Office furniture production forecast to increase 6 percent in 2011

The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association reports office furniture production is forecast to increase 6.3% in 2011, reaching $8.9 billion. Production in 2010 was $8.2 billion. Office furniture consumption in 2010 was $9.8 billion, and consumption in 2011 is predicted to reach $10.8 billion.
The statistics are based on the IHS Global Insight industry forecast model, which is adjusted to focus on the value of the U.S. office furniture market defined by consumption rather than as the historical and traditional shipments, or production. This change was due to the increasing significance of international trade and its impact on the domestic market.

LEED commercial projects reach one billion square feet

I guess Kermit the Frog was wrong...it's easy to be green after all.
The footprint of commercial projects certified under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Green Building Rating System recently surpassed one billion square feet worldwide, and an additional six billion square feet of projects are registered and working toward certification.
“This traction demonstrates the transformation of the way we design, build and operate buildings,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Not only does green building contribute to saving energy, water and money, it also creates green jobs that will grow and energize our economy.”
Since it was first introduced to the marketplace in 2000, more than 36,000 commercial projects and 38,000 single-family homes have participated in LEED.

Bamboo furniture gets an upgrade

No, this isn't the cheap bamboo furniture you remember from your dorm room. This is the good stuff.
Teragren and Vaughan Benz formed a partnership to create bamboo furniture for commercial applications in the hospitality industry.
Vaughan Benz will now offer bamboo cabinetry, tables and seating made with FSC-certified Teragren bamboo panels and veneer to hotels, restaurants and healthcare facilities worldwide. The partnership was announced at Greenbuild 2010, a conference and expo dedicated to "green" building.
“Our customers are increasingly asking us to find manufacturing solutions that are environmentally sustainable, including low-VOC and FSC-certified products. We are proud to partner with Teragren, as their leadership in providing environmentally friendly bamboo products for the woodworking industry is exemplary,” said David Benz, president of Vaughan Benz.

Furniture shipments gain 8 percent through Sept.

Smith Leonard's November Furniture Insights report showed mixed results for the wood and furniture industries year-to-date in 2010, with hope for improvement by next year.
A survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors done by Smith Leonard showed that year-to-date (January - September) shipments were up 8 percent over the same period one year ago. This year's shipment increase is in addition to the 19 percent gain from 2008 to 2009. Shipments were also higher by 6 percent in September 2010 compared with September 2009, which may relate to the arrival of imported products, according to Smith Leonard. Although new orders for September 2010 were down 3 percent from 2009, they rose 6 percent year-to-date in 2010.
According to the National Association of Realtors, existing-home sales declined 2.2 percent from September 2010 to October 2010 and are 25.9 percent below October 2009 levels, when sales surged prior to the initial deadline for the first-time buyer tax credit. Year-to-date, existing-home sales also fell by 2.9 percent to 4.149 million from the 2009 level of 4.272 million. The U.S. Census Bureau News reported a decline in sales of new single-family homes by 8.1 percent from September 2010 to October 2010, a 28.5 percent decrease from October 2009 levels. Although new home sales were down overall in three of the four regions of the country, new home sales were higher by 3.1 percent in the South.
“The housing market is experiencing an uneven recovery, and a temporary foreclosure stoppage in some states is likely to have held back a number of completed sales. Still, sales activity is clearly off the bottom and is attempting to settle into normal sustainable levels,” said Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors chief economist. “Based on current and improving job market conditions, and from attractive affordability conditions, sales should steadily improve to healthier levels of above 5 million by spring of next year.”

Colorful fabrics boost office productivity

OFM, an office and school furniture manufacturer and distributor, has released a new in-stock fabric program which can affect office workers’ creativity, productivity and overall mood. The company’s new Elements program has upgraded the upholstery offerings on many of its chairs with new fabrics and vinyls, all of which feature bolder, richer colors and more striking patterns and textures than typical office furniture.“We’ve been taught to think that things like colors and patterns are superficial, but it turns out that they can affect us in profound ways,” says Audrey Barnhill, architect and design sales manager for OFM. “Light and color have long been known to stimulate the brain, which fosters a more creative and productive workplace and overall atmosphere. We can’t say exactly what designs might stimulate individual workers the best, but we believe that by expanding the palette, we can help find what works for them.”
The designs are based in part on recent research which found that a more colorful environment can boost workers moods. OFM’s new collection includes luminescent vinyls that take on a different shade depending on the light and a mix of warm vibrant colors featuring reds, blues and greens, along with designs that exude energy with the movement of the patterns. This includes everything from swirling dots to multi-colored staggered blocks.
“Now that we understand how important color, patterns and texture are, we should do everything we can to expand the range of options,” Barnhill said. “By having a colorful palette varied by the latest styles, we are offering more options to our dealers who in turn can offer more to everyday end users.”

FSC-certified wooden bicycle

Well, since I know Santa is bringing me a $15,000 life-size gingerbread condo (see previous post) for Christmas, I thought I should add this cool wooden bicycle to my list.
The Collins Companies commissioned Renovo Hardwood Bicycles to build the company an FSC-certified wooden bicycle scheduled to debut at the Greenbuild International Conference in Chicago, Nov. 17-19. The bike is an R4 Pursuit model featuring a stiff, lightweight frame.All of Renovo’s bikes are custom made – adjusting the stiffness and ride quality to the customer’s individual riding style and weight. Renovo is one of the few companies in the world that manufactures wood bicycles and it uses hollow frames to make them.
“We utilized a species combination of CollinsWood from the Collins Pennsylvania Forest including; Black Cherry, Hard Maple, and Birch [for this bike],” said Ken Wheeler, owner, Renovo Hardwood Bicycles.
Collins had the bike commissioned for one of its employees. “Although wood bicycles are still in their infancy, we are constantly exploring new ways to have CollinsWood incorporated into everyday products and we want our customers to explore new uses,” said Cameron Waner, marketing coordinator for The Collins Companies.

