Sunday, December 9, 2012

Final Exam





Solution Statement

This space utilizes durable, sustainable, and efficient materials to create a sleek and green environment.



FINISHES SCHEDULE
ITEM
L
W
H
MATERIAL
QTY
MERCHANT
PRICE
REMARKS
VINYL FLOORS
100
13.17
110
VINYL
368 ft2
NATURCOR
$4.35/ft2
750999
PAINT
-
-
-
ACRYLIC LATEX PAINT
4 GAL
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
$70/GAL
K36W00351
TILE
12
12
5/8"
CERAMIC
54 ft2
STAR VALUES
$2.34/ft2
10584169
WINDOW COVERINGS
72”
36”
0.019"
POLYESTER
6
HUNTER DOUGLAS
$200/ shade
GreenScreen Revive
UPHOLSTERY FABRIC





-
54”
-
RAYON, POLYESTER, & COTTON
36 YDS
CARNEGIE
$49/YD

Passes NFPA 260, California Bulletin 117E
65,000 Double Rubs
CEILINGS
12”
12”
5/8"
MINERAL FIBER
368 ft2
ARMSTRONG
$ 1.19/ft2
1693





                  A. VINYL FLOORING
             


                               1. SUSTAINABILITY
·      Vinyl floors are very sustainable. They require much less energy to produce than processing raw materials. Vinyl is composed largely of salt, which is a very available material. Additionally, vinyl floors are made of water-based solvents and recycled materials, which add to their sustainability factor. Their durability makes them a suitable choice for high traffic areas, and therefore makes them a greener product since they don’t have to be replaced as often.
 2. INSTALLATION
·      Requires physical labor and adhesive
                               3. MAITENANCE
·      Spills are easily wiped and cleaned
·      Avoid using harsh cleaning products
·      Rinse well after mopping to remove all soap  
 4. CALCULATIONS
·   Reception area= 101 ft2 + Toilet Area= 54 ft2 + Conference Room= 165 ft2= 320 ft2
·   320 + 15%= 368 ft2
·      $4.35 x 368= $1600.80
·      Boxes needed: 28


                  B. CEILING TILES
              

                               1. SUSTAINABILITY
·      Made from recycled materials
 2. INSTALLATION
·      Must install with a grid
                               3. MAITENANCE
·      Remove dirt by brushing or vacuuming
·      Wall cleaner can be used on it
·      Avoid using too much water when cleaning
 4. CALCULATIONS
·      Reception area= 101 ft2 + Toilet Area= 54 ft2 + Conference Room= 165 ft2= 320 ft2
·      Ceiling tiles= 12”x12”, so 320 tiles are needed
·      Tiles come in cartons of 36.
·      9 cartons are needed
·      Therefore, this comes to a total of 324 ft2
·      342 x $1.19= $385.56


                  C. PAINTED WALLS
                

                                                
                               1.   SUSTAINABILITY
·      Self-priming so uses less coats of pain
·      Durable
·      Zero VOC’s
 2.  INSTALLATION
·      Requires physical labor
                               3. MAITENANCE
·      Spills are easily wiped and cleaned
·      Avoid using harsh cleaning products             
 4. CALCULATIONS
·   Reception Area= [(9x10)(2)]+[(11x10)(2)]= 400 ft2
Toilet Area = [(6x10)(2)]+[(9x10)(2)]= 300 ft2
Conference Room= [(11x10)(2)]+[(15x10)(2)]= 520 ft2
Total area= 1220 ft2
·   1 gal paint covers 400 ft2
1220/400=3.05
Therefore, 4 gallons are needed
·   $70 x 4= $280

               
                D. WINDOW COVERINGS
                 

                               1.   SUSTAINABILITY
·      Made from 100% recycled materials
·      Effectively blocks heat from the sun keeping energy costs down
 2.  INSTALLATION
·      Requires physical labor and roller panels
                               3. MAITENANCE
·      Dust and dry-wipe to clean
 4. CALCULATIONS
·      $200 x 6 Windows= $1200


