All posts by Beth and Carolina

10 Gifts Dad Really Wants

Remember the days of soap on a rope? No need to drag out those tired presents – we have a list of gifts that dad really wants to receive on Father’s Day. Put the tie down and back away!

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SHOP THE GIFT GUIDE:

1. Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case   |   2. Manmade: The Essential Skincare & Grooming Reference for Every Man from Kiehl’s   |   3. Tom Ford Olivier Sunglasses    |  4.  Ferragamo Leather Belt  | 5. Gucci Men’s Wallet   |   6. Shinola Runwell Chrono Bracelet Watch   |   7. Away Aluminum Carry-On   | 8. Daniel Buchler Contrast-Piped Cotton Robe   | 9. Le Labo Beard Oil   |   10. Balenciaga Pool Sandals

Founders’ Five: 10 Items That We Are Loving This Month

Here are some of our current favorite finds that we want or that are making our lives better and more stylish, right now…

Interior Designer Style + Home Favorites

Founders 5 2019.05

 

BETH’S PICKS

MY husband surprised my with this Chloe Femininities Necklace from his trip to France. I’ve received so many compliments so had to share!

I recently started seeing a nutritionist who recommended these Morccon Your World Picky Bars and I am obsessed.

 These Tibi ankle wrap strap heels have made my latest wishlist.

I’ve been feeling a little dull with with seasonal skin change, so I’m giving the Goop Glow a try!

This stunning Cox London Serpent Table is on my client pinboards and can’t wait to use it on a project… We first spotted it on an inspiration trip to the London Design Festival!

CAROLINA’S PICKS

I am a sucker for good heels and you’ll rarely catch me in flats. These Chloe ankle strap sandals are my new favorite!

Aoyama makes a stunningly fragranced incense. Add this to your must list, if you love incense.

If you’re looking for a new statement necklace, this Truth Pendant stopped me in my tracks.

I love a bold Entry table and this new Beacon Console table is gorgeous!

Dedon makes some to-die-for solar powered lanterns and their Lantern L is on my list for my backyard design.

 

4 Tips for the Perfect Outdoor Room

It’s the time of year when we start thinking about moving outdoors again! Whether you have a porch, terrace, deck or patio, there are a few simple tips that will make your al fresco living much more comfortable. Let’s take a look…

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Outdoor room by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

1. Conversation Areas

Just like in the best living rooms and family rooms, you need seating that’s welcoming and positioned for great conversation. Your guests will feel right at home in the great outdoors with comfy seats and a place to put their feet up!

after-lakehouse-retreat-deck
Outdoor room by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

2. Defined Dining

Define areas for eating al fresco. There’s nothing better (or more romantic) than a meal under the stars! Having an outdoor dining set makes meal time easier and more comfortable. And it doesn’t hurt to have even more seating when you throw your next BBQ or outdoor party.

after-lakehouse-retreat-deck-bench-seating
Outdoor room by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

3. Indoor Conveniences

Don’t forget that any rules for making an indoor room more comfortable work well outside, too! Offer pillows, throws, and outdoor rugs for comfort and to add great color. And don’t forget outdoor lighting and sound systems to keep people happy even after sundown.

after-lakehouse-retreat-deck-table
Outdoor room by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

4. An Element of Surprise

We love to include something unique and special in every room we design, and that includes outdoor spaces! For this deck project, we found an amazing table with an ice trough built right into it – perfect for serving ice cold drinks on a hot summer day. Other unique ideas include outdoor art, a fun “string chair” like those above, a TV made to withstand the weather, or an incredible water feature. Show your personality!

Use these ideas to create your own backyard oasis – and have a great summer this year!

Which Sofa (Cushion) Is Right for You?

Today’s sofas come in every style, length, seat, and color you can imagine. But the number-one question we get from clients is whether their sofa should have one, two, or three seat cushions. And that depends on how you’ll actually use your sofa – so here’s the best way to decide:

Pulp Modern Living Room
Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

One Seat Cushion

The single-seat cushion, known as a bench seat by those in the biz, is a sleeker and more modern look. This solo cushion actually fools the eye by making the sofa look even longer. It’s also a more tailored style that’s perfect for entertaining. That’s because you can fit a lot of people on the single cushion – there isn’t an uncomfortable spot that you often get in that gap between cushions. The only “cons” to this type of sofa cushion is to be sure you get a good quality of upholstery. Otherwise the ends of the cushion can pop up as a person sits near the center.

