UCO Interior Design Students Get Real-Life Experience

October 17, 2006

Two teams of interior design students from the University of Central Oklahoma are getting professional experience designing two rooms in a million- dollar show house.

The students were invited by the Edmond Women’s Club to participate in the club’s “This New House 2006-Villagio at Deer Creek Farms.” Each team is designing a bedroom and an adjoining bathroom in the luxury house.

In September the students began creating their own design plans and working with local retailers to acquire the furniture, fabrics and accessories to fill their designated rooms.

“This is what we are going to do for a living, so it’s nice to get real-world exper-ience and expo-sure. Also, whenever       (from left) Megan Brunt, Andrea Kubik and Miranda Nance

you can get your face in

front of other designers and professionals, it’s a good thing,” said design student Miranda Nance.

Nance said she and the other members of her team created their bedroom with a teenager in mind, putting a funky spin on the look. The room features lime green, hot pink and butter yellow walls, an art deco bed with gold starburst mirrors above it and a multi-colored floor rug.

The other team of student designers took their inspiration from the colors and settings featured in the movie, “Under the Tuscan Sun.”

“We used a Tuscan picture, a large armoire, an iron bed with all white bedding and a blond wood and leather chair,” said student Cassidy Murphey.

UCO Design Professor Amy Jacobson-Peters said working on a project like this is invaluable to the students.

“The students have to come up with their own design plan, and then implement it by finding sources willing to donate products and services to get the project done,” said Jacobson-Peters.

“By going through this process, the students involved get to know their local resource, which is a key factor in bridging the gap between student and professional.”

The show house is located in the prestigious Villagio edition at Deer Creek Farms. Villagio is located a half mile west of Portland on Coffee Creek Rd.

The home will be open to the public from Nov 4-12. A preview party will be held on Oct. 27.

To learn more about the house or to purchase tickets to the preview party, call Tracy Sadler at (405) 802-7368.

Page updated 10/17/06