Design students visit Clift’s Cove

John Allen, president of Southern Construction & Design Inc., shows one of his custom homes in Clift’s Cove to students in Kristy Wheeler’s interior design class from Bob Jones High School.

Kristy Wheeler’s students at Bob Jones High School saw paper plans materialize by touring a custom home in Clift’s Cove.

John Allen, president of Southern Construction & Design Inc., invited Wheeler’s housing and interior design class to tour one of his newest houses. Richard Cable of Richard Cable Interiors led students through the current styles in colors, textures and materials.

“This was an exciting opportunity for students to get a firsthand look at (factors for) building a home, talk with the interior designer and see the latest trends in home building,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler teaches family and consumers sciences and sponsors Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).

“Collaborative experiences with local businesses are built into most of our career technology academies,” assistant principal Dr. Julie Finley said. “These real-world experiences ignite our kids’ interest and engage them in working harder with a focus on future careers.”

“From our biomed students at Huntsville Hospital to our engineering students at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to Southern Construction, we so appreciate the willingness of local industry in supporting our academies,” Finley said.

Senior Courtney Geiger learned about potential in the housing and design industry. “Seeing this house took what we’ve been doing in class with creating our own floor plans and showed us possibilities that can be created in a home,” she said.

“Our floor plans went from being just on paper to being a real, three-dimensional creation that revealed the beautiful possibilities of interior and home design,” Geiger said.

The interior design study at Bob Jones covers architectural design and decorating styles, space and floor planning and evaluation of floor plans. For furniture and interior treatments, students review various types of period furnishings.

In the housing courses, students interpret building construction terms, local codes and symbols used in planning and construction. “They design floor plans to meet individual and family needs across the life span,” Wheeler said.

Businesses interested in collaborating with Bob Jones can call Finley at 256-772-2547 for send email to jfinley@madisoncity.k12.al.us.