Modern Floral

Floral designs are the rage these days. Sarah Beattie ’11 and Casey Reck ’11 demonstrate a fashion-conscious and sensible use of pattern and utility in their room on Green Beach. When you walk into their room you are immediately struck by its bold color and design. Tapestries (from Urban Outfitters and travel abroad) adorn the walls and everywhere you turn is eye candy. Particularly Sarah’s picture frame arrangement over her bed and her keepsakes around her desk invite you to look further and really highlight her multifaceted personality. Casey’s side of the room explodes with her favorite color pink and much of her artwork and posters are from her wide travels abroad (especially from her time in Cape Town last semester). The perfect room for reading on the couch or sipping cocktails under the twinkle lights, these roomies certainly have mastered the art of creating ambiance.

Matchy Matchy

Annie Perizzolo ’11 and Aviana Gracial ’11 show how simple décor can be done in Green dorm by their flowery matching bedspreads in a bunk-bed style layout and organized belongings. We featured their yellow walls in an earlier post.

Calm & Collected

Tina Nguyen ’11′s single in Marks is simple yet sophisticated. With minimal clutter and a clear design in mind, Tina has used inexpensive materials to master a peaceful calm in her room. The crinkle chiffon curtains add warmth and texture to the walls, a blue and green shoe organizer act as a work of art, the bamboo plant exudes calmn, and the inherited artwork over her bed highlights her heritage.

Wohlford Bungalow

Matt Richardson ’12 and Sergio Hernandez ’12′s Wohlford dorm double exhibits a beachy bungalow vibe. The boldest focus in the room is a sunburst clock that dominates one wall. All they used was blue tape accompanied by careful cutting. A likewise blue surfboard rug that screams California spans the length of the room. Matt’s (who is also an art major at Scripps) desk exhibits his interests and tastes nicely as well: a Dodgers pennant, a tiki-like tribal mask from New Zealand, a poster of Muhammad Ali, and even a bible verse adorn his working space.

The laminated hardwood flooring was inherited from Matt’s brother Jake Richardson ’10. Speaking of similar tastes, both he and his brother have a kegerator in their living spaces— but while Jake and his suitemates obtained their blue one as a water polo tradition, Matt grabbed his off of craigslist and he used it strictly as décor.

That wraps up our Behind Closed Dorms series! Have a fabulous and refreshing summer – and start brainstorming about your rooms for next year!

Painter’s Paradise

At first glance, one might be a little intimidated by Grady Wieger (’10)’s Stark single. Clean and pristine– almost unreal for a college dorm– it looks like it came out of a Pottery Barn Teen catalog. Cool colors of sky blue and seafoam green are punctuated by the bold blue carpet and bowl chair. Ask him about his paintings and he’ll be happy to tell you. “I have always enjoyed creating art and have sketched for a long time. Painting, however, is a more recent interest of mine – I would say I have only been painting for the past 3 or 4 years. It has become my new passion. Painting is a way that I challenge myself, and it also acts as my main creative outlet, allowing me to clear my head and de-stress.”

His own paintings are highlighted by the self-installed spotlights and hint at an organic inspiration. “I’m not a huge fan of the overhead florescent lights that we have in the dorm rooms, so I installed the two wall lights as my main source of lighting. These lights, along with my floor lamp, set a more relaxed mood that helps me wind-down in the evenings. I wanted my room to be comfortable, a kind of peaceful retreat for myself and anyone who visits. There’s a calming quality about the colors and softness of the room. I always know that  after a busy day of classes and other obligations I’ll be going back to my room for some much-needed R&R.”

Ethnic Ambiance

The off-campus room of Aisha Shaikh (’10) and Madison Gonzalez (’10) has a relaxed feel thanks to the complementary blue and indigo walls. The vibrant bed certainly catches one’s attention. Its colorful pattern and and its close proximity to the floor adds to the room’s laid back feel. The lack of furniture also contributes to the ethnic ambiance, and the spread of books adds an understated intellectual flair to the décor. As an on-campus dormer, you might not be able to paint your walls,but you can take a DIY step from Aisha and Madison and hang up accessories and jewelry on a sheet of color, held up by simple pushpins.

Sweet Dreams

This Auen single of Alexa Maturana-Lowe (’10) channels calmness. Her tidy upkeep and smart use of white makes this room very peaceful. With the bed as her focal point, Alexa spends many an hour watching TV and cuddling. The bed canopy, paired with the organic wicker headboard, soft down comforter, and decorative paper crown makes this bed seem fit for a hotel!