Lifesize edible gingerbread house

The 2010 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is out and one of the Fantasy gifts is a page out of my childhood dreams. A munchable manor house (which is probably bigger than most studio apts in NYC) is 6.6 feet high by 5.25 feet wide by 4.1 feet deep.
The Candyland come to life dream mansion  is handcrafted of 381 lbs. of gourmet gingerbread and 517 lbs. of royal icing. This magical creation features thousands of gourmet sweets including giant cookies, lollipops, gummies, mints, gumdrops, and a candy-encrusted roof. There's also a lollipop tree inside (because you can't give someone an empty house).
All this wonderment can be yours for the mere price of $15,000. The sugar coma is free.

Congress recognizes U.S. hardwoods as sustainable and preferable

The Hardwood Council has announced that Congress has given its stamp of approval to the U.S. hardwood industry and U.S. hardwood products with the passage of Senate Resolution 411 and House resolution 81. The resolutions recognize hardwood trees grown in the U.S. as an abundant, sustainable and legal resource. Dept. of Agriculture data show that U.S. hardwood inventory has more than doubled over the past 50 years. Also, U.S. hardwood growth exceeds hardwood removals by a margin of 1.9 to 1. Net annual growth has exceeded removals continuously since 1952.

New seating design fits multiple applications

The CH bench from Itoki Design is a one-piece plastic form that can be used in multiple configurations for seating and surfaces. The design won an Innovation Award at NeoCon 2010. The pieces can be moved around easily and are light enough to be stacked. Itoki suggests that it could take the place of small upholstered lounge seating or steel and wood side tables. It is made of linear low-density polyethylene, can be recycled, and has no parts to assemble or disassemble.

Boys and their toys

Some Ferrari loving guy crafted a replica 365 V12 engine out of wood. This is almost as cool as the Ferrari cake featured on South Park's "Satan's Super Sweet 16" episode. Wood and cake are magical.

Furniture for the kitchen

Englishman’s Fine Furnishings, makers of European-style antique reproduction furniture, officially announced its new furniture-quality, custom kitchen line in a fully expanded showroom at AmericasMart Atlanta. The new kitchen line, named Englishman’s Kitchens & Fine Custom Cabinetry, is part of an overall showroom expansion to include a total 9,300 square feet of display space. Englishman’s was launched based upon the company’s long-standing business of building custom furniture.
“We had received many requests for custom kitchens reminiscent of our English- and European-style furnishings,” says Mike Howarth, owner and president. “Since other businesses in the Mart were not offering this type of built-in cabinetry, we knew it would be a good opportunity to create custom kitchens for designers and their clients.”

KCMA survey shows decrease in cabinet sales for August

Overall cabinet sales for August decreased 1.7 percent compared to sales for August 2009, according to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) monthly Trend of Business Survey.The survey also found that stock cabinet sales decreased 5.6 percent, custom sales decreased 10.9 percent and semi-custom sales rose 4.3 percent. The year-to-date cabinet sales numbers showed a decrease of 1 percent, with stock sales down 2 percent, custom sales down 14.3 percent and semi-custom sales up 3.1 percent.KCMA survey participants include stock, semi-custom and custom companies whose combined sales represent over 50 percent of the U.S. cabinet market.

Liege ornamental carvings is my kind of wood porn

You've heard of food porn (those cooking shows you only watch when you're starving), well, for me this is wood porn.
Patrick Damiaens is the only fulltime ornamentist (the carving of ornaments in wood) in Belgium and the Netherlands who is devoted to Liége style ornaments for interieur and Liege style furniture (XVIIIe century style).
Because of the European quality standards, the originality of the drawings and the performance, Damiaens says his profession appeals to the imagination of many, including Belgian magazines and newspapers and even the Belgian Royal family.
The fabrication of Liege style woodcarving for the interior and the reproduction of Liége style furniture is done only in Belgium, and is known for its design and look, the drawings, and the carving. Damiaens says the work is not commercial, since the number of pieces of furniture produced on a yearly basis may be two or three. The main reason for fabrication is to satisfy the highest standards of craftsmanship and to keep and old tradition and art alive. For more information, see Patrick Damiaens.

Color forecast with a case of the sads

Drum roll please…

All the paint companies are coming out with 2011 color and design forecasts but so far Behr is my favorite. The new collection "captures an eclectic mix of styles from quirky to the conservative." Oh, you had me at quirky!
The new collection features four distinct trend themes:
1. Boudoir Goth—With colors like Grayve Yard, Blood rose and Not so Innocent, what parent wouldn’t want to transform their child’s bedroom into a scene from True Blood?
2. Rock N’ Roll—Oh, this is my favorite (see picture above)! The fusion of masculinity with hard core rock n’ roll overtones just screamed for a visit from sad Keanu (can you find him?).
3. Tokyo Pop—Imagine Hello Kitty throwing up all over four walls and throw in some adult-swim for good measure.
4. Danish Twist—No, this is not a delicious breakfast treat from Duncan Donuts. It’s a sensory experience from Europe so it has to be good.

My, what a large desk you have

Desk size, like everything else in life…size matters.
The right sized desk is a key factor in long-term business success, according to research from Avanta Managed Offices.
Here are three questions to ask before purchasing a desk.
1. What do you need?
2. What shape do you need?
3. What will be on your desk?
 For inspiration, I’ve attached a photo of William Randolph Hearst’s desk. This is the desk that launched a publishing empire. Can you feel the power?

Fug or fab?

