ASID Texas Gulf Coast Newsletter Fall 2018 by DSA Publishing

TX GULF COAST

DESIGN

INDUSTRY PARTNER

FALL 2018 | ISSUE 72

President’s Letter

ow could it be? A year has passed and 4 seasons have gone. And now, my Presidential journey has come to an end. I AM one word…GRATEFUL!

My most fabulous friend, Dennis McNabb says, “that every person should be the President of a volunteer organization.” I GET IT NOW, Dennis! What an incredible experience and passage this has been; from Student member, to Community Service volunteer with the great Thomasine J., over 10 years ago, to Legislative Chair, Show House Co-Chair and Co-Chair again…then Chair, to President-Elect and now the end of my ASID Presidential tour of duty. . . The President receives lots of recognition and accolades. We are often invited to events and honored on many occasions, but we all know that the credit for anything 2016-17 Board Swearin this successful and large goes to the countless people that commit their time, treasures and talents. We also stand on the shoulders of those who by trial and fire left us a great Chapter to elevate even the more. So, as this is my last missive to my ASID Family, I honor and thank all of the many contributors and volunteers that keep this organization professional and productive, with a playful twist of fellowship and fun! Thank you, ASID [Sponsors. Industry Partners. Emerging Professionals. Students. Designers.] for an amazing adventure! And Special Gratitude to each “Volunteer|”VolunTOLD”” Leader (Committee Chairs and Board of Directors) that has accepted and implemented the master plan for this ASID community, WELL! I am proud to share that IN ONE YEAR, we have: • Developed a 3-year Strategic Plan that will provide continuity in programs • Planned and hosted not only one Ruby Awards Gala|Party, but TWO • Planned and will host not only one Annual Meeting, but TWO, the second of which is coming soon • Supported Legislative Advocacy for our profession; Sponsor to the TAID Art Fare • Sponsor in the GHBA Community • Partnered with Habitat for Humanity and Houston Furniture Bank in Community Outreach • Trained incoming Committee Chairs and Board of Directors • Conducted our 3-year review of our Chapter Policy and Procedures • Revised our Sponsorship Prospectus, raising the number of Sponsors and Sponsorship Revenue • Supported the National Foundation • Begun research to gain Alternative Revenue for our Chapter • Developed alternative strategies to award Scholarships to our Students • Assess and continue to monitor our Investment Capital Portfolio • Sent your Board of Directors to the Leadership Experience in Washington DC • Sent Students to the extraordinary national SCALE event in Los Angeles • Sent your President to the President’s Forum in Los Angeles • Learned and grown through numerous Continued Education events • Adopted 50+ Students from local Colleges and Universities • Enriched Students and engaged our local Industry Partners on an All-Day Bus Tour • Walked on the “business side” with a new approach to our TX Gulf Coast Design Magazine • Watched our E-Newsletter evolve to distribute timely informative monthly Chapter news • Supported the HCC and Stephen F. Austin design education collaboration • Supported our Educators through a grant • Had members from our Society published in News Articles and Magazines • Received the handy printed Directory that lists the contact information of our membership

ASID TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER 7026 Old Katy Road, Suite 285 Houston, Texas 77024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Shundra Harris, ASID, RID 817.228.7297 president@txgc.asid.org President-Elect Saima Sayer, ASID, RID 281.630.0106 President-elect@txgc.asid.org Financial Director Tom Connell, Industry Partner ASID 713.621.1556 Finance@txgc.asid.org Communications Director Brooke Bowman, Allied ASID 281.841.0318 Communications@txgc.asid.org Professional Development Director Jan Therrien, Allied ASID 281.799.0240 professionaldevelopment@txgc.asid.org Membership Director Sari Karki-Rajabi, ASID 281.686.1745 membership@txgc.asid.org At-Large Director Pamela Cortes, Industry Partner ASID 713.301.1574 at-large@txgc.asid.org Student Representative Khanh Huy Vu, Student ASID 832.701.4568 Studentrep@txgc.asid.org Chapter Administrator Janie Mitts Moore 713.626.1470 administrator@txgc.asid.org

continued on page 6 TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER | FALL 2018 - 3 -

