By Rosie Prata
People often say that they do their best thinking in the shower, so it follows that a more holistic shower experience would lead to dreaming up more creative breakthroughs. Those seeking such inspiration should look no further than Kohler’s new Anthem+ digital control, the latest innovation from one of the world’s leading brands in kitchen and bathroom fixtures.
“What Kohler is trying to do is to bring a true wellness experience to our consumers within their homes,” says Kohler Canada’s Director of Marketing Amy Hampton-Davies. “With this particular product, you have the opportunity to interact with a digital interface that is modern, elegant, intuitive and easy to use.”
The sleek, sophisticated design—available in eight contemporary finishes—allows users to not only control the water functionality within the showering space but also to calibrate steam, music and lighting according to each individual’s preferences. “Whatever phase you’re in within your day and whatever sort of routine or nourishment you need in your life, you can really lean into the functionality of this digital shower to customize an experience that’s very personal to you,” says Hampton-Davies.
Whether you need a high-pressure, energizing pick-me-up in the morning to get ready for a busy day, prefer to wind down in the evening with a gentle mist, or want to mimic the cold plunge trend at home by adding an invigoratingly icy blast at the end of your shower, Kohler’s innovation lets each user play with perfecting their own experience. Nine preset programs allow each member of the household to store their own specific settings, removing the hassle of manually adjusting valves every time.
“What Kohler is trying to do is to bring a true wellness experience to our consumers within their homes.”
“There’s also an eco-mode version, which is important for some clients because it’s more water-saving,” says Hampton-Davies. A summary screen helps people monitor their water usage in real-time and adjust accordingly to reduce waste—a tremendous advancement towards helping households efficiently manage their environmental footprints.
“You could have body sprays, rain heads, shower heads, hand showers,” Hampton-Davies says, explaining that the Anthem+ system is configured for up to 12 outlets. “It’s totally customizable and very flexible, depending on the size of the shower and the experience that you want.” There is the option to use just one outlet at a time if the user wants to conserve water, or, as Hampton-Davies says lightheartedly, “If you want the car wash experience, you could do that too.”
Pairing a smartphone with the Kohler Konnect app allows people to tap into their ideal shower with a text message, and an optional remote makes it possible to start the shower before you even step through the door—no more cold water startling your skin as the pipes warm up. The system also integrates with smart home platforms such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing voice-command activation for recreating the spa experience at home.
Sleek, smart and sustainable, with options to curate temperature, pressure, spray patterns, duration, steam, music and lighting, Kohler’s Anthem+ digital control refreshes the entire bathroom atmosphere with a single innovation. Technology that is calibrated to enhance an essential life activity according to each user’s personal preferences? Now, that is an excellent idea.