TK Wismer (01:39): Yeah, so, uh, really, I kinda started in video and film production. I was doing a lot of like wardrobe and set design, and then from there got into working with Cafe, kind of on their major industry shows, so like Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. And that was really in about 2017, 2018. So, I was really close to the brand and helping define the personality there. And then as the brand matured, it came time for a creative director and then I was really honored to step into that role.  

Sue Wadden (02:17): Which is amazing. So, um, take a step back a second and tell our listeners what that means. So, if you go to industry shows, what's your (laughs), what's your role there?  

TK Wismer (02:27): So, for Cafe is, uh, specifically, so really kind of, uh, bringing the brand to life there, really kind of giving attendees a sense of the personality of the brand, really inspiring the designers that are there. It's a unique experience for attendees to have access to the brands that they love. And what I love about it is it's an opportunity to listen. So, we get access directly to designers and builders, and so we can kind of hear from them what they'd like to see, you know, what kinds of projects are there, they working on. They introduce us all the time to their inspirations, how they're working with Cafe.  (03:14): So really, it's just a, a really buzz worthy show. You see all the new trends in design and we get to see a lot of our partners there as well and see what they're coming out with for the coming years. So, it's just a great opportunity to really kick off your design season.  

Sue Wadden (03:32): Well, and you're being super modest. Everybody TK is being really modest. What she does for Cafe is amazing. So, her job is to create this experience that's really noteworthy and press worthy and people like run to see these exhibitions, um, that, you know, brands like Cafe put together. So, how she brings to life the environment of a kitchen is truly remarkable and so beautiful and so full of color. And so, that's really where we kind of met in that space. And I just love your work and I think you're so creative in what you put together. So, I wanna dig into that and talk about your process a little bit. Like how do you, how do you come together, uh, in the trend forecasting environment?  

TK Wismer (04:13): Yeah. Uh, trend forecasting is probably my favorite thing about the job. And it's, you know, kinda the aspect that never sleeps (laughs). You know, I'm constantly-  

Sue Wadden (04:24): Seriously.  

TK Wismer (04:25): ... consuming (laughs).  

Sue Wadden (04:26): Yes.  

TK Wismer (04:27): And so really, whether I'm doing, you know, research or fashion, you know, cross-market research, looking at, you know, industry experts, you know, travel is a big inspiration for me. You know, I say I get better at it with age, um, because I can pick up on the nuances, those kind of cues when a trend is about to recycle. Uh, you know, I can say, "Oh, I, I, I see that coming again." And then also it's a lot of intuition. You know, a lot of times I say it's like a coursed-out meal, you know, after we have something salty, we're gonna crave something sweet. So, I try to predict trends the way, you know, a chef might curate a good meal.  

Sue Wadden (05:16): I love that. That's, I've never heard it described that way. I say it's like pattern recognition. Like-  

TK Wismer (05:20): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (05:21): ... we're really good at that. I think inherently sort of in our design process, you can spot something that's new based on pattern recognition. But I love that analogy and I think you're absolutely right, like those are the cycles of design.  

TK Wismer (05:33): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (05:34): But for the appliance industry, those lead times are really long. Like those cycles take a long time to evolve. So, talk about that tension, like you have to be timeless, but also, it's so, it's something experiential like a trade show you have to push.  

TK Wismer (05:49): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (05:49): Um, so talk about that a little bit.  

TK Wismer (05:51): We do, and you know, when I first started with Cafe it was, you know, thankfully they, they put a lot of faith in me and, and, you know, the show looked very different then. And I said, 'You know, we have to make these color statements so that we mark people's memories, you know, so that they, we stand out from the crowd." And now, you know, the show looks very different, but when it comes to our appliances, you know, we, we are very intentionable ... intentional about, you know, what people really want in those products. And so, we've had great success with our matte white and matte black finishes as well as, of course stainless is still a top option.  (06:33): But what we do with customization in our hardware, uh, you know, we're really kind of the first in the mass premium market to do this. And you can continue to change that finish on your appliances even after years of one finish and really kinda change the whole look of a room with that customization. So, we'll continue to evolve that program as well. But we just, the feedback from designers is just, you know, over the top, they love to see those finishes and mix and match those combinations. So, really that's been our sweet spot is staying with the, those hardware evolutions and we'll have more of that.  

Sue Wadden (07:17): It's so smart. It's so, so smart. It's like jewelry for appliances for-  

TK Wismer (07:20): It is.  