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IN THIS ISSUE

TX GULF COAST

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DESIGN FALL 2018 | ISSUE 72

ASID TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER OFFICE 7026 Old Katy Road, Suite 285 Houston, Texas 77024 T: 713-626-1470 Office Hours: 10am-4pm Mon-Thurs Closed Friday www.asidtgcc.org

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ASID HQ 718 7th St. NW, 4th Floor Washington DC 20001 Tel: (202) 546-3480 Fax: (202) 546-3240 asid@asid.org • www.asid.org EDITORIAL VOLUNTEERS Communications Director Brooke Bowman, Allied ASID

The “Emotional” Side of Commercial Design

ASID Commuity Outreach - The Taylor House Project Harnessing Social Media Financial Director News

Membership Celebration 2018

Vinyl & Sound - is the purist back?

New Faces of Design - Celebration and Portfolio Show with Aria Stone Gallery Welcome New Members

Winning it all - Best in Show Commercial

Where can you get involved with ASID TXGC? Designer Peer Group Corner 2018 TXGC Sponsors

ASID Business Symposium & Expo + Student Career Day Sip & Stroll - Daltile CEU Events Houston Design Center

Decorative Center Houston

Magazine Chair & Co-chair Larry Boykin, Industry Partner ASID Jay Crowe Blanchard, ASID, RID, CAPS

Magazine Committee Candy Castle, Allied ASID Sandra Smith, Allied ASID Michael Williams, Industry Partner ASID Contributors Marjorie L. Slovack, ASID, RID Diane Cowen Luis Cortes Brititania Limuel, Allied ASID Tom Connell Ginny Knauff Allison Hay Candice Rogers Sophia Vassiliou, Allied ASID Jon Shuler Chapter Administrator Janie Mitts Moore 713-626-1470 administrator@txgc.asid.org

Advertising Sales Jamie Williams • 352.448.5873 jwilliams@dsapubs.com TXGC DESIGN Magazine is published quarterly for the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers by DSA Publishing & Design, Inc. Editorial content and Magazine are controlled and owned by the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of ASID. Reproduction of this publication in whole, in part, in any form is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of ASID.

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

27 12 24 19 27 26 17 02 26 26 19 04 07 08 28 11 09 24 24 16 13

ALEXANDRA’S DRAPERIES BLATT BILLIARDS DALLAS RUGS

DESIGNER’S FURNITURE MFG. ELIzABETH COLE

G&S CUSTOM DRAPERIES GAPPA GLASS LADCO

THE LONESTAR RANGE HOOD COMPANY M&M CARPET SHOWROOM MANCHESTER CARPET

MEREDITH O’DONNELL FINE FURNITURE MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS OFF-WHITE

PECK & COMPANY

SCHENCK & COMPANY SUB-zERO / WOLF

On the cover: 2017 RUBY AWARD WINNER Best in Show – Commerical Belinda Bennett, ASID, RID

TX GULF COAST

DESIGN FALL 2018

COMMERCIAL DESIGN

Photo Credit: Peter Molick Photography

SUN PRO GLASS TINTING

Article Page: 18

VENETIAN BLIND & FLOORING WOODMODE

XTREMEINERIOR ARCHITECTUAL SOLUTIONS / TAMLYN TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER | FALL 2018 - 5 -

The “Emotional” Side of Commercial Design By Marjorie L. Slovack, ASID, RID Slovack-Bass Consider walking thru any shopping mall in the world and realize the volume of content that is affecting you! We have labeled this the “shopping experience” for a reason. Every single surface, object, light source, color palette, smell, and sound creates a mood that you with either pass by, or be enticed to enter. This is just a small example of all the “design” decisions surrounding us and influencing our moods & actions every single day.

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Commercial Design, especially Public Interactive Design, carries a completely different level of responsibility and capability of influence for Interior Designers. This understanding of the elements that truly make humans respond in a positive manner to their surroundings is what makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary in Design. Taking the time to think thru every detail, as it becomes experienced, not just how it works on paper, is the key. Think about a Bank Lobby filled with light, club chairs set up for casual meetings, a friendly coffee bar, warm color tones that somehow relax the atmosphere. This sets the tone for a more personal, enjoyable Banking experience that changes how we react to the business at hand. Consider a more complex response in a space where you trust the personnel to alter your looks! A Salon, where the minute you walk in, the feeling of comfortable trust is elicited along with the subtle awareness of updated style. Suddenly, you relax into the knowledge that your hair cut or styling will be informed and updated, all sensed from the surroundings! Corporate environments can be rigid in their actual needs of meeting spaces, large areas of desk units, and white board conference areas, yet the emotional response must still be considered. The importance of the carpet pattern, the natural light source, the Art, or the ability to gather in comfortable out settings away from desks is all paramount to the desire to come to work and to perform while there. Design Matters! Whether it be retail, hospitality, or commercial—thoughtful and careful planning with the concern of understanding the human reaction is the real job of Commercial Designers. In the end, this circle of influence creates the ripples of commerce, corporate retention, sales volume, and success of leadership through the design of spaces that support the internal needs in the physical realm.

