creative decor

To elevate the mundane, Mather residents Peter A. Hahn '99 and Kevin H. Murphy '99 have decided to embrace the concrete hulk that is Mather, merging their own style with the atrocious international-style architecture of Mather House. Recognizing that Mather, with its dark brown regulation carpeting and yellow-white walls does not easily accommodate those looking for the Laura Ashley or Crate & Barrel look, Hahn and Murphy chose to echo the color scheme of their house. In the common room, dark brown cork disks decorate a wall. Below the disks, a funky brown swivel chair and a colorful afghan blanket evoke memories of Dee-Lite.

Well suited to parties, the creative decor of Hahn and Murphy's room has spawned themed events such as a recent "Spice Power" soiree in honor of pop icons, Austin Powers and the Spice Girls (Ginger, Posh, Scary, Baby and Sporty). MATHER: BAR COUCH

Across the hall from Hahn and Murphy another group has tapped the Mather aesthetic, this time with a single element--a couch. The three-pieced mass of red crushed-velvet stretches along two walls of the suite. But the brilliance of this couch does not come from its titanic size. Instead, small liquor cabinets, discretely hidden in the backrest, have generated the couch's fame among students. One compartment in the center even has a section that rotates around to reveal its contents. From an interior design perspective, this hipster davenport virtually eliminates any need for further decor. In fact, the reversible cushions with velvety red on one side and an embroidered floral pattern on the other give the roommates added decorative choice.

The couch was purchased by a friend of Lipman's for $100 from a homeless shelter in Porter Square, and was subsequently sold to Lipman. Made of artificial wood and stuffed with straw, the roommates agree that the couch feels "very uncomfortable." "Its definitely form over function," adds Lipman.