All posts by Beth Dotolo

Under Construction: The New Hello Splendor Coming July 9th!

 Hello, Splendor is currently under construction!

We will be back on July 9th with a brand new look and brand new content.

Here’s a little titbit on what’s to come…

The Splendid Explorations of Pulp Design Studios: A new look and a fresh approach on the blog  

Pulp Design Studios strives to utilize interior design to, not just make gorgeous spaces, but to enhance our client’s lifestyles for beautiful living. After all, what is a beautiful space if you don’t use it?! 

 We are currently revamping the look and content of our lifestyle blog, Hello, Splendor, to bring our clients and readers the best in entertaining, lifestyle, and all things home related. 

Plus, we’ll be sharing more of what people have been begging to see…. our work! We’ll share snapshots of work in progress, behind the scenes photos, before and after features, and sneak peeks of the many projects we’re working on.  

Be on the lookout July 9th, when we reveal the brand new Pulp Design Studios blog: Hello, Splendor.

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Until next month…

xx Beth, Carolina, & The Pulp Design Studios Team

postcards from the jersey shore…

I just returned this week from my annual Jersey Shore trip… If you’ve been following along since the start of this blog, you would have seen my last couple of trips through the years (here & here). Even though this is becoming more of the Pulp blog now, I just couldn’t help but share!

To see more of my vacation, hop on over to my personal blog bethdotolo.com.

I even posted about how you could get a little taste of the jersey shore, too.

Where are you going on vacation this summer??

Pulp Design Studios

Postcards from Seattle…

Hello from Seattle!

This is what life has looked like for me lately… Quality time with my family, obsessing over my new blog, exploring new restaurants, and taking in the scenery! Seattle is really amazing this time of year. But, Seattle will have to wait! Tomorrow, we take the Jersey Shore for our annual family vacation.

Do hop over to my new blog bethdotolo.com to follow along on all the adventures!

While Hello, Splendor waits for her new look and new vibe, I’m over on my new site just blogging from the heart again. Nothing to gain, nothing to loose… just sharing.

(But, stay tuned here, too… As much as I hate to say it, we’ve been holding out on you! As soon as the new Hello Splendor launches you’ll get to see what Carolina & I have been working on and get sneak peeks inside our Pulp design jobs. I’m really excited about it!)

Happy Monday!

Pulp Design Studios

Our New Obsessions: Archipelago!

We recently received some gorgeous candles and soaps from Archipelago…. and they are to-die-for!

My very favorite is the Private Reserve Zest 54 soy candle (pictured above). It’s an environmentally conscious collection and the packaging is just gorgeous! It’s hard to find a great smelling candle in beautiful packaging, that still manages to fit into most style of homes. Because of that, I have Archipelago’s spoils sprinkled throughout my home. See the Elder Citron mini tin candle in my bathroom (complete with matches for guests).

Another favorite is the Elder & Olive hand wash! It’s also Carolina’s favorite, as well. It’s scented beautifully, but has just the right amount of fragrance. And, the most important part is that it makes your hands feel ridiculously soft.

To see more of their gorgeous botanicals visit the Archipelago website!  

Thank you for the goodies, Archipelago. We are smitten!

Pulp Design Studios

Your Weekend Blueprint // Mother’s Day

A Room-By-Room Link Guide to a Splendid Mother’s Day Weekend in Your Home.

Boudoir: Treat yourself (or your mom) to the perfect bubble bath.

Kitchen: Moms, skip the cooking and enjoy a treat… Macaroons make a fab gift!

Closet: A chic mothers day brunch dress for the modern mom (or anyone, really).

Reading Nook: The perfect pop-culture guilty pleasure just released this week! Curl up to Andy Cohen’s Most Talkative!

Vanity: This little bauble is the perfect addition to any jewelry box!

Family room: Cozy up with this luxurious throw for the last of spring & treat yourself to a chick flick!

Patio: This cocktail spotted Coco + Kelley has been in my recipe book since last year. Mother’s day is my perfect chance to try it, since the hubby will be playing bartender while I soak in the rays.

Have a fabulous Mother’s Day!! 

Pulp Design Studios

Featured Image: Kate Moss for Vogue

High Point Market Spring 2012 Recap!

The Pulp Design Studios girls are back from High Point Market and trying to absorb and pull together all the great info, vendors, and friends we picked up along the way! If you recall, we attended High Point as DecorMentor Market Ambassadors (also as Interior Designers, of course). But, I have to tell you… High Point far exceeded all of our expectations and was the most productive trade show we’ve been to in our entire careers!

Let’s recap our top reasons for attending so we can show you how High Point Market met & exceeded our expectations!

1. To spot the latest TRENDS so we can bring the latest & greatest to our clients.

We’ll share more on our favorite trend in the coming weeks on the DecorMentor site. Stay tuned! But, in the meantime, how hot is this brass peacock? [photo by PULP design studios at the Jonathan Adler Showroom] 

 

2. Form lasting CONNECTIONS with other designers to build camaraderie.

The relationships we formed on a personal & professional level were quite possibly one of the best things about market. We all shared information about our business & the industry at the ELEVATE launch party. If you want to join in the give/get process of sharing & gaining industry knowledge for your business, sign up on the sidebar on DecorMentor’s site. Be the first to be a part when the ELEVATE site launches! [photo by Bruce Barone]

 

3. build face-to-face relationships with VENDORS for the best possible service.

