Set to launch officially on November 4, the collection draws heavily on personal history for Lauder, whose fascination with Delft pottery dates back to her childhood. Growing up, she was surrounded by the distinct aesthetic, largely thanks to her grandmother, Estée Lauder, the legendary co-founder of the global cosmetics empire.
“I have vivid memories of seeing Delftware throughout her homes and being drawn to both its artistry and the stories it carried,” Lauder explains, noting that she has spent years curating her own personal collection of the iconic pottery. Over time, she developed a deep appreciation for the palette of blue and white, describing it as a combination that feels simultaneously classic and fresh. “There is an elegance and simplicity to it that never goes out of style,” she adds.
In translating this historic ceramic tradition to Kohler’s high-end fixtures, Lauder and the design team deliberately avoided a literal or exact recreation of antique patterns. Instead, the collaboration focuses on capturing the underlying romance of Delftware through illustrations that feel soft, graceful, and organic. Each piece in the Fleurette Collection utilizes Kohler’s signature white vitreous china as a pristine canvas, upon which delicate floral decorations are meticulously hand-applied.
The collection comprises two distinct sink styles alongside a statement-making toilet. The inclusion of decorative artwork on a toilet is perhaps the collection’s most surprising and daring design choice, stepping far outside the traditional boundaries of bathroom decor.
“This collection allows artistry to exist in a place many people would not expect,” Lauder says, emphasizing her hope that consumers will view these fixtures not merely as plumbing components, but as functional pieces of art capable of elevating even the dullest architectural spaces.
While the classic blue-and-white colorway pays direct homage to traditional pottery, Kohler and Aerin have also developed a complementary green-and-white iteration. The brand notes that this alternative palette is specifically designed to coordinate seamlessly with Kohler’s existing Heritage Aspen Green fixtures, offering interior designers and homeowners an additional layer of versatility. According to design experts and the collaborators alike, introducing patterned fixtures of this scale can serve as a sophisticated antidote to minimalist design fatigue, such as the ubiquitous white subway tile bathroom.
Integrating such expressive pieces into a cohesive interior design scheme, however, requires careful planning and a strong emphasis on balance. Lauder advises against overwhelming the room with competing patterns, recommending instead that the Fleurette fixtures be anchored by grounding, time-tested materials.
“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,” Lauder shares. To further enhance the storytelling aspect of the design, she suggests incorporating organic and vintage touches into the room. Elements like a rustic wooden stool, freshly cut flowers, and a favorite blue-and-white ceramic object can easily pull the entire aesthetic together.
“The Fleurette collection provides a beautiful foundation, and from there it is about adding thoughtful details that make a space truly your own,” she adds.
With the official release date scheduled for November 4, the collaboration arrives just in time for homeowners and designers currently undertaking autumn renovations or putting the finishing touches on custom bathroom projects. As consumers increasingly look for ways to infuse personality and bespoke charm into private living spaces, Lauder’s collaboration with Kohler offers a unique intersection of heritage craftsmanship and modern luxury.