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Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

Two Seat Cushions

This style has become a lot more popular in the last year or two. The look also has an elongating effect with two longer cushions, and it’s super-comfortable to share with another person. Each person gets a lot of real estate with a bigger cushion, which is fabulous for couples or small-group entertaining. The downside to a two-seater is that it isn’t optimal for more than two people – someone will get stuck in the gap. And if you or a family member like to nap on the sofa, this one will let your hip sink into the space between cushions.

Pulp Design Studios Handsome Highrise - Living Room 2
Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.
after-lakehouse-retreat-living-room
Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

Three Seat Cushions (or more)

Having three seat cushions has been the traditional look for many years. And it’s still a great choice if you have a big family or if you entertain a lot. The multiple cushions help designate seating areas, allowing you to fit more people comfortably on the sofa. If you have pets or children, this is also a great choice because you can remove a single cushion for quick clean up – or even flip it!

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Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.
Fearless Style Fit for a Family, Living Room featuring navy blue stripped armchairs, geometric blue rug, circle mirror, gold accented artwork, horse inspired artwork, coastal style family home, coffee table styling, navy sofa, navy couch
Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

We hope we’ve made choosing your next sofa style as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Giving Back Through Design

One of our favorite events in Dallas is the annual Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio, a pop-up shop created to raise funds for Dwell with Dignity by selling donated furniture, housewares, accessories and high-end designer finds to the public. This year, we were excited to be among the designers who were asked to create a vignette with donated items that were all for sale to benefit the charity.

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The first step was to select and measure our space. Pulp’s co-founder and principal designer Carolina Gentry did her best to measure the entire tall space! Then we got to work on our design.

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The color we selected was Benjamin Moore‘s Summer Nights. We see 2019 as the year of muted brights, which is why we chose greyed greens, dusty blues, and muted terra cottas for our palette.

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All of the furnishings and accessories we chose were part of our theme of travel and exotic destinations. We love unexpected details, like this fabulous chandelier, so we created a collected look for our vignette.

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The result is a colorful and artful space with a bit of a masculine vibe!

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We were excited to be sponsored by S.Harris, our fabric collection partner, so we also used a lot of our fabrics in the space, including our Hidalgo pattern above.

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Other vendors who donated to our vignette include Global Views, Brenda Houston, LDF Silk, Designers Draperies, Designs by EG, Taylors Showroom, and In Detail.

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Our Dallas team had a blast celebrating at opening night… If you’re in Dallas,  be sure to drop by and shop our space anytime through April 27!

How to Get the Perfect “Shelfie”

There’s nothing we love better than a good “shelfie.” That’s a shot of a gorgeously styled set of shelves, and there’s an art to getting that perfect look. We have a few tips that will help you style your bookshelves like a pro, so don’t be intimidated when you’re staring at miles of empty shelves!

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Interior by Pulp Design Studios.

Consider the Background

Before you place one thing on the shelves, think about the walls or back of the shelves. We love to paint a contrasting color there, or even add a stunning wallcovering like the one from Phillip Jeffries below. Having color or pattern peek through between the items on your shelves makes them more visually interesting.

shelf, wallpaper, color, blue,
Interior by Pulp Design Studios

Favorite Things

Show your personality on your shelves! This is the perfect place to showcase art and items that you’ve brought back from your travels – they should be things you love and that have meaning for you. Showcasing these pieces will really tell the story of YOU.

art shelves books souvenirs
Interior by Pulp Design Studios

Don’t Forget the Books

They’re called bookshelves for a reason! You should definitely include books on your shelves. But don’t just randomly place some books you found at a flea market. Select books that tell a story…literally. They could have specific colors on their covers that coordinate with the room. The topics could be about things you feel really passionate about, like art or music. Or if you are a major reader, be sure to display the books that mean the most to you.

Pulp Design Studios Handsome Highrise - Master Bedroom Bookshelves Detail
Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

Bring the Balance

Now that you have all the elements, the real key to the perfect shelfie is to visually balance all of the pieces. This is where the art of styling comes into play. You want to be sure that each shelf isn’t too “heavy” or “light” when it comes to what’s on them. Arrange books both lying down and leaning. Allow for some white space between objects, so nothing looks too cluttered. This will take a bit of trial-and-error – it still does for us, too! Step back and look at the shelves as a whole and then adjust the look as needed. You’ll know when you’ve hit the mark! Find inspiration and ideas in home design magazines, too.

shelves art books hidden storage
Interior by Pulp Design Studios.

