with Amazon’s Alexa embedded, provide fantastic light quality, great sound, and the convenience of making a shopping list while getting ready for the day.

Cleansing seats, intelligent toilet functionality with integrated bidet features, like the Veil fixture Laura selected tor the primary bath, are becoming mainstream in the U.S. due to both cleanliness concerns, as well as diversity of the population – these products have always been very popular overseas. Kohler has experienced a huge growth in both of these product categories in the U.S. and expect that to continue.

LUDC: There's just something so romantic and glamorous about a freestanding tub. In the primary, Laura selected the Imperator Freestanding tub. What should one look for when thinking about getting a free-standing tub?

K: Who doesn’t love a long soak to unwind and relax? Size considerations of course should first be considered. Freestanding tubs come in different shapes, sizes, and materials. There are many styles of a freestanding soaking tub, but some models also can be ordered with an infusion of humidified and heated air – keeping the bath warmer longer. Vibracoustic technology is another option to incorporate sound and vibrations above and below water. Another consideration is how to fill the tub – freestanding fillers are beautiful and are like the jewelry to a freestanding bath, but if someone is on a tighter budget, they may choose a freestanding tub that allows for a deck mount faucet.

LUDC: How often do you release new collections? What is the inspiration behind the different products?

K: Kohler is a consumer-centric company. There are research and industrial design teams that spend their time listening to feedback from consumers, to understand how they live and how products can delight. Products go through a lot of testing to ensure that the collections going into the market are durable and meet consumer needs. Therefore, there is not an annual timing cadence, but products are released throughout the year as they finish their development cycle and are ready to enter the market.

LUDC: Ann Sacks and KALLISTA will also be featured throughout the home. Having multiple brands under Kohler Co. helps give you a competitive edge. Can you talk a little bit about how the brands all fit together to provide extraordinary design solutions?

K: Kohler, Ann Sacks, and KALLISTA all push the envelope of design. KALLISTA partners with illustrious guest designers to enhance the portfolio with global inspiration and offers living finishes, where Kohler uses PVD finishes for consistency for life. A huge advantage is leveraging the deep resources of Kohler Co. to deliver products that exceed industry performance standards and deliver a world-class consumer experience while conserving water. Kohler and KALLISTA now share valving technologies, so a project can be roughed in with Kohler valves, and later upgraded to KALLISTA trim, or changed out later between brands for a different look altogether.

LUDC: At what point in the building or renovation process, do you need to have your plumbing selections?

K: The earlier in the process, the better! Shower valve selections should be made first since the they are roughed in once the walls are framed. Toilet flanges are installed early. Also, large fixtures such as tubs may not be able to fit through the finished door, so are often brought in and covered to keep them safe while construction is completed.

LUDC: Do you have any advice for people wanting to install Kohler or KALLISTA in their home?

K: The advice I would give anyone building or remodeling in 2021 is to plan ahead as much as possible – and not just on plumbing fixtures – as the global supply chain has impacted every part of building in 2021 from lumber to appliances. For those choosing Kohler or KALLISTA , they can be confident in the knowledge that they are buying from a family-owned company that has been in business since 1873 and stands behind it’s products.

LUDC: How can people get in contact with Kohler?

K: There are several ways to get in touch with Kohler: the award winning website, www.kohler.com , is the best place to start – there are a lot of resources to be found there. For a quick answer there is also a phone number: 1-800-4-KOHLER. Of course, all Kohler companies also have a strong social media presence, as well as showrooms in every market.