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Devised a plan to update our Website and Social Media context, coming soon Publicized our Chapter in Media and Magazines Stayed connected with the Design Industry through our DCH|HDC Liaisons Attended a fun-filled fellowship with the New Members Sent Welcome Letters to all of our New Members Been greeted in the most receptive way by our Hospitality Committee, at each and every event Honored graduating students at phenomenal Portfolio Shows Continued to Visit Schools and Engage and Mentor Students Celebrated the New Faces of our Industry with the Emerging Professionals Played Video Games and had High Tea time in some of our many Social Networking events Bowled with our Industry Partners Had a cool Industry Partner Peer Group host Designers in a Meet and Greet Continually supported and under girded by the Industry Partner Backbone of this organization Had amazing leadership for by our Student Rep who supports 5 schools Created the new Special Awards Committee that helps us spot and Honor Outstanding Members Worked diligently to nominate our membership for National Awards…and the Lifetime Award goes to Donna Vining (my Mom)! Planned a Tradeshow | Annual Meeting | Student Career Day event coming soon Celebrated the life of our Beloved Friend and Bookkeeper, David! If only you knew how your Past-President (His Partner, Bill) and our very own member Adrian stepped up to see after David’s affairs! That’s Family!

All that I’ve detailed is the product of 8 Board Members, 1 Past-President, 35 Committees with over 45 Committee Chairs, some of which serve in double and triple capacities, many Volunteers and the BEST ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR anyone could ever have…JANIE (THE HUB) MITTS-MOORE, THANK YOU! Dennis, Santé Fe was amazing and you own a piece of my heart! Saima, thank you for your unconditional support! Tom, thank you for freeing me to do my job by ALWAYS doing yours well. They say, keep the man with the purse strings close…my new ASID BFF! Brooke (my Pencil Lady), Khahn (my kid), Sari (my Wise One), Pam (My Make It Happen One) and Jan (My Fix It One)…Thank You All! To the new comers, Allison, Marcia, and Nubia and the 2018-2019 Line Up, take it to the next level! . . . So, I leave this term and am on the road to the next level, ASID National Chapter Support Team, where I plan to serve this great organization and represent my local Texas Gulf Coast family. Thank you a million times, TXGC! YOU ROCK! Shundra Harris, ASID ASID Texas Gulf Coast Chapter President 2017-2018

CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR’S NOTE By Larry Boykin, ASID IP and Jay Crowe Blanchard, ASID, RID, CAPS

We need your help to submit articles and suggest content for future issues. Although we are both very involved in different areas of ASID there is no way we can cover all of our many events and subjects.

Please feel free to reach us with any ideas. We want to open each issue of the magazine and see your faces being active in our chapter!

Please make a note: NEW EMAIL for anything pertaining to the magazine:

asidtxgcdesignmagazine@gmail.com

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ASID Community Outreach

The Taylor House Project A Collaboration of Community at its best! By Allison Hay Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity The ASID Community Outreach Committee Chair Thomasine Johnson and Co-Chair Cindy Berg were honored to collaborate with Allison Hay, Executive Director of Houston Habitat for Humanity, Oli Mohammed Executive Director of Houston Furniture Bank and David Spencer from Mattress Firm to help make Mrs. Gladys Taylor dream for home come true. Mrs. Taylor is an elderly/disabled woman, and uses a wheelchair to get around, so needless to say the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey made it extra difficult for her. She received 5’ of water in her home and she lost everything. Her home had been completely gutted. Habitat for Humanity stepped in and completely restored her home and contacted ASID Community Outreach Committee and the rest is history! When Mrs. Taylor came in for the reveal she said “Is this really my home? This is beyond my wildest dream!” The whole team replied… “Yes Mrs. Taylor, we did this just for YOU!” A special thanks to all the individuals who worked so hard to make this dream come true. May you be blessed for your time, talents and treasures. If you are interested in working with the ASID Community Outreach Committee on future projects or want to share other projects that are dear to the community, please contact Thomasine Johnson, 281-835-9789 or Cindy Berg 314-277-9216. We are waiting to hear from YOU!

