The smell of spray paint looms in the air and party lights flash all around. From the turntables, to the black-lit bar and right down to the stylized murals -this is one serious party pad.

The roommates of 1111 Spiros Court all have one thing in common: They love to party.

“These are the only two guys who like to [party] and get blasted like I do,” junior finance major Robert Bastyr said.

This is the first year that Bastyr, Mike Rudden, a junior sociology major, and Adam Kearns, a junior manufacturing and engineering technology major, have lived together. Rudden lived in the residence halls last year, while Kearns and Bastyr brought all of the furniture from their apartments last year.

Though there is nothing spectacular about the apartment’s furnishings, the room really shines thanks to crafty lighting. Throughout the living room and kitchen, the guys have strung up Christmas and party lights.

“I had some of this stuff from my old apartment blacklight-wise, and Rudden brought the DJ lights,” Kearns said.

Also adorning the pad’s walls are a collection of bar banners and metal signs, including a large “Margaritaville” banner.

“I don’t even remember where we got that one from anymore,” Kearns said about the banner.

Set up in the corner of the living room are Rudden’s prized possessions-his turntables.

“They are TT-1625’s,” Rudden said. “I scratch hip-hop mostly.”

With a bona fide musician in the house, one can be assured these boys know how to throw a good party. The trio have built in a snazzy bar for their friends to gather around. Kearns and Rudden built it within the first week of school for only about $300.

The piece de resistance of the apartment is the hallway mural work the guys have been working on lately. The spray painting started after a night of drinking, but has evolved into a major piece of art. The stairwell sports an orange, blue, and silver NIU graphic while the hallway has some more sophisticated work.

Just outside the bedrooms is a luxurious Jamaican beach. The masters of the mural were Rudden and friend Patrick Tuggle, a junior communication major.

“It was just an urge one day and I couldn’t stop,” Rudden said.

Once Rudden had completed the stairwell, he decided to take over the hallway, this time enlisting the help of Tuggle to add a splash of class to the otherwise dull white hall.

“They said they wanted something classy, and since it was just after spring break and everyone was talking about the beach, I decided to make my own beach,” Tuggle said.