Tidbits, Odds, and Ends: Getting Homey and Settled in the Dorm Part III

In Part I of this mini series we asked, "What makes a dorm room a home?". We have received some more pictures from inside Vassar students' rooms to help us answer this query.

Photo: Margot Mayer

These pipes belonged to my grandfather before my grandmother made him quit smoking 50 years ago. They remind me of him, so I took them with me to school to keep a bit of him always with me.

-Margot Mayer

Photo: Jacob Gorski

I always keep my eye open for interior decoration opportunities on the college budget. I snagged this gorgeous set of Andy Warhol Marilyn glasses at a tag sale–what better than to drink out of a vessel of popular consumption!

-Jacob Gorski

Photo: Olga Voyavides

I recently bought a record player, as I have wanted one for a long time. I love listening to an album of songs in the order that the artist intending, really allowing the album to tell its story. There's nothing like listening to a vinyl record on a Sunday afternoon when I'm procrastinating doing homework. I seem to also be keeping Darkside Records in business, as my record collection is quickly expanding!'

-Olga Voyavides

Tobacco... Alcohol...ROCK AND ROLL! Vessels of vice are in every room. What has become of Vassar's Brewers? 

By: Michael Gambardella

Tidbits, Odds, and Ends: Getting Homey and Settled in the Dorm Part II

In Part I of this mini series we asked, "What makes a dorm room a home?", and we've received some more submissions answering this question. Here's what Vassar students had to say:

Photo: Rachel Garbade

After the Loeb featured the Polaroid exhibit last year I was hooked. I immediately searched all over Ebay for a Polaroid camera of my own and quickly stumbled upon this one. Four months later, I've gone through over five packs of film and taken photos with it in three different countries (France, Italy, and the USA). At this point, I like to call it more of an obsession than a hobby.

                         -Rachel Garbade

Photo: Emily Selter

I have had this framed picture of me and my friends since freshman year, and it always makes me smile when I see it when I put on my perfume. The Hello Kitty band aids are a must, so I always have some with me.

                        -Emily Selter

Photo: Chris Farrell

This bright, beautiful orchid brings a little nature into my humble abode and contrasts with the minimal style of my space. It was also a gift from someone special.

                                 -Chris Farrell

So there you have it: cameras for foreign travels and excursions, pictures from romps-past, and foliage from that special someone. What makes your room homey? Share with Vassar, email blog editors and let us know.


Written by: Michael Gambardella

Tidbits, Odds, and Ends: Getting Homey and Settled in the Dorm Part I

What makes a dorm room a home? Is it the pictures of friends and family that we tape to our walls or the warm glow from a simple string of Christmas lights that somehow magically transforms our humble 15x13 feet of rented space into a welcoming safe haven? In this series, we will showcase some of the pieces that give Vassar students' rooms a uniquely homey character.

Photo: Michael Gambardella

I have had my eye on this statue since I was little. My dad picked it up on a business trip to China in the '80s and it had been in his office ever since, but I finally convinced him to let me take it to school with me. It's always one of the first things I see when I walk into my room and it never fails to remind me of my childhood and  family back at home.

                                     -Michael Gambardella

Photo: Emilia Petrarca

I saw the Impressionism show at the Musée d'Orsay while I was abroad in Paris last year and it was so wonderful, but I couldn't take a poster back with me in my already overstuffed suitcase. I went to the show again when it came to the MET in New York. It was way worse, but at least I got the poster!

                                         -Emilia Petrarca







What makes your room uniquely your space? Let us know and stay posted for more glimpses into the rooms of Vassar students.


Written by: Michael Gambardella