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socialmedia

HARNESSING By Diane Cowen Architecture + home design writer Houston Chronicle

You spend your day working with clients, finding subcontractors and pulling fabric and other samples, and sometimes it seems there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all or that. You’re supposed to update a website and manage multiple social media accounts, too? Yes. Even if your firm is and always has been busy, to stay in the game you need to be on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and maybe even Twitter. And being smart with hashtags and handy with video helps, too. Think of social media as the best – and least expensive -advertising and marketing you can do right now. Your website serves as your internet storefront, and social media is really a gathering place where you meet new people, put your work on display and stay in touch with what’s happening in the design/build world. And they all draw viewers to your own website, where you showcase the best of your work for potential clients to see. I may not be an expert at any of them, but I’m most adept at Facebook. In fact, nearly half of my own online traffic on www.houstonchronicle.com comes from Facebook, where I post a link to every story I write. For example, on the day I wrote this story, my online traffic in that one day was quadruple my next-best Chronicle competitor. Since January 1, 2018, my social media efforts have made me the top generator of pageviews on the Chronicle’s premium site, with nearly 1.4 million pageviews -- and some 400,000 pageviews ahead of my colleague in the No. 2 spot. My online traffic is just one example of the power and benefits of social media. For those of you just getting started, here’s a quick primer: Facebook: I’ll start with Facebook, since it is the behemoth of the bunch with 2.23 billion active users worldwide. If you’re not on Facebook, start an account today, even if it’s a professional account for your work only. The key to getting traction from Facebook is to “friend” or “like” other people or pages; once you start posting, they’ll comment on your photos and words and you’ll end up in their newsfeed. If they share your posts, you’ll be in front of all of their friends, many of whom will friend you in return. Hashtags are optional, but they’ll help you find content you want. For an easy starter, use #houstondesign at the end of any post about your design work so it will show up in one of the simplest searches used by local design fans. Note: photos are important, as they’ll engage people who are casual viewers – pictures catch your eye faster than words every time.

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Instagram: This site is all about photos and videos, so if you like to go through your day snapping pictures of great things you see in showrooms or stores or want to share a picture of a finished project or work in progress, Instagram is the site for you. You can post a photo in straight from the Instagram app or save one to your Instagram page from photos already saved in your phone. And you can connect it with your Facebook account. You’ll build a fan following that will draw people to your website and to other social media tools that you use. Pinterest: More than 80 percent of Pinterest users are women, and home design is a major search topic. While much of the site is product driven – businesses sell all kinds of things here – many users treat it almost like a personalized magazine. They search keywords and save things to boards on their own page, often saving images for months as they prepare for new home construction, remodeling projects or future decorating. At some point in time they’re going to hire someone to do the work, and if they’re saving your Pinterest posts, it might just be you. I save nearly every story I write to my work Pinterest page – www.pinterest/ChronDesign – and hashtags are a key way to get them in front of people. It’s much like the SEO of internet sites: when you use the keywords people search for, your posts are more likely to make it to their page. Twitter: If you were to skip a form of social media, this one might be it. Many follow the 140-character snippets from news figures or popular entertainers on Twitter, but this app doesn’t have a lot of traction in the interior design world. The best part about social media is that they build on each other. People will find you on one site and be intrigued to find you elsewhere. Eventually, they’ll make it to your website and consider you to manage or execute their next project.

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR News By Tom Connell, Industry Partner ASID M & M Carpet Showroom Our chapter leadership recently returned from the annual leadership conference held in our nation’s capital this summer and I saw firsthand how respected our chapter was on a national level. I came away with a stronger sense of pride for Texas Gulf Coast and a renewed enthusiasm to continue to build on what is already a great chapter. You may ask what all do we do? As finance director, there are several things that fall under this leadership. Part of what we do is pay the bills, create and maintain budgets in conjunction with the rest of the board, send in quarterly reports to national, balance accounts and allocate funds accordingly. In addition, we have committees under our watch which include investment review, scholarship, alternative revenue, and foundation. The investment review committee meets twice a year with our investment advisor to review our portfolio, or our reserves fund. We are required by national to keep a certain number of months operating expenses in reserves. Part of those meetings include making sure our investments are properly managed through safe and liquid investment alternatives, all the while earning a respectable return.

