Domino – Before & After: Swoon-Worthy Seattle Townhouse

Before & After: A Swoon-Worthy Seattle Townhouse

By Shani Silver

Beth Dotolo, of Pulp Design Studios + Pulp Home, takes
us on a tour of her recent project in West Seattle. Explore
the before & after journey of this gorgeous space below!

July 30, 2014

Before & After: Swoon-Worthy Seattle Townhouse Before & After: Swoon-Worthy Seattle Townhouse Before & After: Swoon-Worthy Seattle Townhouse Before & After: Swoon-Worthy Seattle Townhouse Before & After: Swoon-Worthy Seattle Townhouse

Tell us a little about yourself. What does Pulp Design Studios offer?

I am the Co-Owner and Principal Interior Designer of Pulp Design Studios. My partner, Carolina V Gentry, and I founded our boutique interior design firm in 2007, based in Dallas and Seattle, specializing in residential and boutique commercial interiors. Carolina and I work together closely to take an individualized approach to each project. Our clients get highly tailored service that meets their personal needs to create a space that is more beautiful than they could have imagined. Simply put, we design gorgeous and functional spaces that have an emotional impact, making people’s lives better and happier.

What brought this project about?Did your clients have an idea of
what they needed or did they leave it all up to you?

Our clients, a busy working couple, recently purchased a townhouse in West Seattle. They wanted a new look that reflected their personal style and they were finally ready to create a space they could be proud of and show off to their friends. This project in particular was fun for Carolina and I because we were given full control to create a concept that was within budget, but had a dynamic yet livable feel. Because of this, we took a high/low approach and splurged on
some key pieces (like the bone inlay coffee table) and then scaled back with artwork that was created using feathers and ikea frames to fill up a double-volume wall.

What is your client’s favorite part about the finished product?

Our clients said that their favorite part of the finished product was the feeling they get when they see it each day. She told me that it makes her happy to walk into her space and that she and her husband just sit together with a cocktail in the evening and talk about how much they love their living room. As designers, creating that emotional impact that improves how people feel in their spaces is what is so important to Carolina and I.

What part of this project are you most proud of?

Carolina and I are proud that our client chose to trust our creative vision and that we created a really dynamic space from furniture to the finishing touches of art and accessories within budget. This is what we do for our clients and we love seeing our vision come to completion. Even though our client had a budget, we understood that it was an serious investment for them and we are so proud that our clients feel that it has paid off. It’s truly a lifestyle ROI.

Are there certain design elements you see yourself using frequently, as part of your style as a designer?

Of course! We feel that it’s very important to design for our client and not for ourselves. It’s our job to explore our client’s individual style and embody that. But, each space that Carolina and I design has our signature Pulp vibe. We blend great balance, contrast, texture, and patterns in a unique way and this townhouse is no exception. Our signature touch is to always integrate unexpected pieces into the design that creates a wow factor or a conversation. This townhouse is full of them! From the hand chair, to the wall covering, to patchwork hair-on-hide pillows, to the split face bookends.

Are there design elements in this space that you would recommend for other homes?

Since our client has pets, our design team utilized lots of hair-on-hide leather in both the rug choices and in the pillows. Hair-on-hide leather is amazingly cleanable and worth the investment for longevity when you have pets or kids. You can literally hose it down!

Any favorite memories of the project you’d like to share?

Even though our clients allowed us full control,they gave us a ton of push back on the teak hand chair! They thought it might be too odd and out of their comfort zone when we shared it with them in their design presentation. After
a little convincing and a few private conversations between the two of them, they decided to let us go for it! That chair is now their absolute favorite piece! They love it and all their friends are wowed by it. That little design victory is one of our favorite memories from this project.

See more at
PULP DESIGN STUDIOS!