                E. CERAMIC TILE FLOORING
                

                               1.   SUSTAINABILITY
·      Lifespan of 50 years
·      Comes from natural and plentiful raw materials
 2.  INSTALLATION
·      Requires physical labor
                               3. MAITENANCE
·      Safe to mop
·      Sweeping and vacuuming are also acceptable
 4. CALCULATIONS
·      Toilet Area: 9x6= 54 ft2
·      $2.34 x 54= $126.36
·      $126.36+ 15%= $145.31


A. UPHOLSTERY FABRIC

              1.   SUSTAINABILITY
                    ·      Very durable and therefore requires less frequent replacing
                    ·      65,000 double rubs
              2.  INSTALLATION
                    ·      Requires professional upholstery
                  3. MAITENANCE
                         ·      Only clean with a water free solvent.
                         ·      Do not saturate. Do not use water.
                         ·      Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned
                  4. CALCULATIONS
                         ·      3 yards per chair
                         ·      3x 12 = 36 yards
                         ·      $49 x 36=  $1764

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

What I learned This Semester

This semester I learned many things about interior design and selecting materials. Subjects ranged from fabrics, flooring, wall coverings, color theory, LEED and more. This class is vital to a designer because it is important to know how to select appropriate materials for different spaces.

I found that I learned the most from going on the field trips. It made me realize that there really are so many different fields to work in within interior design. Jobs can range from separating cotton fibers at the Texas Tech Fiber & Biopolymer Research Institute to designing million dollar dream homes with Jeff Seal. It was helpful to get to know all these people around the Lubbock community for future internships or jobs. My favorite field trip was probably the one to Parkhill, Smith, & Cooper because I think that LEED is really fascinating. Also, I'll never pass up a chance to go on a green roof!

I also found that I learned a lot about fabric codes during our swatch kit assignment that will be valuable when taking the NCIDQ. It was surprising to learn just how many different kinds of fabrics there were. Besides having to know these fabrics for interior design, I also got pretty excited when I was able to recognize all of the brocade leggings in Forever 21 on Black Friday.

Overall, I learned a lot from this Materials class, and I felt that it was very worthwhile. I feel that the knowledge I have gained in this class will help me to become a better designer.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Parkhill, Smith & Cooper


Parkhill, Smith & Cooper is one of the few buildings in Lubbock that is LEED certified! It's amazing how well they are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by working with the surrounding environment. For example, they only used items that came from a 500 mile radius to reduce their carbon footprint, and were clever with their irrigation techniques which is important in the dry Lubbock climate.


This was when several of the LEED qualifications were being explained to us.



This helps with keeping the grass in place and with irrigation. Also, you can park on this!

The space is open and airy to provide natural light, and incorporates plenty of foliage.




The green text shows that the building is LEED certified!


This shows the plans for the green roof and how it is LEED certified.


The coolest part of the building was the green roof! It shows that green roofs are possible even in Lubbock.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Jeff Seal Homes of Distinction