Grace Hofer with Cambria heads up our scholarship committee which became more active this past year by sending our student board representative to Scale, our annual student conference which took place in Los Angeles this year. Next year’s student conference is in New York City, so be sure to mark your calendars! Our focus on the scholarship committee this year is to create a more needs based application for students who want to pursue a career in interior design. Grace will be unveiling more details on this soon. Jon Schuler of Aria Stone leads our alternative revenue committee, which was developed as a new committee this past year. While still getting a firm footing, our plans for the upcoming year are to develop more interaction between members in a fun environment and at the same time raise funds for our chapter. In our foundation committee Sharon Staley brings her wealth of knowledge with ASID and foundation work to help us in this area. At the conference, I learned one of the many benefits that membership provides is discounted insurance rates for your business. If you have an interest in this, go to ASID.org for more information. Who knows, they may be able to lower your insurance costs! We’re always looking for great ideas, so please don’t be shy. We’d love for you to get more involved in your chapter to continue to make it the best in the country and a source of pride for all of us in the years to come!

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TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER | FALL 2018 - 11 -

ASID TEXAS GULF COAST

Membership Celebration 2018 By Ginny Knauff, ASID IP, QDI Surfaces Membership Committee Chair

The ASID TXCG Membership Celebration was a spectacular event held on June 28, 2018 at QDI Surfaces. We were proud to announce our guest speaker Benjamin Johnston to an audience of potential new and current ASID members: interior designers, design students and industry partners, all connected to our Texas Gulf Coast Chapter fo American Society of Interior Designers. Ben gave an amazing motivational talk based on his own personal life and professional experiences, and shared lessons learned about turning mistakes into great successes in this building and design industry. We also had the pleasure of introducing ASID TXGC President Shundra Harris, who gave welcome speech to our audience.

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Larry Boykin spoke about the benefits of becoming an ASID member. At the event two interior design students participating in ASID TXGC Adopt a Student program were adopted by generous ASID TXGC industry partners. Door prizes were given out to lucky winners in addition to professional head shots to those members who brought in a potential new member to join. A very special thank you goes out to QDI Surfaces hosting the event at their showroom, to CHR Art, and Creative Style for donating their beautiful products, to Eric Hoffland, Premier Sales & Marketing, for providing professional headshots to the winners, and our ASID TXGC Membership Committee team: Co-Chair: Aurora Fain, Associate ASID, Jasmine Aldrich, Student ASID, and Lesle Alvarenga, Allied ASID, who all helped to make this event fun and fabulous.