Besides a love of sitting, I have a strange affinity for chairs of all kinds. So, as I'm pondering Anthropologie's latest offering, the Calandria Armchair. I'm conflicted...do I love it or hate it? 

Harvard report discusses cause of nonprime mortgage lending boom

A report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University concluded that excess risk in the primary mortgage market was linked to demand on the secondary capital markets for mortgages with higher yields than prime mortgages, as well as the multiplication and magnification of this risk through actions taken in the capital markets.
“The combination of a glut of global liquidity, low interest rates, high leverage, and regulatory laxity in the context of initially tight and then overvalued housing markets triggered staggering risk taking,” said Eric S. Belsky, managing director of the Joint Center and one of the study’s authors. “Capital markets supplied credit through Wall Street in large volumes for risky loans to risky borrowers and then multiplied these risks by issuing derivatives that exposed investors to risks in amounts much larger than the face amount of all the loans.”
The report also found that regulatory failures allowed the market to chase higher returns through excessive leverage and risk taking. Many securities were issued a smaller face amount than the total face value of loans in the pools to hold aside reserves against losses, according to the report. A full copy of this report, entitled "Understanding the Boom and Bust in Nonprime Mortgage Lending," is available online.

Home offices, outdoor living spaces draw design interest

Homes are currently being designed with an eye toward affordability due to the decline in house prices in recent years in most areas of the country. Still, many households are willing to invest in home features, systems, and products that promote greater energy efficiency and accessibility throughout the home. Even with the general downsizing of homes, residential architects are reporting growing interest in outside living spaces, home offices, and mud rooms, according to the AIA’s Home Design Trends Survey for the second quarter of 2010. Almost 300 residential architects were surveyed on emerging design preferences of households.
Meanwhile, residential architecture firms reported a softening of business conditions at their firms during the second quarter, a trend that held for firms in every major region of the country. Project backlogs (the amount of design work currently in-house) remain very low. By construction sector, homes priced at the lower end of the price spectrum are doing somewhat better, while second homes and vacation homes remain the weakest sector. Remodeling projects are reported to be growing at a healthy pace according to residential architects.

Upscale out, home office in
The precipitous decline in house prices over the past five years and the resulting growth in the number of homeowners with delinquent mortgages or mortgages in foreclosure has dramatically changed the way that households are making decisions, as well as using the space within their homes. So, for example, when we asked residential architects for the most popular special function room in homes at present, very few mentioned previously popular upscale examples.
Special function rooms that remain popular include home offices, outdoor living spaces, and mud rooms. Home offices appeal to telecommuting workers as well as to the growing number of individuals who work exclusively out of their home. Outdoor living areas and outdoor rooms reflect the growing interest in expanding the household’s living space into the outdoors. Interest in mud rooms reflects the need for additional closets and other storage space, as well as the increasing informality of space in the home.
With the downsizing of homes, special function rooms have been disappearing. For media rooms/home theaters, exercise/fitness rooms, hobby/game rooms, home workshops, kid’s wings/guest wings, interior kennels, and interior greenhouses, a growing share of residential architects responding to this survey indicated that interest in these spaces was declining. This leaves only a few examples (notably outside living areas and home offices) where there was general consensus among residential architects that interest among households is increasing.
Special features that promote accessibility through the home include a first floor master bedroom, ramps and elevators, and easy-to-use features like handles and faucets, and nonslip floor surfaces. These features are still reported to be increasing in popularity by a minority of respondents, but the share of residential architects reporting an increase in popularity of these projects has uniformly fallen over the past year.

Business falters in second quarter
Since hitting a low at the end of 2008, business conditions at residential architecture firms had been making steady progress toward recovery. In fact, in the first quarter of this year, residential architects reported a small increase in billings, the first quarterly increase since mid-2007. However, the second quarter showed a reversal of this trend, with a billing score just under 41, down from a score of just over 50 in the first quarter. A national billings score of 41 indicates that more residential architecture firms reported a decline in billings in the second quarter than reported an increase, so that in total, billings at residential architecture firms declined. In all likelihood, the softening of firm billings at residential architecture firms reflects the general weakness in the economy during that quarter, and the home buyer tax credit expired at the end of April.
The national downturn in billings at residential architecture firms has affected firms in all regions of the country. In the second quarter, the billings score was below 50 for every major region, ranging from a low of 35 in the South to a high of 47 in the Northeast. In general, the South and West regions that had seen stronger levels of residential construction activity prior to the downturn are currently seeing weaker billings conditions at present because they had a higher base to fall from. Also, the Northeast and Midwest have a higher share of home improvement activity, which at present is the strongest residential sector.
Residential architects report that home improvement activity is growing at a fairly healthy rate. Both kitchen and bath remodels and additions and alterations to existing homes have healthy sector scores with this survey, with kitchen and bath remodeling having increased from its reading of a year ago. Without an overbuilding problem like in the new construction market, home improvement activity has been able to stage a healthier recovery than new construction. Click here to see the full AIA report.

KCMA survey shows drop in cabinet sales for July

Cabinet sales for July 2010 decreased 5.9 percent compared to sales for July 2009, according to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association monthly Trend of Business Survey.
The survey also found that stock cabinet sales fell 4.4 percent, semi-custom sales fell 4.2 percent and custom sales fell 19.9 percent. The year-to-date sales show a decrease of 0.9 percent, with stock sales down 1.5 percent, custom sales down 14.7 percent and semi-custom sales up 2.9 percent. Survey participants included stock, semi-custom and custom companies whose combined sales represent more than 50 percent of the U.S. cabinet market.

Where does my wood come from?

