The collection, officially titled the Artist Editions Fleurette Collection, bridges heritage craftsmanship with contemporary interior styling. Launching nationwide on November 4, the line features two distinct sink styles and, perhaps most surprisingly, a decorative toilet adorned with delicate floral patterns. By applying soft, handcrafted illustrations to Kohler’s signature white vitreous china, the collaboration seeks to inject romance, artistry, and personality into spaces that are too often defined by sterile minimalism and plain white subway tiles.
For Lauder, the inspiration behind the collection is deeply personal. Her fascination with Delftware spans decades and is rooted in childhood memories of her grandmother, Estée Lauder, the legendary co-founder of the global cosmetics empire. Growing up, Lauder was regularly surrounded by the distinctive blue-and-white ceramics that populated her grandmother’s homes.
"I have vivid memories of seeing Delftware throughout her homes and being drawn to both its artistry and the stories it carried," Lauder reflects. Over the years, she has cultivated a collection of her own, meticulously piecing together a blue-and-white palette that she describes as feeling both classic and fresh. "There is an elegance and simplicity to it that never goes out of style," she adds, noting that even the dullest, most utilitarian areas of a home can benefit from botanical motifs.
Rather than attempting to strictly replicate historic, centuries-old Delftware patterns, Lauder and the design team at Kohler focused on capturing the overarching romance of the medium. The resulting illustrations are soft, graceful, and organic in their execution. The most striking element of the collection is undeniably its placement. While decorative basins have long had a place in luxury powder rooms, extending this level of intricate artistry to a toilet is a bold departure from conventional bathroom design norms.
"This collection allows artistry to exist in a place many people would not expect," Lauder notes, expressing her hope that customers will view these utilitarian objects as functional works of art rather than mere plumbing fixtures.
While the classic blue-and-white colorway pays direct homage to traditional ceramics, the collection also introduces a sophisticated green-and-white option. According to the brand, this alternative colorway is designed to coordinate seamlessly with Kohler’s Heritage Aspen Green fixtures, offering designers and homeowners another layer of versatility when crafting custom palettes for historic or transitional interiors.
Integrating such expressive, patterned pieces into a home requires careful planning and a balanced approach to overall interior architecture. Because the Fleurette collection pieces serve as visual centerpieces, Lauder advises pairing them with grounding materials that emphasize longevity and tactile quality.
"Since the pieces are decorative and expressive, I would pair them with materials that feel timeless, such as marble, natural stone, polished nickel, or warm wood finishes," she suggests. To further elevate the space and tie the room together, Lauder recommends incorporating thoughtful styling touches like a vintage wooden stool, a vase of freshly cut flowers, and a favorite blue-and-white ceramic object to reinforce the handcrafted narrative of the collection. "The Fleurette collection provides a beautiful foundation, and from there it is about adding thoughtful details that make a space truly your own."
With the official launch date set for November 4, the collaboration arrives just in time for homeowners and interior designers currently undertaking late-autumn bathroom renovations, offering a fresh alternative to traditional bathroom fixtures and a chance to infuse unexpected romance into domestic interiors.