www.xtremeIAS.com 844.365.9462

TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER | FALL 2018 - 13 -

Vinyl & Sound IS THE PURIST BACK? By Luis Cortes, President Echo Workshop ASID Industry Partner Recently an acquaintance challenged me on why he should spend “X” amount of dollars on a pair of speakers. The word he used was “ridiculous.” As a “live and let live” kind of guy and an aficionado in this field I asked myself whether it was worth educating him or letting it fly. After all, there’s a level at which the sound and cost make sense (cents to the budget). I think this is about the experience of listening and feeling sound, the emotions felt, the chill you get from a beautiful inspirational sonata or the chest pounding sensation from a track that takes you back to a simpler time. Shouldn’t this be true for everything in life? In my teenage years, I burned up plenty of my father’s speakers listening to vinyl records. I have fond memories of playing those records at a very loud level. Sorry Dad, Love ya, but your speakers wouldn’t go to “11”! We all know history repeats itself, and I find myself, knee deep, in the resurgence of that old vinyl. I have recently made a rediscovery. My wife and I frequent record stores and conventions picking through the old and new vinyl that moves us musically. It’s the same old medium with today’s playback technology advanced to a level where the audio quality is an incredible experience on its own. A new movement is in play today. The younger generations have discovered our old ways aren’t so bad. While rubbing elbows with Millennials at the record conventions the conversation turns to music that moves us, the gear we’re using to listen, and, the most important part, how it makes us feel. In fact, a number of today’s recording artists are releasing vinyl. We carry a sense of pride in our choices of turn table, plinth, stylus, tone arm, amplifiers and speakers. Don’t get me wrong. You don’t have to know all this information to enjoy good quality sound and you can get back into it with the purchase of a moderately priced system and a $2 used record without knowing about any of the aforementioned gadgets. It’s quite the generational bridge amongst those of us that appreciate the medium. Some basics: the plinth is the base on which your platter sits. The platter is the part that is spun by the motor. Your record sits on top of the platter. The tone arm swings back and forth and gently drops the stylus, which reads the content a your record. This process is usually done with either a moving magnet or coil technology. Sending the sounds to your ears requires three more choices. A pre-amplifier sends the signal from the turntable to the amplifier which in turn sends the sound to the speakers. Some record players have a built-in pre-amplifier which means you can plug it into any amplifier with the need to purchase a pre-amp. Typically, the higher end record players will require that pre-amp, which gives an added quality selection. Similar choices are available on all the components I just mentioned as you can spend “ridiculous” amounts of money on tone arms, and styluses. And for those of you self-proclaimed aficionados of great audio, yes, I use a CD player as well and love both mediums equally. Stop judging. If you want to welcome some pleasurable nostalgia into your life, come on in the water’s fine. I often get in my time machine and travel to those years where it was just fun. I find it pleasurable that something simpler can make its way through this complicated world of wires and wireless we live in today. - 14 - FALL 2018 | TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER

ASID Texas Gulf Coast

R u by Awa r d s presents:

TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER | FALL 2018 - 15 -

New Faces of Design

C E L E B R AT I O N A N D P O R T F O L I O S H O W W I T H A R I A S T O N E G A L L E R Y

By Candice Rogers, Allied ASID, Emerging Professionals Committee Chair; Nubia Heinz, Industry Partner Representative of Sherwin-Williams Company, Student Affairs Committee Chair; Rhonnika Clifton, Allied ASID, Student Affairs Committee Co-Chair The annual New Faces of Design celebration and portfolio show was held at Aria Stone Gallery in the Decorative Center of Houston on June 7th, 2018. The event was hosted by the ASID Texas Gulf Coast Student Affairs and Emerging Professionals Committees with the following underwriters: Aria Stone Gallery, Sherwin-Williams Company, Creative Branch, Cabinet Innovations, and The Decorative Center of Houston. Participants represented students and emerging professionals from all over the Texas Gulf Coast who were proud to display their creativity and work. Over seventy attendees from the design community came out to the celebration and enjoyed light bites from Roots Café. Attendees mingled, perused the beautiful showroom, viewed displays from the students and emerging professionals and voted on the first ever “People’s Choice Award” which was awarded to participant Cristian Garcia of The Art Institute of Houston. An informative discussion panel was held with the celebrated Laura U Interior Design team with questions submitted by participants and attendees. The event was a lot of fun and a great success ending with an Awards Celebration for participants along with a toast for their achievements and hard work on becoming the “Next Generation of Emerging Professionals.” If you are interested in participating in next year’s event or would like to find out more about this event, please contact Candice Rogers at epac@txgc.asid.org or Janie Moore at administrator@txgc.asid.org We look forward to next year’s celebration!!

Sophia Vassiliou, Rhonnika Clifton, Nubia Heinz, Jon Schuler, Candice Rogers, Nicki Kana

Martha Lurie, Janie Moore, Jasmine Aldrich

Participants, Left to Right: Thalia Felix – Art Institute of Houston, Allison Galvan – Art Institute of Houston, Cristian Garcia – Art Institute of Houston, Brititania Limuel – Art Institute of Houston, Alex Wilson – Sam Houston State University, Lisa Roark – Art Institute of Houston, Khadijeh Tanni – Houston Community College, Meriem Haddad – Houston Community College, Gloria Varela – Houston Community College, Jasmine Aldrich – Sam Houston State University

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS ASID Texas Gulf Coast Chapter and Membership Committee would like to extend a warm welcome to our new members! PROFESSIONAL Carlo Di Nunzio, ASID Ray Holliday, ASID ALLIED

