A 4-year-old obsessed with…toilets?

It’s funny, but it’s true: We at Kohler are pretty fond of our toilets. And our customers are, too. But never have I met one whose affinity had such an early onset. Meet Dustin Kruse, a 4-year-old from New Berlin, Wisconsin. While other little boys enjoy playing with trains and trucks, Dustin prefers toilets.

His affinity started when he was just 18 months old, and he even potty-trained himself at the age of 2. Dustin isn’t even in kindergarten and he knows more about toilets than I do: where the water enters, how the flushing mechanisms work, what happens (ahem) after we flush, and once clean, where the water eventually ends up: “Lake Michigan!” he shouts.

While supportive of their son’s appreciation for all things toilet, his parents dismissed it as a phase. But when he asked to spend his birthday at The Kohler Design Center, a three-story showcase of Kohler’s kitchen and bath products, they realized it was much more.

With freshly frosted cupcakes in tow, the Kruse family made the 70-mile drive north to the Village of Kohler to celebrate their son’s birthday; he played for hours and learned all about Kohler’s new toilets and bidets. Dustin was especially taken with the dual-flush models— what he refers to as “half-flush, full-flush” toilets.

“He was in heaven,” says mother Michele Kruse. “He even took it upon himself to explain how to use dual-flush toilets to fellow visitors. And as he looked through the stack of product brochures the designers gave him, Dustin made a very important announcement to his parents: “I’m asking Santa for a half-flush full-flush toilet for Christmas!”

Weeks passed, and Dustin was still talking about the toilet he was putting on his Christmas list. “I knew he wasn’t going to let it go—he was continuously talking about it,” Michele says. “That’s what prompted my letter to Kohler.” Recent financial hardship resulting from a medical diagnosis meant Michele and Jim couldn’t make their son’s wish come true. Well, not alone, at least.

Michele’s letter began to make rounds here at Kohler, eventually ending up in the hands of president and chief operating officer David Kohler. The company decided an early Christmas present was in order for one of our most passionate customers—or as an AdAge article calls him, Kohler’s biggest brand advocate.

A Persuade Dual Flush toilet wrapped in a big red ribbon was loaded onto a Kohler truck for a very special delivery. “Dustin had no clue about the surprise, but as soon as he saw the Kohler truck coming down the street, he said, ‘It’s for me!’” Dustin looked on eagerly as his “half-flush, full-flush toilet” was installed.

But the excitement of getting the Christmas gift topping his list was exhausting: “He actually fell asleep in the box while playing in it,” recalls Michele. “There are no words to describe the happiness of seeing your little boy’s dreams come true. We’re so grateful and blessed Kohler made this possible.”

I had the pleasure of spending a day with Dustin and his family during their most recent visit to Kohler to film a testimonial about his love (or, dare we say, obsession) for toilets. What does Dustin want to be when he grows up? A plumber? A toilet designer? A home builder? Nope. But something tells me if he changes his mind, he’d have no problem landing a job in the plumbing industry.

New Year, New Shower

January is the month of new beginnings. Every year, as sure as the snow falls here in Wisconsin, I start with a burst of energy, resolving to eat healthy, beef up my workouts and start that novel I’ve been putting off for years. Don’t ask about my success rate. And it’s no wonder—psychologists say you shouldn’t make a million resolutions. They advise picking one project and seeing it through to the end.

Making a change—even a small change–to something as routine as your shower can help make your daily life a lot more pleasurable. After all, the average person spends more than 80 hours in the shower each year. Don’t we deserve a great experience?

Maybe you’re looking for a luxurious space with all the bells and whistles. Or perhaps you want to upgrade without having to remodel. You really can have it all—or as much as you want–when it comes to your shower space.

If you’re in a position to dream big, get ready to swoon. The sky’s the limit for combining spa-worthy steam, your own music, colored lights, rain-simulating showerheads and bodysprays, all arranged to your liking and controlled by a simple-to-use digital interface.

Looking to transform an old bath to a shower while staying in a five-foot-alcove footprint? You’ve still got plenty of choices. One idea is to install a shower base and stall. Look for thoughtful features like seats (perfect for shaving your legs) and shelving to keep things neat and tidy.

Another way to build upon your existing space is to add a digital shower system. The DTV Prompt gives you full control of your shower, from temperature to flow, all at the touch of a button.

