All posts by Beth and Carolina

The 4 Things Every Family Kitchen Needs

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Kitchen design has changed in the last year to reflect how we’re all using that room today. It used to be the place to cook a meal or find a snack, and it’s still key for that, of course. But the kitchen is also now a Zoom room, a place for homework and online classes, an arts and crafts station, and so much more. So in addition to the usual must-haves like durable counters, cabinets, and floors, there are other key ingredients for a hard-working family kitchen. Let’s take a look!

1. Take a Seat

If you don’t have a kitchen island or table in your kitchen, we bet you’re really missing it right now. Because counters are meant to withstand heat, stains, and more, kitchen islands and counters are perfect places for kids to do schoolwork. It’s also a nice setting for your online meetings because the light is usually really good in this room. And it’s great to be able to multitask in the kitchen – keeping your eye on the kids at the island while you’re making a meal or putting groceries away. The Pulp team used bright orange stools in the kitchen above to add a bit of fun, too. Top renovation requests right now include adding more room (and seating!) to kitchens.

Leviton

2. Get Technical

There are so many new tech tools that make your work in the kitchen more efficient. We’re all about USB plugs, like the one above from Leviton. This is an especially cool model because it also has a lightning plug for Mac fanatics (like us!). Other great kitchen tech to consider include app-driven appliances like a coffee machine that starts your brew while you’re still in bed. Or voice-controlled faucets that fill a pot to exact measurements. We talk with our clients about how they use their kitchens and then suggest time-saving and smart tech ideas to make their workload a little lighter – and more fun.

3. Offer Easy Access

In the kitchen above, we added a beverage station for the littles in the house. It gives them some independence to be able to grab their own drinks – and keeps them from opening your fridge 100 times a day. The Pulp team also likes to use fridge drawers, pull-out snack drawers, and microwave drawers to make things easy for kids from tiny to teens. That will also help you keep them out of the background of your Zoom calls as they ask for yet another snack!

4. Organize It All

The kitchen is definitely the hub of your home, so consider adding a “command central” to the room. In the kitchen above, the Pulp team created an organized family center that includes calendars, places for notes and important papers, drawers for bags and equipment, and more. It’s great for keeping up with meetings, deadlines, and school assignments.. You can even add a computer station to the hub, like we did below, which gives you another working-from-home space – and we all need more of those!

The Pulp team loves a good kitchen remodel – and we’re now booking into 2021. Get in touch here if you’re ready to create the perfect kitchen for your family!

5 Tips for Setting the Perfect Table

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There’s an art to setting a stunning table for a dinner party – it’s more than just plates and linens. With Thanksgiving only two weeks away, the Pulp team has assembled their top 5 tips for making this a holiday table to remember, showcasing photos from an amazing shoot we did for Traditional Home magazine. And be sure to read to the bottom to find a link to our favorite holiday playlist!

1. Make It Visually Appealing

The best table design has a lot of visual interest with different heights, patterns, colors, and textures. It makes the table look fuller and more sophisticated, too. We also added style with a custom table runner in our Pulp Design Studios for S.Harris fabric, using the Hidalgo pattern. You can get that fabric, too, by clicking here.

2. Add a Unique Detail

Use something unique like these handpainted leather placemats to set your table apart. Mix in a vintage bowl that you picked up on your travels. Serve your sides in pottery you found in a gallery. Think about how you can add unexpected moments that tell a story.

3. Keep It Fresh

Flowers, fruits, herbs, plants all add life to the table. But even here, be daring with your table decor. We added porcupine quills to this arrangement, which took it from good to fabulous!

4. Make It Personal

No one should have to reach for the salt and pepper, so we like to offer either personal shakers at each place setting, or at least multiples at each end of the table. It’s the little things that mean a lot!

5. Be Bold

Who says you have to use the same old clear vase? We love using objects with a lot of visual interest for our florals, like this spiky footed goblet by L’Objet. You don’t have to use the same old turkey platters and fall-themed plates. Make your table memorable with bolder designs and ideas.

We know that this holiday season is going to be different with shutdown rules and smaller gatherings. To lift your spirits during this holiday season, click here for Pulp’s Merry + Bright playlist on Spotify!

 

5 Ways to Create the Must-Have Home Bar

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As we head into the holiday season, we know things are going to be different this year. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate and have fun. A home bar gives you a great way to raise a glass with family or to toast to a new year, even if your gatherings are smaller. Here are 5 ways to create that must-have home bar for the holidays and beyond. And be sure to scroll down to get a recipe for our favorite fall cocktail!

