Avant Garde Interiors

05/04/2026

I’m honored to be interviewed in the May issue of FenderBender Magazine by writer Carol Badaracco Padgett. We talked about my decades of facility‑planning projects, and how collision repair shops should design smarter, future‑ready layouts. Grateful for the opportunity to share practical insights that help owners plan with confidence.

Industry-specific design enhances business traction now and down the road.

01/06/2026

Ooh la la! I regret I'm not able to actually visit the completed shops I worked on. Wish more clients could post like this. It's so very satisfying!

12/21/2025

Space to perform A.D.A.S. calibration requires a dedicated space with specific guidelines that differ from the standard work stall area in the production area (in any typical shop configuration) for collision repair. Several of my clients have brought up the desire to incorporate an area in their shop for A.D.A.S. work. They've heard about it and would like to consider adding this service. But their shop size is limited. Several asked about converting some existing work bays to use for calibration part time, on certain days of the week. For example, "Maybe sharing a detail/wash and light hits bay for A.D.A.S.?" Short answer, NO. Although different types of calibration have different space requirements, some require a lot of space to set up. Would a shop only perform that one type of calibration that uses less space? Probably not.

Please read the previous post.

Research and experience tell me that incorporating space in an existing shop can be tricky, unless the building and site have the ideal dimensions or space to add on. It requires finding space by thinking out-of-the-box sometimes. Every shop is different, but it takes a trained eye to find the space that has potential for conversion that would least hinder existing production efficiency and overall repair work flow. Or, that might not be possible unless you reshuffle the production flow. Or, it's just not possible due to the building structural constraints.

It's much easier to carefully plan this out from the initial master plan of a new shop layout project, be it new construction or relocation (which requires an initial analysis of the building dimensions and clear space between any structural constraints) before you purchase or lease a property, to make sure this could be done. This is not an afterthought. Would you consider adding A.D.A.S. work in your facility after reading the data in this article from Autobody News?

CCC data shows calibrations now on 35.6% of DRP estimates as total losses head toward second straight record.

12/14/2025

From the inside looking out! What a beautiful backdrop from the lobby of Simpson’s Collision - Florence.

07/23/2025

For anyone who's considering implementing ADAS Calibration space in their shop, here is a detailed guide from the expert himself, Frank Terlep, VP ADAS Solutions at Opus IVS- US. It's not as simple as just providing some space anywhere in the shop. The required minimum dimensions are not in line with those of a standard repair stall. In fact, it's much bigger. Therefore, careful considerations must be reviewed and preplanned into the layout of a shop before the plan goes to the structural engineer.

So you want to be in the ADAS calibration business? Besides the technical knowledge and investment in the appropriate tools, software, targets and more, you also need to consider how and where you will perform calibrations. Below are some of the location and layout requirements that need to be consi

07/17/2025

07/16/2025

Project Example – Adaptive Design During the Challenging Times

In 2020, a new project was initiated with the original goal of expanding an existing facility of 18,912 s.f.— to nearly doubling that size. Prior to engaging Avant Garde, several design proposals had already been developed by various spray booth vendors. Upon review and rework, a highly efficient layout met all operational requirements without the need for structural expansion.

This strategic decision to not build the addition by the multi-shop owner, Doug Kaltenberger, significantly accelerated the timeline, streamlined workflow, and minimized development costs. It also mitigated potential risks associated with pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, business closures, and workforce shortages—allowing the project to progress smoothly during a particularly turbulent period for the construction industry.

Like many things in life, there is never a best time or perfect time to take on a major decision and act on it. In essence, a leap forward isn’t about blind optimism— it’s about courage backed by strategy. The question becomes less about when, and more about how boldly you’re willing to shape the future of your business.

At CARSTAR Fort Collins in Colorado, the new facility was designed with organization and performance in mind.

04/01/2025

For the past 24 years in business, I've kept both digital and paper copies of all projects I've designed. There were often repeat customers, whether to open up new locations or to add to existing buildings. It's heart warming to realize their successes and how we've all grown older and wiser.

Last year, I sorted and emptied out about 150 lbs of paperwork for shredding, feeling confident the digital copies were sufficient. This weekend, I pushed harder and boxed up closer to 250+ lbs. I still have 4 more 42" cabinet drawers to go, but it will get done eventually. I will still keep paper copies, but limit them to 7 years. I felt blessed and thankful to all the people who have referred and trusted me to be involved in these projects through the years. I hope to continuously learn and serve!

10/25/2024

Congrats to BASF on their grand re-opening of their Jessup, MD location! Great to see my specifications came together, from the lighting fixtures, customized furniture, down to the cabinetry hardware in the breakroom. Seeing this post made my day!

We would like to thank everyone that stopped out to our BASF Jessup, Maryland training facility grand reopening. We had customers and distributors stop out and…