All posts by Beth and Carolina

New Year, New Beginnings

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At the start of a new year, everyone thinks of new goals, new beginnings, and new lifestyle changes. And that includes where and how they live! Depending on your budget and how you need your home to function for you, there are several ways to rework your home so it is exactly what you’ve always dreamed of. The Pulp team offers a service for every need, so if you’re ready for a new beginning at home, take a look at how we can bring your vision to life!

New Build

In a ground-up, whole-home construction project, Pulp collaborates with you and your team, including architects and contractors, to create a gorgeous home that fits your personality and lifestyle. Pulp has developed an organized and comprehensive process that takes care of every detail from concept to installation, while still giving you approval of overall budget and style. Building a new home really does give you a whole new beginning, where you can have a say in every single space. But it shouldn’t be stressful for you, and that’s why Pulp ensures that you can enjoy watching the home take shape while we oversee each step! In the new build Dallas home above, floor-to-ceiling windows allow light to flood into each space, highlighting the fantastic floorplan.

Renovations

A major renovation can be disruptive to how you live, but it can also rework your home so it is exactly what you need! The Pulp team expertly collaborates with build teams to reimagine your home so it offers you the functionality you want and a beautiful design to fit your personal style. And as with any of our projects, we oversee the entire process from construction to completion. We specialize in new kitchen ideas, bathrooms that are stunning and functional, and spaces that take advantage of every square inch in your house. In the Seattle project above, you can see how removing a wall opened up the living area to add beautiful light and movement to the home!

Micro-Renovations

A micro-renovation is where we make smart cosmetic changes to your home that really make a big impact. This type of project may not require a general contractor to transform your home, but the Pulp team will focus on what best fits your budget and how you want your home to work. Pulp guides our clients to creating interiors that are the best they can be without a huge investment. This is also a great service if you just want a refresh of your home. That can include light renovations, as well as finishes, fixtures, and of course furnishings!

 

Furnishings Curation

The Pulp team creates custom furnishing selections for your home that will give you stylish spaces and your own unique style, through the lens of the Pulp aesthetic. We get to know our clients and what they need, which often includes furnishings that will stand up to pets and children (or even an adult with a glass of red wine). We work with you to define your personal look, and then we create a vision and floor plan for you and your home.

Ready for a new beginning in your home?! Give our team a call!

Fearless Bedroom Design

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In the last post for our Fearless Design series, we’re turning our attention to the bedroom. Whether it’s a guest room or the primary suite, a bedroom should be an oasis and a respite. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also have some daring details and out-of-the-box ideas! Here are Pulp’s best tips for creating fabulous bedrooms!

1. Play with Pattern

We do like to keep a bedroom palette calm and serene, but that doesn’t mean the room can’t also be bold! Mixing patterns is a great way to add some pizzazz to a bedroom without losing that sense of a sanctuary. In the room above, Pulp used our own fabrics for S. Harris to create a bold and far-from-boring bedroom.

2. Custom Details

This should be one of the most indulgent rooms in your home, so spoil yourself! Add custom furnishings and accessories that you won’t find anywhere else. In the Dallas bedroom above, we crafted a custom bed that has the texture and headboard height to make this room stunning and serene.

3. Texturize It

Even in the most neutral palettes you can find boldness. It’s all about the texture and adding dimension and detail. In the Seattle primary suite above, textural style can be found from the ceiling to the floor! The wallcovering has an amazing feel and the upholstered bed is comfy and fabulous. The art is dramatic and eye-catching, but still within that quiet range of colors. So remember that you can be fearless with the fabrics and surfaces!

4. Glam to New Heights

Don’t be afraid to add a little glam to a primary bedroom! In the Laredo home above, we took things to new heights with a tall textured metal canopy bed that makes a bold statement. The open design keeps it from dominating the room, and the metal details we used throughout really tie the whole design together.

Use these tips to create a gorgeous design for your bedroom. And if you want to go big with a fearless home design in 2025, contact our team!

Fearless Dining Room Design

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With the holiday season here, our fearless design series turns to the dining room! For Pulp, this room is a very public space for showing a lot of personality. So we always urge our clients to be absolutely unafraid to embrace color (of course!), mix patterns, and try new ideas for this room. Here are our best tips for creating daring dining room looks!

Consider Every Angle

Every view in the room should be considered, and that includes the ceiling! In the Seattle dining room above, we added a custom-colored Porter Teleo wallcovering on the ceiling, which draws all eyes to that stunning Oly light fixture. This is an historic home, so we also wanted to balance that mix of vintage and modern, creating an amazing room that’s ready to wow guests.

