Interior design requires teamwork, coordination

by Ruth Scott

SBJ Contributing Writer

As a child, Jan Webb couldn't wait for the Sunday paper to arrive. It wasn't the comics she was after she wanted to look at the latest house plans.

"I would study them, analyze the space and critique the floor plans," she said. Now, as an interior designer, the owner of J. Webb Design & Associates is creating floor plans of her own.

"I took some interior design and architecture classes in high school," Webb said. "Then I went to college and got started into business." It wasn't until later that she returned to interior design, she said.

"In my late 20s I decided to go back to school and get back into the creative element I really enjoyed." In 1980 she got her degree in interior design at Southwest Missouri State University. In 1982, she began her first job as an interior designer. "I was fortunate to work for Hood Rich Architects for eight years," she said. "I learned so many valuable things there."

In 1990 she decided to establish her own business, opening J. Webb Design & Associates. Three designers and one administrator work for the firm, all graduates of SMSU with interior design degrees.

"We also use practicum students and interns," Webb said. The company works mostly on commercial projects, ranging from corporate offices, to banks, to health care facilities.

"We do a lot of work for the John Q. Hammons Company," she said. "We've done hotels for him all over the United States." The firm also works on restaurants and retail spaces.

The type of job determines the process for Webb's firm, she said. "Sometimes, for a big hotel job, we are bidding against other design firms." The firm receives a floor plan, and the designers estimate the number of hours the project will take and quote an hourly rate.

"Some projects are just bid by the hour, and sometimes we charge an hourly rate, not to exceed a set amount." She said determining cost is a difficult part of the business.

The entire process of building a new hotel takes about 18 months, Webb said. "We usually work on it 12 to 14 months, from the beginning of the design stage to its opening."

The actual design phase seems to comprise only about 25 percent of the job, she said. The rest is paperwork and follow-through. "We really pride ourselves on follow-through. Any time a contractor, architect or client calls with a question, we find out the answer and respond quickly," she said.

"The thing that's really exciting about our job is the amount of coordination with the architect, contractor and owner," she said. "We're a real 'team player' company."

She said her firm is always concerned about the client's wishes. "We want to please the client and give them what they're wanting. We're trying to make their dreams come true."

From the very beginning of a project, the designers hold meetings to determine what the client needs. "We always have to keep in mind both function and aesthetics," she said. The firm provides space planning, which involves learning what parameters are available, and whether it is new construction or an existing space.

"We take the blueprints from the architect and find out the ceiling heights, size of walls and doors, and create an interior design plan," she said.

The designers lay out the furniture needs, and select finishes for floors and walls. "We select everything from the color and style of door hinges and door knobs, to the color of the grout that goes in between ceramic tiles," she said.

"We often design our own millwork and cabinetry, and the ceiling spaces, such as vaulted areas with special features," she said. They also select furnishings and accessorize with artwork, interior plants, and window treatments for light control.

"For artwork we analyze the style and size of the frame," she said. "We actually build a piece of artwork. We work with a lot of artists that have original artwork that fits into a color palette or theme." The designers then choose a mat and frame to accent the artwork.

"We analyze the lighting to create ambience for whatever the customer wants," Webb said. In an office building, bright lights are needed for task work, but the reception area should be a more relaxing environment, she said. "Restaurants and bars usually have lower lights to create a certain atmosphere."

Webb's office has two types of lighting, bright fluorescent lights and incandescent lights with a dimmer, so that the designers can pick out fabrics and finishes for different types of settings.

For each project, the designers make a presentation board, Webb said. On the board are samples of the fabrics, carpets, tiles and wall coverings to be used in the project. Also displayed on this board are pictures of furniture and light fixtures, as well as a floor plan.

"We work with lighting companies to design our own light fixtures," she said. "We send ideas back and forth to the light companies, they send us the final drawings, and we approve them."

According to Webb, interior design trends are not as evident in commercial markets as they are in the residential area. However, she said she sees a lot of sage greens, muted oranges and rust tones.

"There will always be quite a variety of styles," she said. "Everyone will always enjoy the up-and-coming, contemporary styles. But we, as a society, enjoy a melting pot of styles."

One important part of an interior designer's job has nothing to do with style or aesthetic value, Webb said.

"Something people don't realize is that we have to understand all codes such as city codes, fire codes and Americans with Disabilities Act codes. For instance, we always have to select fabrics that meet fire codes." The designers have to keep in mind the location of outlets, heating and air conditioning vents and grills, and any kind of mechanical equipment, she said.

Just running the business takes a lot of time and energy, Webb said. As the owner of the company, she finds herself in many roles. She is an administrator, she oversees marketing for the company, and she also orchestrates the completion of projects.

"We have several projects going at once," she said. "We've had as many as four major hotels at one time in addition to other clients. Some of our projects are short-term, and some are very long-term."

In addition to her other roles, Webb has to maintain creative energy for the design aspect of her job.

"It's a very exciting career," she said. "Not one day is the same as the day before. That's the variety that I like."

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