Sue Wadden (07:21): ... for those listeners that aren't familiar and it allows flexibility. So, maybe you choose a timeless color, but then you can make updates to the pulls and the sparkle, sort of the hardware elements on the appliances, and you get a totally different look. So, so clever. So, I, we'll talk about that in just a bit 'cause I wanna talk about some of where those trends in hardware are going. But do you lean into, back to color. So, do you lean into color forecasts and sort of color reporting that's out in the world to kind of inform what you're thinking about?  

TK Wismer (07:50): I do. And we have to really be, you know, ahead of it. If I were to go say to social media right now to design a kitchen for KBIS next year that I have to get approvals on right now-  

Sue Wadden (08:05): (laughs)  

TK Wismer (08:06): ... that have to be seen in catalogs two years from now, you know, I would either have to choose something that's really classic or run the risk of being time stamped, you know. So, I really, a lot of times I'll go to kind of the European designs because a lot of times those will trickle in within a few years. Or really, it's kind of, again, that intuition of knowing kind of where are we now and so where are we likely to go? And then also some of it is just, you'll start to see these little nuances to a trend and then think, "Okay, that's probably gonna take off.  (08:46): That's probably gonna be hot." You know, it's, it's these little things I remember like with disco balls, it was like maybe just a little bit of a, I saw a disco ball in one shot and I thought, "Oh, that would be so fun to do in a kitchen." And so, we did it, and then it was within like two years and they were everywhere. And it was (laughs), it was like, "Wow, we jumped on that, you know, so early." And then, you know, it was kinda like we were the, the forefront of these trends. And so, timing is everything and you don't wanna be too far ahead or too far behind. But then some things, you know, when you're branding, you know, if something is core to your brand. We were one of the first, the very first to really show off this vibrant, beautiful green kitchen, you know?  

Sue Wadden (09:41): Oh, I remember.  

TK Wismer (09:42): Uh, and then every year we've had an editor, you know, a different version of our signature green, and it seems like every brand since has, you know, come up with a green kitchen, which is great, you know, the, the trend comes. But because that is authentic to our brand, you know, we'll continue to do that and we'll let it evolve into all the different tones of that green.  

Sue Wadden (10:10): Right. I mean, that's where, that's where color forecast, so that's the world I live and like reporting on what those color trends are gonna be so that we are predictive so that we are in front of it. And then again, like you said, in two years, you see it everywhere and then our audience sees that and like, it, it sort of validates what their decisions are. So, I love the, um, kind of interplay between how our industries play together in the color space and lean into kind of like these big picture trends, which we're gonna talk about here in a little bit about our forecast for 2026. But let me ask you like, what's, what are you seeing that's exciting you lately? Anything like, particularly of note?  

TK Wismer (10:53): We are all about personality, customization and really kind of, you know, embracing trends but really kinda being yourself. It used to be to where, uh, it was like the powder room was the only room in the house with, uh, personality.  

Sue Wadden (11:11): (laughs) Absolutely.  

TK Wismer (11:13): You know, you, you'd go into these bathrooms and, and oh, this is who she is, you know? (laughs)  

Sue Wadden (11:17): Yes, absolutely.  

TK Wismer (11:17): Uh, whereas now the kitchens are becoming so expressive and I love that trend. So, really seeing more of that, people getting away from the idea of, you know, just designing for resale value. That's, you know, I always say that's a lot of money to spend on someone you don't know.  

Sue Wadden (11:37): Oh god.  

TK Wismer (11:37): (laughs)  

Sue Wadden (11:38): Exactly, such a good way to say that for sure. Yes.  

TK Wismer (11:42): So, you know, one thing we did at KBIS this past year was we did color analysis, personal palettes, because I think that getting people comfortable with what looks good on them personally will open their palette within their living environment as well. So, the idea is, and, and Megan Tinker, one of the professionals we worked with, she said this, she said, "These are tools, not rules," and I loved that. It was like, this is, you know, kinda opening your eyes to other colors you could work with. It's not saying you can't play in this different palette, but it's saying, "Hey, did you ever think of maybe this color 'cause it looks great on you." Right? And so, if people feel beautiful in a color, they're probably more likely to surround themselves with that as well.  

Sue Wadden (12:32): Well, and a little bit of your background is you're an expert branding consultant, so I think that plays here. Like, talk about how, if listeners are interested, like how, how could you define your own personal brand? Talk about ways that you can identify that and maybe bring that into home, I think that's really exciting.  

