All posts by Beth and Carolina

The Pulp Edit: 10 Naturally Elegant Trends We Love

March 4, 2019The Pulp Editcolor, Dallas, decor, decorating, design, home, house, ideas, interior design, interior designer, living, Los Angeles, magazines, pattern, pulp, pulp design studios, pulp edit, rooms, seattle, space, the pulp edit, tips, trends, wallpaperBeth and Carolina

Top 10 Trends That Showcase Natural Elegance

Natural materials and colors are having a moment again for spring, but there’s an elegance and grace to these organic looks! We also love anything unexpected and unique, and there are definitely some surprises in what we’ve found. Let’s take a look at our top 10 trends:

The colors are nature-inspired and the pattern reminds us of an abstract photo of a landscape. We’re so in love with S.Harris’ Godwin fabric in the Earthwind colorway that Pulp co-founder Beth Dotolo is using it on her dining room chairs!

Copper is a gorgeously warm material, so we love these copper plates. In fact, Pulp co-founder Carolina Gentry collects these and Beth Dotolo got this one for her in Palm Springs from a vintage shop during Modernism Week.

The blue colors of sky and sea are still having a major moment, and we love them on the abstract tiles from Popham Design – we’ve used them several times in our own projects. They’re featured here in a Moroccan home photographed by Richard Powers for the Jan/Feb issue of Elle Decor.

For natural raw talent, it’s hard to beat Lady Gaga. She’s unafraid to be herself, and we are in awe of her constant transformations from bold and unexpected to understated and elegant. Photo by Inez and Vinoodh in the Oct 2018 issue of Vogue.

Black, white, and warm wood – the elemental looks that create magic. This room by Cortney Bishop on Kiawah Island showcases why this combination is always a winner. Photography by Katie Charlotte Fiedler for the Jan/Feb issue of Traditional Home.

In that same issue of Traditional Home, we spotted this stunning oversized photo from a home designed by Charlotte Moss. The outdoor scene in this huge scale makes it look as if you can walk right into the garden, which is a new take on bringing the outdoors right inside the home.

We believe you should bring one thing back for your home from every trip, especially if it’s organic and handcrafted locally. These chic souvenirs really add unique touches to interiors and are packed full of memories from your fabulous travels. We brought the owl back from Greece and the pipes from Mexico.

The handpainted wallpaper from Porter Teleo is gorgeous in muted tones and primitive shapes. The Geo pattern is so compelling that Beth is considering it for her new home’s kitchen!

Eggs are a symbol of new life, which is why they’re perfect for spring. This photo by Derek Henderson from the Oct 2018 Vogue is gorgeously natural, and it showcases moody spring colors that we’re totally down with!

Rooms with a view, stunning landscapes, and an organic form for the tub – what’s not to love?! We’re working on a double-shower right now with a fabulous view, too, so this room in a recent issue of Gray Magazine caught our eye. Photography is by Larry Goldstein.

Before + After: Pulp Design Studios Creates Custom Details for a New Build

February 27, 2019Pulp Design Workbefore and after, color, custom details, Dallas, decor, decorating, design, expansion, home, house, ideas, interior design, interior designer, living, Los Angeles, modern, new build, new construction, pattern, playful, pulp, pulp design studios, rooms, seattle, space, tips, trendsBeth and Carolina

We love new construction, so when our Seattle clients asked us to join their new-build project, we were excited to jump right in! We pushed the boundaries on the builder finishes to raise the customization level of the project and give the clients a colorful and modern home. Let’s take a tour and we’ll show you all of the details!

Family Room

“We partnered with the clients to push the limitations of the standard builder finishes available to the homeowners and make a more personalized space. The result is a fashion forward and playful modern residence that the homeowners are proud to call home.”
– Beth Dotolo

Dining Room

“Our designs are always customized for our clients’ lifestyles. The design team added in wallcovering, lighting, and unique furnishings in this project to tell the edgy and modern style story that fit the clients.”
– Carolina Gentry

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

There’s even more to see in the full project – just click here to take a tour! If you’re interested in that cool Gemini throw in the family room, you can find it here!