Have a cool room? Want to show it off? Any input? Don’t be shy— the semester’s winding down.

As always, email us at either chanson10@cmc.edu and gchang10@cmc.edu

Best Overall: Kelsey Rose Weber ’13 and Laura Daugherty ’13  Prize: Dinner at Elephant Bar

Most Economic: Emily Coleman ’11  Prize: CMC Maroon Fleece Blanket

Messiest Room: Brittany Taylor ’11   Prize: Target Gift Card for cleaning supplies!

Best Use of Technology : John Oliphant and Nick Rowe ’13 / Prize: Best Buy gift card

The motivation behind it all? John Faranda summarizes: “Basically, some years ago someone came up with the idea that each dorm on campus should have a professor assigned to it. I think the alumni office received a donation or came up with a budget to support this. The professor was responsible for carrying out some event(s) with the assigned dorm that was not related to whatever their expertise was. So, for example, an economics professor could not do an activity related to econ. It was not very successful because professors didn’t really want to do it and therefore had non-professors also participate, hence John Faranda being assigned to Berger. This idea only lasted for two years but John Faranda decided to stick around and continues to organize activities for Berger.”

Here’s a quick glimpse into the rooms that stood out.

Kelsey and Laura‘s room definitely gives off a laid back vibe. Their room is richly decorated with warm colors, Tibetan prayer flags, music posters, and exotic tapestries. John Faranda was impressed with their use of space, and Dean Spellman was tickled by the school spirit displayed above Kelsey’s bed nook.

Emily recently returned from studying in Brazil, but that didn’t prevent her from making her room a statement of her personality. She won the Most Economical prize due to her bargain hunting prowess and ability to pair fun and colorful objects. “She has a very cute room,” says Ruth Calvillo.

Scott Martin ’13 wasn’t awarded a prize, but his unusual room design and poster layout set him apart from the crowd. You don’t have to worry about making your posters straight if you follow this idea.

Aanya Dubash ’12 showcases another great example of simple wall décor. Grab your favorite t-shirts and memorabilia – and get started!

We’d love to hear your design ideas and see your room examples! Contact Gloria (gchang10@cmc.edu) or Cameron (chanson10@cmc.edu).

You can feel the vibe of Alex Mitchell ’11 and Seth Winterroth ’12′s room in Green before you even go through their doors. Lining the stairway up to their second floor room in Green are “palm trees” to set the mood.

Their room is a fusion of comfort and style. The L-shaped beige couches, big screen TV, twinkle lights, and eclectic mix of artwork on the walls invite you into the space. Notice some of these finer details: Red is used as a complementing color in the painted cabinet door that has been turned into a chalkboard and in the red tape that Alex has wrapped his hutch. Alex’s vast collection of hats is both a display of practical storage and a showcase of his personality. Quirky sketches on cardboard are one of many mementos making up the montage of personal photos, movie posters, and silkscreens on the wall. The coffee table? Built and painted from scratch – not to mention the pine flooring they installed (only 68 cents/square foot).

These roommates are proud of the family feel they’ve created (they even use their land line as a home phone). Having a good time in their room is really important to these guys. They’re proud to “class it up.”  A message from the guys: stop by whenever and take a peek at where the AMitch magic happens!

Club Roger

Roger Valdez ’10 and Zachary Kornberg ’11 offer another great room where people can gather, but with a decidedly different tone: sleek and electronic. Their room is tech central; projector and screen, surround sound, and double computer monitors. Its penthouse feel is augmented by the chocolate suede couch and the hardwood floors, not to mention the coffee table with Post Secret books nicely laid out. Roger has outfitted his room with partying in mind — his coffee table decision was based on how well it would handle people dancing on top of it!

Surfin’ Safari

Juniors Sarah Dick and Kaitlyn Desai embody the (Green) beach lifestyle. With surfboards and conch shells on display, these two girls have made their two facing couches the focal point of the room. Though the couches’ plush cushions have an uncanny ability to eat cellphones, you can’t help but be drawn to the space. Mementos, photos, and personal artwork adorn the walls. True to their personalities, the room isn’t flashy; rather it’s a reflection of their fun-loving and laidback personas!

Send any dorm design ideas to Gloria Chang (gchang10@cmc.edu) or Cameron Hanson (chanson10@cmc.edu). We’d love to check out your pad!

Check out past editions of Behind Closed Dorms here and here.

Inspired by a photo and a boring, blank cinder block wall, sophomore Rebecca Salzman had the clever idea to liven up fellow sophomore Diggory Rycroft’s Claremont double using the simple tool of chalk. This mural adds a real personal touch to his living space and is a great conversation starter. Unlike paint, Diggory will be able to wash this artwork down at the end of the year (how sad though).

