Final Exam

Solution Statement:

For material selection in this project I focused on the goal the room itself had: To make students feel comfortable, even in situations that may not be. My idea for the room was to make it a bit contemporary and interesting. Because the target audience was young adults, I didn’t want to do anything too traditional. Technology was a big factor in the envirornment, so I made sure to chose furniture that seemed just as advanced. Due to the fact that it is a public space, I was careful to make sure the materials and furniture I chose could last over long periods of time as well as handle everyday wear and tear.

Floor Plan for: Red to Black

Finish Schedule:

Room	Floor	Wall	Table top/Couch backing	Furniture covering
Receptyion Area	Sained Concrete H&C Concrete Stain	Snowbound Paint SW7004 Cherry Tomatoe Paint  SW 6864 Sherwin Williams	Cherry wood	SYM21 Nassimi SYMPHONY CLASSIC DOE
Conference Room	Stained Concrete H&C Concrete Stain	Snowbound Paint SW7004 Cherry Tomatoe Paint  SW 6864 Sherwin Williams	Cherry wood	SYM21 Nassimi SYMPHONY CLASSIC DOE
Private Office	Stained Concrete H&C Concrete Stain	Snowbound Paint SW7004 Cherry Tomatoe Paint  SW 6864 Sherwin Williams	Cherry Wood	SYM21 Nassimi SYMPHONY CLASSIC DOE

 Finish Overview

Material	Product	Color	Size	Unit Price	Total price
Concrete stain	H&C Concrete Stain	Muddy Grey	1 gallon	$20/gal	$80.00
Cherry Wood		Cherry	n/a
Fabric	SYM21 Nassimi	SYMPHONY CLASSIC DOE	1 yard	$23.30/yard	$2213.50
Paint	Sherwin williams	Cherry Tomatoe SW6864	1 gallon	$15/gal	$30.00
Paint	Sherwin williams	Snowbound SW7004	1gallon	$15/gal	$45.00

Material:

Stained Concrete

Used throughout the entire space

STAIN

Brand: H&C

Color: Muddy Grey

Price: $20/gallon

Sustainability:

Concrete can be reused and recycled

Installation:

Concrete is already in the existing structure, only staining is needed

                 Mix the stain before you begin and while you're staining.                  

      Apply the stain on a discreet area of wood to test the color.

   Apply stain by brushing or wiping it in the direction of the grain, using smooth, even strokes. Wipe  off any excess.

  Avoid unattractive lap marks by applying stain from an unpainted area back into the last wet stain.

    Let dry completely

     Maintenance

          H&C™ Concrete Sealer Solvent

         Based Cleaner to Degrease

Material:

Vinyl

Brand: Nassimi

Color: Classic Doe

Price: $23.30/yard

Installation:

Manufacturer will put it on the furnityre for me. So it will already be installed upon delivery/pick up

   Maintenance

Easy to wipe down using wet/damp rag

What I learned

                My materials class turned out to be much more interesting and exciting then I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be boring and just a bunch of lectures about the materials designers use, but instead I got so much more out of it.

                I loved the real life application, and how we were able to go to all sorts of places and see the real deal. That makes learning so much more interesting and easier to comprehend. My professor did an amazing job at organizing the field trips we took. I don’t think the course would be the same with any other professor. Even when we did have to take notes, he power points were extremely interesting and detailed with a bunch of pictures making learning fun for everyone

                This class taught me so many different things I could go on and on. We started with fabrics, learning about the different stiches and weaves. Learning the names of popular patterns. This made me nervous at first, but the way my professor had us learn them really worked! I now catch myself in my day to day life saying things like, “Oh look, its houndstooth!”

                We also learned about many important design elements. Including LEED design, commercial rules for interiors, and much much more. All in all I would say this was a great class, and one of the best classes I have been in so far! It was an amazing experience and I will always be thankful for the useful knowledge I gained from it. (No pun intended :] )

Jeff Seal: Homes of Distiction

I would have to say our trip to the Jeff Seal homes was by far my favorite trip out of all of them! I have ALWAYS loved going through homes, and being able to see them in progress was amazing! When we arrived at the first house I was super excited that Jeff Seal himself was going to be our guide. I thik it is so cool that we were able to meet the designer himself.

The first thing I noticed in the homes was the attention to detail…and I mean every single detail. The homes are gorgeous from the base boards to the ceiling fans. I loved that I was able to tak a peek into what I am planning on doing just a few years down the road.

My favorite part of all the houses was the ceiling in the first house we went through. It was arched, and was all brick. It is on of the prettiest features I have ever seen in a kitchen. Another thing I noticed was all of the custom wood work. I only have one word for it, and it gorgeous!

The second house we went through was the BIGGEST house I have ever set foot in. I can’t wait to drive by it when it is finished. It was huge! However, I wish we would have been able to see a more finished product. I think it would have made the experience that much better, seeing a home at the beginning stages, and one that is practically done. I suppose beggers can’t be choosers though.