Shower doors add an elegant clean look, and all KOHLER doors feature a glass treatment that keeps them cleaner. And you can still have a great showering experience, with a group of components—like a handshower, a rain-simulating showerhead and three bodysprays—all operated by a high-flow pressure-balancing valve.

Even something as simple as replacing your showerhead—perhaps with the Katalyst that offers bigger, more substantial drops—can change your showering experience considerably. Or, add an element of surprise with something like the Flipside showerhead and handshower. Simply flip the sprayhead on its axis to choose from four unique sprays.

That’s the beauty of updating your shower: How far you go is completely up to you!

Kohler Colors: The Early 1900′s

In the early days of plumbing, everything was white: The sink, the tub, the toilet. And there’s a reason for that. When you think  of the color white, what do you think of? Clean? Sterile?

That’s exactly what manufacturers wanted you to think, and it’s why many of the first products were white. A Kohler associate publication from 1928 explains:

“Take the case of plumbing fixtures. There are only two reasons why they remained white so long. One was that white was thought to be the appropriate color to symbolize cleanliness. The other was habit. The plumbing world got into a rut of white fixtures…” Kohler of Kohler News, February, 1928.

Along came the 1920′s, a decade known for its fashion and fun – an age of color. Suddenly, a room such as the bathroom could be beautiful as well as functional. Colors first began showing up as accessories: Towels, rugs, curtains, etc.

Then, in 1927, Kohler Co. asked the question, “Why not color in plumbing fixtures?” Kohler introduced six colors that year: spring green, horizon blue, lavender, autumn brown, old ivory and west point gray.

This new color selection positioned Kohler as a leader, the first to introduce vitreous china and enameled cast iron products in matching colors. Customers could finally purchase a full, colorful selection of bathroom products.

Ads in the December 3 issue of the Saturday Evening Post and the December 17 issue of Liberty magazine were the “official” announcement of the new Kohler colors.

  

Kohler went on to add the industry’s first jet-black plumbing products in 1928, which were showcased in a Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit in 1929. However, during the 1930′s, with the U.S. in a Great Depression and World War II on its heels, Kohler slowed much of its color production for a couple decades.

Stay tuned for our next installment on color, as we dive into hues of the 1940′s and 1950′s.

Entertaining Tips for the Holidays – Bathroom

See the Tresham pedestal sink. 

After attending an event at Hearst Publication’s Designer Visions, I thought it might be nice to do a blog series offering tips for entertaining this holiday season. I was impressed by these gorgeous black-and-white bathrooms, designed for Veranda magazine by S. Russell Groves.  His inspiration for this space was the film Someone to Watch Over Me, which is about a married New York cop that falls for the socialite he’s been assigned to protect.

The bathroom is often overlooked during the holidays, but preparing your space for guests is an easy to way to leave a big impression. Here are a few quick things you can do to get your bathroom ready for company.

Browse the Tresham collection.

S. Russell Groves adds pops of red to this eclectically styled black-and-white bathroom. If your bathroom is largely white, consider adding an accent color to your space that reflects your personality. For a traditional space, you might use an earth tone, whereas in an eclectic or contemporary space, you might try a pastel or bold pop of color.

Be sure to follow the 60-30-10 rule when incorporating an accent color. In Groves’s space, white takes up 60% of the space, black accounts for 30% and red accounts for the 10%.

Give your bathroom a cohesive and luxurious feel by matching your plumbing accessories, like towel bars and toilet paper holder, to your faucets and showerhead.

 

Fresh towels are a must when hosting guests overnight. Keep fresh towels on towel bars and leave extras folded near the sink or rolled up in a basket or vintage bucket.

Every holiday guest has their own preference when it comes to bathing and showering. Make sure your shower and bath are equipped with soap, shampoo and other toiletries. Placing a bench in the shower is a great way to accommodate guests of all ages and abilities.

Furniture is a multipurpose solution in the bathroom. Small end tables and shelves placed near the bath serve as a great place to store toiletries and provide guests with a place to set jewelry, glasses and other personals.

See the Rêve freestanding bath. 

During the holidays, we many times forget to stock up on the important things. Have a fresh supply of toothbrushes, toilet paper and other essentials to help your guests feel right at home.

Stay tuned for our next holiday post when we tackle the kitchen.