TK Wismer (12:50): Yeah, I, I mean, I've always loved, you know, visual storytelling and that's kind of what I did in, in set design. I always had someone in mind, you know, even when I was doing something as simple as a tablescape, I would leave a crumpled napkin because I wanted it to feel like, you know, someone was just there and, and you just missed her, you know, she just left. So-  

Sue Wadden (13:13): (laughs)  

TK Wismer (13:14): ... I think always having that personality in mind, that muse, and whether in your brand, if it's, if it's yourself, you know, and being authentic and that comes through. Or, or if it's, you know, someone else in mind or a personality and Cafe has been great to let me, you know, have that vision of what I want that personality to be. Uh, who I have in mind, what is that authentic personality that we have in mind? And then kinda carry that thread through everything we do. And so really, I think that's the brands that really make it or resonate with the audience are the ones that just have that kinda genuine, authentic self about them.  

Sue Wadden (13:58): That is very well said and not so easy to do, especially from a big brand perspective. I think it's a little bit luxurious for Sherwin-Williams because we have, you know, thousands of colors to talk about and we can create our narratives all the time and inspire people. But when it's an appliance manufacturer or something that's, you know, expensive, right? People aren't gonna buy these every two years, right? There, it's gonna hopefully last, uh, a long time in their home and be timeless, but also expressive because that's truly what makes it unique and beautiful.  (14:27): And I think your work with Cafe has done just that. So, we'll talk a little bit more about that, but I wanna dig into the launch of our 2026 Color Mix Forecast and what that means for Sherwin-Williams. Um, it's an exciting time for us, it is the reporting of what we're seeing over the next 18 months and this report is called Anthology and let me tell you a little bit about what that means. About two years ago in 2024, I decided it was time to take a stand on color. We had talked about the color trends, like design trends for, you know, 15 years before that. And it was always a great cycle and very exciting storytelling and fun and we wanted to make it really inspiring.  (15:06): And, you know, there's shifts all the time in where color direction is going. And so, Anthology is gonna be our every other year report that talks about like how things are shifting. So, in 2024, we launched our first report, and now it's time to talk about that evolution in 2026, because it's a guidepost for a lot of brands, a lot of homeowners, a lot of designers to see what is coming and kind of like, get comfortable with it. You know, it takes people, even designers a little bit of time-  

TK Wismer (15:34): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (15:35): ... to relinquish their favorites and move into something else. Um, so I think that it's fun to be the, the guiding light for that sometimes. So, I can't wait to get your take. So, we have four palettes, and the first palette is Frosted Tints, which TK had a little sneak peek of the palette. So, I'm gonna ask your opinion on kind of the direction after I like describe it, you know, visually or in words to get your take. So, our, in 2024, we had talked about a palette of blues and greens, and they were very beautiful at the time, to your point, like we had seen that greens were really coming on strong coming out of COVID, we knew it.  (16:11): And blues are always important, but the together, the combination was really interesting. So, there was a lot of saturation, there was a lot of depth, like deep greens were really on the rise and they were really important and influential. And now we're starting to see a softness come up. I wouldn't say that it's a, not necessarily a pastel 'cause I think it's a little richer than that, but softer, tinted hues. So, everything from like a yellow green to a soft lilac and blues in between for a more sort of neutral minimalist interior and there's definitely a sense of calm and well-being in this, you kind of get it with the name Frosted Tints.  (16:45): It's not about the dopamine brightness of 2024, which is gonna continue to have that moment. We're gonna still see those bright pops of color, but the usage will be a little less, uh, where the overall tone of interiors is gonna soften and maybe get a little more serious, maybe a little more restorative, a little more comforting, and not overly chromatic and higher energy. So, do you, are you kinda seeing that as well?  

TK Wismer (17:09): Yeah, absolutely. And I think this, especially because, you know, pastels always have their spot, but like you said, they're not as sweet, you know?  

Sue Wadden (17:20): Yes.  

TK Wismer (17:20): They're, I love how these are almost a, a gray base, almost a wash. And what's funny, when we did our, um, color analysis, this, this was right within my personal palette, what, you know, um, what kind of looks good on me. So, um, I think some of these would work their way into my wardrobe and my home interiors really well.  

Sue Wadden (17:43): I think so too. I would absolutely bring some of these colors in, and it was a great exercise when we were doing our shoots to kinda pull them into like a kitchen and they look beautiful.  

