Kohler Design Center inspires homeowners
No-pressure atmosphere showcases kitchen and bathroom possibilities
KOHLERSmith, Center, as manager- “Maya husbandI helpof and the you,” wife Kohler asked left Michaela Design model room, seemingly embroiled in a difference of opinion. “Not unless you can settle an argument about what faucet would work best in our bathroom,” answered the husband. The experts at the Design Center may not be able to satisfactorily settle an argument or save a marriage, but they can provide the perfect kitchen or bath design solution at best, or a basis for compromise at the very least.
“All the decisions that need to be made in a remodel or building project can sometimes be overwhelming,” said Smith. “So that’s where we come in. We can show the array of possibilities, educate, encourage and inspire people in a no-pressure atmosphere so that their kitchen or bathroom turns out as beautifully as they imagined.”
The Kohler Design Center opened in 1985 in this small village west of Sheboygan that is home to the Kohler Co., a manufacturing company founded in 1873 that went on to become one of the most respected names in plumbing fixtures. The Design Center is host to about 130,000 visitors a year and remains a top tourist destination in Sheboygan County.
The center showcases hundreds of the company’s popular and innovative designs in room settings and functional displays in its three floors and almost 36,000 square feet. Open to the public 363 days a year (it is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas), it is adjacent to the five-star American Club resort and Waters Spa. Admission to the Design Center is free.
So if you are interested in seeing the finish on a bathroom faucet, the depth of a farm sink or the bubble power of a jetted spa tub, you likely can find it as you roam about. There is even a display on the Water Deck of the main floor that provides a behindthe-wall look at steam shower technology.
There’s plenty to do at the ever-changing Design Center.
You can tour the 20-plus model kitchens and bathrooms on the mezzanine level.
They include kitchen and bathroom vignettes created by wellknown interior designers that incorporate products from the
Kohler family of businesses, including Baker and McGuire furniture, Ann Sacks tile, Robern bathroom vanities, cabinets, mirrors and lighting, and more.
“Tastes are very different, so that’s why we offer so many rooms with so many styles and introduce new rooms on a regular basis,” said Smith. “Some of the rooms are absolutely timeless. And while we update the products that are featured, the design endures.”
The newest model rooms were revealed late last year.
Designer Kim Lewis created an intimate kitchen she called the Copper Cottage. Inspired by nature and perfectly sized for an urban setting, it features a palette of light green, sky blue and Simply White (Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year for 2016).
“With so many white kitchens out there, I wanted to do something unexpected, yet still fresh and a bit neutral,” she said. It features Kohler’s Whitehaven single basin sink and Purist faucet.
Designer Alison Victoria calls her vignette An American Designer in Paris. Actually a kitchen, dining area and seating nook, the rooms feature a smoky palette, ornate details and clean lines.
“The kitchen combines the grandeur of Parisian architecture with the edginess of its art and fashion,” explained Victoria. She incorporated a Kohler Strive undermount sink and Purist matte black kitchen faucet into her design, along with furniture by Baker and a wall of Ann Sacks tile.
Designer Laura Kirar wove many of her designs for Kallista, Ann Sacks, Baker and McGuire into a serene bathroom vignette she calls Jardin du Monde. A space for solitude, it is an organic garden oasis.
“The design intent was to elevate the familiar elements of the exterior garden into a more fantastical and wondrous interior setting,” she said.
Other kitchen and bath vignettes were designed by wellknown names such as Mick De Giulio, Christopher Coleman and Clodagh.
You can see, touch and, in many cases, operate Kohler faucets, fixtures and more.
The hands-on kitchen and bath displays on the main level show the range of Kohler’s product designs and finishes.
The wall of sinks clearly shows the differences between apron-front or under-mount sinks, the proportions available for dual-basin sinks and the appearance of stainless vs. enameled cast iron.
Custom showering technology is explained, and the wide variety of toilet options is something to behold. You can even plop yourself down on the toilets to check how they, or you, fit.
Also on the main floor is the Wall of China, showing the many toilet and sink options presented in a dramatic display.
You can learn about Kohler’s 140-plus year history that in many ways tells the story of Wisconsin’s manufacturing past.
The Heritage Museum on the lower level of the Design Center chronicles the growth and evolution of the company, from the first horse trough turned bathtub to cast-iron cemetery crosses to the photos of the immigrant workers who lived and worked at Kohler to the development of world-class golf courses.
A 20-minute video that tells the story of Kohler, and its product innovation is shown at regular intervals.
You can meet with a designer on staff.
Make an appointment — (902) 457-3699 — and bring your plans and ideas when you meet with one of the staff designers. He or she will show what’s available and offer advice on products, colors, finishes and more. You will leave the appointment armed with product specifications and custom plans to present to your own contractor or designer.
“Bring your plans or dimensions and an open mind,” said Smith. “You will be impressed with what our designers come up with to suit your style.”
Or you can bring your own designer or architect.
Marianne Kohlmann of Blue Hot Design in Milwaukee said she loves taking clients to the Kohler Design Center.
“It’s one of my favorite candy stores,” she said. “I go about four times a year to check out what’s available for both kitchens and bathrooms. It’s great to see the quality products in an actual setting.
“Plus, Kohler is a brand that people ask for, so why not show them the possibilities instead of just telling them or having them look at a catalog?”
Her favorite Kohler products include the Margaux bathroom line for upscale elegance, the French Gold finish for faucets and the Purist line for contemporary settings.
Her favorite model room was designed by Clodagh, the Irishborn designer who incorporated an organic, yet contemporary feel in her design.
“It’s been awhile since that room made its debut, but I still love it,” she said.
Kohlmann enjoys making a day of her visit to Kohler, which is just an hour north of Milwaukee.
“It’s an experience and an event,” she said. “We explore the Design Center and then go across the street and have a wonderful lunch at Cucina.”
Designer Lynn Tarrence of the Egg Design Group in Milwaukee has been to the Design Center many times and said “it’s a great place to see what Kohler products are all about.”
She has her favorites, too, including the Purist and Simplice lines of faucets.
“I’ve had very good luck with Kohler products,” she said. “American-made is very important to me, and their guarantee is second to none.”
But one thing you CAN’T do at the Design Center is make a purchase.
“We provide a pressure-free experience in part because we don’t sell anything here,” Smith said. “We provide the inspiration and the possibilities. And then you can go to any Kohler distributor to get any product we offer.”