Parkhill, Smith, and Cooper. Lubbock, TX

Last week we visited an Interior Design firm that is the first silver LEED certified building in Lubbock, Texas. Parkhill, Smith, and Cooper have offices all over the state and they all work together as interior designers, engineers, and architects. On location there are two buildings that are connected by a parking lot. The second building is newer and is LEED certified but the main bulding is not because it was built before LEED came out in the design field. The buildings do, however, share a lot of similar traits that create unity between the two.

During the field trip we toured the two buildings and learned about some of the materials that were used in construction and many ways of using certain materials to conserve energy and conserve money by using products that are going to be durable and last a long time. In order for a building to be approved by LEED, the application of materials has to be eco-friendly. This is because of the idea that chemicals are mixed in with some materials and can be dangerous when exposed to the companies’ employees.

On the side of the second building there is a small parking lot that was built in order to conserve the Lubbock rainwater. The parking lot is built at an angle so the water can run down and be absorbed in the grass parking spaces. The grass catches any chemicals, oils, or gases and the clean water is filtered through. The water is then used to water the rooftop garden. The rooftop garden is very eco friendly because it does not cost anything to maintain because of the parking lot water system. Unfortunately, when it does not rain in Lubbock it is more costly to maintain. There is a skylight in the middle of the garden to provide natural light to the employees. It has been proven that people work better when exposed to natural light. This also saves energy because the natural light makes it so not all the lights inside have to be turned on during the day.

This field trip was very informative and helped me to understand the everyday life of real interior designers. I realized how important green design is to the design field these days and how many companies really are trying to build with eco friendly materials and fixtures. I learned a lot about ways to be eco friendly and energy efficient. Also, I learned about some trends that are predicted to become just as important as green design.

Jeff Seal

This past week my class went to two homes that were designed and custom built by a local Lubbock designer named Jeff Seal. The houses that he has designed are one of a kind and extravagant to the city of Lubbock, TX. The class and I were able to see a home that was not finished in order to understand the whole process that goes in to designing and building a new home.

The homes that Jeff Seal designs are unique and are designed with inspirations from either customer’s ideas or from places around the globe. The homes are very detailed and it is made sure that no detail is left out. The process includes the architectural details, the actual design, the material selection, construction, and the landscape design and installation.

Because every house is unique, the materials and design vary so that it is known that Jeff Seal only does custom work. This creativity was obvious when touring the homes and helped me to understand their goal of trying to provide a successful design off of any and all inspirations. The homes that we toured were not alike and it was so interesting to see how Jeff and his team were able to come up with two completely different homes and make them blend in with the town of Lubbock, TX/ Although it is rare to see homes of that beauty in Lubbock they do not make it so the homes seem too out of place.

One of the goals of the design team is not only to provide a successful space and design to provide a home but to provide a space that is satisfying to the eye and the family that will be living there according to their personal lifestyle. Some elements of design that the homes had were symmetry throughout. With this, it created spaces that were functional and able to be inhabited. Jeff Seal and his company strive to provide clients with beautiful, detailed homes that will be durable and last them as long as they wish. The homes that I toured designed by Jeff Seal were some of the most beautiful homes that I have seen and hope to be able to create work like that in my future career.

Collin's Tile and Stone

This past week my class visited Collin’s Tile and Stone in Lubbock, TX. The company carries many types of tile and stone and they specialize in Granite and other hard surfaces that can be used for flooring or countertops.

In the store Granite ranged in price and although some were lower in price than others, it seemed to me that the granite that they carried was of good quality. Granite can get expensive but I think that you are getting what you pay for because when applied in the home, granite can make a space very beautiful. And the store has a variety of patterns and colors so that it can be applied to a space with every kind of style.

Marble was also one of the kinds of stone carried at Collin’s Tile and Stone. It has a vein like look and is not as granular as granite. Marble comes from all over the world and looks very nice in a kitchen setting but it is not as durable as granite can be in the kitchen. This is because marble is very absorbent and can stain and scratch fairly easily. A good idea would be to get a honed finish on the marble to help with the stains and scratches.

Travertine was another stone that was available at the store. It has a fibrous appearance and exists in white, tan, and some cream colors. Travertine is known for the pitted holes and troughs in its surface. These characteristics help to see if the stone has undergone wear and tear. When installed the holes can be filled with grout and smoothed with a shiny finish. It is most commonly used in floor tiles.

Next, many companies try to imitate granite but are not successful. A material that can be used to imitate granite is Cambria and can look very close to the real thing. This material is very popular and because of the high demand it has become just as expensive as real granite.

The trip to Collin’s Tile and Stone was very informative and I learned about the many options that are available and the many different applications in which stone and tile can be used. The store has many products for the public and for designers and I am glad to know about a new resource that can be used in the future.

LEFTWICH CHAPMAN: FLOORING AMERICA

Last week, my Materials class went on a field trip to Leftwich Chapman Flooring in Lubbock, Texas. This flooring store, founded by Larry Leftwich and Jo Wright-Chapman, provides a large selection of carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, and vinyl flooring. They are experts in finding the right floor for a customer and whether it is right for the spaces in which they live. Flooring can enhance the look, feel, and personality of a room more than any other design element. At Leftwich Chapman I learned that they are there to help you make the best decision in bettering your home. One type of flooring that caught my attention was the leather wood flooring.

Leather floor tiles are made to provide the characteristics of genuine leather without going way over budget. The leather tile products are made from 100 percent real recycled leather, giving them the charm of leather, but not the cost. The product adds beauty and uniqueness because many consumers are not aware of its existence. Another great quality about leather flooring is that it is easy to install. The tiles simply click in place and are easy to remove for repair or to clean.

The carpet that they have in stock come in many different patterns and potentially every color that could come to a consumers mind. They have carpet suitable for any type of home or for any era of style desired. My favorite carpet that they had was the shag carpet. It was very soft and could be used in a variety of rooms. The only bad thing about the shag carpet is that it requires a lot of maintenance and also requires users to have a particular vacuum that will not put up or loosen the tufts.

The tile section of the store contained every type of tile for every application. Whether it be a bathroom, kitchen, or open spaces in the home. The mosaic glass tiles that they had in stock came in every color and can be designed by a consumer or they also come in preset color schemes for those not as educated in design.

Overall, my trip to Leftwich Chapman was enjoyable and I learned about what products are out there for me to use in future designs. It gave me ideas and inspirations for projects to come in my Interior Design courses. They offer materials that can be applied in residential and commercial design which makes them a legitimate resource for homeowners and designers.