Sleepotel – Seven Brands, One Complete Solution

The Sleep Event in Europe fuses “inspiration, innovation and opportunities for the design, development and architecture of hotels across the globe.” Housed in London, this year’s event includes over 100 exhibits and the Sleepotel.

A big draw for this year’s event is The Sleepotel, a live hotel environment that allows attendees to see and experience real spaces designed by leading architects, interior designers and suppliers. This year Kohler was selected to design one of the seven spaces.

One our of designers, Megan Gordon, explains that she drew inspiration from seven of Kohler’s brands, and pulled them together to offer one complete solution. She incorporated Ann Sacks, Kallista, Baker, Mark David, Daryl, McGuire, and Kohler.

Dressed in chic black, the space blends sculptural design with bold geometric lines to give the space a clean, contemporary feel. The seemingly off-kilter Askew freestanding bath becomes the centerpiece of the bath, and brightens up the dark space.

The timeless Mark David bed brings chocolate hues into the mix, carried into the bathroom via towel color. Warm black Ann Sacks tile offers a natural and textural contrast to the sleek high-tech Numi toilet and wall-hung sink and vanity.

What do you think about this space? Are you a fan of contemporary design, or do you prefer something more traditional when traveling?

Entertaining Tips for the Holidays – Dining Space

After attending an event at the Designer Visions apartments put together by Hearst Publications in NYC, I thought it might be nice to do a blog series offering a few tips for entertaining this holiday season. I spent much of my time in the gorgeous dining space, designed for House Beautiful by Heather Moore of Jed Johnson Associates. She was inspired by the movie Factory Girl which is about Andy Warhol’s Factory superstar Edie Sedgwick.

Image courtesy of Habitually Chic.

When planning a meal for guests, it’s important to spend a little time deciding how you would like the dining space to look. When setting up your dining space, consider the area around the table. In Heather Moore’s space, she uses the huntboard behind the table as a place to store dessert plates and coffee cups, which makes it easy to transition from the main course to dessert.

Image courtesy of Habitually Chic.

When setting your table, select napkins, centerpieces, stemware, and plates that complement your room’s décor. In Heather’s space, she chose bright orange napkins to tie in the surrounding wall paint; a stylish, seasonal choice.

If you’re looking to add a bit more pop, consider a color opposite your main décor. Finding your hues on a color wheel is a great place to start. Based on the surrounding orange tones in this apartment, teal colored napkins would have also worked in this space and added a little extra pizazz.

Image courtesy of Habitually Chic.

As for your holiday centerpiece, make sure that it does not distract from conversation. This explosive orchid centerpiece is short and long, which allows anyone sitting at the table to easily converse around it.

If you plan to design your own centerpiece, use three or four dozen flower stems and at least six stems of greens. Fill in the greens around the circumference of your vase and add the stems of flowers at various heights. The greens will act as a structure for you to weave your flower stems in.

For a more rustic look, mix in some tall branches from outside and a few fall leaves.

Image courtesy of Habitually Chic.

Check back next week as we continue prepping for holiday guests. With the dining room out of the way, we’re ready to tackle the bathroom.

Kohler Tresham Keepsake Contest: Runners-up

Our Tresham bathroom collection is all about personalization, and to celebrate this mantra, we created theTresham Keepsake Contest.

We’ve already announced the grand prize winner. And now for the runners-up!

Congratulations to…

Brandy Woodall Ritter

Brandy submitted a photo of her grandma’s shoe buckles, chosen by Karla Martinez of W magazine.

In Brandy’s own words: “These shoe buckles belonged to my Gram, and every time I see them I think of how she would go dancing with my Grandfather on Belle Isle in Detroit when she was a young lady. They make me smile thinking of how beautiful they made her feel.”

Michelle Holley

Michelle submitted a photo of a perfume ad from the 50s, chosen by Peter Som & Jane Lodd of Harper’s Bazaar.

In Michelle’s own words: “My adopted mother was a fashion illustrator for over forty years in Cincinnati, OH. This is one of my favorite ads she drew for a perfume ad in the 50s. I treasure this because it shows how talented she was with design and color and creating desire.”

Jennifer Haberichter Kulman

Jennifer submitted a photo of a hand-stitched quilt, chosen by Katy Brennan of Vanity Fair.

In Jennifer’s own words: “My great-grandmother hand-stitched this quilt from hundreds of neckties. I patched for months, so that it could hang in my home. This quilt is an ideal design piece because it is bold, unique and timeless.

