News and Media

Published: Sep 12, 2008

SAVANNAH, Ga. - As students enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design descend on the university for the new school year, many will get a one-of-a-kind lesson in decorating their off-campus apartments. SCAD has joined with home products retailer west elm to create a "Beyond the Dorm" apartment to help parents and students learn how to decorate an off-campus apartment in a chic yet cost-effective way.

West elm, a specialty brand owned by Williams-Sonoma Inc., provided the apartment's furnishings and accoutrements - from the couch to the candles on the coffee table. SCAD contributed art and accessories created by students, alumni, faculty and staff to round out the look.

Glenn E. Wallace Jr., senior vice president for college resources and the college's chief interior designer, took on the challenge of renovating a one-bedroom apartment located at SCAD's Alexander Hall, 668 Indian St. Wallace, who has led the renovation and interior design of more than 50 reclaimed buildings at the college's campuses in Savannah, Atlanta and Lacoste, France, led a team of SCAD designers in transforming the apartment. "SCAD students appreciate a creative interior," he said. "This student-inspired apartment exemplifies how great ideas don't always require a big budget."

The apartment makeover was accomplished by employing innovative decorating ideas and broad strokes of paint, blending modern furnishings with vintage and "found" objects. Select west elm furnishings include a scoop-back desk chair, a parsons desk and studded lacquer boxes. Contemporary west elm orange sofas are anchored by an old piano painted banana yellow. Vividly painted concrete parrots found in a second-hand shop add whimsy to the bathroom. The kitchen cabinets are standard chipboard trimmed with modern hardware, and the inside edge of the windows in the kitchen and bedrooms are painted orange. The bedroom features curtains and a quilt created by SCAD fibers students.

The off-campus apartment will be on view to the public beginning with an open house Friday, Sept. 12, 4-7 p.m. The apartment will remain open for self-guided tours Sept. 13-19, 12-5 p.m. A virtual tour of the apartment can be viewed on the SCAD Web site at www.scad.edu/westelm.

The final lesson for SCAD students: Select west elm pieces will be raffled off to one lucky student Sept. 20 so they can create their own distinctive look at home.