TK Wismer (17:52): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (17:52): So, I can't wait, um, for everybody to see them and, and see what their take is on these colors. I always struggle with what's my favorite palette. So, the next palette we call are calling Sun-baked Hues, and we will say that this is an evolution of 2024, which was red, pinks and purples. We kind of had this funky palette that people were like, "What?" And very quickly those reds, purples, and pinks really gained traction and took a foothold. So, it's exciting to see the evolution for 2026. We're kind of calling them Autumnal Hues, so you can kind of picture what that is.  (18:24): It's a range of reds, oranges, yellows and we have really seen in recent years warmer tones having their moment, particularly like in social media, if you, you know, guys are familiar with the unexpected red theory, buttery yellow summer, our loneliest color campaign. We really have seen this focus on spicy, like spicy colors, and we're gonna continue to see that shift. So, I'm loving the yellows, I'm loving how they're kind of soft, like they're not intense yellows, but we haven't seen yellows in a long time. So, having them come to prevalence is exciting. And we're seeing it in fashion interiors, home accessories, all across the board.  (19:01): You get these notes of warmth, there's a nod to the retro, there's a like throwback 70s palettes, like of course these colors are really influential and important there. And then you pull in corals and you get deep, deep red, so like raw earth pigments. So, there's this importance to this color grouping in all sorts of design styles in all sorts of ways. And for me, that just says like, "Yes, these are gonna be important, pay attention." But like, as a collection of hues, these really sun-baked colors are gonna be important in 2026 and beyond. So, what do you think about that?  

TK Wismer (19:35): I think you're right on. I mean, they're really popular. We did, we kind of pulled the audience, uh, on some of their favorites. We did some prototype looks, and especially that kind of terracotta tone, uh, was one of the leads. We did, um, almost this henna shade on the cabinetry at KBIS. And-  

Sue Wadden (19:57): It was beautiful.  

TK Wismer (19:57): ... it was so rich, so pretty. And personally, I, I have been having this kind of lemon yellow, um, phase recently. Somebody called me to, you know, help with some colors, uh, in a space two days ago and I said, "Okay, but I have to warn you, I'm in a, I'm in a yellow phase (laughs)." So-  

Sue Wadden (20:20): Were they scared or did they like it?  

TK Wismer (20:21): They're like, "You do you, you know, whatever." (laughs)  

Sue Wadden (20:25): It's, it's great to see. It's great to see.  

TK Wismer (20:27): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (20:28): Yeah. Yellow is, is tough. So-  

TK Wismer (20:30): It is.  

Sue Wadden (20:30): ... I love it.  

TK Wismer (20:32): And like a peachy, like a light peachy color has always been one of my, um, go-to. It's just one of my most calming colors, personally. I-  

Sue Wadden (20:42): Me too-  

TK Wismer (20:42): ... just-  

Sue Wadden (20:43): ... corals like oranges are my favorite. So, anything terracotta, peachy.  

TK Wismer (20:46): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (20:46): Anything that undertone I get, um, immense joy from. Maybe it just like, it's my fire sign. I don't know, who knows?  

TK Wismer (20:52): Maybe.  

Sue Wadden (20:53): Um, but again, I love it and I think it's an evolution of pink. So, we're moving a little into this orangy or undertone.  

TK Wismer (20:59): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (20:59): Versus just straight pink and p... you know, those colors almost are neutrals now at this point in my mind-  

TK Wismer (21:04): Right.  

Sue Wadden (21:04): ... because they're so accessible. So again, just a beautiful color family to pay attention to. So, we're gonna keep moving, we're gonna go onto the third palette, which I also love, restorative dark. So, in 2024 coming, you know, off the heels of COVID, we were really focused on creating sanctuary spaces. And that's not going anywhere. Um, we're gonna continue to see that with this return to like the modern classics in design. They're really remnant, this palette is really reminiscent of like sort of shades of night, nocturnal colors. They're really calm, they're really serene, they're really tranquil, but they're really deep.  (21:39): So, the whole palette has shades like deep navy charcoal, midnight blue, which, you know, if you think about it, like take a step back, that's, those are the colors of night, right? And there's this stillness and peace, and I love that. But it's not just those cooler nighttime tones, it's muted deeper greens, gray, green, they're coming like charcoals are really coming back. So, I love that they're, it's a really, there's a serenity with these colors that feel both modern and timeless. And I really love that richness and of course burgundy has been super important for two years and will continue to be.  (22:13): It adds such a touch of elegance and deepness and sophistication and like, you just wanna entertain and like get this great energy from these deep reds. So, that's why we chose to call it like a restorative darks palette. So, what are your thoughts on these deep tones?  