Cindy Berg, Allied ASID

Inez Hawkins, Allied ASID Elnaz Irby, Allied ASID

Bridget Livingston, Allied ASID Kate McDonald, Allied ASID Jennifer Polley, Allied ASID ASSOCIATE

Trish Miller, Associate ASID STUDENT MEMBERS

Khadijeh Al Tanni, Student ASID

Nicholas Berkley-Gough, Student ASID Caitlyn Burciaga, Student ASID Brian Gipson, Student ASID

Kennedie Hicks, Student ASID

Hermisha Lewis, Student ASID

Kimberlye Littleton, Student ASID Valeria Ocampo, Student ASID Lais Simon, Student ASID

Samantha Stewart, Student ASID

Demaudecia Taylor, Student ASID Roxana Torres, Student ASID Nguyen Tran, Student ASID Gloria Varela, Student ASID

Nakyra Williams, Student ASID Lauren Wiltz, Student ASID

INDUSTRY PARTNER REPRESENTATIVES Sina Sadri, Industry Partner Tufan Rugs

TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER | FALL 2018 - 17 -

l l a t i g n i n n i W An Interview

By Larry Boykin, Industry Partner ASID Image Electric

Best in Show Winner Commercial Belinda Bennett, ASID RID

BELINDA, WHAT WERE YOU FEELING WHEN YOU WON THE ASID 2017 “BEST IN SHOW – COMMERCIAL” AWARD? “It was such a pleasant surprise. I didn’t really hear our firm’s name, until my friends nudged me to go up. I was first disappointed the entire BDG/ McCoy team wasn’t there to join in the fun. But, mainly I was humbled and honored to be surrounded by Houston’s finest Interior Designers and trade members. It will be a very special memory!” SO, TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT. “When McCoy/Rockford approached my firm to refresh their work environment, it was honestly a little scary to take on such a Houston Icon. We understood most commercial designers, in America’s 4th largest city, would eventually walk thru this workspace / showroom. We really wanted to convert their old office into an example of how the power of professional Interior Design could redirect an entrenched business culture towards a new beginning. Also, paramount was utilizing the many furniture products to shape the space in a creative, fun manner.” WILL YOU SHARE YOUR DESIGN PROCESS? YOUR INSPIRATION? “Believe it or not, we were inspired by the iconic fleet of McCoy trucks moving throughout Houston. The design took on a truck “street scene” inspiration. The carpet mimics a “tire track” pattern. A “central park” gathering space became the central focus (as shown in the photo). Actual Houston Street Graffiti artisan tiles clad the back wall of the coffee bar. The 28,000 sq. ft. space was divided by neighborhood color zones. These are indicated along the “main highway” by multi-colored carpet and corresponding adjacent colored furniture. The 45-degree furniture layout allows natural light to filter wellness to team members.” SO, WHAT WAS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FOR YOU ON THIS PROJECT? “I think the sheer size of 28,000 sq. ft of continuous open space was the main challenge. We had to integrate several different departments, including the executive team. We succeeded in making all these grade levels and

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different requirements for privacy and concentration come together in one continuous space while keeping the areas personalized to help maximize comfort and productivity at an individual level. I loved the energy created by color and creative furniture solutions.” HOW DID YOU MEET THIS CLIENT? “Funny, that I had first been a client of McCoy, because they were a furniture dealer on several of my past Continental Airlines Presidents Club projects. It was so fun to have the tables turned, where they became my client.” NOW ABOUT YOU, TELL US ABOUT THE BELINDA AND THE BENNETT DESIGN GROUP. “I started Bennett Design Group on the principle that Design Matters to any successful interior space. I founded BDG in 1997 and have been going full steam since. I have stayed an advocate for our profession thru my early volunteer days serving on professional organizational boards and legislative efforts. I love learning something new everyday and pushing my limits to create a successful design for each client’s budget/ vision/ and timeline goals.” WILL YOU PLEASE SHARE ANY AWARD WINNING ADVICE FOR YOUR FELLOW INTERIOR DESIGNERS AND OUR INTERIOR DESIGN STUDENTS? “For students, I only know what worked for me, which was my professor’s advice (shout out ~~Jack Hanna~~ Go Coogs) to get involved with your professional