The universe is full of questions--"Why am I here?, Why do people insist on driving slow in the fast lane? and Where does my wood come from?" Thankfully Zepol just released a “Wood Import Report” for the continuously shaped wood segment of the US market. One less question to keep you up at night.
I know, it sounds riveting but I’m a trend junkie and I want to know where my wood comes from. The report details recent import trends and provides information on wood imports in late 2009 to early 2010.
Here are a few tantalizing tidbits:
*Brazil is the U.S.’s top supplier for wood products in HTS 4409, with $238,155,180 exported over August 2009 to July 2010 – a 16.64% increase over the previous year.
*Canada dominates the U.S.’s supply of red cedar siding (HTS 4409.10.1020 & HTS 4409.10.1060), with 95% and 100% market share respectively from August 2009 to July 2010.
*July 2010 was a big month for U.S. wood imports across the board, with several HTS product categories posting their high for the year in this month.
To download the full report (for a limited time), click here.

Behold inspiration!

Fall has hit the Midwest and being from a land-locked state (Lake Michigan doesn't count as an ocean), coastal living seems, in a word--awesome! check out Coastal Living's 2009 Seawatch idea house. It's full of beautiful millwork and the design is inspiring. My favorite room is the master suite and it wasn't an easy choice. What's your favorite room?

Do you suffer from 'Sitting Disease'?

OK, I get it Americans are big, fat fatties.
Forbes has praised the TrekDesk Treadmill Desk As “one of the best workplace luxuries anywhere.”
Medical reports and studies have focused on rising obesity rates and ill health caused by “Sitting Disease,” a term that includes syndromes and diseases caused by sedentary lives. While the financial and productivity risk to American business is understood, affordable solutions to the problem have proven to be a challenge.
Forbes.com, spotlighting office innovations, praised the TrekDesk Treadmill Desk as a way to restore health and lose weight.
“We are pleased by Forbes recognition as to the tremendous health benefits attributable to walking and working with a TrekDesk, however based on recent medical evidence we would replace the word luxury with necessity,” says TrekDesk founder Steve Bordley.
While this cool, healthy desk sounds really neat...I'd rather sweat off my double quarter-pounder with cheese in the gym and not in the office.

AWFS 2011 Fresh Wood Student Competition now accepting entries

The Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) is accepting entries for the 2011 Fresh Wood Student Woodworking Competition as part of the AWFS Fair, scheduled for July 20-23, 2011, in Las Vegas.
The competition is open to full-time students in an accredited high school or post-secondary woodworking or related program, and part-time students in an accredited post-secondary woodworking or related program who are transitioning into a career in woodworking or design. The deadline for entry applications is May 2, 2011.
The competition has six categories at both school levels: case goods, chairs, open, production/contract, reproduction and tables. Entries will be rated by a panel of judges that represent different aspects of the industry and those scores will determine the finalist pieces that will be displayed at the AWFS Fair. The final judging will be held July 19 at AWFS Fair, where awards will be given for first and second place winners in each category, at both school levels. A Best of Show award will be selected among all first place winners and the winner’s school will receive the Larry Hilchie School Grant Award. Fair Attendees will also have the opportunity to vote on the People's Choice award.
All forms and guidelines for the 2011 Fresh Wood Competition are available online or by contacting Adria Torrez of AWFS at 800.946.2937.

Reclaimed, restored and reborn

I’ve always like the idea of using something you don’t need to make something else you want. Call it recycling, upcycling or green—I call it smart.
Old bowling alleys are disappearing all over the country, but what happens to the long, beautiful heartpine wood lanes? I’ve read articles of people salvaging the wood to make countertops, and frames but Counterevolution has taken it one step further. Craftsman, Jim Malone has created three contemporary fine furniture lines out of these old lanes. Modern Rustic and Industrial Green series feature tables, seating, kitchen and desks. The Buffalo Greens series includes wine racks, lazy susans, clocks and jewelry. Malone has also done some beautiful commercial installations.
Its furniture fit for a kingpin! Go green!!

Global demand for new housing to reach 53 million units in 2014

After a sharp drop in new housing construction in North America, Western Europe and Japan, those countries are expected to enjoy the fastest growth in construction through 2014, according to a study, World Housing, from The Freedonia Group. But despite that new housing activity in the U.S. is forecast to increase 24 percent annually, the level of activity in 2014 will generally remain below what was achieved a decade earlier.
Worldwide, demand for new housing through 2014 is projected to advance three percent per year, generating the construction of 53 million new housing units. Among the developing regions, the most rapid growth in new housing units will be in the Africa/Middle East region, where growth in population and household formation will support 3.9 percent annual advances in new housing construction through 2014 to 11 million units.
The largest number of new housing units will be generated in the Asia/Pacific region, where an expected rise in new housing construction of two percent per year will result in 31.7 million new units; a deceleration from 2004-2009.
The world housing stock was 1.9 billion units in 2009, roughly two percent larger than the number of households. The Asia/Pacific region had the largest housing stock, with its nearly one billion units accounting for 52 percent of the world total; China alone represented 23 percent of the world total. The Africa/Middle East region had the second largest housing stock in 2009, with 292 million units, or 15 percent of the world total. Western Europe and North America, together, accounted for just under 20 percent of the housing stock.

Moser to make furniture for Simply Ming television show

Thos. Moser, designers and builders of hand-crafted wood furniture, will once again partner with chef Ming Tsai to handcraft a table and chairs for the set of his public television cooking show, Simply Ming. The cherry Meridian round dining table, designed by David Moser, is the newest addition to the Meridian collection and is an adaptation of the existing Meridian trestle table. Tsai will use it to dine with his guest chefs in the last segment of each show, as well as to help display the food they have prepared to the viewing audience.
The Meridian 48-inch tabletop accommodates up to four. The dining chairs feature a fine radius of the chair’s underside, the inverse matched radius at the top of the leg, and the optical correction effect at the termination of the chair’s crest. The single back slat is a first for David and accentuates the chair’s sleek lines. The Meridian collection will be available in ash, and cherry and includes a coffee table, dining sideboard, rectangular dining table, hall table, chests, and stools.

I blame 'Mad Men'

Yes, the 1960s' are back (cigarette smoke not included).

Esquire throws its mass-produced vintage fedora into the design ring

Inspired by the lifestyle of the modern, discerning Esquire man, Hearst Magazines is launching, the Esquire Home furnishings collection. The collection features accessories, area rugs, lighting, furniture and upholstery from licensing partners The Halo Group, Asia Minor and Go Home Ltd. Some highlights include barware, desk accessories, and decorative “man toys.” If you’re not sure what a “man toy” is, it’s apparently a vintage inspired brass wall sconce modeled after the headlight of an early 20th century Jaguar.

Furniture pieces have fun, manly names like the “Triple Whisky Collins” leather sofa, “Irish Coffee” table lamp, “Black Russian” architectural desk and a “Martini” armchair. Wait, I’m picking up on a theme here… I wonder, if Cosmopolitan magazine launched a furniture line for the ladies would it have names like … “The one night stand” sofa sleeper, “Walk of shame” rug collection, and “Appletini” vomit, I mean champagne bucket.

Acimall reports positive industry numbers in Q2 2010 survey

The second quarter 2010 brought significant signs of recovery, though highly diversified, among the companies included in the statistic sample selected by Acimall, the Italian woodworking technology manufacturers’ association.
The periodical survey indicates the industry has grown by 69.8 percent from the same period during the previous year. Orders from abroad recorded a 63.6 percent increase, with an even stronger trend on the Italian market, which was up by 83.3 percent.
From April to June 2010, prices recorded a slight increase (up 0.4 percent), while the period of ensured production was 2.2 months at the end of June. Looking at turnover, there was a massive increase over the first quarter (up 70.5 percent).
According to the quality survey, 44 percent of interviewed companies indicate a positive production trend, 52 percent stable and 30 percent reported a decrease. Employment is considered stationary by 83 percent of the sample, falling by 8 percent and increasing by the remaining 9 percent.
Available stocks are stationary according to 65 percent, decreasing according to 22 percent and growing according to the remaining 13 percent.
The forecast survey outlines possible trends in the next few months: after the positive rebound of orders, a period of stability is expected to consolidate the results obtained in the first half of the year.
Foreign orders will grow according to 30 percent of the sample, while they are expected to stay at the same level according to 48 percent. The remaining 22 percent predict a drop. The Italian market is expected to remain stable according to 61 percent of the interviewees, shrink further for 22 percent and expand for the remaining 17 percent.

2010 Craftsman's Challenge winners announced

Scott Grove of Green Grove Design, Rochester, N.Y., earned the Grand Prize and took the Cabinetry category for his Ski Media Cabinets in the Sixth Annual Veneer Tech Craftsman’s Challenge sponsored by CabinetMakerFDM magazine. Grove’s cabinets feature a variety of veneers including amboyna burl, quilted maple, sapele and wenge.
2010 Veneer Tech Craftsman's Challenge Woodworking Competition winners include:
Grand Prize/Cabinetry
Scott Grove, Green Grove Design, Rochester, N.Y.
Distributor, Certainly Wood of East Aurora, N.Y.; Sales representative, Greg Engle
Architectural Woodworking
Albert Grant, Albert S. Grant Fine Woodworking and Design, Melrose, Conn.
Furniture
Abdolhay Parnian, Parnian Furniture, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Store Fixtures
Abdolhay Parnian, Parnian Furniture, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Specialty Items
Rob Milam, VeneerImages, Atlanta, Ga.
Student Design
Christy Oates, San Diego State University
Honorable Mention
Mark Bernhard, Bernhard Woodwork, Northbrook, Ill.
Tom Knoebel, Beach Cabinets, LLC, Melbourne, Fla.
Pattrick Loew, Hastings High School, Hastings, Mich.
Malcolm McDowell, Tunnicliffe, Art Lights, Torreon Co., Mexico
Earl Kelly, Earl Kelly Furniture, Pensacola, Fla.
John Harper, EMC Woodworking, Phoenix
Ramon Valdez, Exotic Woodworks, Bloomfield, N.M.
Chuck Sharbaugh, Holly, Mich.
Scott Grove, Green Grove Design, Rochester, N.Y

Bombay take two

As a teenager I was mesmerized by the Bombay furniture and accessory store in our local mall. I dreamed of an elegant Bombay dorm room. I bought a few pieces my freshman year and quickly discovered you get what you pay for—it looks expensive but it’s not durable. So my cherry-finish desk and matching chair ended up in the dumpster with the rest of the broken IKEA particle board furniture soaked in beer and memories.
Bombay packed up and left the US in 2007 after sagging sales and many store closures. However, the Bombay brand is alive again and will start selling its 250-piece collection on QVC, September 30. The new brand is designed to appeal to all price levels and I know a few former mall rats that will be tuning in.

CPA formaldehyde legislation approved by US House, Senate

Formaldehyde legislation urged by the Composite Panel Association (CPA) passed the US House of Representatives by voice vote on June 23, and was unanimously approved by the Senate.
The Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act, S. 1660, establishes the first comprehensive national standard for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. It directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to announce implementation of the regulations by January 1, 2013, and make them effective 180 days after. The bill must now be signed by President Barack Obama.
“This is a historic moment for the North American composite panel industry, which has always been at the forefront of environmental stewardship,” said Tom Julia, CPA president. “The legislation represents a responsible, bipartisan approach to advancing consumer protection, fair trade, and domestic jobs.”

