Read More Articles by Karen Koenig
Karen
Koenig
Editor
Karen M. Koenig has more than 35 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As senior editor, her responsibilities include writing and editing for Woodworking Network publications FDMC Magazine and Closets & Organized Storage Magazine, as well as the website. She also oversees many of Woodworking Network's special projects and programs, including Red Book: Resource Guide for Best Practice, FDMC 300, 40 Under 40, and the Wood Industry Market Leaders. She can be reached at [email protected].
Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. has expanded its upholstery production in Maiden, North Carolina, with the conversion of a 173,000-square-foot former distribution facility located on its manufacturing campus to an upholstery plant. The residential furniture giant said the new plant will support the existing two upholstery facilities and also house a new R&D facility.
Top 10 kitchen cabinetry & design trends
At KBIS, some of the nation's top kitchen and bath designers shared their insight on the latest color and style trends, as revealed in the 2016 Design Trends Survey by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Based on survey results of more than 450 designers, here are the Top 10 kitchen and cabinet style trends to watch for in 2016.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
January 21, 2016 | 3:33 pm CST
Wellborn Cabinet moves to frameless cabinetry at KBIS 2016
LAS VEGAS - At KBIS 2016, Wellborn Cabinet Inc. announced it will offer its first frameless line, with production set to begin the first quarter of 2017. Named Aspire Cabinetry, the full access frameless line will be manufactured at the company's 1.5 million-square-foot facility in Ashland, Alabama.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
January 20, 2016 | 12:23 pm CST
Cabico acquires Elmwood cabinetry, forming $100 million Canadian giant
Canadian custom cabinetry manufacturer Group Cabico Inc. has acquired Ontario-based custom cabinetmaker The Elmwood Group Ltd. Sales of the combined firm are more than $100 million, making Cabico the largest privately held custom cabinet manufacturer in Canada and the third largest in North America. The transaction includes Maplecraft Doors Ltd.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
January 13, 2016 | 10:23 am CST
Flawed formaldehyde test method used on Wayfair furniture: AHFA
American Home Furnishings Alliance called "imprecise and unreliable" the deconstructive testing that produced high formaldehyde emission levels in some Wayfair imported casegoods. The AHFA released test results Jan. 4 it says confirm the safety of furniture containing engineered wood with formaldehyde within CARB permissible levels.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
January 6, 2016 | 4:34 pm CST
Kronotex announces $230 million laminate flooring, panel mill expansion
KronotexUSA and its parent firm Swiss Krono Group will invest $230 million to build a high-density fiberboard mill and expand the company's laminate flooring production in Barnwell County, South Carolina, a move which will create 105 new jobs over the next few years.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
January 6, 2016 | 12:10 pm CST
Hooker Furniture acquires Home Meridian for $100 million
Hooker Furniture Corp. has agreed to purchase Home Meridian International, a move which will more than double the company's size and make it one of the top five U.S. sources of upholstered furniture and casegoods. Announced Jan. 6, the $100 million acquisition is being called the largest in Hooker Furniture's 91-year history.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
January 6, 2016 | 8:45 am CST
Kronotex names Portanova president & CEO of laminate flooring firm
Laminate flooring producer KronotexUSA has named Zeb Portanova as its new president and CEO, effective Feb. 1. Portanova succeeds Norm Voss, who has been serving as interim CEO since March 2014; Voss will remain with Kronotex as a member of the board of directors.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
January 5, 2016 | 11:33 am CST
Cabinet color trends: What’s hot & what’s not for 2016
With almost all consumers basing their purchasing decisions on color and appearance, are your wood products on target to sell?
By
Karen M. Koenig,
January 5, 2016 | 9:40 am CST
Residential furniture orders resumed gains in October 2015
Residential furniture orders saw slight gains in October, boding well for the industry which saw its 17-month string of year-over-year growth come to a halt in September. The latest survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors by High Point accounting and consulting firm Smith Leonard saw October new orders increase 1 percent over 2014 figures.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
December 31, 2015 | 8:27 am CST