News

OCTOBER 2008 NEWS

Memphis, TN (October 10, 2008) – Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. Principal Designers,  Shandra Blackwell, ASID, IIDA and Kelly Young Robbins, have been accepted to serve on the Nashville Jury Center for the NCIDQ Examination.

The NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) is the benchmark test which opens the gateway for designers to register in their respective states and is the mark of minimum competency in the field of interior design.  The NCIDQ is a test that takes place over the course of two days, and tests candidates on a variety of issues including; codes, universal design, glazing, HVAC, plumbing, construction documents, contracts, bidding processes, and finally the practicum portion with the candidate being timed to complete a multi-use design, space plan, egress plans, lighting, electrical, elevation and section drawings.

Both women will be bringing their experiences to the table to effectively jury the prestigious interior design qualification test.  Blackwell and Young-Robbins are both NCIDQ certified.

MAY 2008 NEWS

NASHVILLE, TN (May 1, 2008) – Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. Principal Designer and owner, Shandra Blackwell, ASID, IIDA announced today that her firm has opened full-time operations in the Nashville, TN Metro Area to continue to service the expanding business in the area.

Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. Nashville, will be under the direction of Kelly Young Robbins.  Robbins is NCIDQ certified and is a registered interior designer in the State of Tennessee.  Ms. Robbins brings technical and creative experience to the Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. design team.

Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. may be contacted in Nashville, TN by e-mailing, Kelly@shea-noel.com or by calling 615.889.3666.

APRIL 2008 NEWS

GERMANTOWN, TN (April 21, 2008) – Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. Principal Designer and owner, Shandra Blackwell, ASID, IIDA announced today that her firm successfully designed and furnished an existing home in 72 hours for the downtown home tour.  The tour is going on through next weekend and the fully furnished model built by Koal Development was completed in time to debut this past weekend.

Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. put plans into motion after being contacted by Diane Kolopanas.  The team measured the home, designed the space and chose Atlanta’s IKEA furniture store to be the supplier.  “We wanted something different to be presented to show goers, something people may not see everyday”, says Blackwell.  After a day trip to Atlanta and a truck to ship the furniture to the location in downtown Memphis, the home was installed and debuted on April 18^th.

IKEA was an ideal source for furnishings.  Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. found IKEA attractive and in line with the firm’s green initiatives as IKEA is known for its “green” approach to furniture retailing.  The styling of the home’s furnishings is more contemporary but exudes the fun and unique atmosphere of the home and the gated community it is in, and achieves the idea of “living on vacation” that Blackwell and Kolopanas desired.

The Koal Development home is approx. 3400 square feet and is located in the unique St. Charles Place development on Main Street. 

GERMANTOWN, TN (April 1, 2008) – Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. Principal Designer and owner, Shandra Blackwell, ASID, IIDA has been elected to serve on the ASID State of Tennessee Board as Member-at-Large.  Blackwell will begin serving on the board in September 2008 through 2010.  ASID, American Society of Interior Designers, is the oldest and largest professional organization for interior designers.  The Tennessee Chapter has approximately 700 members comprised of 500 practitioners, 100 industry partners and students from 7 student chapters.  The membership is divided into five districts (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville and Tri-Cities).

Blackwell is excited about her upcoming position and is flattered to have been nominated and elected by her peers.  “I have been involved in interior design my whole life.  Growing up, I looked up to the designers I will be serving with – it is such an honor”, Blackwell states.   Blackwell, a Columbia, TN native, received her degree in HES/ Interior Design from The University of Tennessee at Martin in 1997, and NCIDQ Certification in 2006.  Blackwell started Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc. in 2002 to provide interior design services to homeowners, builders, and commercial entities. Since starting SNI, Blackwell's work has been published over 40 times in local and state shelter magazines, newspapers, books as well as filmed for HGTV.  Blackwell also has served the Memphis District as a steering committee member, and assisted in building membership.

In addition to her work in ASID, Blackwell is also a member of IIDA, a Memphis Chapter member of the USGBC, a committee chair for On Location: Memphis international film fest, and has served in several capacities for Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity.