Ultimate Bachelor Pad
By Whitney Kuhn

If you think girls set the stage for having great pads in college, think again. Ole Miss boys are not missing a beat when it comes to the latest in trend setting interior decorating. From residence halls, to fraternity houses, to tricked-out off campus cribs, these boys have what it takes to don the title of: The Ultimate Bachelor Pads.

The exciting 10x12 cubicle we are all assigned to as freshmen at Ole Miss has long sense gathered a miserable rep-especially for barely legal boys. For decades the guys dorms have been covered with posters of bronzed bombshells, rows of empty liquor bottles (to prove manliness, of course) and sheets hung with tacks that form desperately drooping “curtains.” Today though, many fashion savvy freshmen gents are tossing the chick posters and bottles and opting for Southern Living styled window treatments and draperies. Walking into freshman Fenney Armistead’s, 19, Kincannon Hall room the style change is evident. Lofted bunk beds give this bachelor plenty of room to tuck away his overstuffed plush red futon, refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker “which is totally necessary for any class before noon,” said Armistead. Tan drapes cover the window and both closets, while the 32’’ TV sits prominently on top of the built-in shelf. This room is shockingly clean, sophisticated and apparently would not be complete without the “X Chair” said Armistead. “It’s like a low to the ground Lazy Boy that you can hook your iPod up to so you can blare your favorite song or even an entire playlist. It’s pretty much balling.”

Going hand in hand with the male freshmen halls notorious poor rep for design goes fraternity houses. Fraternity houses have been marred with every stereotype found in the popular 1978 flick, Animal House. Cigarette butts, Solo cups and half empty beer bottles have acted as the main décor of these houses for years, but now it is apparent that things are definitely changing. Sophomore Wesley Logan, 20, has crafted his room in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house to his version of the ultimate bachelor pad. Living in a single room has it perks, one of which has been a king size bed. Logan’s bed consumes most of the room and is covered with a stylish down Polo comforter, which he credits to his mother. Pushed caddy-corner is a large big screen TV and hung above the window is a Georgia flag. An Atlanta native “I had to represent,” said Logan. “I think it completes my bachelor pad, and yea, it’s definitely ULTIMATE.”

Moving off campus is exciting for all and allows for many changes, especially design changes, to take place. Junior Patrick Cooper, 21, a Tyler, Texas native tries to bring “a little bit of the Lone Star State to Ole Miss” when it came down to decorating his first off campus house. Six TV’s, an Xbox 360 and an in/outdoor stereo system make this bachelor pad tres technologically advanced. Mounted deer heads, large black grill and smoker, stone fire pit, remnants of an above ground pool, flickering colored Christmas lights and Labrador puppy complete this “homey” bachelor pad.

Four years of interior design and wisdom proves true with senior Baker Heppenstall’s four-bedroom ranch style crib. The living room is complete with two leather couches providing comfy stadium seating in front of the three big screen TV’s. “We’ve got two boxes with full game-day packages, and the seating is clutch in the ‘moneymaking’ room,” said Heppenstall. Positioned in the corner is a 1962 soda machine that distributes frosty Colas or bottled beer. The moneymaking room is scattered with Xbox 360’s, PlayStations and Wii’s. Adjacent to this “guys heaven” is a medium sized game room that has a foosball table, darts, basketball hoop, and beer pong table (complete with Ole Miss logo to show school spirit, of course.) With no bronzed bombshell posters or liquor bottles in sight this proves to be The Ultimate Bachelor Pad.