Furniture factory shipments increase

New orders and shipments for furniture continued to improve in May, according to the latest Smith Leonard Furniture Insights study.
This marked the seventh straight month in which orders were up, compared to the same month a year ago. The comparative results were weak numbers, but the May 2010 results could indicate 2009 was the bottom of the recession for the industry.
The study found that some orders have fallen off a bit since Memorial Day, but that has not been true across the board when considering normal summer business levels.
Shipments were up 9 percent over May of 2009. Approximately 65 percent of those surveyed reported increased shipments in May, down slightly from the previous month’s 73 percent. Year-to-date, shipments are up 6 percent over the same period a year ago, up from 5 percent last month. Approximately 68 percent of those surveyed reported increased shipments, about the same as last month.
New orders in May 2010 increased 10 percent over orders in May of 2009. Approximately 68 percent of survey participants reported increased orders, from May 2009, down slightly from 73 percent the previous month. Year-to-date, new orders for the first five months were up 10 percent over the same period a year ago. Last year at this time, new orders for the five month period were off 21 percent. Some 71 percent of survey participants are now reporting increased orders year-to-date, up from 66 percrent last month.

US cabinet demand to reach $15.2B in 2014

U.S. demand for cabinets is forecast to expand 7.4 percent per year to $15.2 billion by 2014, according to a recent study from The Freedonia Group Inc.
Gains will be spurred by a rebound in housing completions from the depressed levels of 2009. Although housing completions will remain below the level reached at their cyclical peak in 2006, the expected recovery may fuel gains in the residential cabinet market through 2014.
The residential market is expected to account for more than 90 percent of the approximately $4.5 billion increase in overall total cabinet demand through 2014.
New housing is forecast to boast the most rapid increases in cabinet demand through 2014, and the improvement and repair segment will account for the majority of residential demand.
Kitchen cabinets, which represented 80 percent of cabinet demand in 2009, are expected to lead advances through 2014, rising 7.8 percent per year. Growth is also expected to be supported by design trends calling for homes with more and larger-sized cabinets to store food products and kitchen equipment. Demand for bathroom cabinets is forecast to grow 6.9 percent per year through 2014.
Demand for other cabinets, such as those found in offices, home entertainment centers, laundry and mudrooms, garages and other areas, is expected to rise 3.8 percent annually.
During the same period, demand for cabinets in the nonresidential building market is anticipated to rise 2.8 percent annually.

Cardboard chic?

Cardboard is the new wood and cinderblock college dorm furniture material de jour. Freefold Furniture is touting its cardboard offerings as environmental friendly with infinite design configurations.
The good news is that once you graduate you can turn your cardboard bookcase into a home.

Building a furniture brand

Convincing someone to invest in a quality piece of furniture is no easy task. Stores like Ikea and low-cost imported furniture are seductive to cash-strapped consumers and have helped create a throwaway culture.
Mark McKelvey, a Maine woodworker who lost his shop to arson in 2009 understands fine furniture is a hard sell and is now promoting Maine woodworkers online. His non-profit Web site, www.MaineFurniture.org was founded to add value to Maine’s custom woodworkers and furniture makers. “I found it very difficult to promote my business without spending thousands, and thousands of dollars in website design and maintenance, magazine ads, and trade shows.”
McKelvey’s community-based marketing strategy is simple — promote and brand Maine’s woodworking talent. Potential customers can browse different shops, read bios, look at pictures, watch videos and visit a shop’s Web site, if they have one.

More fun with tennis balls

I love the confused look on that dog's face. I imagine he's pondering, chew toy or beddy..it could be a chewy pet bed?!!. I don't know if this dog bed would be comfortable, but it sure is a creative way to recycle old tennis balls.

Own a piece of a ‘Real’ Broke New Jersey housewife

I thought VH1 was scraping the bottom of the reality show barrel (Rock of Love, Charm School…oh you know you watch). Then the Bravo channel said, “Step aside amateurs we’ll up your trashy and throw in some table flipping” and we got the Real Housewives of New Jersey.
If you don’t watch the show, it’s about some NJ hags who spend money like water, fight like rabid bikers and come up with new ways to destroy the English language.
Anyway Real Housewife Teresa Giudice and her juicy husband Joe owe various creditors around $11 million and are selling their marble and onyx palace and all their fancy furniture at a classy foreclosure auction.
Turns out that money doesn’t buy class but it can buy a ton of ugly furniture.

Furniture design reacts to changing fashions

Interior design, like fashion, is always changing. Styles, materials, furnishings and decor follow trends and seasons. Good interior design should provide flexibility, allowing a home or business owner to remain current in its aesthetic. Interiors expert Elaine Williamson of Elaine Williamson Designs offers this glimpse of what’s currently trending in the design and décor-scape:

Saving the base: For the past few decades, designers have purchased furniture that served one particular style purpose for a specific room. This meant that, as soon as the property owner or manager decided to redecorate a space, all new base furnishings had to be purchased. Lately, however, it’s become popular among designers to purchase a quality piece of furniture that has desirable, style transcendent “bones” with the intent to reupholster it as fashions change, rather than simply discarding it when it’s time to update the look of a room. This trend has resulted in an increase in purchases from domestically-based manufacturers that make quality furnishings built to last.

Dodge disposable decor. Designers are no longer purchasing one-time use “disposable” decor items, be it furniture, rugs, window treatments and decorative items. Instead, they consider a piece’s re-usability in another future design when considering a purchase. This is the most efficient and cost-effective way to make over a room.
Color craze: The world of color has undergone a makeover also, with yellow and gray leading the way. Together, these colors add a level of calm to the feel of a room, while still adding eye-catching pops of color. Gray works well as a base color on upholstered furniture, especially when coupled with another hot trend: espresso-stained wood. Yellow is best used in small bursts, serves as an impactful infusion of excitement in the room. For instance, a yellow throw pillow on a gray sofa can make a stellar statement.

