Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy	The Corporation measures stock-based compensation expense at grant date, based on the fair value of the award and recognizes expense over the employee requisite service period.
Inventory Policy	The Corporation values its inventory at the lower of cost or market with approximately 80% valued by the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") costing method.
Discontinued Operations Policy	The Corporation completed the sale of a small, non-core business in the office furniture segment and a small non-core component of its hearth products segment during 2010. Revenues and expenses associated with these business operations are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented in the financial statements.
Goodwill Policy	The Corporation evaluates its goodwill for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter, or whenever indicators of impairment exist of which none existed during the nine months ended October 1, 2011. The Corporation estimates the fair value of its reporting units using various valuation techniques, with the primary technique being a discounted cash flow method. This method employs assumptions that are market participant based.
Product Warranty Policy	The Corporation issues certain warranty policies on its office furniture and hearth products that provide for repair or replacement of any covered product or component that fails during normal use because of a defect in design or workmanship. A warranty reserve is determined by recording a specific reserve for known warranty issues and an additional reserve for unknown claims that are expected to be incurred based on historical claims experience. Actual claims incurred could differ from the original estimates, requiring adjustments to the reserve.
Derivatives Policy	The Corporation uses derivative financial instruments to reduce its exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates and diesel fuel. On the date a derivative is entered into, the Corporation designates the derivative as (i) a fair value hedge, (ii) a cash flow hedge, (iii) a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation or (iv) a risk management instrument not designated for hedge accounting. The Corporation recognizes all derivatives on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Policy	For recognition purposes, on a recurring basis the Corporation is required to measure at fair value its marketable securities and its investment in target funds. The marketable securities were comprised of government securities, corporate bonds and money market funds. When available the Corporation uses quoted market prices to determine fair value and classify such measurements within Level 1. In some cases where market prices are not available, the Corporation makes use of observable market-based inputs to calculate fair value, in which case the measurements are classified within Level 2.
Segment Reporting Policy	Management views the Corporation as operating in two business segments: office furniture and hearth products with the former being the principal business segment. The office furniture segment manufactures and markets a broad line of metal and wood office furniture which includes storage products, desks, credenzas, chairs, tables, bookcases, freestanding office partitions and panel systems and other related products. The hearth products segment manufactures and markets a broad line of manufactured gas, electric, wood and biomass burning fireplaces, inserts, stoves, facings and accessories, principally for the home. For purposes of segment reporting, intercompany sales transfers between segments are not material and operating profit is income before income taxes exclusive of certain unallocated corporate expenses. These unallocated corporate expenses include the net cost of the Corporation's corporate operations, interest income and interest expense. Management views interest income and expense as corporate financing costs rather than a business segment cost. In addition, management applies one effective tax rate to its consolidated income before income taxes so income taxes are not reported or viewed internally on a segment basis.

Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 01, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy

The Corporation measures stock-based compensation expense at grant date, based on the fair value of the award and recognizes expense over the employee requisite service period.

Inventory Policy

The Corporation values its inventory at the lower of cost or market with approximately 80% valued by the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") costing method.

Discontinued Operations Policy

The Corporation completed the sale of a small, non-core business in the office furniture segment and a small non-core component of its hearth products segment during 2010. Revenues and expenses associated with these business operations are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented in the financial statements.

Goodwill Policy

The Corporation evaluates its goodwill for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter, or whenever indicators of impairment exist of which none existed during the nine months ended October 1, 2011. The Corporation estimates the fair value of its reporting units using various valuation techniques, with the primary technique being a discounted cash flow method. This method employs assumptions that are market participant based.

Product Warranty Policy

The Corporation issues certain warranty policies on its office furniture and hearth products that provide for repair or replacement of any covered product or component that fails during normal use because of a defect in design or workmanship.

A warranty reserve is determined by recording a specific reserve for known warranty issues and an additional reserve for unknown claims that are expected to be incurred based on historical claims experience. Actual claims incurred could differ from the original estimates, requiring adjustments to the reserve.

