Design an Entertainment Space

The Armstrong Bar Area - Project Manager: Randy WilsonWet Bars and Kitchenettes Have Evolved Well Beyond a Sink and Mini-fridge

A room with a sofa, a few chairs and possibly a television that kept the late 20th century family happy must now include all the latest electronic devices, including a flat-screen or 3-D TV with the latest built-in speakers that re-create the original recorded tones. To complete the package, wet bars, kitchenettes and conversation areas dominate. 

Friends gather to watch sporting events, movies, and catch up on each other's lives. Often, food and beverages become staples that foster a cohesive atmosphere. The kitchen historically has been the favorite gathering place during food and beverage preparation, but entertainment areas now must assume many of those duties to relieve the hosts from continually traveling to the main kitchen to refresh drinks and bring more snacks to the pantry.

Bars and entertainment spaces will vary in size and scope. Look to your first client interview to gain an in-depth understanding of the home owner's concept. The initial interview should include a discussion of the the cost factors for all the clients' desires. It is difficult and embarrassing to miss budget expectations by a large amount because we did not properly conduct the initial interview. We need their investment target and their prioritization of the desired features for the space.

Rarely do wet bars include a cooktop, but many might include a dishwasher, microwave, sink and some type of refrigeration. Planning for each of these items will require knowledge of how the owners intend to use this space, as well as the amount of dishes, glassware and flatware they intend to store there.

When starting the design process, keep in mind the spacing of appliances, countertop area and walkways should mimic a well-designed kitchen. Consider enlarging the landing space for a microwave from the recommended 15-inches wide by 16-inches deep to 24-inches wide times the entire depth of the countertop. This additional surface area will help tremendously when preparing hors d'oeuvres and snacks for a gathering.

When planning for seating and converstation areas, assume audio and video will probably be playing in the background. Traffic from the converstaion area to the bar or other conveniences should not cross paths with the seating for TV viewing. This presupposes the space available is adequate for such a design. 

Lighting is an important consideration and requires the attention of a lighting professional. Providing proper direct and indirect light levels with appropriate switching and dimming is vital to a successful space plan. Many well-designed projects fail because of poor lighting. Nowhere in the home is this more true than in the rooms most often remodeled--kitchens, baths, and entertainment areas. 

Keep in mind the three-legged stool test for excellent design. First, develop an efficient layout--one that accomplishes the "needs" first and as many of the "wants" as the budget permits. Here is where options can help the prospects increase their budget to capture their dream project. Second, be sure the decor is aesthetically pleasing. Third, the lighting should be designed to accentuate, enhance, and provide the moods desired at various times and in various areas of the room. 

Following these guidelines will help to create a well-designed and enjoyable entertainment space.

The experienced and talented Design Specialists at American Cabinet & Flooring are ready to help design your entertainment space!!

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Designing a Bathroom for Two

The Manion Master Bathroom - Designer: Janae ManionDesigning His and Her Bathrooms Requires Careful Thought

Designing a bath to be used by both sexes requires consideration of routines, habits and physical attributes. Begin by identifying all the activities the individuals will perform in the space. Today's master bath serves many activites beyond those of previous generations. These previous activites typically were limited to bathing, showering, using the toilet, grooming and some dressing. Today's master bath may require space for relaxation, health and wellness, growing plants and other hobbies, pet maintenance or doing laundry. The increased use of electronics and monitoring systems adds the dimension of power consumption beyond lighting controls; master baths may also include a flat-screen TV, mini-refrigerator or coffee maker.

Gather information specific to the couple at hand. Record the anthropometric data for the standing and seated positions of each client. Identify their reach and grasping abilities and mobility. Determine whether each is left- or right-handed and whether the bath will enjoy shared use or needs and accommodate privacy preferences.

Stations for grooming should reflect a client's stature, whether tasks will be accomplished in a standing or seated position, and if privacy is a concern. Perhaps a 5-foot 2-inch woman enjoys chatting with her 6-foot 2-inch husband while each completes their grooming. This criterions allows side-by-side placement with her station at 32- to 34-inch counter height where his might be at 38- to 40-inch height with a taller mirror. Mirror heights should be several inches taller than the end user. A continuous counter between stations can maximize the allotted counter space if the couple is similar in stature.

Central, deep storage between the stations introduces an element of privacy. Storage for grooming supplies can be a challenge when working with both genders. Always try to maximize point-of-use storage to minimize steps and avoid traffic-flow problems.