TK Wismer (22:28): I think these, again, like you said, I think as we're trying to cool our spaces, you know, physically as well (laughs), people are really drawn. We're actually seeing kind of an uptick in our matte black finish as well as people are kind of leaning into these colors in the kitchen space. We're also seeing the popularity and the darker woods coming back as well, which is right in line with this. And I love that this kind of, you could see this working with our warm metallic, so like in our hardware, but also it looks great with like cool metallics. Like I love when I see almost an avocado green mixed with a chrome or, you know, polished nickel finish as well. It's just such a pretty look.  

Sue Wadden (23:14): It's so pretty and it looks new and fresh again. Yup.  

TK Wismer (23:16): And I think these have been especially interesting in all the color drenching styles that you've seen lately. Like-  

Sue Wadden (23:22): For sure.  

TK Wismer (23:23): ... a color drenched, uh, room in one of these really opulent tones, uh, is a really a stunning look.  

Sue Wadden (23:31): It is and there's nothing more dramatic. Um-  

TK Wismer (23:33): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (23:34): ... and so that leads us into kind of like foundational, so our fourth palette is, uh, foundational neutrals. And we really wanted to, in 2024's report, we didn't talk about neutrals. We talked about whites were super important in '24 and '25. Deep tones, blues and greens and these sort of purples and pinks. Now, we're talking about complex neutrals and that we're seeing a lot of, um, what I'm calling essentialism in neutrals. So, not just warm colors, not just white and black, but this range of all neutrals kind of layered together for this very sophisticated look.  (24:06): Almost like it was some, somebody in my team had called it neutral maximalism, right?  

TK Wismer (24:10): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (24:11): So, you can layer all these beautiful neutrals together and it doesn't feel safe, it feels exciting and textural and gorgeous, uh, with a full range. So clean, white, silver gray, taupe, tan khaki. I have not seen khaki in such a long time, it's so good to see. But it's obvious to me, like of course there's gonna be khaki. We've been talking about green and green influences neutral. So, when you put green into a beige, it's khaki, right?  

TK Wismer (24:38): Yup.  

Sue Wadden (24:38): So, that was an inevitable conclusion to kind of where we've been over the last five years. And what I love about this, it could be, you know, I'm not saying that these are palettes we wanna use like colors together, but you could with this foundational palette. So, talk about where you're seeing neutrals go and kinda what are your thoughts on this? 

TK Wismer (24:55): So, I mean, you might be surprised by this, but this is kind of where I play in my personal (laughing), because I love to switch out accessories and colors so much that I love just the layered effect of, you know, neutral on neutral texture on texture. And then when I get in the mood for just a wild splash of color, I can bring that in. And so, I just love that you can create this, uh, like you said, that maximalist kind of neutral tone. And then when I'm in the mood for kind of a palette cleanse, you know? (laughs)  

Sue Wadden (25:37): Exactly. You have to hold, totally change your whole room.  

TK Wismer (25:41): Right.  

Sue Wadden (25:41): Totally agree, yes.  

TK Wismer (25:43): But khaki, uh, it's funny you bring that up. I, my own kitchen, I, I did my cabinetry in khaki, uh, with our matte white finish-  

Sue Wadden (25:53): Mm.  

TK Wismer (25:54): ... and with copper, um, hardware-  

Sue Wadden (25:58): Oh, that's gorgeous.  

TK Wismer (26:00): ... and I love, and especially the khaki that it kind of mimics a wood tone, but it can play well with like wood floors. So, I had the wood floors and so I love the way you can kind of incorporate that. But yeah, I think this is a really beautiful palette and I love those kind of nuanced darks. They're not exactly brown, they're not exactly black, they have that kind of mysterious edge about 'em. I think that's really interesting.  

Sue Wadden (26:30): Well, we have seen, you know, blacks have been really, really important in all sorts of ways and all sorts of industries and building materials. Like we have seen black just spike. And what's nice is about these nuanced deep tones, it's not just about black. So, I think we're gonna see, uh, you know, not a flattening of black, but like maybe a leveling off of the importance. And people are gonna start to want a little bit more undertone in their blacks and you get like the sophistication. So, you know, colors that have a touch of brown in the undertone, you know, they just look really co... like complex and interesting on the wall and it's not just flat black.  