Want to know how we can transform YOUR home?
Book a complimentary call to discuss how we can help!

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

February 25, 2019Shopping GuideBeth's Picks, Carolina's Picks, founders picks, shopping, shopping guideBeth and Carolina

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

BETH’S PICKS

I’ve been looking for some statement hardware for my office…love these brass cobra pulls!

I fell in love with this organic geometric rug for my bedroom.

I have been loving tiles with a unique shape, but that read as understated when installed.

I just got back from a girls trip (holla!) and Hotel San Cristobal in Todos Santos was amazing, and every instagrammer’s dream.

Adaptogens are where it’s at in this crazy world. These Dram Adaptogenic Drops are my daily dose!

CAROLINA’S PICKS

I just ordered this photography for my bathroom to add a pop of color!

This Walker Zanger ebony and brass tile is stunning installed!

I always love a unique sculptural piece of art, especially these from Foxwood Co.

I love an amazing pillow spray little added luxury to help you sleep at night.

Boots can be so hard to shop for and these are my new favorite boots!

How to Find the Right Size Rug for Every Room

February 20, 2019Entertaining + Home Living, Pulp Design Workbedroom, decor, decorating, Design Insider, design trends, dining room, furniture, home, how to, ideas, interior design, interior design trends, interiors, large rug, layout, living room, placement, pulp design studios, pulp happenings, pulp home, rug size, rugs, small rug, tipsBeth and Carolina

One of the top requests we get from our clients is how to define a room with the perfect rug size. The right size should not only protect your floors and give you some warmth in the room but should also balance the room. Choose a rug too small and the room looks awkward. Choose one that’s too large and it could overwhelm your furniture – kind of like using a king comforter on a queen bed.

To help you “right-size” your room, we’ve come up with a quick and easy guide to choose the perfect rug:

LIVING ROOM

In a living room, you want to help define the seating area with a rug, so you need to choose a size based on the size of the room. In a very large space like the one below, use a rug that’s 11×14, 9×12, or even bigger. It will anchor the seating area and will keep the room from feeling cavernous.

In a smaller living room, the rug should be a bit longer than your sofa, and you want the front legs of all the nearby furniture to either touch or be on the edge of the rug. In this size room, consider an 8×10 or 6×9.

DINING ROOM

The key to selecting a rug in the dining room is actually the table. You want to be able to fit the table and all of the chairs on the rug because it defines that seating area, just like it does in the living room. And there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to scoot your chair up as you’re sitting and hitting the edge of the rug.

ENTRY AREAS AND HALLWAYS

In a home’s entry, let the shape of the space be your guide for the rug. You could choose a more rectangular shape in a longer open entry like the one below.

Or in a more open foyer, consider a round shape. We like how this shape works so well with the round light fixture in this entry.

In a hallway, select a runner that’s long enough to go from one end of the hall to the other, and be sure it’s wide enough to define the walking space. A rug in the hall is also a great way to bring in more pattern and visual interest!

BEDROOMS

The most important reason to have a rug in the bedroom is to have a warm place to step onto as you get out of bed in the morning. So select a rug that’s large enough to reach both sides of the bed with plenty of room to spare.

We like to select rugs that reach to the middle or end of the nightstands and to allow room at the end of the bed for a bench, too. Measure the space carefully from one side of your bed to the other to ensure you have a large enough rug for your room!

BONUS TIP!

In the photo below, we’re showing another of our rug design secrets – consider doubling your rugs to add more visual interest and space definition!

Use this easy guide to help you select the perfect rug for your spaces!