Meeting some of our reps and talking terms with them were some of the best things we could have done. Better service & pricing for us, means our clients get to reap the benefits. [photo by PULP design studios at the Christopher Guy Showroom]

 

4. See new PRODUCT in person so we bring the best in quality back to our clients.

Seeing product in person is priceless for us since our clients trust us to bring them the best in quality! Showrooms in Dallas & Seattle are limited and to be able to inspect the quality is invaluable for us. [photo by PULP design studios at the Christopher Guy Showroom]

 

5. A one-stop-shop for SEMINARS to maintain our interior design certification requirements.

One of the best seminars, among many, was the Branded! panel with Debbie Green, Lisa Ferguson, & Tobi Fairley. Getting information you can use and apply is really incredible. [photo taken with iPad]

 

The PERKS!!

Attending High Point Market came with so many perks and opportunities (some that we can’t yet discuss – exciting!). But, here are some of the other bonuses we got while attending High Point Market…

1. The parties! 

Where else can you be in the same room as Margaret Russell, Thomas O’Brien, Thom Filicia, Bunny Williams, and more? Rubbing elbows with some of the best in the industry was quite inspiring! [photo using instagram of Architectural Digest Party]

 

2. Queen for a Day!

I won the Queen for a Day service from GFW Shuttles & High Point Market, simply by watching their discovery video before market. Be sure to get on the High Point Market email list to be in the know about opportunities & news. You can also follow along on Twitter: @HPMarketNews[photo by PULP design studios]

 

3. The Swag!

The best part!! Carolina and I were sent some amazing jewelry to wear at the ELEVATE party. Carolina is wearing a gorgeous Layla Grayce necklace that’s perfectly understated & I’m wearing a stunning piece by Nina Nguyen! We can’t thank them enough for sending our gorgeous necklaces! They have quickly become pieces in our daily wardrobe. See what the rest of the DecorMentor ladies were wearing on Jenn Brouwer’s blog[photo by Bruce Barone]

 

So… I think it goes without saying… We’ll be back to High Point! I think you’ll see the benefits of what we’ve learned and found here on the blog and in our client projects!

Pulp Design Studios

PULP loves GiGi New York!

Carolina and I have been talking for what seems like years about how we want a designated design bag for client meetings & running around. It seems we always forget something. When GiGi New York came to us about creating personalized bags for their amazing new fashion-driven line, which is a branch of our other favorite brand Graphic Image, we just couldn’t resist. We decided to have some official PULP Design Studios handbags personalized for us! And, let me tell you, these have gone from our ‘PULP’ bags to our ‘everyday’ bags. These cross-body bags are exquisitely made, practical, and just plain gorgeous!

GiGi New York sent one bag to Carolina in Dallas and one to me in Seattle! It’s funny how differently we seem to use them. With Carolina, more is always better! She’s always prepared, carries large bags, and fills & stuffs with reckless abandon. Because, hey, you never know when you’ll need an architectural scale! It’s funny how she tends to be the mamma bear, when I’m the one with the kiddo.

And, with me, less is more! I take the bus these days and travel light. All I need is a tape measure, my camera phone, and a good notebook. Also, check out that amazing little iPhone case in white python that they sent around the holidays last year as a collaboration for Gaga’s Workshop for Barney’s New York. I use it everyday for my business cards & my bus pass! I can’t get enough!

So, why (aside from their seriously must-have handbags and accessories) do we love GiGi New York? Because they love bloggers. And, they love blogger’s readers. As a little nod to you, they are giving Hello, Splendor Readers & Pulp Design Studios fans, 20% off of anything from the GiGi New York & Graphic Image sites! Just use the promo code below:

20% off GiGi New York & Graphic Image
Apr 11, 2012 -May 11, 2012
Promocode: PULP

To stay in the loop and all their new products & promotions (and, let me tell you, they do some really cool collaborations!) follow them:

Twitter  +  Facebook  +  Mailing List

We know you’ll love them just as much as we do!

Thank you, GiGi New York! We’re smitten.

Pulp Design Studios

We’ve Missed You… 8 Things We’ve Been Up To!

We’re really missed hanging out around here on the blog…. But, we’ve been a little busy the past several weeks! I just wanted to stop in to tell you a bit of what we have going on in case you’re missing us, too.

Here’s 8 newsworthy things we’ve had going on:

1. Carolina came to visit the PULP Seattle office! We had a blast! Here we are eating in the famous Pike Place Market (completely ragged from a long day’s work, mind you!).

2. While Carolina was here, we managed to squeeze in a shoot with Seattle Met Magazine that’s due out in May!

3. We shared 7 Concepts for Creating a Dramatic Interior over on DecorMentor.

4. Speaking of DecorMentor, who will be at High Point Market? We’ll be there next week kicking off the ELEVATE wall!

5. Hop on over to Smmidge, where Beth did an interview & offered a sweet little PULP deal to Smmidge readers

6. HGTV deemed PULP’s work some of the most pin-worthy in their latest email!

7. Hello, Splendor is undergoing a major re-design that you’re sure to love! We’ve hired one of our friends & favorite bloggers! Just wait…. it’s going to be a good one!

8. The PULP girls are planning another blogger social for August in Dallas! We’re looking for sponsors & want to hear from the bloggers who attended the last blogger social! What did you love? What did you hate? What did you want more of?? This year it’s all PULP throwing the bash, so we have complete control over making sure it’s what you want! Want to sponsor or sound off?? email me….  hellosplendor [at] pulpdesignstudios [dot] com

We aren’t always on the blog, but we’re always on other social media outlets every single day!
Come connect with us elsewhere: 
PULP Facebook  |  PULP Twitter
Get a bit more personal:
Beth’s Twitter  |  Carolina’s Twitter
Pulp Design Studios