See the Light: Lighting is currently making a huge push in the marketplace. As the design of table lamps have waned and the style of homes have begun to embrace cleaner lines, pendant and other types of overhead lighting are popular choices for making a major design statement. Beautiful materials, special shapes and versatile sizes are all important.
Ground Control: Natural wood floors are also making a major comeback, and other types of types of natural flooring such as travertine, limestone and honed marbles are in high demand. Recyclable flooring, either in wood or carpet, is also in fashion. Currently, consumers are investing in and embracing their home environment.

Simple swaps mean big impact. If you’re searching for a new look for a room, you can build on the baseline furnishings already installed and switch out accessories, including pillows, picture frames, vases, candles, statues, artwork and other portable items. “Interior design and décor trends change with every season,” Elaine notes, “But, with a strategic foundation of baseline elements like furniture and flooring, you can easily keep up with the trends without sacrificing essential style elements of the space.”

Can’t outgrow this table

Kids outgrow shoes, clothes and toys but not this table—it grows as they do.
Austrian furniture maker Perludi designed Caspar, an ergonomic, environmentally friendly children’s table. The design is simple: Four colorful legs are placed into the four holes in the hand-crafted solid-wood tabletop and secured at the desired height with o-rings made from natural rubber. To adjust the top’s height and inclination, or to balance out an uneven floor, slide the infinitely adjustable legs up or down individually within their holes.
The Caspar is made from locally grown spruce wood.

My kind of ‘eye candy’

Rowe Fine Furniture created the world’s most delicious custom candy chair for the April High Point Market. This sweet seat is covered in hundreds of pieces of chocolates, gumballs, Life Savers, Tootsie Rolls, orange, lemon and lime candy slices, jelly beans, Starbursts, peppermints, candy buttons and giant lollipops—just to name a few.
This gives new meaning to please don’t touch the furniture.

Something old, something new

Sotherby’s is featuring a cutting-edge, contemporary exhibition on the spectacular grounds of Sudeley Castle (across the pond) from May 28 to August 1, 2010. However at this exhibition you can touch and buy the art.
The selling exhibition arranged in association with Carpenters Workshop Gallery, is showcasing a series of one-off and limited edition pieces by contemporary artists and designers. The exhibition follows in the footsteps of previous successful outdoor shows by Sotheby’s at Chatsworth House in
Derbyshire (Sotheby’s Beyond Limits sculpture exhibitions at Chatsworth are now in their fifth year), and also at Isleworth in Florida since 2003. In contrast to Beyond Limits, which focuses on monumental sculpture, the Sudeley exhibition presents design pieces with a utilitarian aspect.
The works can be used as functional lifestyle objects or simply appreciated as works of art with profound aesthetic appeal.

That lovely draft is coming from your chair

Airport time is a great opportunity to try everything on the Starbucks menu, people watch and try to guess the funny smell.
However, Mineta San Jose International Airport has unleashed new chairs in its new Terminal B that may make your next “extended stay” a little more tolerable. These snazzy new chairs, Zenky Air Chairs secretly double as a ventilation system (not sure how I feel about that). The chairs are designed to hide the concourse vents, and provide fresh air from below each seat (riiiiight). The Air Chairs also have power outlets in the armrests for all your charging needs.
Right now the Zenky Air chair is only available in Terminal B at the San Jose airport.

Let's Nail the Cure

Paslode introduced its "Let's Nail the Cure" Tool Graffiti to help promote breast cancer awareness. The company will donate 25 percent of its profits from the "Let's Nail the Cure" Tool Graffiti to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
These decals or skins fit right on the body of the tool. Represent!

March furniture orders 9% higher than 2009

New orders in March were 9 percent higher than March 2009 and up 2 percent over February 2010, according to Smith Leonard’s Furniture Insights, a monthly survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors.
March 2009 orders were off 17 percent from March 2008. Approximately 61 percent of the participants had increased orders over last year with several up nice double digits. The 61 percent was up from 58 percent last month.
Shipments in March were 5 percent higher than March 2009 and up 12 percent over February. This marked the fourth straight month that overall shipments have increased. Approximately 61 percent of participants reported increased shipments year-to-date, up slightly from last month’s results.
Backlogs remained strong – up 34 percent over last March and up slightly over February. This was similar to the February to February results. As imported products begin to flow after the Chinese New Year, it’s expected that backlogs will work their way back down some although backlogs in March 2009 were down 21 percent from March 2008.

Five emerging office furniture trends

As the furniture industry enters into the school and government buying season, typically from June to September, OFM, an office and school furniture manufacturers and distributor, is seeing five emerging office furniture trends. Blake Zalcberg, COO of OFM, lists the five emerging office furniture trends:
1. Dark woods are making a comeback. People are choosing darker walnut colors over lighter woods as many are drawn to the natural, earthy look that dark woods give.
2. Technology is being infused into office furniture designs. Electrically-wired tables and cut outs for computer hardware are becoming popular to accommodate demands for employees to easily plug in their laptop or other devices.
3. Contemporary office spaces are replacing traditional work environments. There is less use of panel workstations and more use of community spaces so people work in closer proximity to each other with less privacy, with a focus on collaborative instead of individual.
4. An increased demand for white laminate desktops. Productivity is key with any piece of office furniture. The white laminates provide a clean, blank workspace that can spur creativity for the user.
5. Government-affiliated groups are asking for more green products. This group of purchasers wants to make sure the office furniture they buy practices what they preach to the larger public, which is why there is an increased demand from government agencies for sustainable material and green certified products.

