Mood Room
You’ll feel instantly calm and relaxed upon entering Alison Hager, Kate Mannenbach and Meredith Reed’s Plex 9. Being opposed to fluorescent lights, these ladies have opted for “mood lighting,” including lamps, rope lights, and Chinese lanterns. The girls chose warm colors, such as browns, maroons and creams for their cozy abode. To brighten up the normally dreary walls, they added an array of black and white photographs and a large painting of a flower, created by Reed. Various signs on the walls that were generously “loaned” to the girls by a few friends on campus also contribute to the uniqueness of their plex.
Classy and Colorful
Morgan De Jong, Kristin Neth and Hannah Watters have made a bright and cheerful home in Apartment 223. Their apartment features bright colors; the cabinets in the sitting room are vibrant shades of purple and teal. The focal point of their living room is the large bookshelf rather than the television. Fun lamps illuminate framed pictures of the residents, as well as personal artwork.
Dishwasher. Whoa.
Apartment 202 is whirring with both the sound of a dishwasher and the force of this reporter’s astonishment at the sight of such convenience. The remarkable kitchen of Bobbie Lydick, Sarah Olson, Natasha Roth, Brittany Van Eck and Angela Wiggins also features an espresso machine. This apartment is comfortably homey with its five cushy couches, vintage mirrors and old-fashioned photos adorning the walls. Flower vases establish a feminine and jolly atmosphere, and a bright green rotary phone resides next to one of their tall vintage lamps.
Entertainment Center
Apartment 201 is an entertainment center in every sense of the word. The apartment of Sarah Earleywine, Mirae Nace, Amanda Gramstad, Amy Holechek, Eunice Paik and Rachel Schultz is inviting and clearly a place to host gatherings, complete with stocked candy shelf. These six women have four consoles, including a Nintendo, PS2, N64 and Wii. Their entertainment center has a backdrop of a dark blue fabric wall, while an adjoining wall exhibits a map with which they play the “flag game.” They also boast a waiting and phone chair outside the front door.
Bohemian Décor
Apartment 203, home of Rebecca Dix, Sarah Fisher, Baylie Heims, Anna Korver, Marit Langley and Noel Wotherspoon, has a very Bohemian vibe. There are paper decorations dangling from the living room ceiling, and hand-crafted artwork scattered in the cluttered but cozy space. They have designated one room for study and another for sleep, while the entire apartment is artistic in a very eclectic way.
Best Bachelor Pad
Bachelors on campus beware. Ryan Hoogeveen and Hans Vander Plaats’ plex 7 can compete with the best bachelor’s crib. Their place is complete with a hat wall, 42-inch flat screen TV and an impressive array of pop cans which is proudly displayed on the back of the stove. These boys are also serious about their schoolwork, which is evident by their learning area. This space has been set up by Vander Plaats in the back corner of the plex in order to get the most out of their educational studies.
Best Use of Space
Kaitlin Beaver and Maggie Achterhof have truly learned how to best utilize the wall space in their plex, number 8. Not only have the girls set up a wall of photographs with rustic-looking name plates, cork boards and a watercolor painting, but they’ve also decided to use their living room wall to display their impressive collection of purses. Kaitlin and Maggie have also set up distinct kitchen, dining and living areas in their plex complete with potted plants and a pet fish, making the place feel as homey as possible.
Winning Women
Upon walking into Krystal Van Wyk, Lindsey Haskins, Brianna Gmeinder and Anne Eberline’s Apartment 101, you’ll see the red, glittering Clash of the Classes trophy standing tall in the living room, an honor won by the Senior class last fall. Three out of the four girls served as senior class representatives. The creative décor in this apartment is matchless, from the Bucket List hanging on the kitchen wall to the wooden Nutcracker figure, Norbert, who proudly keeps watch over the room from his perch on top of the refrigerator. The girls’ residence also boasts a water machine, which not only cools water, but heats as well.