Appreciating Esther Hartman

It is not necessarily common knowledge that Denver is full of modern pioneers and history. Esther Hartman, who helped build well-established, modern kitchen company, Kitchen Distributors, is one of those pioneers. Hartman recently passed away and was well-respected among the Denver design community. Modern In Denver would like to pay tribute to a woman who, along with her family, have helped pave the way for modern kitchen solutions and appreciation throughout Denver and Colorado.

Kitchen Distributors (Kd) was started in 1953 by Pius (P.G.) and Esther Hartman, when they acquired the Geneva Cabinetry franchise. At the time, Geneva Cabinetry Company and St. Charles Cabinetry were at the top of the market, representing the classic mid-century modern, steel boxes. Tom Hartman, son of Esther and P.G., says in addition to Geneva being the line of the time, the company also introduced many innovative modern design features that are still in use today. During this period, when Kitchen Distributors first started, their main focus was on commercial projects, such as hospitals and schools.

By the late '60s, when wood cabinetry began to mark a new era, Kitchen Distributors acquired the Mutschler line and shifted their selling focus toward custom homes and retail. The owners of the Koin House, a Denver modern icon, hired Kitchen Distributors to install Mutschler cabinets. In 1974, P.G. Hartman passed away and Esther, along with her children, Tom, Mont and Shirley, were left with the choice of continuing the business. They did and, together, the four of them have grown the business into what Kitchen Distributors is today. Tom humbly reflects that they took many people in the community by surprise with their lasting success, Esther in the lead.  

In the 1980s, the company moved to their first showroom location in Littleton, when the influence of European-style cabinetry was first taking hold. Kitchen Distributors is known for offering avant-garde, forward-thinking products. In 2000, while on a trip to Chicago, Tom and Esther came across the bulthaup showroom, a German cabinet company. Tom recalls that he and his mother were blown away by the unmatched quality and beauty of bulthaup design, even by European standards. In September 2001, Kitchen Distributors opened their second showroom, dedicated to bulthuap, in the Denver Design Center.

Four years later, they purchased a building in the Golden Triangle and moved the bulthaup showroom to where it is today. From a speech given at the company's 55th Anniversary Party, "Kd’s stellar reputation and high percentage of return customers and referrals are the result of the family/team oriented management style, old-fashioned style customer service, highly creative designers and meticulous installers. A successful family business such as Kd’s thrives on the extra effort done willingly from the heart."

Tom says his mother was very involved in the design community and adapted well to becoming a businesswoman. He attributes a large part of her success to her ability to cultivate good relationships, as well as her genuine care for the people who worked for her. Each employee would receive a personally, home-baked birthday cake from Esther. Tom says that his mother loved Classical music and traditional furniture, but that she also recognized fine contemporary design as well. He adds that she had a natural instinct for elegant, classic design and was able to draw from these qualities throughout her life, over a range of time periods and style trends. Esther Hartman was a true Denver design icon and will be missed by the many who knew her. 

bulthaup showroom where Modern In Denver held Spring 2009's photo shoot.          

Photo: Hans Osheim

 Photo: Hans Osheim

The Koin House.                                                                                                                            Photo: Atom Stevens

Mutschler Kitchen.                                                                                                                         Photo: Atom Stevens

Words: Melissa Belongea