Jake Arnold Wants You to Rethink ‘Wellness’ – Shop the Most Restorative Room from His Calming New Kohler Collaboration
The LA-based designer redefines restoration with a biophilic bathroom that trades surface-level shortcuts for lasting sensorial serenity
There’s endless talk of wellness clubs and luxurious spa retreats these days – places to detox, recenter, and pretend the city doesn’t exist for a weekend. But designer Jake Arnold poses a different question: why not make that sense of serenity part of everyday life?
His latest collaboration with Kohler, Come Home to Nature, takes that question seriously, offering a more enduring kind of calm. The collection folds neutral tones and natural materials into fixtures that turn ordinary bathroom ideas – and the rituals that happen in them – into sanctuaries that rival the replenishment of a five-figure getaway.
Jake curated three full-fledged spaces for the line, each a different study in calm, but it’s the details of the Western Ranch bathroom that most capture his thesis. Instead of bright white, the designer renders Kohler’s clawfoot Artifacts tub in Dune, a creamy off-white shade that feels natural and lived-in. The pared-back Purist bath filler – one lever, one gesture – continues the quiet in more ways than one.
‘For me, wellness in the home is about creating spaces that evoke a deep sense of comfort, calm, and emotional grounding,’ Jake explains. ‘It’s in the light that filters through a room, the tactile materials you interact with daily, and the way each room supports your rituals. A well-designed home should restore and replenish you.'
If ‘wellness design’ often feels sterile, Jake’s version of a spa bathroom is textured and grounded. The collection's standout, the hand-glazed, low-profile Kohler’s Derring Carillon sink, for instance, is more analogous to pottery than plumbing.
'In the Western Bathroom, I wanted to play with contrast through tone and texture,’ Jake says. ‘The Kohler finishes we selected, like the deep, matte tones and brushed metals, were all about creating a layered, tactile experience. It’s about how each element interacts: the texture of the tile against the smoothness of the fixtures, the warmth of the metal set against the cooler tones of the stone. These curated choices create a lived-in space that feels sophisticated yet approachable.’
LA, where Jake now resides, clearly informs this instinct for balance – between structure and softness, ritual and repetition. ‘Living in LA, you’re surrounded by a lifestyle that really emphasizes indoor-outdoor flow, natural materials, and a slower pace of living,’ he says. ‘All of that has shaped how I approach a project. I think about how light moves through a space, how materials and finishes can create either expansiveness or intimacy, and ultimately, how to cultivate a sense of calm and balance.’
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We tend to think of unwinding at home as something you add – incense, candles, a throw blanket – but Jake's luxury bathroom design works from the inside out. ‘These elements not only add visual depth but also connect you to nature, which is key to emotional well-being,’ he says. ‘It’s about creating a sensory experience: how something feels to the touch, how light reflects off a surface, how color can shift your mood. That’s where design can support wellness on a deeper level.’
Ahead, six pieces from Come Home to Nature that bring that same wellness-world beauty – and maybe a little less noise – into your everyday actions.
Shop the Collection
Aptly named, this 'Purist' faucet is a refined, no-fuss wall-mount fixture with a 35-degree angled spout and cross handles for effortless use. Its lines are sharp and contemporary, yet the brushed bronze finish gives it a sense of permanence, as if it’s always belonged there.
A sink basin worth lingering over, in the guest bathroom or your own. Hand-carved and low-slung, this wading-pool design proves that texture can make an impact without disturbing the calm. The Bluestone Rutile glaze lends an almost celestial quality, turning routine moments (brushing your teeth, washing your hands) into something special.
We’re often told to ‘be our own butler,’ to anticipate needs before they arise. This minimalist, perfectly proportioned round bar rack does exactly that, keeping your fluffiest towels within reach the moment you step out of the bath.
This vintage-inspired freestanding tub curves just enough to cradle the neck, with a lowered center for easy access in and out. Finished in Dune, it’s got a sunlit look that makes moments feel slower.
Of course, shopping this collaboration isn’t a prerequisite for a grounding space or any wellness-centered bathroom trend. ‘Focus on creating a mood rather than just checking boxes for functionality,’ says Jake. ‘Consider how you want to feel when you’re in that space, then layer in the elements that support that – dimmable lighting, soft textures underfoot, or natural materials that age beautifully over time without sacrificing functionality.’
That last part – materials that evolve with you – is key. Brass, for instance, that patinas with touch; stone that deepens in tone; surfaces that age in, not out, of a space.
Don’t underestimate how grounding tones can shift the energy of a room – and, by extension, yours. ‘It’s all about creating a space that invites you to slow down and treat it as a sanctuary, not just a utility,’ Jake observes.
Julia Demer is a New York–based Style Editor at Homes & Gardens with a sharp eye for where fashion meets interiors. Having cut her teeth at L’Officiel USA and The Row before pivoting into homes, she believes great style is universal – whether it’s a perfect outfit, a stunning room, or the ultimate set of sheets. Passionate about art, travel, and pop culture, Julia brings a global, insider perspective to every story.
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