Mix in Magic

We absolutely love working with clients who are daring and ready to take a risk, especially when it comes to color. You can imagine what someone might think when they hear Pulp say: “It will include navy, black, gold, and a big wash of raspberry on the ceiling.” But look at the magic we created with that mix in the Dallas dining room above! In expert hands like ours, we find that perfect balance and know how to pull it all together, as we did with that rug that made it work seamlessly.

Unconventional Materials

Another Pulp specialty is creating custom looks for our clients. That really makes the rooms we design stand out. In the Dallas dining room above, we designed that dining room table when we couldn’t find exactly what we wanted for our clients. Then we used an unconventional material to add incredible detail with the beautiful muscovite wall covering behind the custom bar.

Risky Business

Taking risks can lead to something incredibly special! In the Seattle high-rise penthouse above, the view is breathtaking, but we wanted the dining room to draw attention, too! We used a fun wallpaper to ground the space and shapely chairs that are almost works of art on their own. It’s a playful room that finds success in its out-of-the-box design!

Try these ideas to create magical spaces for your holiday dinners with friends and family! And if you’re ready to really dare to be different, give our team a call!

Fearless Bathroom Design

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Pulp sees every single space in a home as a chance to showcase fearless design! Bold bathrooms are definitely a signature for our team, and in this second part of our series on the adventure of design, we’re giving you our best tips for incredible bathroom style.

Bold Color

The Pulp team prides itself on doing things differently from other design teams. We offer ideas that will really stand out and give our clients something completely different from cookie cutter design. Color is one of the best ways to be adventurous in your decor. In the guest bathroom we designed above, we took a walk on the dark side with black tile, ebony paint, and a striking stone floor that draws all eyes. It’s definitely fearless, but also stunning!

Statement Tub

You can find tubs in almost any shape and size today, so there’s no reason to just go for the usual white rectangle. In the Dallas bathroom above, we wanted to create an organic oasis, so we selected a tub that looks as if it was just carved from a large natural stone. It’s a soothing and spa-like look that showcases a unique style.

Daring Wallpaper

A boldly patterned wallpaper can give you an immediate hit of stunning style in a bathroom! It adds color and dimension to even the smallest space. Bathrooms are also a fantastic place to try new decorating ideas since they are not the most public spaces in your home. So go BIG in these little rooms!

Statement Lighting

In the Kips Bay powder bathroom above, an incredible light fixture doubles as an art installation. It takes a functional piece and elevates it to something imaginative and dazzling. It also packs a lot of personality! We are always on the hunt for new resources and ideas for our clients, giving them an experience as well as a beautiful design.

High-Tech Ideas

We do love style to the max, but functionality can be dialed up to 11, too! In the Seattle bathroom above, we added a steam shower with high-tech controls to give our clients an amazing experience that has added health benefits. There are so many new technologies to add function and excitement to a bathroom, and working with an expert design team can help you find the best bells and whistles for your home.

Extra Details

No detail is too small for the Pulp team! We want everything to be perfect for our clients, whether it’s the storage options, the hardware, or even whether to use handles or knobs. Every decision helps to create a room that will make our clients fall in love with their home!

Bathroom design can be tricky – but our team members are experts at bringing an amazing design vision to life. Contact us to define your own bold bathroom look! And if you missed the first part of our series on Fearless Kitchen Design, click here!

Fearless Kitchen Design

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Pulp Design Studios is known for fearless design, meaning bold, confident, daring, and gorgeous. Fearless design in the kitchen is all about making a statement while still offering functionality in creative and out-of-the-box ways. Over the next couple of months, we’re going to highlight our most fearless designs, room by room, and we’ll give you our best tips for taking that bold design path in your home!

Color Outside the Lines

In kitchen design, Pulp always thinks out of the box, and that includes color. White kitchens can be beautiful, but we always ask our clients to push the boundaries and to consider color. If you love blue, then a blue kitchen will make you happy! Having the confidence to try something new is what being fearless is really all about.

Light It Up

Statement lighting can make a huge difference in kitchen design. We like to choose fixtures that not only offer task lighting where it’s needed, but also look stunning in the space. Why go for the same boring styles and ideas? The linear light Pulp used in the Seattle kitchen above draws all eyes to the space while still functioning as much-needed light over the bar.

Storage Solutions

If you’ve ever wondered why you should work with professional interior designers on your kitchen projects, it’s because we’ve seen (and sorted) every challenge that can be thrown into the mix! We are experts at offering solutions for storage that are unique and perfect for each client’s needs. Pulp loves to make the most of every single square inch in a room, and we know how to make storage look chic and as gorgeous as the rest of the home’s design.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark

Black is definitely a gorgeous color for any room in the home, as long as you have the confidence to embrace it! In the modern farmhouse Pulp designed above, that deep dark color is the perfect counterpoint to the wood floor and the white stone backsplash. It grounds the design in a sophisticated and daring way!

