Jeff Seal Homes

Visiting the houses designed by Jeff Seal Homes of Distinction was my favorite field trip of the year! Mainly because I am totally jealous of people that get to live in houses that big and I cannot wait to be able to design something like that myself! However, I also think it was one of the best learning experiences we had. It was a great opportunity to be able to see all the small features that have to be considered when actually constructing something that has been designed on paper. There were also many things that I had already learned in class that I got to see being applied in real life construction; such as the important and incredible difference that wall thicknesses can make.

Jeff Seal and his team, work really hard to create a home that the client will love. He explained that most of the houses they design are extremely unique and designed to follow certain styles that the customers request. The extensive details incorporated in the homes are also based on the style that the customer desires. The team expressed many times that they try to stay entirely “true” to the specific style of an architect, designer, or era that has been called for by the client. Seal also explained that though all the homes are customized and luxurious, they range in complexity, size, and cost.

I really enjoyed being able to hear what former Texas Tech students had to say about their experiences, opportunities, and challenges that they now face in their careers. Emily and Abby gave great advice and tips to remember when dealing with difficult clients or clients that may not agree with the ideas of the designer. They seemed to really enjoy their jobs and were very reassuring that all our hard work would eventually pay off. It was really exciting to see some of the amazing houses they are designing so early in their careers! Though the houses were very large and extravagant, they were not particularly my style. However, that did not take away from the learning experience. After all, being able to respect a clients taste and meet their desires is part of the job.