1. Use Extra Space

A built-in bar looks chic and professional. If you’re adding a bar to your existing home, look for spaces where you can easily add shelves, a counter, and refrigeration or an ice maker. For the bar above, we used extra space on the other side of a kitchen wall to create a lovely place for our clients to store and enjoy their favorite wines and cocktails. A fridge is easy to add with an outlet – but if you can also plumb the space, it’s great to have an ice maker or a bar sink, too.

2. Create a Wine Room

If you’re really into savoring and collecting wine, consider adding your own wine room. We designed the space above in what could have been a storage closet originally. We added shelving for bottles, as well as chic decor to make the room extra special. You can create your own wine room in an spare room, a closet, or a pantry. If you want to store your wine at the right temperature, you can even add a separate thermostat that will keep the room as cool as it needs to be.

3. Build the Perfect Bar

If you have the budget and the space, nothing beats a custom bar like the one we created above. You can add all the bells and whistles, like refrigeration, bar stools, a sink, and even a TV. This can be added to one side of a family room, it could be a great basement renovation project, or you can add it to your plans for a new build. We love to create these chic home bars for clients, so if you’re ready to renovate give us a call!

4. Add a Bar Cart

If you aren’t ready for a major project, a bar cart is always a fabulous way to go. For the bar cart above, we made sure there was plenty of room for our client’s favorite liqueurs and cocktail mixers, as well as glasses and bar tools. You can see a different view at the top of the page.

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5. Table the Bar

If you aren’t ready for a huge commitment, you can always create a great mini bar on any surface. All it takes is a lovely tray and your favorite bottles. Glasses and mixers can always be stored in a cabinet or a nearby shelf. But make the tabletop bar just as inviting as its bigger counterpart!

A Perfect Day

This cocktail is our go-to for fall. Relatively low in alcohol, it’s perfect for brunch or to wind down your day!

INGREDIENTS

1 oz. Averna Amaro Siciliano
1 oz. Italian sweet vermouth (We like Carpano Antica Formula for this)
1⁄2 oz. mint simple syrup
3⁄4 oz. fresh lemon juice
Mint leaves for garnish
Ice

EQUIPMENT

Coupe glass
Cocktail shaker
Juicer

INSTRUCTIONS

Add mint simple syrup, amaro, vermouth, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice. Shake until outside of shaker is frosty, about 30 seconds. Strain into a couple glass. Add a mint leaf or lemon rind to top of the cocktail.

Enjoy!

How to Layer Light Like a Pro

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Electrical plans aren’t exactly the sexiest thing when it comes to interior design – but it’s so critical to a room’s functionality. The Pulp team likes to layer light into a room so there are lots of options from romantic to insanely bright. But what do we mean by “layering light”? It’s all about giving yourself plenty of choices. Here are our favorite go-to light options.

Task Lighting

Task lighting is a light source that shines directly on an area where you are working or reading. This is a layer that’s so important in a kitchen. As you can see above, the pendants shine right on the island for meal prep, homework, and more. Task lighting can also be a bright floor lamp with a swing arm that can be positioned over a book or needlework.

Canned Lights

Canned lights are set flush with the ceiling and give the brightest light, but stay out of sight when they aren’t needed. You usually see these in a kitchen or living area. And this is where an electrical plan is important. With that plan, you are determining where every outlet, USB port, light, and ceiling fan needs to go. So it’s smart to think about where you’ll need the brightest light. Canned lights can also be set on a dimmer, which gives you even more control.

Table Lamps

When you want to set a mood, there’s no better light than a table lamp. If it’s burning solo, it softens the room. Add it to another light source and it can really bring the brightness. We love to use table lamps on dining room sideboards like the one above. That gives you the choice of using the overhead light (usually a chandelier) or just the table lamps to set a mood.

Bedside Lighting

The photo above really showcases layered lighting. The table lamp is great for lighting the room, but that wall-mounted reading light will put the light directly on a book for our client who loves to read in bed. As you can see, the more light options, the better!

Statement Lighting

Whether it’s a chandelier, a flush-mount design, or a pendant, a statement light fixture serves a dual purpose. Of course it should be functional and provide great light. But it also can be a gorgeous sculptural moment that wows. We love the one above – it gives our clients a real moment of drama in this dining area. And we also added a dimmer to give it even more functionality.

Need help with that all-important lighting plan? We definitely can create that for you as part of our full-service design! Contact us by clicking here.

Founders’ Five: 10 Things on Our Wish Lists

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When the weather gets cooler, we want to get cozier! We’re obsessed with health + wellness, warm knits, skin care and more. Take a look…

Health + Wellness Faves

BETH’S PICKS

We recently put these boxes from Global Views in a project and now I’m ordering one for me!

I’ve had this Henley bodysuit from Goop on my list for a couple of years and I’m finally going to order this investment basic.

I’ve been doing lots of backyard happy hours, at a distance. I love giving everyone their individual setup like this one from Crate & Barrel. 