Install multiple forms of lighting, including wall sconces, to maintain continuity in the overall design while aiding user needs.

Selecting a shower's water source or sources and their placement requires a trip to the plumbing showroom. Each needs to experience the options available to ensure the showering experience meets or exceeds his or her expectations. If the shower is used simultaneously, the foot-print needs to increase from a minimum of 36 by 36 inches to approximately 42 by 60 inches or larger.

Location, height and size of shower interior shelving and/or benches needs to be determined based on both user's needs and statures. Benches should be a minimum of 17-inches above the finish floor and 15-inches deep. Check bench locations so they don't interfere with standing space under the shower head. Inclusion of multiple shower heads with differing sprays gives users more flexibility, but the anthropometric data identifies a stationary head height if that's the route your client has chosen. Water should be directed toward the body, not the face or hair. This could range between 70 and 80 inches off the floor but should be identified for your specific clients.

The best solution when dealing with clients with significant height differences is including a hand-held shower on an adjustable bar. Multiple choices in spray options might be available. Thermostatic control valves make wise investments. Multiple shower heads should have separate controls adjacent to those areas for ease of use. The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends controls are located 6 inches from the outside of the shower so reaching or bending is minimized. Adjust the height off the floor according to the elbow height of the end users.

Once you understand both clients' needs and principles behind designing one area for two people, the possibilities are endless.

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$40,000 Kitchen Cabinet Giveaway Video Contest Winner Announcement

** The Nevins Family **

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We would like to thank all the families who participated in our $40,000 Kitchen Cabinet Giveaway Video Contest, all of the videos were very creative and truly amazing!

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Armstrong's Countdown to Cabinet Construction

Four thousand cabinets a day!

That's the current output at Armstrong Cabinet Products, a division of Armstrong World Industries.

In business since 1860, Armstrong World entered the wood products industry in 1998 following its acquisition of Triangle Pacific's cabinet and flooring businesses. Fiscal 2011 net sales for the Lancaster, PA-based corporation were $2.9 billion, with the cabinet division accounting for $136.4 million. 

Sales of the company's semi-custom kitchen and bath cabinets are driven by both multi-family as well as single-family new construction and remodeling markets, which are slowly showing signs of improvement. Armstrong sells its cabinet products through independent retailers; like American Cabinet & Flooring, Inc., and building supply distributors nationwide. It recently announced an agreement to also work with 84 Lumber for sales of its products.

Armstrong currently offers four series of cabinet constructions targeted at a variety of price points and environmental requirements:

• Allwood Series: this top-tier series features an all-plywood box construction, hardwood plywood sides and bottom panels, six-way adjustable concealed hinges and wood dovetail drawers. Available in traditional - contemporary - transitional - and causal country styles with a variety  of door options.

• Premier Series: with similar features to the Allwood; this series has a composite panel construction and is available in a wood grain or laminate exterior. Available in traditional - contemporary - transitional - and causal country styles with a variety  of door options.

• Origins Series: available on most cabinet styles, this series is environmentally friendly and uses urea-formaldehyde-free, soy-based adhesive PureBond panels from Columbia Forest Products; which the company says can contribute to LEED NC EQ Credit 4.4.

• Extreme Series: targeted for the public housing segment, with hardwood plywood end panels and multi-ply plywood top and bottom panel construction, and a pine drawer box.

Lean and Green Manufacturing

A proponent of green manufacturing, Armstrong has its Town & Country maple wood cabinets, part of the Origins Series, featured in Disney World's Epcot Vision House in Florida.

All cabinets are manufactured to order at the company's 300,000-square-foot facility, located on 27 acres in Thompsontown, PA. Approximately 450 people work at the cabinet plant. 

Panel processing, frame manufacture, drawer box construction, finishing and assembly are done in-house, with cabinet doors and drawer fronts currently outsourced. Approximately 90% of production is kitchen cabinets, with the remaining 10% for bath vanities. The majority of the product is veneered, in species that include: cherry - maple - oak birch - and plantation hardwood.

Armstrong sources the veneered panels with laminated panels laid-up, in-house. Panels are cut-to-size on one of four Schelling saws before being sent to the Andi CNC routers or the company's new Keystone Automation end panel machine for further processing.

In another area, Koch bore and dowel machines are used for frame construction. Armstrong uses a variety of sanders throughout the production and finishing process, including Timesaves, Costa and DMC.

