American Factory Direct Furniture
A growing family retailer needed a visible, efficient showroom that balanced cost, light and flexibility, delivering a memorable customer experience without overshadowing the product.
Project
Overview
With their location in Lafayette, La., American Factory Direct Furniture marked an important chapter in the third-generation family business’ evolution.
The store needed to support continued expansion while preserving the character of the brand and reflecting a careful balance of visibility, efficiency and long-term performance.
When the decision was made to expand into Lafayette, the recommendation to use a Butler® steel building came naturally. As a long-time Butler Builder®, Kent Design Build understood how a Butler system could deliver both the structural performance and refined aesthetics the project required.
Throughout that growth, the Comeaux family partnered with Kent Design Build, a fellow family-owned business based in Mandeville, La. The firm supported American Factory Direct at every stage, providing design-build expertise grounded in transparency, creativity and long-term relationships.
The Comeaux family’s business journey has always been intertwined with both family and place. When Bob and Billie Comeaux married in 1974, they chose the High Point Furniture Market as their honeymoon destination, setting the tone for a life built around furniture retail.
That commitment has grown into one of the region’s largest furniture operations, with locations across Louisiana and Mississippi and a reputation for offering the area’s largest selection of fine furniture.
Design leadership came from within the family. David Comeaux worked with Crump Wilson Architects to create the signature tower element featured at every American Factory Direct location.
In Lafayette, that concept evolved into dual storefronts with signage on both sides of the building, maximizing highway visibility and creating a distinctive presence in the market.
The exterior design also introduced a unique outdoor space used to showcase the store’s outdoor furniture collection, extending the customer experience beyond the showroom walls.
Inside, the building was designed to showcase the product without competing with it. The open concept showroom allows natural light to move freely throughout the space, creating clear sightlines across the sales floor.
A central aisle runs the length of the building, guiding traffic while allowing customers to see merchandise across most of the store. Off the main walkway, smaller vignettes create more intimate settings that help customers visualize furniture and accessories in their own homes.
Material choices supported both performance and cost discipline. For the showroom envelope, Comeaux selected the Butlerib® II wall system in a Cool Greystone finish paired with the MR-24® roof system, chosen for its longevity and low maintenance.
The building is so beautiful. We don’t want the building to overpower the furniture that we sell, so I think the furniture that we have and the building really complement each other. The Butler building that we used and painting the beams helped us to keep construction costs down.
Structural clarity allowed the interior to remain open and flexible, supporting evolving merchandising needs over time.
“The building is so beautiful,” David Comeaux explained. “We don’t want the building to overpower the furniture that we sell, so I think the furniture that we have and the building really complement each other. The Butler building that we used and painting the beams helped us to keep construction costs down.”
The completed Lafayette showroom delivers more than retail space. It provides a durable, efficient and adaptable environment that supports business growth while reinforcing the brand’s identity.
Built on trusted partnerships and proven systems, the facility reflects a shared commitment to quality that will serve American Factory Direct for generations.