Music lover? Blank wall? Sale at Rhino Records? Just purchase some fun records from the $1 bin and liven up your wall. Here sophomore Brendan McDonald demonstrates such an idea with Elton John, the Temptations, and yes, the Sound of Music.

Senior Courtney Dern has turned this wall into something truly special. Paint color aside (by living off campus, she has the good fortune to paint her walls), she purchased an assortment of small frames from vintage stores. Then, by incorporating her favorite images and art, her wall collage adds a homey feel to her room. Courtney doesn’t have one common theme, but reports: “I guess I’m just into making mundane 2D objects more extraordinary.”

Speaking of not being able to paint, a quick way to add color to your room is to adhere inexpensive fabric to your walls. Junior Aviana Gracial bought this roll of thin yellow cloth at a fabric outlet in LA. The block of color gives a fresh splash of sunniness to this Green room.

Apartments RA Aleksis Psychas had the awesome idea to decorate his family room by organizing a community art mural. Pairing the event with a senior class brunch after 6:01, he stretched out a length of poster paper and set out paint.  Anyone could add their special phrase, image, home state, or whatever came to their mind. The resulting mural is the perfect way to add interest to the upper part of the apartment’s vaulted ceiling.

Imitating a similar idea from fellow senior Kristin Dessie, Sandy Russell is able to exhibit her study abroad memories by graphically linking them to a map of Europe. What a clever way to visually record one’s travels!

The off-campus home of seniors Courtney Dern, Madison Gonzalez, Aisha Shaikh, and Hazel Joyce is known for its fun themed parties. By writing certain words in twinkle lights on the wall, the girls can set a unique mood for their visitors. The wall is your palette!

Send any dorm design ideas to Gloria Chang (gchang10@cmc.edu) or Cameron Hanson (chanson10@cmc.edu)! We’d love to come tour your rooms!

Stencil Safari

The first thing that people notice when walking into junior Garrett Smith’s Benson single are his stencils inspired by the English graffiti artist Banksy. Despite his painted shelves, hand-made clock, and snazzy entertainment system, visitors only want to talk art. You actually made these stencils? How do you do it? What’s your inspiration?

From a young couple kissing to grenades to sunglasses, Garrett has captured the stencil aesthetic: “My favorite is probably the man with the umbrella. From the idea to the spray-painting, the entire process was my conception.” His designs are fresh and colorful. With only a few simple forms, he’s able to capture the essence of his subjects.

Twinkle Twinkle, Art and Sparkle
This double room is just above Stark Lab and its occupants frequently hear passers-by comment on its artwork and twinkle lights. The room certainly is eye-catching! Sophomore Meagan Biwer has meticulously placed every poster and photograph to exhibit her varied tastes. Her wall of art “reminds me that there’s a life, an existence outside of my room and staying up till 2 am doing homework.” She loves surrealist art and especially Salvador Dali– of whom she has 4 prints on her wall.

Meagan has created a living space full of color and eye-candy, yet calming with its soft lighting and fine touches (such as the Tiffany lamp on her bedside table and the Dali-inspired clock).

Scandinavian Solstice
The original inspiration for my own room is from Scandinavian design (note the birches tapestry which is actually a shower curtain, as well as the hand-made bulletin boards and pillows with a floral design – both are from the well known Finnish fabric designer Marimekko).

My rooms in the past have been jam-packed with museum postcards, magazine tear-outs, and other art posters that I’ve collected. But this year I tried to take a step back and leave some white space on the walls.

By wrapping a yellow roll of paper around the room, I’m able to bring in different design elements for a cohesive whole. Nature, bold colors, and modern art are the other forces guiding my décor. From my Warhol-esque digital prints of my friends and silk-screens of Atticus Finch (done for a Civ10 project), to my own photography, 3-D shadow boxes, and collages, I’m proud of how my room reflects me. I have invested a lot of time to each design detail but most everything was done on a tight budget.

An aesthetically pleasing room is a must for my survival at CMC. And the cherry on top is my scenic view overlooking Parents Field and the mountains.

To view larger photos and extra photos, check out the CMC Dorms & Décor Flickr account.

Know about an awesome room that we could feature (not necessarily relating to art)? Yours or a friend’s? Any suggestions? Feel free to send us (that’s Cameron and Gloria!) any and all ideas about dorm room design at chanson10@cmc.edu or gchang10@cmc.edu.