TK Wismer (27:05): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (27:06): I am there for that, I am ready for that sort of, uh, layering of blacks into blacks. I think it's like, I'm, I'm kind of, I'm kind of over the black thing, like-  

TK Wismer (27:15): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (27:16): ... fully, you know, like black walls and-  

TK Wismer (27:17): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (27:18): ... black exteriors-  

TK Wismer (27:19): Perfect.  

Sue Wadden (27:19): Um, I wanna see like a, a little shift there so I'm excited for that. I hope people like these colors, they're really, um, they're really gorgeous.  

TK Wismer (27:26): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (27:27): So, we've, we talk a lot about how trends are important for designers, but how does it reflect consumer mindset? You're in the appliance category, right? So, your consumer mindset is of the utmost important because that's who's buying your products. How do you play there? Like how do you talk to consumers about color and maybe even emotional response?  

TK Wismer (27:48): Yeah, so we always try to be again, you know, trend forward. We try to listen to see, you know, what consumers want and really make sure that we're providing the finishes, uh, that help them express their personality, their creativity, and really helping them, you know, we get a lot of questions about, you know, matching or, or complimenting our finishes and their projects. So, being there for our, you know, designers and, and really kind of offering that guidance when they reach out is important to us as well. We've got a great design community, they've got some beautiful work they're always willing to share with us and they love to show it on social media, but even more than their designs, they love to show their personalities, so-  

Sue Wadden (28:45): Which is so great. Yes.  

TK Wismer (28:48): We've got a really fun community. So, uh, you know, we just get a lot of expressive style, so it's really important that we continue to push the boundaries and, and show up for them because they're looking to us for inspiration and they kinda, they keep us going.  

Sue Wadden (29:06): They do. Well, and you had mentioned it earlier, but I wanna talk about it just for a second. What are you checking in wood trends and hardware trends? Uh, 'cause I think there's some interesting things going on, but I wanna hear your take.  

TK Wismer (29:17): Yeah, I think definitely the mid tone to darker woods are, you know, they're starting to come back. And then also I think that just seeing the wood grain a lot more as well, whether that's colorful stains or, or paint that where you can still kinda see that texture through it is important as well. And then in hardware, I mean it's still, the brushed brass is extremely popular, but also some of those, you know, brushed nickel finishes are starting to, um, come back-  

Sue Wadden (29:57): Come back in.  

TK Wismer (29:57): ... exactly.  

Sue Wadden (29:57): Yeah, it's interesting, right? Like silvers, like-  

TK Wismer (30:00): Yup, yup.  

Sue Wadden (30:00): ... it's silver, shiny silver.  

TK Wismer (30:02): Yup. Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (30:05): Um, in the trend world or so it'll be interesting to see how that's picked up again. Especially with the mid tone warm wood, I would say like the, you know, for those that remember the espresso woods, like the deep, you know, deep tone woods that we had 20 years ago-  

TK Wismer (30:17): Right.  

Sue Wadden (30:18): ... those were like really opaque wood stains, so you couldn't see the grain of the wood below. Now to TK's point, you're starting to see a little transparency in these mid tones, you know, like-  

TK Wismer (30:28): Exactly.  

Sue Wadden (30:29): ... and that's really interesting. So, it'll see, it'll be fun to watch what designers and homeowners like paired with that or what you're recommending kind of happening with that like modern organic feel. Um-  

TK Wismer (30:40): Exactly. It's a more raw expression of the darker woods, um-  

Sue Wadden (30:44): I think, and it's really gorgeous. Um-  

TK Wismer (30:45): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (30:46): ... so yeah, that's gonna be fun, fun to, to keep in front of and watch what you, how you bring that to life.  

TK Wismer (30:52): And then the multi tone, I was in a friend's kitchen and she did one of the, the rich kind of a deep teal kind of color that's close to one in your palette mixed with like a black walnut. And so, you know, a lot of different tones coming into that mix of the wood with the color and you know, we don't have just a, a huge wash of one color in the kitchen anymore.  

Sue Wadden (31:18): It's really interesting. Yeah.  

TK Wismer (31:19): In the statement islands or, and really seeing a lot of different colors come into play and textures.  

Sue Wadden (31:26): Which is great, 'cause from 2010 to 2020 it was white and it was gray and it was-  

TK Wismer (31:30): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (31:30): ... rare marble and that was kind of it. It did not have a lot of, um, depth or layering of color and wood finish and surface. And now, I feel like it's very different. So-  

TK Wismer (31:39): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (31:40): ... I am also there for that. I think it's much more exciting for kitchen design.  