Each runner-up will receive $1,000 worth of Kohler products.

Thanks to all of our participants for sharing your treasures with us. You truly have an eye for great design!

WIRED Store – Grand Opening & our Numi Toilet

Last night marked the opening of WIRED magazine’s annual pop-up shop, located at 4 Times Square in New York City (the old ESPN Zone).

Like always, WIRED kicked things off with a party. And not just any party. This is like being invited to your high-tech friend’s house just after they’ve won the lottery: futuristic gadgets, interactive games, and state-of-the-art designs around every corner.

Bikes and giant light cubes hung from the ceiling, QR codes covered the walls–it is truly techie paradise.

These cassette tape “paintings” grabbed my attention right away.

As did this Sony personal 3D viewer. Simply place it on your head and enjoy your favorite TV show or film in private.

And I can’t forget the games. One full wall, donned with big screen TV’s, allowed guests to come and test out the latest video games, all with state-of-the-art graphics.

One nice addition this year was the Kickstarter wall, filled with innovative products dedicated to creativity, music and the arts.

And of course, I can’t leave out our Numi toilet. You may be thinking “why would a toilet be in the WIRED store?” Well, this is no ordinary toilet. A touchscreen remote controls built-in bidet functionality, a nightlight, heated seat, built-in speakers and more. It’s the most advanced toilet Kohler has ever created.

Swing by the store to test it out for yourself, select your favorite songs to play through the toilet’s built-in speakers, and best of all, sign up to win one!

For those of you not in NYC, have no fear. You can sign up to win a Numi online as well.

This year’s WIRED store is a must-see. Swing by Times Square between November 18 and December 24 to check it out for yourself.

 

Kohler Tresham Keepsake Contest: Grand Prize Winner

Our Tresham bathroom collection is all about personalization, and to celebrate this mantra, we created the Tresham Keepsake Contest.

Hundreds of participants submitted photos and stories of their most treasured items, from beautiful tea cups passed down through generations to handmade cribbage boards carried through World War II. Each entry offered the perfect bit of personalization to design a space around.

Our panel of judges, Peter Som & Jane Loddo of Harper’s Bazaar, Karla Martinez of W magazine, Katy Brennan of Vanity Fair, and Kohler’s creative team, carefully and painstakingly selected the final grand prize winner and three runners-up.

And so, without further ado, our grand prize winner is…

Matt Martel

Matt submitted a photo of his grandfather Gremillion’s paintbrushes.

In his own words: ”A painter for 45 years, my grandfather maintained a beautiful collection of vintage American, pure bristle brushes. Made by hand of all natural materials and intended to last, they are perfect representations of my grandfather.”

Congratulations, Matt. You win a trip for two to NYC, a visit to Hearst’s Designer Visions apartments, $10,000 in Kohler product, a Robern M Series cabinet, up to $4,000 to use in W magazine’s ABC Bathroom and Home, and consultation from an Architectural Digest designer.

Thanks to all of our participants for sharing your treasures with us, and stay tuned as we reveal the runners-up!

Energy and Water Efficiency in Our Military

Today is Veterans’ Day.  One thing most Americans probably don’t know about our armed forces is that they are very interested in energy and water efficiency.  If you think about it, forward operations such as those in Afghanistan require a lot of logistical support—food, water, fuel, and supplies.  It’s estimated that 70% of the convoys there are used to transport fuel or water.  Reducing the amount of resources needed to carry out missions can result in a more flexible and effective fighting force.  Everything from electrical generators to vehicles and aircraft is being looked at through the lens of fuel efficiency.  And water reuse is essential in desert climates and aboard ships.

Even at bases here in the US, energy and water efficiency are focus areas.  Using taxpayer dollars more effectively means that all federal facilities need to be run more efficiently.  In late 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13514 which lays out energy and water efficiency goals for all federal facilities, and also requires purchase of environmentally-preferable supplies and implementation of sustainability strategies.  An example of how this is being done is Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas.  The base will be net zero in supplied energy and water, and will serve as a model for new and existing bases.

While I am not a military veteran, my father was, as are many of my co-workers at Kohler.  Those of us who haven’t served in the military owe them so much more than we can ever express.  While it’s not much, I want to say “thank you”, and I pray that all of our troops make it home safely.