Jeff Seal Homes of Distinction
Melissa Spoth
Texas Tech University

As we gathered around the wooden framework that would soon become a beautiful castle-like home, our materials class waited anxiously to meet with designer and architect Jeff Seal. The house had a grand driveway, helix-shaped chimneys, and ornate towers, which left me amazed that there was a market for Tudor-style architecture in Lubbock, Texas. Though this style can be difficult to pull off, Jeff Seal did a beautiful job along with his assistant designers, Abby and Emily. Our field trip to see Jeff Seal’s homes the class a glimpse into the glamorous side of residential design and taught us all the meticulous details that must be paid attention to when building a home.
            As mentioned previously, the first home our class toured was a Tudor-style castle in The Falls. Abby and Emily explained all of the design elements used and the process they took to get there. Jeff creates a theme throughout his homes by repeating motifs, such as having Tudor-style arches in various areas. The motif even finds its way into his custom-built cabinetry in the kitchen, which helps to keep the design consistent. Speaking of which, Jeff also takes pride in originality and caters to his clients by having several custom-built pieces of furniture and architecture. He does not neglect ceilings, and rather he sees them as a way to further integrate his design goals. For example, he created grand, vaulted ceilings in the study of the home that will beautifully showcase his many levels of bookshelves. Though it was fun to see a home still in the construction process, the next home we saw gave us an even better insight into Jeff’s talents.
            The next home we toured was a Mediterranean style home nearby. It was vastly different from the previous home, proving that designers have to be ready to work with anything their clients ask for. Keeping with the Mediterranean theme, this house incorporated a larger use of tile than wood like the last one. Jeff also demonstrated his ceiling design skills in this house. It seemed that every single room had a different ceiling height and ceiling design. I found an interesting one to be in the guest bedroom, which had a tiered ceiling in the shape of an upside-down wedding cake. It certainly reinforced the sense of height and scale in the room. Overall, this was an equally beautiful home that Jeff built.
            As far as Jeff’s design process goes, he believes in a design firm that handles all aspects of design from start to finish. Therefore, his team handles architectural construction, interior design, and even landscape design. With Abby and Emily’s help, this is exactly what he achieves and is what makes his business so successful. Jeff explained that cutting out the middle man leads to less confusion, and it is easier to understand the vision as a whole.
            I also found it quite helpful to hear from Abby and Emily’s perspectives as former Texas Tech interior design students. They explained that working for Jeff has provided greater opportunities for them than they would have received if they chose to work at large design firms in other cities. Though staying in Lubbock can be seen as a downside, they get hands on experience with Jeff, and learn what it is like to work with clients in the real world. Hearing from Abby and Emily has made me reconsider where I decide to get my internship and do post-graduate work.
            Overall, the field trip to see Jeff Seal Homes of Distinction was a great learning opportunity. Not only did I get to see extremely ornate and beautiful houses, but I got to learn about how residential design works in the real world. Hopefully one day when I make enough money, I can move into one of Jeff’s homes because I know they will be built with both quality and beauty in mind.


This is the interior of the first Tudor-style home we saw. These arches repeated throughout the house.


Cool ceiling design!


Jeff improvised these chimney designs on the spot!


Abby explains the plans and elevations.


Jeff Seal in person explaining the process of building the house!


Here is the house/castle from the front.... quite ornate!


 This is the second Mediterranean-style home we saw.


The staircase was so sleek on the inside. I'm sure it will look even better after construction is over!


This is the kitchen. Pretty grand! All of the details and cabinetry are totally custom.


Check out this neat ceiling design!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Leftwich Chapman


Our latest field trip was to Leftwich Chapman Designer Floors. We got to learn a lot about different types of flooring such as carpet, tile, laminate, vinyl, and hardwood. In the tour, we also learned about which products were eco-friendly, and what justifies the higher cost of local, quality floors. This was a very informative field trip, and I think this would be a fun place to work! There are always so many cool things coming into the store.


So many rug and carpet options!



I had no idea that leather floors were even a thing! They are ridiculously expensive, but actually are quite durable and great for muffling sound.


The difference between local hardwood and cheap imported hardwood is the quality of the veneers.



Love this tile! It would look so cool on a wall.




These are all vinyl! These are the best eco-friendly floors because they are easy to clean and look just like hardwood. They are becoming increasingly popular in restaurants and other high-traffic areas.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Photo Analysis


For our bathroom remodel project, we had to use a color scheme from nature as inspiration. I selected this National Geographic photo of the Serengeti in Tanzania. The photographers at National Geographic are quite skilled, and therefore this photo demonstrates many qualities that make it appealing.