I love this tea-colored sconce with brass accents from Articolo Lighting. It’s modern, with a hint of femininity.

After our managing director, Tracy, recommended this personal microdermabrasion device from PMD, I’ve been using it once a week… A skin saver!

CAROLINA’S PICKS

These salts from Jennifer Fisher are sure to kick up any dish you create!

Everything I have made out of this Cook Beautiful book has been delicious. Makes for a great gift too!

This Omega Juicer is the most amazing juicer and it makes nut milks, baby food and nut butters!

The Cuyana Throw is cozy cape that can dress up some athleisure or used to cozy up on a sofa at home.

Just like a silk pillow on your face, the Hope Silk Mask from Ravella is extremely comfortable and chic.

This article originally appeared in our latest issue of ICON! Subscribe to early access to fabulous content like this – just click here. 

5 Ways to Use Black in Your Home

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There is a fear factor about using color in the home, especially bold color. But there’s one that people fear the most, and that’s black. It seems too mysterious and daring for some, but the Pulp team loves using black in the interiors we design. It’s a cozy color and it evokes a sense of power and calm, including a grounding feeling. Here are 5 ways to use black in your home, from a whisper to a WOW!

1. Use It to Accessorize

This is the easiest way to try touches of black in your home. Whether it’s a pillow, lamp, or piece of art, you can introduce this dark color in a way that’s easy to change. But trust us, your eye will be drawn to the bold look! And if you love the fabrics you see above, you can have them in your own home! They’re part of our collection with S.Harris Home – just click here to see them all.

2. Take It to the Floor

If you’re feeling a little braver, consider hitting the floor with this dramatic hue in a rug or carpet. The color will anchor the room and add a lot of personality. And think about using a pattern with black in the background in a rug or in the accessories. That helps you feel more confident about using this color since it isn’t just an all-black look.

3. Try It in Tile

Tile is another great way to add bold black to a room. We used smaller penny tile in the bathroom above, with a grey grout to really define the shape. Want to go bigger? Use black tile on a backsplash in the bathroom, or behind the range in the kitchen!

4. Accent the Positive

Okay, are you ready to take it up a notch? Try painting an accent wall with a deep black, like Sherwin-Williams Tricorn. This is one of our favorite blacks, and it’s the perfect background for our client’s art in the photo above. Using it just on one wall, or in an entry like we did in that photo, will add interest but won’t be overwhelming for anyone who is nervous about the color.

5. Drench the Room

This is the bold and beautiful way to use black! Rather than being too dark or overbearing, painting your walls black actually creates a cozy and quiet space. It definitely is a grounding color and we love how it creates a sense of calm in the office we designed above.

Now how do you feel about using black in your home? The key is to experiment and find the right place and hue for you. Need help? Give us a call!

5 Tips for the Perfect Kids’ Spaces

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Kids’ rooms have always been important in homes, but they haven’t always been top-of-mind for designed spaces. Whether it’s a playroom or a bedroom, creating a great space for the littles in your life is critical today. These areas have to function for school days, play time, rest and relaxation, and so much more. Here are 5 tips that will help you support what your children, and you, need at home.

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1. Make It Worry Free

Use performance fabrics or treated materials to keep stains and spills down to a minimum. That way they can play and you don’t have to worry! The music room above has a painterly wallpaper designed to inspire the young artist who lives there. We gave the room plenty of functionality, as well as worry-free fabrics, so the family loves hanging out here together.

2. Make It Fun

Add a sense of fun and wonder to spaces. Let them reflect what your child loves. If they are into dinosaurs, then use a whimsical dino print on the walls or bedding. Teens definitely do not want to have spaces that make it look like they’re kids, but they do want them to still reflect who they are. In the space above, we added great mural of a baseball stadium for a major sports fan. Still fun, but more grown-up.

3. Tech Talk

Everyone needs tech for school and play today, so be sure you have good WiFi, lots of USB plugs, and great lighting to protect those eyes. Consider boosting your internet plan if there are a lot of you at home during the day now. For older kids and teens, give them a space that’s ready to work as hard as they do. In the room we designed above, there is a ton of storage, and a more hip vibe that will look fab on Zoom.

4. Perfect Palettes

Keep your child’s favorite colors in mind. We always ask our clients’ kids what they would prefer. It makes their rooms feel like they’re made just for them. Go bold and bright in play and work spaces, but keep things quiet in bedrooms to help quiet their minds. For example, the patterned rug in the room above becomes a raceway or a building zone when the toys come out. Color inspires imagination!

5. Grow Up

Remember that teens also want spaces that are their very own. In fact, privacy is more important to them at this stage of their life than almost any other. So give them a sense of style and “cool” in their rooms.