Derivatives Policy

The Corporation uses derivative financial instruments to reduce its exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates and diesel fuel. On the date a derivative is entered into, the Corporation designates the derivative as (i) a fair value hedge, (ii) a cash flow hedge, (iii) a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation or (iv) a risk management instrument not designated for hedge accounting. The Corporation recognizes all derivatives on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments Policy

For recognition purposes, on a recurring basis the Corporation is required to measure at fair value its marketable securities and its investment in target funds. The marketable securities were comprised of government securities, corporate bonds and money market funds. When available the Corporation uses quoted market prices to determine fair value and classify such measurements within Level 1. In some cases where market prices are not available, the Corporation makes use of observable market-based inputs to calculate fair value, in which case the measurements are classified within Level 2.

Segment Reporting Policy

Management views the Corporation as operating in two business segments: office furniture and hearth products with the former being the principal business segment.

The office furniture segment manufactures and markets a broad line of metal and wood office furniture which includes storage products, desks, credenzas, chairs, tables, bookcases, freestanding office partitions and panel systems and other related products. The hearth products segment manufactures and markets a broad line of manufactured gas, electric, wood and biomass burning fireplaces, inserts, stoves, facings and accessories, principally for the home.

For purposes of segment reporting, intercompany sales transfers between segments are not material and operating profit is income before income taxes exclusive of certain unallocated corporate expenses. These unallocated corporate expenses include the net cost of the Corporation's corporate operations, interest income and interest expense. Management views interest income and expense as corporate financing costs rather than a business segment cost. In addition, management applies one effective tax rate to its consolidated income before income taxes so income taxes are not reported or viewed internally on a segment basis.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for its derivative instruments and hedging activities. Disclosure may include: (1) Each method used to account for derivative financial instruments and derivative commodity instruments ("derivatives"); (2) the types of derivatives accounted for under each method; (3) the criteria required to be met for each accounting method used, including a discussion of the criteria required to be met for hedge or deferral accounting and accrual or settlement accounting (for example, whether and how risk reduction, correlation, designation, and effectiveness tests are applied); (4) the accounting method used if the criteria specified for hedge accounting are not met; (5) the method used to account for termination of derivatives designated as hedges or derivatives used to affect directly or indirectly the terms, fair values, or cash flows of a designated item; (6) the method used to account for derivatives when the designated item matures, is sold, is extinguished, or is terminated. In addition, the method used to account for derivatives designated to an anticipated transaction, when the anticipated transaction is no longer likely to occur; and (7) where and when derivatives, and their related gains or losses are reported in the statement of financial position, cash flows, and results of operations and (8) an accounting policy decision to offset fair value amounts with counterparties. An entity may also describe its embedded derivatives, and the method(s) used to determine the fair values of derivatives and any significant assumptions used in such valuations.

+ References

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+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for any discontinued operations. The results of operations of a component of an entity that either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale is reported in discontinued operations if both: (a) the operations and cash flows of the component have been (or will be) eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity as a result of the disposal transaction and (b) the entity will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the component after the disposal transaction. If the entity elects to allocate interest expense to a discontinued operation, it may disclose its accounting policy for this election and describe its method of allocation.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for major classes of inventories, bases of stating inventories (for example, lower of cost or market), methods by which amounts are added and removed from inventory classes (for example, FIFO, LIFO, or average cost), loss recognition on impairment of inventories, and situations in which inventories are stated above cost. If inventory is carried at cost, this disclosure includes the nature of the cost elements included in inventory.

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+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for stock option and stock incentive plans. This disclosure may include (1) the types of stock option or incentive plans sponsored by the entity (2) the groups that participate in (or are covered by) each plan (3) significant plan provisions and (4) how stock compensation is measured, and the methodologies and significant assumptions used to determine that measurement.

+ References+ Details