Interior Design Prof, Class Finish Room In Show House

The utility room of the Pink Ribbon House was designed by assistant professor Laura Burleson and was accessorized by her students.

Highly elegant style and fabulous function have come together in the utility room of the American Society of Interior Designers Annual Designer Show House designed by Laura Burleson, assistant professor of interior design in the family and consumer sciences department, with the help of 17 senior interior design students.

During the summer, Burleson was invited to develop cabinet designs and all interior finishes for the space, and as the students returned to class in August, they participated in its accessorizing.

The house, called the Pink Ribbon House, is located in the Bellaire area of Houston, at 7907 South Rice Ave. Burleson’s and the students’ work will be on display there from Wednesday (Oct. 13) until Oct. 31.

Built by builder Royce Hassell Custom Homes, Burleson and her students were responsible for the laying of tile flooring and back splash on the diagonal, as well as selecting the granite counter top from Walker Zanger, which is gold, tan and black.

In addition, Burleson had to locate the newest Maytag Dryer System and frontload Maytag washer to complete the functioning of the space, she said.

“ Once the senior interior design students began selecting the accessories, the space was finished with paint colors that were chosen from the colors in the granite counter top,” Burleson said. “Key accessories that were located from Bombay, Pier I, and Linens and Things included an elegant three piece iron grill with a classical arched panel top, Ralph Lauren towels, and woven wood and copper hampers.”

The utility room basin, complete with a gold, tan and black granite countertop, chosen by the interior design students.

The decorating of the utility room in the over-4600 square feet house was the second the group has done for the ASID Annual Designer Show House event, which provides everyone in the group the opportunity to work with 25 of Houston’s top interior designers, according to Burleson.

Burleson and her students have also done six show house spaces in the Conroe area in the past.
Senior interior design students who participated in accessorizing the space included Kristin Cady, Stephanie Durrett, Amanda Gillum, Amy Godwin, Paige Haynes, Nubia Heinz, Jennifer Henske, Mary Johnson, Traci Kiros, Lindsey Meador, Amanda Neil, Annie Norberg, Vivian Stauss, Lauren Van Dyke, Afton Williams, Jennifer Williams and Candi Wright.

As participants, the large group was divided with smaller groups making recommendations for individual items, and all the students were on hand for installing the items they helped select.

Tour times are Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5:30 p.m.

Tour tickets are available at the door for $15, and proceeds benefit breast cancer research at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

To get to the house, take Interstate Highway 45 south to 610 Loop West, then go right on Beechnut, then right again on South Rice Avenue.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Oct. 11, 2004
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