Output at the machines is tracked throughout the plant. "With the lean process, you can see the movement of the product on the floor and know at a glance if you need to produce more. It's a very visual management tool, " says Tim Clontz, plant manager. 

Parts are finished before being married up in assembly. The company uses a combination of hand spraying and UV coating, with specialty finishes available on its higher-end lines.

Continually looking for ways to improve, Armstrong recently conducted a value stream mapping of the area, which identified a bottleneck in the door finishing process for topcoating. In a quick resolution to the problem, by early May, the company will have replaced a tow-hang line with a Superfici flatline system, which will provide significant improvements in the workflow speed and process, Clontz says. 

Another area targeted for improvement is assembly, Clontz says. Moving from three long lines to five shorter ones will not only speed production, but reduce overall handling on the cabinets, while enabling workers to "have more involvement" in the finished product. "Lean is a never-ending journey," he says. "Every day we're trying to get better."

Safety in Numbers

Armstrong also is aggressive about emphasizing the safety of its employees. Placards throughout the plant illustrate correct methods of operation. In addition, twice daily employees perform stretching exercises as part of the work routine. 

Clontz says he is proud of the recognition the cabinet plant received recently for going more than 600,000 hours without an accident. "Our best resource is our employees," he adds. 

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Armstrong Origins Cabinets Help Make LivingHomes' PreFab Homes Low-Cost, Zero Energy, Zero Carbon and LEED Platinum® Certified

Armstrong® Cabinets' eco-friendly OriginsTM line has been included in the specifications for the new LivingHome® C6 - an affordably priced, comfortably sized-home, designed by LivingHomes®; a premier developer of modern, sustainably designed, prefabricated homes. As part of the introduction of this new home design, the C6 model homes, featuring Armstrong® Cabinets, were on display to the public at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, the TED Conference in Long Beach, CA and at Modernism Week in Palm Springs, CA in February-March 2012.

Renewable resources are important in the kitchen, especially if a homeowner or a business is trying to qualify for LEED or other green building system points. The trend is to move towards green, minimalist and contemporary, especially if it makes sense for the budget. 

Armstrong Cabinets remains conscious of environmental needs, as well as good design and pricing, and offers eco-friendly Origins with PureBond®, a urea formaldehyde-free, soy-based adhesive. The hardwood plywood is derived responsibly from managed forests, and then enhanced with a proprietary resin giving it particularly strong bonding and water-resistance qualities. These cabinets combine easy installation and maintenance with the durability of AllwoodTM, Armstrong's top-tier construction with quality features usually found only in custom cabinetry, alongside the environmental benefits of sustainable, low emitting materials.

"The Origins line is especially appealing to green-minded homeowners because the line offers the durability and strength of all plywood construction with the environmental benefits of sustainable, low emitting materials," said LivingHomes CEO Steve Glenn. "It has always been our most important goal to develop an affordable LivingHome, and Armstrong Cabinets is an important component. We believe this is the first production home to feature Cradle-to-Cradle® inspired materials and a LEED Platinum level environmental program. It's also the easiest and fastest LivingHome to build."

For cabinets, it's all about wood. Armstrong's ModernoTM slab door style, selected for the LivingHome C6, is a tribute to traditional tastes, yet refined for modern living. Moderno cabinets have unassuming, effortless beauty, and are ideal for homeowners who love the look of natural hardwood cabinets but prefer the understated wood grain patterns and textures of maple. Known for its close, uniform grain, maple's fine texture lends itself well to either contemporary or traditional styling. Variations on dark/light (espresso, cafe, mocha/creme, or white), warm wood tones are the hot cabinet colors. The most popular stains include naturals, light browns, and darker espresso colors.

"Kitchens have become an all-encompassing, central room to the home environment. Families are changing, and while they may not be "cocooning' anymore, they certainly are 'nesting'. They want their home to reflect the way they really live," said Mel Heintz, Product & Marketing Manager, Armstrong Cabinets. "We continue to give homeowners top-quality choices in kitchen cabinet selections, and that includes environmentally sustainable product options like our Origins line," she said.

The C6 was designed as part of a new partnership with Make It Right, a nonprofit founded by Brad Pitt and renowned architect William McDonough to build 150 Cradle-to-Cradle® inspired LEED Platinum homes in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, the neighborhood hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each C6 will help support the efforts of Make it Right.

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