Once you have the perfect look, take a photo and tag us in your shelfie! You can follow us on Instagram here. We can’t wait to see your style!

4 Tips for Small-Space Living

Downsizing used to only be associated with retirees who wanted less space once their kids were grown. But smaller homes are now a massive trend among all generations, especially in metro areas where the condo industry is booming. We recently transformed one of those “white box” condos in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle in the Insignia – a sought-after high-rise building. And we have some great tips for small space living that doesn’t compromise on style!

Pulp Design Studios Handsome Highrise - Living Room Overall
Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

1. Define Your Space

Create a way to define open spaces into individual living spaces. Use screens, rugs, and even wallpaper to style “separate” areas. In this 792-square-foot condo, our client wanted to have fabulous entertaining areas. We wanted to give the living room a sense of ambiance to set it apart. That’s why we used the stunning wallcovering on the ceiling  (which the clients love).

Pulp Design Studios Handsome Highrise - Kitchen and Dining
Interior by Pulp Design Studio. See the full project here.

2. Reflect the Light

Use glass and mirror to reflect light and create the feeling of openness. We used a glass-topped table in the dining area and a gorgeous glass light fixture to help move the light through the space.

Pulp Design Studios Handsome Highrise - Master Bedroom Bookshelves
Interior by Pulp Design Studio. See the full project here.

3. Open It Up

Acrylic furniture and open spaces in furnishings, like the screen above, fool the eye into thinking the space is bigger! The neutral palette also helps a small space “expand.”

Pulp Design Studios Handsome Highrise - Master Bedroom Overall
Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

4. Hide the Clutter

Storage is your best friend. Any clutter in a small space is magnified. Use storage ottomans, under-bed boxes, and other organizational tricks to keep everything neat and tidy!

Use these tips to give your small-space living some big-time style!

Introducing…. ICON

When we started Pulp Design Studios in 2007, we knew we wanted to bring a unique and custom look to our clients’ interiors, to give each of them a stunning home that supports their lifestyle.

With this new magazine, titled ICON, we’re showcasing our best projects, tips, and ideas to help you add personality to your homes. It’s an inside look at the Pulp aesthetic and how we achieve it!

This issue features two of our favorite projects, a fashion-forward and modern home, and a condo that’s perfect for entertaining. And speaking of entertaining, we also give you ideas for a great outdoor room, a fab spring cocktail, and a playlist from Spotify.

We hope you enjoy our first edition of ICON!

Start flipping… ICON | ISSUE 1

 

How to Design Your Kitchen to Fit Your Cooking Style

The first thing we ask a client before we begin to work on their kitchen renovation is how they like to cook. That single question really lets us know which direction to take the design. Different cooking styles will let you know what you should invest in and what features are less important. Here are some of the ways people use their kitchens and how that impacts design!

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Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

The Entertainer

If you love to entertain and have friends and family over, then a large kitchen island is perfect for you, especially in an open-plan kitchen. It provides seating for people to gather as you cook, and gives you a surface for serving. You also may want to consider a wine refrigerator, an extra ice maker, and maybe even a built-in coffee machine. That’s a real crowd pleaser!

Pulp Design Studios Handsome Highrise - Kitchen and Dining
Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

The Social Foodie

If GrubHub is one of the top 2 apps on your phone, then you need a very specific kitchen. You’ll want plenty of storage for leftovers in your fridge, and a great way to reheat. A stylish place to sit and enjoy your favorite dishes is a must, like the island we designed above. With the white counters, it’s also a great spot to Instagram the fabulous food you’ve brought in, or a dish you’ve created over the weekend.

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Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

The Serious Cook

Even though you may not have the time to create a gourmet meal every time, you definitely know your way around the kitchen. You’ll want to invest in a great range, maybe even with a fantastic new steam oven or a warming drawer. You’ll also want a lot of storage for all those implements, pasta machines, and ingredients. And don’t forget how important lighting is. Task lights, like the pendants you see above, will help you clearly see every recipe.

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Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

The Family Affair

A big family can give a kitchen a real workout , especially when an island often doubles as a homework spot. If you have a lot of family members in the home, consider doubling up on key pieces like dishwashers. They’ll really save you a lot of time and effort. We also like to suggest under-counter drink fridges, so kids and teens can help themselves without opening and reopening your full-size refrigerator over and over. And a nice long island will give you seating for everyone and a great place to get the kids involved in dinner prep.

So what’s your style? Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, be sure yours is really working for you and your family!