Advice for Going Back to School
Dana Tydings, Patrick J. Baglino Jr. and Elana Mendelson
Designers
Thursday, September 1, 2005
1:00 PM
As students get settled into the start of classes at colleges and universities, three designers attempted to come up with design solutions for dull dorm rooms. Maryland designer Dana Tydings, District designer Patrick J. Baglino Jr. and student Elana Mendelson executed makeover concepts for a barren George Washington University dorm room.
Designers Tydings, Baglino Jr. and Mendelson were online Thursday, Sept. 1, at 1 p.m. ET to talk about their approaches and offer advice to students and others looking to make the best of small spaces.
The transcript follows
____________________
washingtonpost.com: Thanks for joining us for a discussion of dorm room design and welcome to our three designers -- Dana Tydings, Elana Mendelson and Patrick J. Baglino Jr. All of them had unique solutions for personalizing small spaces. Without further ado, let's get started.
_______________________
Dana Tydings: Hi everyone. My name is Dana Tydings and I am president of Tydings Design Inc., a full service interior design firm specializing in high end residential and commercial projects. Given that we were assigned the smallest budget, our mission was to provide a prospective student with the essentials but with a decorative flair together with products readily available to the average student.
_______________________
Elana Mendelson: Hi! My name is Elana Mendelson and I'm a graduate student in Interior Design at the George Washington University. I will graduate from the program this December and plan to pursue both commercial and residential design. My focus of the dorm room was to create "zones" -- a sleep/relaxation zone, a study zone and a more social/entertainment zone. My sketch is of the social, entertainment zone. I also tried to create sophisticated, yet funky space. Please ask me whatever you'd like. I look forward to chatting with you!
_______________________
Patrick J. Baglino Jr.: Hello everyone. This is Patrick Baglino, Jr. Welcome from Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. It's a pleasure having this time to spend with you. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding this project or any other questions that may pertain to the world of Interior Design.
_______________________
Potomac, Md.: What are your recommendations for durable, yet attractive bedding? I think we go through 50 bedspreads a year!
Thanks, Amalia
Elana Mendelson: I think a good idea is to purchase a quality comforter, like a down, and then get a few different duvet covers for it. Duvet covers are like sheets so they are durable and don't get a ruined from washing machines as comforters do. Also, by having a few different duvets, it allows you to change the look of your bedding whenever you'd like.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.: When you decorated your rooms, did you think of what you would like, or what a student would like? Did you find it difficult to envision a student's perspective?
Elana Mendelson: When I decorated the room, I definitely thought about what I would like if I were still living in a dorm room. I thought about how to make the room fun, yet functional, and I tried to take into account the needs and lifestyles of college students. I don't think I found it difficult to envision the student's perspective because I am still very connected to college life.
_______________________
Pittsburgh, Pa.: Great looking rooms! I especially liked Elana's - the wall stickies were so fun. Have any of you ever lived in a dorm room that looked anything like any of these?
Dana Tydings: Absolutely! My dorm room at the University of Georgia even had the same light wood furniture. Be careful of the adhesives on the wall decals -- they may leave a residue or remove the paint.
Elana Mendelson: The beauty of the wall stickies is that they don't remove the paint, that's why I thought they were a great idea for a dorm room.
_______________________
Arlington, Va.: I just quickly looked at the layouts for the dorm rooms that were "re-done." Just looking at the $600 layout, not many dorm rooms have an adjoining bathroom and several closets and most will host at least 2 dormers, not just one. $600 is a lot for college students to spend on fixing up a room that is most likely 15' x 15'. These are all great suggestions, but from years of college living, are not entirely feasible for the average student.
Dana Tydings: I can appreciate the fact that $600 is a significant amount of money, however, if you visit any of the retail establishments featuring dorm room furnishings and supplies, such as Linens and Things, Container Store, etc., you'll notice that you will spend well in excess of $600 and still not have all the essentials that we placed in our dorm room. Remember, that once you leave the dorm, these items will go with your to your next living space.
Patrick J. Baglino Jr.: $600.00 is hardly too much for a student to spend decorating their dorm room. What young college student do you know who given $600.00 could not take it and use it to make a most excellent space in which to live? The average student will spend over $750.00 just for text books in a semester. Add some warmth, the essentials and personality and for $600 + a student can have a dorm room that is just right and special for them.
_______________________
Rockville, Md.: Do you have any suggestions for what to do when the feathers in a down comforter get all bunched up in the middle? Are there brands I should stay away from?
Dana Tydings: Try placing the down comforter in your dryer (if it will fit) with a few tennis balls on an air setting. We prefer the down alternative comforters -- never clump and hypo-allergenic!
_______________________
Washington, D.C.: Dana - your perspective seems like you tried to put as much furniture as possible in the room; why do you think that was a better method than, say, putting drawers under the bed or having a light screwed into the wall?
Dana Tydings: We added the "essentials" to the existing furniture -- a rolling cart for storage and a comfortable chair for sitting. At George Washington the furniture (bed, desk and dresser) is provided and you are not allowed to remove any pieces. We did have storage chests under the bed for food or clothing items. Unfortunately, students are prohibited from screwing any light fixtures or shelves into the walls. The floor lamp was our solution to this problem.
_______________________
Washington D.C.: What's the best way to paint over a "finished" wood cabinet? (Is it necessary to sand the piece first?) Thanks
Dana Tydings: Depending on the finish, you must first lightly sand the piece with a fine gauge sandpaper to remove the residue and rough-up the surface to accept the paint or a new stain. If there is an existing paint finish, be sure to note whether it is oil or latex so that the appropriate primer can be used.
