By Stacey Freed, Nina Patel, and Leah Thayer

A system, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “a regularly interacting or interdependent group of items forming a unified whole.” In the remodeling context, having systems in place can make a company efficient and reliable, can hold employees accountable, and, if they’re the right employees, can allow them to grow and prosper in their jobs. The discussion of the seven systems identified here is a product of many conversations with consultants and practicing remodelers, but special thanks go to REMODELING columnist Shawn McCadden, who initially sparked the idea for this story and contributed to its development. (See below for a list of our sources.) This article is not exhaustive — there are many ways to establish systems — but what is here represents good ideas that can be adapted and replicated.

The systems are interdependent and work best when there are stable administrative and management systems (which are not covered in full here) in place. “The most important system to start with is financials,” McCadden says. “Your business plan should be your driver. Without a solid financial system, the other systems can’t be measured.”

But a system can’t just be a collection of processes, says construction process/technology consultant and REMODELING contributor Joe Stoddard. There must be “a baseline or benchmark, measurable results, a closed-loop feedback mechanism to determine what went right or wrong, and a continuous improvement mechanism.”

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Source: PRNewswire
Publication date: 2006-08-01
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ — Americans are demanding when it comes to their kitchen surfaces.

In fact, a recent survey, commissioned by Cambria, the only producer of natural quartz surfaces in the U.S., found that consumers want countertops that are stylish, maintenance-free and that offer protection from food-borne illnesses.

The “How Clean Is Your Countertop Survey” found that 71 percent of respondents believe themselves to be well informed about food-borne illnesses and more than 88 percent believe it is very important to prepare their foods on a sanitary surface. And while stainless steel is most often perceived as the safest product to use for food preparation, less than 14 percent of Americans surveyed want that type of look for their kitchen countertops.

“Families spend a lot of time in their kitchens,” said Ian Thorburn, Cambria’s Director of Brand Management. “So it makes sense that people want surfaces and cabinets that not only look impressive but that also offer a safe food preparation surface or even a place to do homework or pay the bills.”

The survey also found that nearly 60 percent of Americans surveyed want the look of natural stone and granite for their countertops, but fewer than 11 percent want to undertake the care and maintenance required by some natural stones like marble, granite or limestone.

“We are finding that environmental issues have become a real hot-button issue for customers and many people don’t want a surface that requires sealing with chemicals twice a year,” Thorburn said. “Quartz countertops do not require sealing and can be cleaned with soap and water.”

In addition, according to the survey, Americans consider cabinets and countertops as the top two elements that make a kitchen design stand out. In fact, the survey found that countertops outranked appliances and flooring in design importance. Cabinets received the highest ranking for impacting the look of a kitchen.

“Countertops have an amazing impact on the look and feel of a kitchen,” Thorburn said. “As more styles and colors become available, consumers are discovering that countertops can be elegant as well as functional.”

Cambria

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Source: REMODELING Magazine
Publication date: 2006-07-01

By Lauren Hunter

Gone are the days of naming rooms for their purposes. Laundry rooms, studies, living rooms, and kitchens are all giving way to multiuse spaces, and while no one’s showering in the kitchen quite yet, the boundaries continue to blur between other rooms in the home. Industry suppliers are accommodating the trend with design and product solutions.

“We did extensive consumer research and kept hearing about the kitchen being multifunctional,” says John Swenson, director of brand marketing for Electrolux, which debuted its “Live-In Room” concept (shown) at the 2006 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. “We reviewed how the kitchen is used and developed a space that makes it a comfortable setting that encourages togetherness.”

Separated by zones — not walls — the Live-In Room features a professional cooking area outfitted with the company’s ICON product line, a less formal dining and entertaining space, and a comfortable lounge area with sofas, a television, a beverage center, and more. Swenson says small-scale appliances — such as the beverage center or dishwasher and microwave drawers — are easily integrated into living spaces and help define this type of multiuse space. Food-prep islands and comfy seating also are necessities.

Laundry rooms are another area becoming the multifunctional workspace of choice for many homeowners, notes Paul Radoy, design services manager with Merillat. “We’re always trying to come up with ideas that can help builders and remodelers differentiate the homes they work on from those of their competitors,” Radoy says.

