January 30th, students from Western University made the most of their day by taking a multi-showroom tour! Professor Kim Buchholz and her sophomore students were welcomed by Floor and Decor, Williams Kitchen and Bath, Design Phase Interiors, Louisville Tile, and Heyboer and Bolt in their new Cambria showroom.



To start their whirlwind tour, Floor and Decor introduced students to large-format porcelain tile, grouts, and trims, and reviewed current floor trends in engineered wood, luxury vinyl plank, and laminate.



Williams Kitchen and Bath Studio led students on a fast-paced tour of their plumbing features, steam showers, and stone soaking tubs. They helped educate students on popular cabinetry trends, discussing white oak and other specialty woods. Michelle Keller, Williams Studio manager, hosted a Q&A over lunch, answering questions on everything from her journey in the industry to her worst customer experience.



Kristine Lang, owner and designer at Design Phase, was also able to speak to students about her wide-ranging journey through commercial and residential design, which has led her to become an exclusive interiors resource for many designers in Grand Rapids. She led a discussion on the importance of mindfulness in design and sustainability.



Students were then able to grab an afternoon snack at Louisville Tile, thanks to their hot-dog machine! They got hands-on with creating mood boards and exploring natural stone and textured tile finishes.



The class finished the day by visiting HeyBoer and Bolt to discuss vertical surfacing for fireplaces, accent walls, showers, and more!

The showrooms were electric with their engaged questions and energy. Thank you to all our supporting showrooms, who helped make this possible and offered their support and resources to our future design professionals.