Take on Texture

You can still be bold with a traditional or more neutral kitchen design! It’s the details that make all the difference, and that includes texture! In the classic Dallas kitchen above, Pulp used metal, wood, stone, and gorgeous moldings to craft a textural statement that is both beautiful and different.

To get your own fearless kitchen design, reach out to our team!

Before and After: A Tudor Micro-Renovation

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The Pulp team’s work ranges from new construction to down-to-the-studs renovation projects. But we also love to do micro-renovations! Those are smart home refreshes and furnishings packages that offer a nip-and-tuck approach to updating a home. For a 6,000-square-foot historic Tudor-style home in Seattle, our clients loved the bones of the property, but it definitely needed a facelift. Pulp came to the rescue with interiors full of personality and flair. Here’s a look at the before and the fabulous after!

BEFORE
THE ENTRY

There are stunning architectural features like stained glass windows and original 1913 doors in this beautiful home and we definitely wanted to retain those. But at the same time, we wanted to blend modern details and functionality. A sculptural glass light fixture and a contemporary landscape helps to update the first impression of the entry. We also removed the dated wallpaper and runner in the stairwell to make way for a bolder look.

BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER
THE DINING ROOM

Just off the entry – and through some stunning double doors – is the dining room. This room’s lovely millwork and unique windows are so beautiful that they were definitely going to stay. This is where a micro-renovation is so key. It allows us to make updates that seem small but have a BIG impact, like adding that Porter Teleo wallpaper on the ceiling, or the gorgeous Oly light fixture.

BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER

THE KITCHEN

In a micro-renovation, the key is to avoid major construction to get our clients into a home they love much more quickly, but without sacrificing style and function. In the kitchen, there were some odd details like the light fixtures and the tile that we knew we needed to swap out. Taking care of furnishings and details can update a space in a snap!

BEFORE
AFTER
THE LIVING ROOM

The living room gave us a bit of a blank slate to work with, but also included fabulous features like built-ins, a stone fireplace, and that gorgeous view! Pulp used the art and architecture to inspire the furnishings in the living room. An embroidered fabric on the sofas is creatively placed to add visual interest, with the seats covered in a performance velvet. Swivel chairs can turn to take in the view of the lake or can move to the perfect position for conversation.

BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER

The great thing about our micro-renovation service is that it allows us to rethink how spaces are used in a home, without having to bring in a construction crew. This home had a lot of odd nooks and crannies, like this alcove right off the living room. We were able to reimagine it as a cozy sitting area that is great for reading or conversation.

BEFORE
AFTER
THE PRIMARY BEDROOM

This room was … a lot. With its eye-popping patterns and wild colors, the bedroom was far from restful. And the decor was really distracting from that incredible view of the lake. We wanted to make this space a retreat with a tranquil palette. Textures and subtle patterns offer a quiet character and personality, including fabrics from Pulp’s S.Harris collection.

BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER

To see more of this Tudor transformation, click here. Designing your dream home doesn’t always mean you need to tear things down and start all over. Contact us today to see if our micro-renovation package is right for you!

Lighting as Art

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At Pulp, we always want the interiors we design to be both functional and stunning. Thanks to new technology and innovations, now lighting can also dazzle by being both artistic and practical. We love to create custom looks that make a statement or find unique lighting designs that will attract all eyes to a room. Here are some of our favorite creative light fixtures!

Modern Art

In our Glass House project, we used varying sizes of glass orbs to create a modern arrangement. The round shapes complement the circles on the back of the chairs, while the different colors of glass cast beautiful light onto the table.

Linear Looks

The fact that lighting no longer requires traditional lightbulbs means that light can take on many forms, including linear designs. In our Modern Farmhouse kitchen, we used a customized fixture to balance a geometric style with great task lighting.

Organically Inspired

A cascade of glass creates a showstopping look in our Laurelhurst Tudor dining room. It’s a more modern twist on a traditional look, with panes that look like ice forming a reflective surface that glitters beautifully at night.

Wall Art

Sconces can also craft a beautiful lighting story for interior walls. In our Kips Bay “sinner’s den,” we used a quartz and brass sconce that crafts a beautiful glow. It sets the mood for mischief in this playful space.

Flexibly Fabulous

We were thrilled when we found an incredibly original light fixture for our Kips Bay powder bath! It is a tube that wraps light into gorgeous loops. It offers a beautiful way to surprise and delight your guests when they flip the switch.

We love to find the most unique and creative pieces for our clients’ homes. If you’d like to join us on a design adventure for your home, give us a call! 