THERE IS NO NEED FOR FLOORING TO BE BORING. Captivate your client with innovative, interesting, unique and beautiful carpet, wood, vinyl and custom area rugs. On display in our “to the designer” showroom. organization from the start. He pressed each student to have an intern design job during the entire year. Other than the down side that he graded me harder because I “knew more”, that made me a better designer more quickly. The upside is the earlier you immerse yourself into the profession, the sooner enhanced opportunities will arise.” “For the professional: There is no one methodology to make our projects award winning, but for me, I approach each project like it is the next award winner, no matter the size or budget. That approach makes me try harder to find striking solutions that please the owner and me…..both. “ Thank you, Belinda, for sharing your success! All the best in this coming year and into the future! For more of Belinda and the Bennett Design Group please visit www.bennett-design.net, visit her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BennettDesign-Group-263644813683449/ or give her a call at 713.850.8833

❖ Located in The Design Center 7026 Old Katy Road Suite 100 Houston, TX 77024 T: 713.880.9699 F: 713.880.9779 manchestercarpet@gmail.com

❖ ASID Industry Partner Exclusively To The Trade

: ram page ur Instag o n o n s a n o m test creati pholstery See our la tagram.com/theu s http://in

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TEXAS GULF COAST CHAPTER | FALL 2018 - 19 -

Attention ASID Industry Partners

Are you looking for ways to get involved with the ASID Texas Gulf Coast Chapter? By Brooke Bowman, Allied ASID

By Jon Schuler, Aria Stone Gallery

We have immediate Chair positions needing to be filled with these Committees:

Are you wondering how to get more

Programs & CEU Schedule bi-annual CEU days with various IPs and showrooms, develop programs that strengthen our knowledge, promotes development and educational programs. Email Jan Therrien at: ProfessionalDevelopment@txgc.asid.org

out of your ASID membership? Do you

want to attend more events but worry that you'll have trouble making contacts?

Show House Have great organization skills? Are you team leader with great organizational and communications skills? You’ll be tasked with coordinating design, style, and designers to showcase the expertise and talents of our industry! Email Jan Therrien at: ProfessionalDevelopment@txgc.asid.org

Could you benefit from regular discussions with like-minded business professionals? Team Awesome, ASID TGCC's premier industry partner peer group, is looking to grow its

Student Career Day Love to connect with students and future employers? We need you to organize and promote student in an event to showcase their resume and portfolios! Email Jan Therrien at: ProfessionalDevelopment@txgc.asid.org

membership. Only one IP from a specialty may join, and we

are looking for members from some of the following industries:

Website | Social Media Help us in getting our chapter into the digital age! If you are digitally savvy and have a panache for navigating Facebook and Instagram, send an email to Brooke Bowman at communications@txgc.asid.org

• Cabinetry • Doors/windows • Fabrics/textiles • Remodeling/construction

IP Steering Committee Chair is an exciting position that brings designers and IP members together by organizing events throughout the year! If you’re energetic and have some great ideas to encourage business partnerships then contact Nubia Heinz at at-large@txgc.asid.org

Still curious on other ways to get involved? All of our Committee Chairs will be at the Annual Meeting that is being held in conjunction with the Business Symposium & Expo on November 6th at the Citadel on Kirby. It’s going to be a fun-filled and educational day and you will be able to meet all the Committee Chairs to learn more about what each committee is up to! ADMINISTRATIVE

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

SAIMA SEYAR

TOM CONNELL

STRATEGIC PLANNNG

SPONSORSHIP

SAIMA SEYAR

DENNIS MCNABB SHUNDRA HARRIS SAIMA SEYAR

LEGISLATIVE

DONNA VINING

FOUNDATION

TRAVEL COORDINATOR DONNA VINING

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR JAN THERRIEN PROGRAMS | CEU ARAMINTA ALFARO

SHOW HOUSE [TBD]

SHARON STALEY

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

ALTERNATIVE REVENUE [TBD]

THOMASINE JOHNSON

ANNUAL MTG

SCHOLARSHIP GRACE HOFER

SHUNDRA HARRIS SAIMA SEYAR

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE TOM CONNELL

ETHICS | POLICIES |PROCEURES

COMMUNICATIONS

DIRECTOR

SARI KARKI-RAJABI

MAGAZINE

MEMBERSHIP

JAY CROWE LARRY BOYKIN

NEWSLETTER ALEXIS MURPHY VICKI KELLEY