With their recently-released Atelier collection, Dornbracht set out to create fittings and accessories for any and every bathroom, spa or kitchen project. The result offers unlimited design freedom: from tailored dimensional adjustments and bespoke finishes to completely custom-designed solutions, Atelier offers a level of personalization that ensures your fittings are as unique as your project.
We spoke with Kara Roth, director of marketing & communications for Dornbracht Americas, to learn more about how the collection came to be.
Raymond Paul Schneider: When did you first start developing this new collection?
Kara Roth: The vision for Atelier began to take shape in early 2023 as part of a broader evolution of the Dornbracht brand — one that acknowledges the shifting expectations of today’s luxury clientele. We recognized a growing desire for greater personalization, design freedom and artisanal craftsmanship — qualities that have long been at the core of our identity. Atelier was conceived as a natural next step: a bespoke design platform that enables architects and designers to collaborate with Dornbracht in creating truly one-of-a-kind solutions.
RPS: What was the overall timeline from conception to final design?
KR: From initial concept development to the global premiere at Salone del Mobile 2025, the Atelier journey spanned just over two years. It was a deeply collaborative and iterative process that engaged our design, engineering and brand teams in Europe and the Americas. We officially debuted Atelier in North America during Dornbracht’s 75th Anniversary Gala in New York City this past May, aligning its introduction with ICFF and the design community’s growing appetite for elevated customization.
RPS: What was your initial inspiration, and where did the idea(s) come from?
KR: The inspiration for Atelier came directly from our most discerning clients — the architects, designers and developers who wanted more than exceptional product — they wanted partnership. We repeatedly heard a desire for fittings that could be tailored to a project’s unique aesthetic language, materials palette and spatial intent. Atelier honors that request. It is not a single collection, but rather a design service that channels Dornbracht’s heritage of craftsmanship and engineering into custom, made-to-order expressions of water architecture.
RPS: Describe your overall creative and design process.
KR: Atelier flips the traditional development model on its head. Instead of designing a product and then taking it to market, we built a framework that begins with the client’s vision. Our role is to translate that vision into physical form — whether that means adapting an existing design in a new finish or material, or crafting an entirely bespoke piece. This process involves close dialogue with our internal design and engineering teams in Germany, meticulous technical reviews and a relentless focus on achieving aesthetic integrity without compromising performance.
RPS: Did you have a specific audience or theme in mind?
KR: Atelier was created with the global design visionary in mind. We’re speaking to those who design at the highest level — architects and interior designers shaping the future of residential, hospitality and wellness spaces. These are professionals who demand excellence and originality, and who see every detail as an opportunity to tell a story. Atelier is our invitation to co-author that story.
RPS: What methods, tools, and materials did you use to develop and prototype this design?
KR: Each Atelier commission is handled individually and draws upon a range of traditional and modern methods. Prototyping is done in close collaboration with our manufacturing team in Iserlohn, Germany, where advanced 3D modeling meets time-honored metalworking techniques. We offer a wide array of finishes and materials — from precious metals to rare textures and engravings — each tested to meet our rigorous standards for durability and quality.
RPS: Did you use any new techniques or technologies to conceptualize or create this product?
KR: The innovation of Atelier lies less in a single technology and more in how we’ve reimagined our internal processes to accommodate open-ended design thinking. That said, we’ve implemented advanced customization workflows and invested in precision manufacturing capabilities that allow us to prototype and produce one-off pieces with remarkable speed and accuracy, all without compromising the excellence Dornbracht is known for.
RPS: Were there any challenges that influenced or changed the final design?
KR: Our greatest challenge was also our greatest opportunity: how do you operationalize a bespoke program within the structure of a global manufacturing brand? Atelier required a shift in mindset — from standardized production to tailored service. That shift demanded close coordination across departments and time zones, but the result is a flexible, scalable platform that elevates the Dornbracht experience for both designers and end users.
RPS: Describe your brand’s overall DNA and ethos.
KR: Dornbracht stands for uncompromising excellence in design and manufacturing. For over 75 years, we have shaped water experiences that are as functional as they are poetic — imbued with architectural clarity, precise engineering, and cultural relevance. Our ethos is rooted in partnership: we exist to empower the design community with tools that inspire, elevate, and endure. Atelier is the ultimate expression of that promise.
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