Fearless Design: Creative Hidden Spaces

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Pulp Design Studios is known for fearless design, for thinking out of the box to define fabulous spaces for our clients. We also take advantage of every square inch in the home, including hidden spaces that are often overlooked. Whether it’s wine rooms, sleeping spaces, or a hidden “sinner’s den,” we know how to add a sense of adventure to every Pulp project. Take a look at these hidden rooms and secret spaces!

A Wonderland of Design

In the Dallas project above, Pulp crafted cabinetry doors that look like furniture, but open to reveal a hidden passage. Like an Alice in Wonderland adventure, you can step through to enter a hall that leads to a secret lounge. Cheekily referred to as a “sinner’s den,” the lounge shown below offers a bold and breathtaking place to entertain.

Secret Storage

In a family basement, a bookshelf opens to reveal hidden wine storage. But we wanted this tasting room to showcase our clients’ amazing design taste, too! So we added glam and fabulous color, gorgeous wall treatments, and a tile floor that adds a powerful pattern. Check out this secret space below!

Hidden Guest Room

The Murphy bed is named after the man who patented the wall bed concept in 1900 – and it’s an enduring idea that we took to a more luxe level for our Glass House project, which you can see here. Our creative clients love the idea of an open art space, but also needed room for guests. We gave them the best of both worlds with a wall bed hidden behind a sliding barn door. Scroll down for the glam reveal!

Private Reserve

We reworked the original wine room in the home below because it had an awkward entry/exit. We used the space under the stairs to create a fun hidden door that offers a more direct route to the wine storage. And it gives our clients a fabulously unique talking point that visitors will love, too.

Need a strategic space solution for your home? It’s what we do best – get in touch for a consultation!

Behind the Scenes: Pulp’s Italian Shopping Trip

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Pulp Design Studios is known for creating unique and one-of-a-kind looks for our clients’ homes. To deliver those fabulous designs, we scour trade shows, galleries, and secret sources around the world to find amazing pieces and ideas that will really make interiors stand out. Here’s a look behind the scenes at a shopping trip we took to Mercanteinfiera Parma, an Italian show featuring vintage furnishings and original art. Can you guess which pieces we brought back with us?

Pulp’s cofounders Beth Dotolo and Carolina Gentry were given VIP access to the oldest and largest fair in Europe. So they were among the first “in the trade” to shop the stunning furniture and accessories on display at Mercanteinfiera Parma.

Vintage furniture, antiques, midcentury modern finds, art, accessories, glass and more were displayed by over 1,000 vendors. These are non-production items that are almost all one of a kind! That’s definitely going to set our clients’ homes apart with bold and unique looks.

Carolina and Beth not only pride themselves on finding the perfect pieces for each client, they also find so much inspiration at these trade shows. New ideas, materials, and vintage designs combine for fabulous looks that perfectly mix antique and modern styles.

Some of these photos definitely showcase items that Pulp brought back for their clients – can you guess which ones? And with some items and displays, we found amazing inspiration that we’ll definitely use for our interior projects.

Pulp’s team also are experts at curating original art for our clients, and we found absolutely stunning works in Parma. Italy is also known for its glass artisans, so we scoped out some amazing pieces from Murano, too.

Being in Italy was also an incredible experience. Parma is a UNESCO recognized City of Gastronomy that was established over 1,000 years ago. This beautiful city was full of art and architecture that offered endless inspiration for the Pulp team.

If you’re ready for a home that is fearless, bold, and unlike any other, give our team a call! We’re ready to start shopping for you!

A Fearless Color Story

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Because we specialize in fearless interiors, Pulp loves working with clients who are unafraid of bold ideas and color. When a family of lawyers in Seattle brought us on board, they told us their top goal was a brighter home. Here’s the story of how we designed a colorful palette for the home they adore!

Incredible details like an inglenook fireplace weren’t getting their moment to shine because this house was so dark and dated. The family was ready to embrace bold colors and adventurous design ideas, and Pulp delivered with a striking palette of bright colors, presented against a stark white background to make even more of an impact.

Pulp also framed the inglenook fireplace in a deep chocolate color to help give it the attention it deserves. Keeping each color as a bright jewel tone allows these dramatic hues to still work well together, flowing from room to room in a chic and sophisticated way.

The bold blue tile floor in the breakfast area is not only a wow moment, it also inspired the palette for the kitchen cabinetry. Keeping the walls white allows the light to bounce through these rooms. And it serves to give each color story its moment of impact.

In the dining room, Pulp used a gorgeous coral on the chairs, adding to the stunning jewel tones in the nearby living space.

Are you brave enough to try a fearless look like this one? Click here to contact our team and we’ll help you put together your own bold style!