An Urban-Toned A/A Panel Built for A/A Casework
The SM'art Rockefeller panel brings a deep, city-inspired charcoal tone in the Manhattan finish to components where both faces need to look finished. This is a thermally fused laminate (TFL) decorative panel, A/A grade, meaning the same decor runs on both faces — no backer, no hidden side. At 8 mm thick, it suits interior dividers, open shelving, door and drawer fronts on lighter-duty applications, and any carcass element that will be seen from more than one angle.
Key Features
- 13-hour water-resistant core — a vendor test result, not a wet-area rating, and useful where spills and humidity are routine.
- 50% post-consumer recycled core — half the core content is reclaimed wood fiber.
- CARB2 hardwood particleboard core — the substrate the decor is fused to.
- A/A grade construction puts the same Rockefeller decor on both faces, so either side can show.
- Manhattan finish is a smooth, low-texture surface in a moody charcoal tone that reads consistently across a large panel face.
- 8 mm TFL panel fuses the decorative face directly to the board — no adhesive layer, no glue line at the edge.
- Sheet size of 81-1/2 inch x 120-5/64 inch gives the shop a generous cut surface for tall components and efficient nesting.
- SM'art collection includes matching ABS edgebanding in the Rockefeller color to close cut edges in the same decor.
Where This Panel Does Its Best Work
A/A visibility is the deciding factor here. A fixed interior shelf in an open bookcase, a room divider panel, a cabinet back that faces a finished interior — all of these expose both faces to view, and an A/B panel with a plain backer falls short in those spots. The Rockefeller tone also works well in contemporary kitchen and bath settings where a dark, neutral horizontal reads as intentional rather than heavy. At 8 mm the panel is lighter than a 19 mm carcass board, which makes it practical for door and drawer fronts, furniture backing on lighter frames, and display fixture components where total weight is a design factor.
Surface, Construction, and Color
The Manhattan finish gives the Rockefeller decor a smooth, even surface with a restrained sheen — not a super matte, not a high gloss, but a mid-range finish that holds its color under varied lighting without picking up every fingerprint. Thermally fused laminate means the face is part of the board rather than a film that can delaminate; the face and the substrate move together. The SM'art collection is built on a particleboard core, and the CARB2 compliant construction keeps the panel on the right side of commercial and residential formaldehyde requirements. Because SMM022 Rockefeller is listed as a discontinued color selling through current inventory, it is a sound choice for a single project but should not be specified into a long-running program that will need to reorder.
Who Reaches for This Panel
Cabinet shops running contemporary or transitional kitchen and bath work will find the Rockefeller tone useful as an accent color — a dark island end panel against lighter perimeter cabinets, a floating shelf unit, or a feature wall component. Millwork and fixture builders working on retail and commercial interiors use the A/A construction for any element hung or mounted where both faces are in the sightline. Designers specifying a moody, urban palette that needs to coexist with warm wood tones or cool whites will find Rockefeller a disciplined neutral rather than a statement piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A/A mean on this panel?
A/A means the same decorative face appears on both sides of the panel. There is no plain backer on the reverse — both faces carry the Rockefeller decor in the Manhattan finish. This is the construction to use when both sides of a component will be visible.
Is matching ABS edgebanding available for SMM022 Rockefeller?
Yes. The SM'art collection offers matching ABS edgebanding in the Rockefeller color. ABS banding is chlorine-free, which satisfies specifications that rule out PVC. Confirm roll width at ordering to match your panel thickness.
Is matching HPL available for SM'art panels?
SM'art HPL is available and comes in a 60 inch by 120 inch sheet. It lets you carry the same color onto a countertop or work surface that the panel program alone does not cover.
SMM022 Rockefeller is listed as discontinued — can I still order it?
Yes, while inventory lasts. Rockefeller is selling through existing stock and ships as a normal order until it is gone. It is a solid choice for a one-time project, but if the job may extend or reorder, choose a color from the current active range to avoid a match gap later.
What core does the SM'art panel use?
The SM'art collection uses a particleboard core. It holds machine-driven fasteners well and stays flat across wide components. The core is CARB2 compliant for formaldehyde emissions.
A Finished Panel on Both Sides, Ready for the Cut List
Rockefeller in the Manhattan finish delivers a consistent charcoal tone across a sheet that is finished on both faces, so every component that comes off it is ready to show from any angle — no secondary operation, no visible backer, no compromise on the detail work.