Merillat’s multiuse layouts incorporate cabinetry from across the brand to bring laundry, craft, office, and other spaces conveniently together. Rethinking some cabinets’ purposes, Radoy says his design team discovered that small kitchen “spice drawers” also make great storage for sewing notions, fly-tying supplies, or model-building parts. Pull-out desk surfaces double as sewing stations, and an island on casters is ideal for a laundry-folding table or gift-wrapping surface.

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Both Electrolux (http://www.electroluxusa.com/) and Merillat (http://www.merillat.com/) have tools and checklists on their Web sites to encourage multiuse-space thinking. “Remodelers and their clients need to take stock of their storage needs and how the space will work — just as if you were designing a kitchen,” Radoy says. “It’s exciting to see what people will do with this mixed-use approach because the result will be different for everyone.”

• 86% of Americans are involved in some sort of activity in their kitchen besides cooking, such as paying bills, doing homework, or crafting.
• 67% of adults say they use their kitchen to socialize and entertain guests.
• 33% of adults spend three to four hours in their kitchen in a typical day; 20% say they spend more than five hours there every day.
• 58% of Americans say the kitchen is one of their favorite rooms in the house.Source: Electrolux “Kitchen Confidential” survey

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King of Prussia, PA (June 22, 2006) - Cygnus Expositions, producers of the Kitchen & Bath Design & Remodeling Expo, the premier regional event for kitchen and bath professionals in the Northeast, has announced that several new cabinet manufacturing companies have signed on to exhibit at this year’s event. The 2006 Kitchen & Bath Design & Remodeling Expo will be held on October 17-19 at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.“We are pleased that the cabinet manufacturing industry has provided the show their support through their participation,” said Pati Beaulieu, Show Manager. “The Kitchen & Bath Design & Remodeling Expo has become a one-stop resource for all kitchen and bath professionals in the Northeast.”Cabinet manufacturers Yorktowne Cabinetry, CNC and Camio Cabinets are first-time exhibitors in the show this year, joining veteran exhibitors Modern Cabinet Co., Kountry Kraft, Inc. and Hagerstown Kitchens Inc. Several cabinet accessory and moulding companies will also be showcasing their latest products, including Enkeboll Designs, White River Hardwoods - Woodworks, Brown Wood Products, Grand River Hardwoods and Acanthus.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be exhibiting in the 2006 Kitchen & Bath Design & Remodeling Expo,” says Ronald LemmГ©, Marketing Manager, Yorktowne Cabinetry. “Targeting the remodeler market is a huge priority for Yorktowne and this event will enable us to reach our audience.”

The exhibit hall will feature the leading kitchen and bath products and services on over 30,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. In addition to cabinetry, the Kitchen & Bath Design & Remodeling Expo will showcase a wide variety of other products, including appliances, laminates, bath accessories, faucets and fixtures, and countertops. Companies exhibiting range from international manufacturers to local distributors.

Complementing the exhibit hall, this year’s educational program, encompassing 20 seminars and workshops, will be led by some of the industry’s leading educators. The conference program is produced by Kitchen & Bath Design News and is organized around three distinct tracks: Kitchen, Bath & Showroom Design, Sales & Marketing, and Business Management. Two special all morning-sessions have been added to the conference program and are included in the conference registration for no additional charge.

The Kitchen & Bath Design & Remodeling Expo is sponsored by Kitchen & Bath Design News, supported by Qualified Remodeler and Residential Design & Build and produced by Cygnus Expositions, the trade show arm of business-to-business media leader Cygnus Business Media, which reaches thousands of kitchen and bath professionals monthly in print and online. For information on attending or exhibiting at this year’s event, to be held October 17-19, 2006 in King of Prussia, visit www.kbdrexpo.com or call 800.827.8009.

Cygnus Business Media is a leading, diversified business-to-business media company with a portfolio of over 200 media products reaching five million professionals annually within 15 major markets. Its four distinct divisions - Cygnus Publishing, Cygnus Expositions, Cygnus Interactive and Cygnus Custom Marketing - provide comprehensive, integrated advertising and marketing programs for Cygnus’ valued customers and clients. The company’s leading business publications, trade shows, conferences, Web sites, online products and custom marketing capabilities enhance brand identity, generate sales leads, and build product awareness as they strengthen customer/client relationships.

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