Ready for a recovery

Home sales and housing starts staged an uneven comeback starting in early 2009, according to the State of the Nation’s Housing report released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
Even if the recovery in sales and residential construction flourishes, the report warns, the adverse consequences of the recession and the financial crisis will linger. An estimated one in seven homeowners have homes worth less than what they owe on their mortgages and nearly 5 million need their home prices to rebound by 25 percent before they are back above water. In addition, it will take time to work through all the homes in foreclosure.
Despite falling home prices, loan modifications, and softening rents, the downturn did not reduce the number of households spending half or more of their income on housing—18.6 million in 2008. Instead, the share with such severe housing cost burdens climbed to a new height.
Is a recovery coming? Hooker Furniture announced reported net sales of $51.4 million and a net income of $1.1 million. The profit reversed a $456,000 loss in the comparable quarter a year earlier. While this may not signal unbridled consumer spending, purchases can only be put off for so long.
Stay tuned.

Xylexpo draws more than 50K visitors

Xylexpo, the biennial world exhibition dedicated to woodworking technologies and furniture supplies, held in the Fiera Milano-Rho exhibition center, May 4-8, saw 652 exhibitors, covering a net exhibition area of about 125,000 square feet. Visitors totaled 51,480, 48% of whom came from outside Italy.
“Many exhibitors have told me about their satisfaction and the quality of visitors coming to Milan, who were actually interested in the acquisition of solutions and technology within the next few months. These businessmen did not just walk around the stands, they had a real need to update their production equipment. There were orders signed during the exhibition, something we had not seen for a long time,” said Ambrogio Delachi, president of Acimall, the Italian woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers’ association, which organizes the show through Cepra spa.
The next Xylexpo is scheduled for May 8-12, 2012, in the Fiera Milano-Rho exhibition center.

February furniture orders 13% higher than 2009

New residential furniture orders were 13 percent higher in February 2010 than 2009, according to Smith Leonard’s Furniture Insights, a monthly survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors.
This marked the fourth month in a row that orders were up over the previous year’s same month comparison. (October was flat, November up 10 percent, December up 12 percent and January up 4 percent.) Admittedly, all of these months were comparing to poor results in the previous year. But the good news is that we seem to have stopped the downward flow.
Shipments in February were 4 percent higher than February 2009. January shipments were 6 percent higher than January 2009, resulting in the year-to-date shipments up 5 percent over the same two months of last year. This was the third month in a row that shipments were up over the same period a year ago.

Jan. 2010 furniture orders up

January 2010 new furniture orders were positive again compared to January 2009, according to Smith Leonard's most recent Furniture Insights survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors.
While not quite as positive as the November and December results, orders still were in positive territory, showing a four percent increase over January 2009.
This four percent increase follows a 12 percent increase in December, a 10 percent increase in November and a flat October, in year-over-year comparisons. The study found January results negatively impacted by bad weather, and expect February results also to be affected.
Some 59 percent of survey participants reported increased orders, down slightly from 62 percent in December.
Shipments in January were six percent higher than January 2009, following a three percent increase in December. While shipments were down 24 percent in January 2009 versus January 2008, December’s increase in shipments was the first since June 2006.
Shipments in January were 10 percent lower than December 2009, somewhat normal in the January to December comparisons, according to the study. Approximately 62 percent of survey participants reported increased shipments in January, up from about 50 percent in December.

Dynasty, Melrose Place and Barcelona

It had all the makings of a catty nighttime soap opera, see “Mies van der Rohe Furniture Designs causes legal catfight” but ended rather anti climactically.
Knoll Inc. and Alphaville Design Inc., settled their dispute relating to Knoll's registered Barcelona trademark. Knoll had alleged that certain products sold by Alphaville Design infringed the Knoll trademarks, while Alphaville Design claimed that the trademarks were invalid. To resolve the dispute, Alphaville Design Inc. acknowledged the validity of, and Knoll's rights to, the above-referenced trademarks, and in return Knoll granted them the right to sell similar furniture products for a limited period of time. In connection with the settlement, the parties have agreed to dismiss the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Diversify, diversify, diversify!

Technology is shaping how we live and what we buy. A savvy furnituremaker in Oregon, Substrata, sells a gorgeous line of custom wooden cases and docking stations for the iPad, iPhone and other personal electronic devices. The cases are made from exotic woods such as, Zebrawood, Maple, Fir, Walnut, Padauk and Wenge.

The tech accessories as well as other products create a nice revenue stream when consumers are hesitant to invest thousands in a custom piece of furniture. A $100 to $150 custom case for their newest toy is easier to swallow. iWant one!

Ugly furniture

Cabinet sales decrease 6.4% in Jan.

Cabinet sales for January 2010 decreased 6.4 percent compared to sales for January 2009, according to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association monthly Trend of Business Survey.
Stock cabinet sales decreased 11.9 percent, semi-custom sales increased 5.6 percent and custom sales decreased 11.9 percent.
Survey participants include stock, semi-custom and custom companies whose combined sales represent more than 50 percent of the U.S. cabinet market.

It’s not you, it’s your furniture

Do you suffer from periodic creative droughts? If so, your furniture may be holding you back.
Steelcase’s Turnstone division recently launched Campfire, a line of informal office furniture inspired by familiar indoor and outdoor spaces for small businesses. The seven-piece furniture line boasts a paper table with a glass surface similar to a white board or a paper pad top for ideas on the go. Furniture groupings have kicky names such as Island, Base Camp, Oasis and my favorite Shanty. The big lamp is reminiscent of a beach umbrella, the big table is similar to a kitchen table and the big lounge is, well, you get the picture.
While Campfire is designed to foster creativity and teamwork— chatty co-workers can be the biggest creativity buzzkillers. Will small businesses owners bite or just go work in the park for inspiration?