For more inspiring kids rooms, see our portfolio. And give us a call for help creating work and play spaces in your home!

The Most Calming Color Palettes

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Home is a haven for us more than ever before. Really, it’s our refuge against all the craziness happening out in the world. To make the most of your oasis, use these colors to create serene rooms that will destress your family and help you stay cool, calm, and collected.

ICY BLUE

In color psychology, a grayed blue creates a feeling of harmony, peace, and calm in people who view it. Mix in a quiet gray color and you have an icy combo that will chill any bad vibes.

GRAPHITE

Gray symbolizes neutrality and balance – and it’s a color that everyone loves. This mid-gray creates a seamless sightline from the room to the lake beyond, designed to soothe away our clients’ cares.

LINEN

Shades of white gives us a feeling of softness and tranquility – perfect for a family room that doubles as a family oasis. Color psychology also shows that this color makes us think of innocence and sincerity, so it’s great hue for making you feel better about the world.

OCEAN

The perfect mixture of blue and green, this color evokes the sea and the sky. Being near water is proven to lower blood pressure, so creating this “watery” mood was our way of bring that outdoor setting inside.

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CAROB

Brown is an earthy color that represents security, comfort, and a down-to-earth quality. Creating a room around this color helps it become cozy and almost intimate – the perfect hideaway from the world.

DAFFODIL

In color psychology, yellow speaks to optimism, happiness, and positivity – and couldn’t we all use more of that? Using pale yellow in a room is almost guaranteed to make you smile, so we added this uplifting color to our client’s family room to keep their spirits high.

Need to create an oasis in your home? Contact us for a free consulting call here!

The Pulp Edit: Tranquil Journey

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Calming Home Decor

We’re ready to sail on a stormless sea, to take a tranquil journey that will calm and soothe. Here are the colors and looks that will make that fantasy a serene reality at home.

Bauer is a breath of fresh air from Bridget Beari, a color that is gray, green, and even the palest of blue – all depending on the light.

Gentle waves of ivory and gold create a luxuriously serene scene in Onde – taken from an early 20th century textile designed by Mariono Fortuny.

Creating harmony in gentle paths is the Good Vibrations pattern from Perennials. It’s a movement toward inner peace.

This serene wallcovering from Holly Hunt offers texture and dimension in a restful Pebble pattern of taupes and sands.

Bathroom designs are in the top 3 most-requested renovations today. Here’s a look at some of the very best from Architectural Digest.

Artist Amy Opsal creates stunning works that are both thought-provoking and soothing. They will spark quiet contemplation in your home.

Schumacher’s Sozan Velvet was inspired by an ancient Chinese drawing of billowing clouds, providing the perfect perch for a quiet slumber.

The organic design of this tub from Claybrooke is ready to gently cradle you and wash away stress.

The warm tones of natural wood, like this burl look from Worlds Away, bring the outdoors into the home, helping to create calm.

Can stone be called ‘soft’? When it comes in hushed tones like this terrazzo, it definitely can. The pattern is Venezia Terrazzo White from Artistic Tile.

The 4 Projects Everyone Is Asking For

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Our homes have become so much more in the last few months. We’re using them in ways that we never thought we would, like as schoolrooms, theaters, restaurants, getaways, and sanctuaries. Home improvement, redesign, and remodeling projects are up by an incredible 60% to help our homes function for all the ways we use them now. Here are the four projects that everyone is asking us for today!

The Kitchen

This is the room that’s probably getting the biggest workout now. We’ve always considered the kitchen to be the heart of the home, but now it’s command central for the family, too. If you’re spending more time cooking and less time eating out, you’ve probably noticed a lot of things you’d like to change. And that is exactly why this room is #1 when it comes to requests for remodels!

Outdoor Spaces

Travel is on hold for the foreseeable future, but we all still need a great place to unwind. So backyard projects are exploding in popularity, particularly for living spaces, pools, and kitchens. Landscaping and outdoor rooms also have a very high-return on investment, boosting resale values by almost double what you spend!

Home Office

Everyone is working in the home now, from the youngest to the oldest, so having plenty of work and study areas is key. Mom may need a dedicated office, while the kids need desk space in their rooms. However you configure it, these spaces are critical to getting things done and to help reduce stress in the home.

Bathrooms

Who knew we could wash our hands so many times in a day – but that’s our new normal. Bathroom remodels come in two main areas. Some people want a gorgeous spa-like sanctuary that helps them escape, while others are looking for better clean-up stations. Either way, this room is getting more attention than ever before!

For tips on decor for each of these rooms, be sure to see our new issue of ICON. It has ideas for calming colors, great ways to include wellness in your home, and so much more.

Pulp Design Studios specializes in remodels and design projects that support you and your family. To start on any of these home projects, set up a consult call with us by clicking here!