CHARLOTTE, NC -- The2011 Custom Cabinet Conference rounds out total storage solutions presented at the 7th Annual Closets & Home Organization Conference & Expo.

The National Kitchen & Bath Assn. (NKBA) has revealed 2011 kitchen and bath design trends, as determined by a survey of more than 100 members. The results indicate there will be changes in the direction that kitchen and bath styles will take this year.

L&S Lighting Corp., a subsidiary of L&S SpA in northeast Italy, will be opening a new facility in North Carolina.

Zenith Global Logistics promoted David Ashwell to the newly created post of VP sales.

The housing market saw a promising spike in construction starts in January. The positive change was concentrated in multi-unit housing starts, reflecting a current preference to rentals over home purchases.

Expecting a busy spring home improvement season, Home Depot Inc. and Lowe's Cos. announced plan to add more than 100,000 seasonal workers at their combined 3,700 centers.

Cabinetry and retail display manufacturer Expo Holdings cites positive sales but cash flow and production challenges in its latest reports. It says National Retail Services, Inc. hired it to provide national point of purchase display distribution services to retail suppliers.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Two California biomass power plants have been fined more than a combined $830,000 for violating the Clean Air Act. The action has implications for lumber processors and the price of raw materials used in both power and wood panel manufacturing.

DETROIT -- Donald Patterson, former City of Detroit Health Department lead inspector, was recently sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after being convicted on wire fraud charges.

BONNER, MT -- Stimson Lumber Co. has reduced the sale price of its closed plywood mill in Bonner from $16 million to $11 million.