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Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]      
Sale of Furniture Components segment     $ 58,027,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
Total net tax gain from disposal of discontinued operation     23,674,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
Net income tax gain from disposal of discontinued operation     14,500,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax
Gain on disposal of discontinued operation, net of income tax and noncontrolling interest, Per share     $ 0.30us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTaxPerBasicAndDilutedShare
Pre-tax income of discontinued operation     10,400,000nl_ForeignCurrencyTranslationPreTaxGainLossReclassificationOnSaleOfDisposedOperations
Statutory income tax rate of foreign tax credit 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Proceeds from sale of land   $ 3,000,000us-gaap_LandSales