Patrick J. Baglino Jr.: Most colleges and universities do not permit changes to the permanent structure of the room. Cabinets, bookshelves, desks, etc. may be enhanced by wonderful accessories.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.: You could also make your own inexpensive duvet covers by simply sewing two flat sheets together on 3 sides and using buttons, a zipper, or even Velcro to close the fourth side. My college roommate and I did this to make inexpensive "seasonal" bedding--hearts, flowers, fall leaves, snowflakes, etc.
Elana Mendelson: That's SO true! That way you have more flexibility with the design of your duvet cover. My mom actually did this for me!
_______________________
Pittsburgh, Pa.: Great looking rooms! I especially liked Elana's -- the wall stickies were so fun. Have any of you ever lived in a dorm room that looked anything like any of these?
Patrick J. Baglino Jr.: I did, my friends did, we all had excellent and fun rooms in which to live. As a student at NYU, we had access to New York City and so many wonderful and creative things that we could extract from the city to bring life to our living space. Because our living space is truly a reflection of us, our life and who we are. While the money may not always be there it is possible to be creative on a budget.
_______________________
Rockville, Md.: Re: the down comforter question -- what is a dryer's "air" setting? I thought there is only high heat, low heat and permanent press? Thanks for the suggestion!
Dana Tydings: On most dryers there is a "no heat" setting, also known as tumble. Good Luck!
Patrick J. Baglino Jr.: There is a difference in quality between many down comforter manufacturers. Some offer a down blend and some offer all White goose down feathers. The later are the most expensive and will last and wear the longest. It is important to "fluff up" a comforter each morning when you make your bed. I highly suggest bringing the comforter to a dry cleaner for cleaning and refreshment.
_______________________
Dana Tydings: To Washington D.C. regarding the perspective; student or ours: we always view our projects be they dorm rooms, residences, or commercial spaces from our client's viewpoint. Several employees of Tydings Design have college students or soon to be college students so we are very "in touch" with their likes and dislikes!
_______________________
About the Futon...: Can you easily buy futon covers?
Elana Mendelson: It is easy to buy futon covers. There are many futon specialty shops that sell the covers separately, and I think IKEA does, too.
_______________________
Cleveland, Ohio: Good interior design for a dorm room is nice. However, what I found most important when I was a college student was how soundproof the walls, ceiling and floors were. Usually, the older the dorm, the less noise. Are there any things you do to try to soundproof rooms?
Elana Mendelson: You can use area rugs or carpet tiles, like Dana used in her design, because the soft materials on the floor will absorb sound. Hope this helps!
Dana Tydings: Elana's use of the upholstered love seat will also absorb sound.
_______________________
Houston, Texas: So do you guys have insider favorites -- places to shop for accessories at good prices?
Elana Mendelson: Some of my favorite places are Target, IKEA, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. They sell contemporary or modern (IKEA) furniture and accessories at very affordable prices. Two of my other favorite places are Design Within Reach and Apartment Zero in Washington, D.C. Both are pricey, but can have decent sales, and sell very hip stuff.
Dana Tydings: Don't forget large box home furnishings stores such as HomeGoods and TJ Maxx. Unfortunately, most of our unique accessories are purchased through designer only venues, such as the Washington Design Center. Check with your local or regional design center to see when sample sales and open to the public days are available.
Patrick J. Baglino Jr.: Let's hear it for Target! I think they have done some excellent things in offering fun and quality accessories at affordable pricing. Designers such as Isaac Mizrahi, Todd Oldham and Michael Graves are all supporting Target and creating a wonderful array of furnishings. I also love what you may find from West Elm. I am also quite fond of Storehouse and love their new location on 14th Street in the district. Anthropologie, in Georgetown and Tysons 2, is owned by Urban outfitters and is also an excellent source for finding accessories with great character.
_______________________
Georgetown: My roommate is always bringing guys to our room and making a lot of noise, if you know what I mean. Do you have any suggestions for noise alleviation in small spaces like dorm rooms ?
Elana Mendelson: Get some area rugs or carpet tile to absorb some of the sound and perhaps you can find a screen or something like it to create some a separation in the space. Upholstered items like futons and bean bags may help as well. One other suggestion would be to hang tapestries or fabric from the ceiling to create a curtain-like element. All of these ideas will help, but won't alleviate the problem 100 percent because the room is small and I'm sure it's difficult to maintain a good deal of privacy.
Dana Tydings: Try using a screen such as the one featured in our room for privacy. If all else fails, offer to get them a motel room!
Patrick J. Baglino Jr.: Perhaps you can develop a system of tying a scarf or sock around the doorknob when your roommate is pre-occupied. I remember my parents telling me about this method when they were back in college.
_______________________
Patrick J. Baglino Jr.: Have an excellent semester. Use your imagination. Trust your feelings. Respond to your heart and the creativity will guide you in creating a space that you will find wonderful to live in. It would be a pleasure and honor to hear from you. I may be contacted at patrick@pbaglino.com. Namaste.
_______________________
Dana Tydings: I've enjoyed "speaking" with all of you today. Please feel free to contact my office at TydingsDesign@aol.com with any further questions. Many thanks to the Washington Post and its producers for featuring such a timely and necessary topic.
_______________________
Elana Mendelson: Thank you all for participating! If you would like to contact me directly, please do so at emendels@gwu.edu. Thanks!
_______________________
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.