TK Wismer (31:44): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (31:45): So, are there any key colors that you're thinking about, um, featuring or no, without giving too much away, you don't have-  

TK Wismer (31:54): (laughs)  

Sue Wadden (31:54): ... to too much away, but like, what are you excited about?  

TK Wismer (31:56): What I love about the palettes and it's always in the combinations that I get excited about. You know, it's, it's never really one color. If you remember the, the Maybelline campaign from a long time ago, the smart beautiful, and it was like (laughs) I would cut those out of the magazines. It was always like two colors, it was so simple. But it would be like, "Oh, they put, you know, these two colors together this time." It's always about the mix, you know, of the two colors I just, I'd love that and then mixing all the patterns. So, I think definitely, you know, like I said, we're always playing with a different type of green.  

Sue Wadden (32:40): Yeah.  

TK Wismer (32:41): Um-  

Sue Wadden (32:41): I wanna talk about that. Yeah.  

TK Wismer (32:42): ... seeing, yeah, seeing our green evolve into these more kind of, um, sophisticated greens will be fun. You know, we had a lot of fun with, um, kind of the citrine green-  

Sue Wadden (32:56): Yeah.  

TK Wismer (32:56): ... that was really trending, I think will evolve. We did the sagey kinda greens that were really popular and so we'll kind of evolve to a new evolution of our green, always one to watch for in our kitchens.  

Sue Wadden (33:11): Yeah, beautiful.  

TK Wismer (33:12): And then, um, what we do next, yeah, right now I'm in the phase where I have to, uh, kind of, you know, condense the ideas (laughing).  

Sue Wadden (33:22): Into a single one or two directions that you could focus on always really hard.  

TK Wismer (33:27): Yeah. (laughs). Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (33:28): Well, and so that leads to a great, um, question, which is, you know, Sherwin-Williams Coding's Division works with Cafe to develop, um, sometimes new products and colorways and finishes. So, what does that process look like from a product development standpoint? Um, 'cause I think that's fascinating.  

TK Wismer (33:44): Yeah, it, it really is. I mean, it takes, as you know, a long time to, you know, really research, uh, a product and a color. And so, by the time we bring something to market, we, we feel pretty confident in that color, you know. If you think of, you know, like your grandmother's bisque range or the avocado refrigerator, I mean, those were hot, uh, you know, items and they still have a vintage appeal. And so, we're, you know, we've got things that, you know, you see, um, like the sapphire blue and laundry and, and Cafe we're, you know, working on our coffee makers as well. So, it's really working close with our partners. And you know, we did a great partnership with you guys this year on really giving designers the color codes to understand exactly what complements our finishes.  (34:39): So that when they go, "Yeah, that was really helpful." But really getting into now, like some of the small appliances and, and different colorways will be fun.  

Sue Wadden (34:51): I think that's a great way to talk about it too. It doesn't have to be your full suite of appliances, it could be those smaller appliances that we all rely on, coffee makers and mixers and all those. You can have a little fun with those colors. So, talk about like that color development, how it's a little different and maybe a little more fun.  

TK Wismer (35:08): It's, it is fun because again, it's, it's something you can incorporate easily change your mind on. And, and until we get, you know, designers really reaching out, asking for another color, but we find that our, our matte white and our matte black are kind of like the white button-up shirt and the little black dress of your wardrobe, you know? (laughs)  

Sue Wadden (35:31): Yes.  

TK Wismer (35:31): And then our hardware finishes, you know-  

Sue Wadden (35:33): Your jewelry.  

TK Wismer (35:35): ... really, really help you to customize that.  

Sue Wadden (35:36): (laughs) Yup, yup.  

TK Wismer (35:39): Yeah. So, um, so really, but getting into the small appliances and, and playing with color there, so that, I think people are more comfortable making those purchases and because they know that they can kinda change that out. But yeah, we're always doing the research and, you know, and, and leaning on people like you to help guide us as well and into those color stories and, you know, see what, you know, the, the color palettes will be from year to year.  

Sue Wadden (36:08): It's sometimes pretty stressful, the work that we do. Um, so can, can you think of an example and it doesn't have to be an appliance, of a trend that maybe we thought, I'm trying to think too, in my mind. Something that we thought was gonna take hold and it just didn't, like it didn't, it wasn't well received in the market and it just kind of fizzled.  

TK Wismer (36:25): Last year I was designing, you know, about this time of year I was showing a lot of people a kitchen with a lot of brown in it (laughs) saying, (laughs) you know, brown is gonna be big. And so, whenever the color of the year comes out and uh-  

Sue Wadden (36:45): Mm-hmm.  