First of all, it utilizes the rule of thirds. The bottom third is composed of the grass. The middle third is composed of the trees, fog, and mountains. Lastly, the top third is composed of the clouds. This element helps to make the photo quite balanced.

This photo also creates contrast between the linear, horizontal orientation, and the organic lines created by the tree branches.

More contrast is created through the light colors of the sky and the harsh darkness of the trees. However, the layering effect created by the fog, trees, and mountains helps to make the photo harmonious.

Unusual Materials


       When most people think of Styrofoam, they think of the stuffing in boxes or food and beverage containers. In reality, Styrofoam has many uses besides being a disposable material. Since its development in the 20th century, many people have realized Styrofoam’s positive qualities and utilized it for projects such as earthquake-proof Styrofoam dome homes.
Styrofoam is a man-made product, invented in 1941 by Ray McIntyre (Dow Chemical Company, 2012). Styrofoam is actually the name trademarked by the Dow Chemical Company of extruded polystyrene foam, a material created to be insulating and buoyant. In fact, Styrofoam was first used by the U.S. Coast Guard in the creation of several watercrafts because of its buoyancy and water resiliency (Dow Chemical Company, 2012). Over time, this military grade material came to be a household item, and has found various new uses.
Unfortunately, Styrofoam has been targeted by many environmental groups as being a hazard to human health, as well as the environment. In 1986, the EPA reported the process of making polystyrene as the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste, both fluid and solid (Earth Resource Foundation, 2012). The Earth Resource Foundation (2012) also argues against the use of Styrofoam because it is made with petroleum, a nonrenewable resource. Because of these reasons, cities like Taiwan, Portland, and Orange County have outlawed polystyrene foam (Earth Resource Foundation, 2012).
Those on the other side of the argument present the claim that Styrofoam leaves a smaller environmental footprint when one considers its entire lifecycle (Reynolds Consumer Products, 2012). Compared to paper plates, Styrofoam plates use 60% less physical material, generate 50% less greenhouse gas emissions, and require 50% less energy to make  (Reynolds Consumer Products, 2012).
Clever individuals at The International Dome Home Company took these positive qualities into account, and developed affordable, earthquake resistant Styrofoam homes in Japan. The company emphasizes the many advantages of the dome home. For example, its great insulation would reduce energy costs (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). The dome home is also pretty durable for being made of Styrofoam. Unlike wood or iron, it won’t get eaten by termites or rust (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). The combination of structural stability along with Styrofoam’s light weight and shock impact make it perfect for an earthquake-prone region like Japan.
The International Dome Home Company also emphasizes the ease and modularity of the dome homes. They claim that one can be assembled by three to four people within seven days (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). This makes the product convenient for consumers and eliminates labor costs. Another bonus of self-assembly is that the consumers can create their own layout with several pre-fabricated Styrofoam pieces that they put together.
Considering environmental complaints about Styrofoam, The International Dome Home Company has ensured that the dome homes pass Japan’s strictest building codes (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). While the making of Styrofoam still produces waste, society must bear in mind that the homes are formaldehyde free, their assembly does not produce waste, and their construction does not cause any deforestation (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). Overall, the Styrofoam dome homes are a very efficient alternative to traditional building materials.
It is amazing to see how everyday materials can be used in such unusual ways. Only time will tell to see if Styrofoam will continue to be a material used in interiors, or if its environmental footprint will prove it to be too costly to continue using. Society is innovative, however, and will continue to find newer and stranger materials to use.
References
Earth Resource Foundation. (2012). Polysterene Foam Report. Retrieved from: http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html 
Japan Dome Home Co. (2012) The Superior Characteristics of the Dome Home. Retrieved from: http://www.i-domehouse.com/characters.html
Reynolds Consumer Products. (2012). Facts on Foam. Retrieved from: http://www.hefty.com/info/facts- on-foam.aspx 
The Dow Chemical Company. (2012). Invention of Styrofoam. Retrieved from: http://building.dow.com/about/story.htm