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Knob shop is Lincolnwood landmark
Pat (saleswoman), Jenny (showroom manager) and Mike Kozil, owner of Decorator Hardward & Bath Co. | Jackie Pilossoph~For Sun-Times Media
Decorator Hardware & Bath Co.
3921 W. Touhy Ave., Lincolnwood
(847) 677-5533
www.decoratorhardware.com
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Updated: April 1, 2013 2:05AM
Ask anyone from Lincolnwood and they’ll probably tell you they’ve heard of Decorator Hardware & Bath Co.
After all, the store has been around since the early 1960s. But the high end decorative hardware and plumbing fixture showroom has changed hands four times, and is now owned by Mike Kozil, who bought it from his mom 14 years ago.
“I had another job in a different industry for five or six years,” said Kozil, who grew up in Lincolnwood and who now lives in Vernon Hills with his wife and four children, “But I always had an interest in the business and when my mom started talking about retiring, I decided to come in and really learn it.”
Kozil worked at the store when he was growing up, in the stock room and on the floor.
Decorator Hardware & Bath Co., with more than 5,000 samples on its showroom floor sells decorative home fixtures including cabinet knobs and pulls, interior and exterior door hardware, bathroom accessories, towel bars, paper holders and faucets.
Their customers consist of new homeowners and people who are remodeling their homes, as well as builders, architects and interior designers.
“The people who work on the floor here, Jenny and Pat, really have a lot of experience,” said Kozil, “They’re good at listening to the customer and giving them several options that work.”
Pearl Schless is a Northbrook based interior designer who was in the store shopping with her client, Betsy Fimoff of Glenview.
“The quality here is great, and the service is so personalized,” said Schless.
“When we built our house 30 years ago, we came here and I got everything here,” said Fimoff, who is in the process of renovating her basement bar area, “The selection is wonderful and the customer service is great.”
Kozil said the store carries merchandise in all different price ranges, and that they have knobs that cost anywhere from $5 to $150 per knob.
“If someone is on a budget and wants to spend five dollars a handle, we can do that,” he said, “But we also cater to people who are building $7 million homes who want to invest more in their hardware.”
When asked what the difference was in shopping at Decorator Hardware & Bath Co. versus a large retailer, such as Home Depot, Kozil said it’s a completely different product.
“When you walk into Home Depot, you pick it off the shelf and that’s it,” he said, “Here, you come in and you get someone who will work with you on your entire project. You will get someone who will spend the time making the selections and finding the right style and color.”
“They have beautiful things here,” said customer Rosanne Berger of Lincolnwood. “We’ve been shopping around at quite a few stores today and we give this place an A+. I found this towel bar right away.”
“We’re kind of a landmark,” said Kozil, “People come in and say, ‘My mom did her house with you 30 years ago and now I’m doing my house.’ When people appreciate you, it’s satisfying.”
