Parkhill Smith & Cooper

            With all the issues in America, such as clean air and clean water, many parts of the U.S. are “going green. Even interior design is becoming more and more environmentally friendly. One organization that focuses on this environmentally friendly factor in design is LEED. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is based on a points system where for most environmentally friendly or sustainable components in a design, that building can earn points. After having so many points, a building can apply for its certification.

            For one of our fieldtrips, we visited the first LEED certified building in West Texas. It is called Parkhill, Smith, & Cooper Inc, or PSC for short. Basically, PSC is a firm that deals with all the aspects of a commercial design project. Their team consists of interior designers, architects, engineers, and landscape designers. One of the reasons were visiting was so that we could see and experience their LEED certified building.

            For the most part, the LEED certified building looks like your typical building. The inside, however, is just a little bit different. Some examples of the different components are seen in the flooring, conference rooms, parking spaces, air vents, and roof. The flooring is carpet but recyclable carpet tiles are used. The conference rooms have finishes that have small amounts of off-gassing and also can serve dual purposes, such as the wall that is actually a dry erase board. The parking spaces are basically grass that has two concrete strips to park your vehicle on. This cuts down on the use of pavement and encourages grass to grow. The air vents that are seen hanging from the ceiling are bags that collapse when the system is not in use. Another cool feature is the roof. A section of it is soil with plants growing in it. The soil works as a good insulator and once again, encourages plant growth.

            These features are just a few of the different uses of material that make this building LEED certified. There is not a huge difference in the appearance of the building which would lead one to question why more buildings have not gone down this “green” route. Environmental design is becoming more prominent around the U.S. and will continue to grow in the near future. It is a great way to make good use of the resources we currently have.

Jeff Seal Homes of Distinction

            Many cities have a section of town where there are, seemingly, nicer homes. They are usually large, grand, and cost more than the average middle-class homeowner can afford. Regardless of who can afford what or where the homes are located, it cannot be denied is that these homes are gorgeous. Lubbock has homes that fit this bill and many of them are designed and built by an architect named Jeff Seal.

            On one of our many field trips in my Interior Materials class, we had the opportunity of touring a couple of Jeff Seal’s homes that he is in the process of building. One was located on 103^rd Street. This house was going to be around a million dollars and its price shows in the details. Upon walking into this house, it is clear to see why Jeff Seal is well known in Lubbock.  This first house was done in a French style throughout. There were groin vaulted ceilings, custom cabinetry, custom built-in units, and unique fireplaces, among other things of course. Everything about the house complemented each other, including the outside which showcased the casement windows and a bell tower on the roof. This house made jaw drop, but could not even begin to prepare me for what we were going to see next.

            The second house we were able to see was a few streets over from the first and was still in the framing stage. This house was going to be over 5 million dollars. When we drove up, it was plain to see why. It was absolutely enormous. This house was two stories and included 4 bedrooms, a prayer room, piano room, and even 3 laundry rooms. That is pretty impressive but what impressed me the most was the ceilings in this house. There were a few domed ceilings that are just massive. They will be amazing when they are finished and details are added to them.

            Jeff Seal’s homes are truly unique and add character to Lubbock as a whole. They show precision and attention to detail that cannot be found in just anyone’s architecture. His architecture and design are things that we as interior designers can learn a tremendous amount from. Having the chance to walk through these houses and take in their beauty was an awesome opportunity and serves as an inspiration for us to aspire to do great things in the world of design.

Blog Post 9: Leftwich Chapman

            Upon walking into a space, what is usually one of the first things a person notices? For me, it is what is on the floor. Flooring is something that can make or break a space because it is used in every space, which means there is a lot of it. There are so many different options to choose from in flooring. A good place to start the search in Lubbock, TX is at Leftwich Chapman.

             Leftwich Chapman has many different options when it comes to flooring. If wood flooring is needed, they carry many different types, colors, and grains of wood. They have standard woods such as oak or cherry as well as exotic woods like bamboo. If a person is looking for something more green and recyclable, they also offer leather and cork floors. Both are pretty durable, have a unique look, and can be a great option is certain spaces.

            Another thing that Leftwich Chapman has a large selection of is carpet. Their selection includes very lush, soft carpet, as well as carpet that has been made from corn husk. Amazing right? Many people get a solid color carpet in their homes. However, for those a little more adventurous, Leftwich Chapman carries a variety of patterned and textured carpets. Basically, there is something for any taste out there.

            What about kitchens and baths? Of course, Leftwich Chapman has tile too. This part of their selection is probably my favorite. It is my favorite because they have so many colors and styles available that the possibilities are endless! They have so many shapes when it comes to backsplash tiles. They have square ones and round ones, and even rectangular strips. Some are stone, others porcelain or glass. Anyone who likes tile would absolutely love Leftwich Chapman.

            Leftwich Chapman has so many different options when it comes to choosing flooring for a residential project. From wood to carpet to tile, they have something for just about any room a person can think of. It is a great place for interior designers to take their clients, as I would hope to someday also!

Blog Post 8: Tile & Stone

Tile and stone are materials that are used all the time in Interior Design. The most popular places to use these materials are in bathrooms and kitchens. There are many uses for such materials; therefore, there are many places that these materials can be found.

            As stated, there are many uses for tile and stone. One very common place to use tile is the floor. Tile floors are very popular in both commercial and residential design. A reason for this could be because of the durability against wear and messes. Another place tile can be found is on counters and backsplashes. Though it is thought to not be as durable as some types of stone, tile can create many colorful options and be laid in a way that makes it more like art than just a usable surface. Stone, on the other hand, is also durable and like an art form. The differences are that the art is not controllable because it is naturally beautiful due to the way the rock is formed below the surface. Stone is thought to be more durable than tile because it doesn’t break easily and is very heat resistant.

            A great place to find materials such as these in Lubbock, TX is a place called Collins Tile and Stone. It is located on the Clovis highway outside of Lubbock. Yes, they have tile because that is how the owner got started in the business. However, what I found was the most exciting was their large selection of stone, particularly granite. They have so many colors to choose from at varying prices. Some of the granite had so much character due to the amount of motion in the rock. Some granite has more motion than others but according to the owner, the granites that have more motion seem to be higher priced.

            Tile and stone are incredibly important materials to the design world today. They are truly beautiful materials. Collins Tile and Stone was very helpful in illustrating the choices that are to be had and the different options for uses. The only question left to answer is, “What color should I choose?”