TK Wismer (36:45): I'm always hoping that it'll, uh, you know, validate, uh, (laughing). And so-  

Sue Wadden (36:52): For sure.  

TK Wismer (36:52): ... it's, it's always a little, um, you know, nerve wracking, uh, when you go to, because some colors are kind of polarizing. I mean, we're not all mocha moose girlies (laughs) so-  

Sue Wadden (37:05): Completely, right? But, but it's, and I know I have that conversation all the time with people like-  

TK Wismer (37:09): (laughs)  

Sue Wadden (37:10): ... this is directional. You're gonna really see this out there, you don't have to put it all over your house, but-  

TK Wismer (37:15): Right.  

Sue Wadden (37:15): ... get used to this color. Yeah. It's, it's hard. Um-  

TK Wismer (37:16): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (37:19): ... but also then, you know, a year and a half later when people are like, "Oh my God, that color's everywhere. Good job." You're like-  

TK Wismer (37:24): Yes.  

Sue Wadden (37:25): ... "Told you, of course it is."  

TK Wismer (37:26): And once you see colors, that's the beautiful thing about color of the year or palette, you start to see 'em introduced with other colors or used in new ways that you might not have thought they get, you know, and, and that kinda sparks some creativity. And then you, but I never tell people to work with a color that they just don't like, like just there, there's plenty of colors.  

Sue Wadden (37:49): Yes. 

TK Wismer (37:49): (laughs)  

Sue Wadden (37:49): Yes.  

TK Wismer (37:51): Don't, don't use it just because it's trending, but, you know, give it another chance.  

Sue Wadden (37:56): To your point, yeah, to your point, like, this is about personal brand at some point.  

TK Wismer (37:59): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (38:00): Like, like just putting something in your home that you really love and don't worry about the trends is-  

TK Wismer (38:04): Right.  

Sue Wadden (38:04): ... is really impactful. So, don't be afraid of that, I think that's, you know, really, really good, good guidance. Well, we've been talking for quite a while and I love this conversation, so I'm gonna kinda bring us to a close here. Um, but what do you think is gonna happen next in the appliance world? What's something interesting that you guys are tracking or that you can talk about?  

TK Wismer (38:23): Um, so I mean, we're always working on, you know, our features and our upgrades, it's the bulk of what we're talking about behind closed doors is, you know, what we're offering next in that regard. And those, uh, decisions and conversations are, are way over my (laughing).  

Sue Wadden (38:45): Like I said-  

TK Wismer (38:46): Sometimes they usually don't even call me in for that. Can you imagine?  

Sue Wadden (38:49): Can't even imagine, can't even imagine.  

TK Wismer (38:51): But, uh, (laughs) but a lot of just staying true to what, you know, we set out to do with Cafe, which was to be a leader in customization and in the mass premium space. So, continuing that in our designs and, and letting people customize their appliances, um, at a mass premium price point.  

Sue Wadden (39:14): Yeah, which is pretty great. I love your products. The Café, the Café appliances are just, they're so beautiful. So, congratulations on all this amazing work. So, TK, so how, you know, how can people come and see all the great work that you do, um, with Café and checkout Café?  

TK Wismer (39:29): Absolutely. Check us out, um, we're on cafeappliances.com and then Café Appliances on our Instagram, on our social media, as well as our Pinterest boards. Uh, you can see all our inspirational work.  

Sue Wadden (39:43): And if you are at KBIS next year, I think it's in Florida in February-  

TK Wismer (39:47): Yeah.  

Sue Wadden (39:47): ... you have to go check out the booth, because I haven't seen anything, but I am certain it's gonna be spectacular.  

TK Wismer (39:52): Yes. Come see me. I love walking people around the booth. I talk for (laughs) days straight.  

Sue Wadden (39:59): Days and days. I love it. I love it. Well, it's been a delight talking to you. Thank you so much for your time and thanks for being on Color Mixology.  

TK Wismer (40:06): Thanks so much.  

Sue Wadden (40:11): Before we go, we'd like to take a moment to congratulate our July Designers of the month, Jennifer Antonia at Fox and Chenko Interiors, a nationally recognized design team located on Long Island and revered for their welcoming and relaxed residential spaces. Help us congratulate this talented duo on social media @swdesignpros and find out more at foxandchenco, all one word.com. Thanks so much for listening. Don't forget to subscribe. Leave us a review and tell other design and color lovers about our show. See you next time on Color Mixology.