BAKER NEWS

October 2007
INTRODUCING NEW FORMS TO BAKER STUDIO

CHICAGO (October 1, 2007) – Baker, a leader in the manufacturing and design of fine home furnishings, unveiled 30 new forms to Baker Studio, its dynamic, in-house design program, at the Fall 2007 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C. Drawing on the company’s longstanding reputation for both design and quality, Baker Studio made its debut in Spring 2007. Studied in its approach, the company saw Baker Studio as an opportunity to build an offering from an entirely different vantage point, diverse and dynamic in scope, an assortment of both eclectic accents and anchor pieces drawn from a well traveled perspective.

Unlike many of its other collections, Baker Studio places historic reference secondary to great design and engaging finishes. Forms are stylish, with a modern sensibility and modest scale for urban application. The eclectic mix has a playful personality, anchored by pieces that can command presence in a room and accented by supporting designs that offer functional versatility. This program emerges as something more designer-led, with a creativity rarely seen in the casual category, a fashionable representation at once familiar and fresh, with a relevance that speaks to the moment.

“Affluent consumers have many interests and perspectives,” said Kevin Ward, president, Baker Knapp & Tubbs. “Sophisticated design does not have to be formal or traditional. At some level, it is fashion grounded by good taste and design. Baker Studio is about the way we live today… diverse, traveled, more about personal expression rather than the rules.”

Speaking to a more youthful, broader range of tastes and placed within a comparably lower Baker price point, this Market, Baker Studio pays homage to Asian and Scandinavian design. The pieces are crafted from quartered oak, its grainy texture resembling coconut wood prominently used in 1930s design. Forged from steel, the hardware created exclusively for the collection references elements prevalent in Ming Dynasty design.

Three finishes employing French finishing techniques also hearken back to the 1930s.

In addition to its wood designs and signature, exclusive finishes, Baker Studio adds 20 eco-friendly fabrics to complement its extensive Baker fabric and leather programs. The fabrics were hand-selected for their green nature, and come in a range of fresh colors. Available on any of the Baker upholstery designs, the fabrics are priced competitively, and breathe life into the most conservative of frames.

Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc. includes Baker furniture, Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showrooms, and Baker Stores. Along with McGuire Furniture Company, Ann Sacks tile, stone and plumbing company and Kallista plumbing, it is part of the Kohler Interiors Group and wholly owned subsidiary of Kohler Co., a global leader in kitchen and bath designs.

Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, cabinetry, tile and home interiors, and international host to award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.