I was really inspired by the girls he had working for him. They weren’t all that much older than me, and it was really encouraging to see that there are oppurtunities out there.

Collin's Tile and Stone

                My materials class visited a stone store in Lubbock called Collins Tile and stone. I must say it was an extremely interesting experience. It was nice because we were able to see the stone in its raw form, and then they showed us how they cut it all the way to the finished product.

                Outside of the showroom they had slabs and slabs of stone. It was cool being able to go around on our own and explore all the possabilities that were available to us. I had never seen so many cool looking materials! Th man that showed us around was really knowledgeable on the subject as well. He could answer any question our class had and then some!

                I found it interestiong the many different edges they could make for a counter top. He showed us how they put them together and which ideas cost more than the others. The inside showroom also had a variety of tiles that were so exciting to look at. It’s amazing the things that companies are coming up with now.

                This particular store helped in installing stone in the new health sciences center for tech! It was really interesting the way he could show us what materials they used and where. The materials theyused in htat particular project were also LEED certified. Now I want to go check it out for myself!

                Onc e we got in from the could, we took a peak into their newest showroom that wasn’t yet complete. Here we looked at some of their most expensive products. They were Beautiful!

Leftwich Chapman Flooring America

            At leftwich Chapman, my class toured the store in it’s entirety. The store is a flooring store. It offers good quality flooring along with what seemed to be good quality customer service. The people there were all extremely genuine and friendly. They also knew what they were doing and what they were talking about. I would have to say that this was one of the most information filled trips we have taken!

We started out in the wood flooring area. We learned about the different grades of wood along with the different methods of instillation. There were so many choices! My favorite part of this section was the leather flooring. Who would of thought it! Leather on a floor. I also loved that they had examples down on their floor, not just the samples for you to hold. It was a very good way ro see a glimpse of a finished product. This section also had cork and bamboo, two economical floors. We learned that it is not good to put wood flooring in a bathroom or kitchen. This is due to the amount of moisture that these rooms receive. Wood flooring could begin to rise or warp over time.

Next we went to the carpet room. My favorite part of this was learning that carpet can be made from corn! This particualr carpet was extremely soft and green! We were able to look at many different types of and grades of carpet. I found it clever and unique the way that the store offered flooring for everyones budget, and was arranged accordingly. That made it easier tounderstand exactly what one could afford and what they couldn’t.

The next area we went into was the tile and stone room. There was flooring that seemed to have glitter in it! The newest creations were quite interesting. I really enjoyed hearing what can be done with porcelin to make it look like stone. I found this to be extremely clever.

Finally, in the back room we looked at the laminate flooring, and it changed my view forever! Used to, when I thought of laminate, I though of my kitche in my old houd, with the dole yellowing floors. However laminate has come a long way. They now make it in many forms and fashions, whether it be the stone look you are going for or the wood, it can be done!

This was definitely an inoformation filled trip and I will be remembering all of the unique flooring options that are available to me!

Design Expo

The Design Expo hosted at Texas Tech is a great place for designers to take a peak at some of the latest trends and ideas. Representatives from many different companies are on site ready to show off their latest products, and even products that they are known for. This was my second year to attend the event and one of the vendors that interested me the most was a company called Waterjet Works.

Waterjet Works is based in Dallas, Texas. They opened up in April of 1999. They started out with only two employees, but the company grew rapidly, and by 2006 they were up to 20 employees. Waterjet Works is “ one of the premier custom waterjet design and fabrication companies in the country”. They combine computer-driven technology with high-pressured streams of water to distinctively and precisely cut any surface. These surfaces include steel, stone, plastic, glass, wood, laminate, carpet, and many other surfaces.

Their work can be found in a number of places. They have installed in hospitals, schools, custom homes, hotels, and restauraunts. One of the benefits of this company is, unlike most other waterjet companies, Waterjet Works is able to cut many more materials than metal alone. They are skilled workers and can essentially cut out any shape that is needed.

While at expo, the company gave out examples of their work. I happened to get a cute little key chain! (As seen in the above image.) I had never heard of anything like this, which is why I found it quite intersting.

Unusual materials

The UK pavillion at Expo 2010, also known as the Seed Cathedral was a sculpture structure built in the reference to save seeds around the world. It housed 60,000 plant seeds at the end of fiber optic rods. It was designed by british designer Thomas Heatherwick. Heatherwick is said to be the “go to guy in the UK for unique showstopping structures and, from all the images, it looks like he has outdone even himself this time”.

The unique thing about this structure, is that it is promoting the eco friendly politics, but no matter where your political stand it, it inspires awe. It was a 66 foot tall stucture with 60,000 25 feet long fiber optic rods filled with seeds at the tip. The rods themselves allow light to flow into the interior of the structure. At night time, the rods allow the interior lights to shine out. It is truly amazing design. The rods also sway in the breeze, they to not stick out stiffly. Some say that is looks like it is moving, or even breathing.

After taken down, the rods were donated to various schools and institutes around the world. Out of the 230 different pavillions on show that yeah, the seed cathedral demanded the most attention.