Sweet homes: campus's coolest rooms

The moment you step inside, the unmistakable sounds of Chopin soak into your ears as your eyes scan the rustic gold antiques, the black and white photos and the tall bottles of Pellegrino that stand guard over a charming bowl of ripe strawberries. It is a pictorial spread straight out of Town & Country magazine — however make that town Princeton and to be more exact the precise location is 132 Clapp Hall.

Blending a mix of East Asian, Art-Deco and late Victorian influences, 132 Clapp or as its residents call it, "The Executive Suite," is arguably the best decorated dorm on campus.

The principal designer of the suite, Robert Wai Wong '06, explained that the room's posh vibe came out of a desire to take the "dorm" out of "dorm life" and add in touches of home. "It's these little comforts that make life in general more enjoyable, Wong said."

It took one large U-Haul, a Suburban, summer storage and 12 hours to put together, however, even Wong's sophomore roommates David Baumgarten, Joseph Bradley, Jonathan Johnson, Prithyi Raj and Daniel Satterfield agree that it was worth the investment.

"I would certainly be happy with a lot less, but I really am enjoying it more than I expected," Baumgarten said.

Bottom line: this is not one of your typical dorm rooms. Most rooms on campus are lucky if they get the posh treatment of being decorated with signature movie posters, Corona banners, Maxim spreads and maybe the ornamental throw pillows. But, some students are taking the extra effort to shed the status quo for something a little more homey, comfortable and unique. Take for example, Megan Munean '05 who didn't let some hefty fire fines (in upward of $300) stop her from repainting her walls at 102 1937 Hall with burgundy/fuschia paint from top to bottom. To match the fuschia, her windows are adorned with gold silk drapery that is dramatically pinned back. Various shades of purple and white cloth echo the drapery across the room, creating a romantic effect, or as Muntean quips, it has the charming character of an Amsterdam brothel.

Gold mirrors, black and white photos and vintage Parisian posters also add to the sense of vintage glamour. For Muntean, the design of her single is a direct effect of being artistically repressed the year before when she shared her space with roommates.

"I was living in an eight-person suite so I couldn't really do anything crazy," Muntean said. "Now there's no controlling me." Though perhaps not as drastically, at least color scheme-wise, Andrew Romano '04 of 623 Pyne also took advantage of his single to create a truly personal space.

Romano converted his modestly sized room into a homey abode by adding a fair share of wood furniture. A full size bed, two table stands, a coffee table and a couple of coat racks successfully hide the standard dorm furnishings. The furniture is further complemented by a large Aztec-inspired rug that accentuates the room's earthy tones.

However, it's the small details that tie the room together and give it its natural appeal. Wooden frames, a yellowed map of Italy, nature-inspired pieces of art and even a brown and white seashell on his night stand blend together to create a calming and earthy effect.

Whether your taste is classic elegance, plush romance or simple neutrals, there are a number of dorms across campus to draw inspiration from. But is there any hope for the rest of us, even if what we call home is an 80 square foot single with waffle ceilings? Acccording to Wai, even the worst living arrangements can be improved with few slight changes. Plants, framed posters, strong colors and oriental rugs are all dorm do's. Wai also recommended steering clear of over-the-top fluorescent lighting, instead pick lamp shades that have a bronzing effect to create just the right glow.

Case in point, even if you don't live in the turret of Witherspoon all it takes is a little creativity, patience and maybe a bucket of paint to get the room you've always wanted (though you might want to hold off on the paint).