The Drapery Debate

February 18, 2019Entertaining + Home Livingcolor, curtains, Dallas, decor, decorating, design, drapery, drapes, home, house, ideas, interior design, interior designer, living, Los Angeles, pattern, pulp, pulp design studios, rooms, seattle, space, tips, trends, window treatments, windowsBeth and Carolina

The debate isn’t whether you call them drapes, curtains, or window treatments, the REAL debate is whether to cover your windows or leave them bare. Some interior designers don’t believe a room is really complete without some sort of window covering. Here at Pulp, we are all about beautiful windows with no other decor on them; but we also love gorgeous drapery. Here are a few of our guidelines about when to use window treatments and when to let the sun shine in:

Contemporary Warmth Dallas Family Home — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

Frame the View

If you have a gorgeous vista outside, like a garden or water view, then don’t block a single inch with drapery! You really want to have lovely windows to make this work, like the ones in our contemporary project above. And be sure that you either have UV film on the glass, or you’re using fabrics that are UV protected.

Nod to Nautical Family Home in Queen Anne, Seattle, WA 98119, Nautical Inspired Home, Modern and Traditional Master Bedroom, Tufted Armchair, Gold and Brass Geometric Accent Table, Custom Nightstands, Geometric Window Treatments, Eclectic Master Bedroom Home Decor — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

Do Not Disturb

Of course in a bedroom we like to use drapes, and often we’ll add in shades to really block the light. You want to have a great night’s sleep and studies show a dark room is best for those much-needed ZZZZzzzs. If you don’t want to double up on your window coverings, be sure to use light-blocking panels or double line your drapes.

Fearless Style Fit for a Family 4 — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

Highlight Architectural Details

We love to work on homes that are from decades past – they have a lot of great architectural details and fabulous windows. It would be a shame to cover those up with fabric, so we like to let them be the stars of the show.

after-lakehouse retreat living room — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

Take a Subtle Approach

In a family room, you may want to cut down the glare on a television or get a little privacy in the evening. Subtle sheers are perfect for that! Look how they almost disappear in our lakehouse project above.

livable-midcentury-slider — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

Don’t Make It Awkward

Some homes have fabulous windows that are an awkward shape for curtains and shades. Leave them alone! Let them have their moment – but if you do need to cover them for privacy, be sure you have something custom made to fit.

unspecified-1 — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

Privacy, Please

Of course there are certain rooms where privacy is key, and a bathroom is definitely at the top of the list. We like to use shades in this room for a sleek and more modern style.

Use these ideas to help you decide whether to cover or reveal the windows in your home!

Why You Should Invest in Your Home’s Interiors

February 13, 2019Entertaining + Home Livingcolor, counters, Dallas, decor, decorating, design, home, house, ideas, interior design, interior designer, interiors, investing in your home, kitchen, living, Los Angeles, pattern, pulp, pulp design studios, rooms, seattle, space, tips, trendsBeth and Carolina

Your home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll make in your lifetime, but it’s also much more than that. It’s a sanctuary, the place where you’ll make memories with your family, and a great place to entertain your friends. We work hard to make sure that our clients’ homes are their favorite place to be, that they function for how they live, and have interiors that they want to show off! So why should you invest in interior design? We’re glad you asked!

Pulp-Design-Studios-Kitchen21 — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See the full project here.

Making it work – for you

Your home should work to support your lifestyle and how you use each room. We work hard to understand where you might need another plug in the kitchen, and whether it needs a USB port, too. We know how to layer the light in a room for every activity, from reading, to hobbies, to gaming. If you have pets and kids, we have access to all the materials that will avoid stains and issues while still giving you a stunning room. We think through every movement you and your family will make in the house, and we ensure everything is exactly where you need to be. You shouldn’t have to think about it at all!

PulpFinals_0001 — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

Saving you time and effort

Renovating or designing your interiors can be time-consuming and frustrating if you don’t know what you’re doing. We not only love thinking about construction costs and working with contractors, we know how to make the job go more efficiently and cost-effectively. We’re meticulous with dimensions, specifications, timelines, and budgets, and we take care of all the details so you don’t have to. You have a lot on your plate already – why add more?

Nod-to-Nautical-Home4 — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

Smart investing

Since home design is our specialty, our expertise is knowing which architectural features and renovations will get you the biggest return on your investment if you want to sell your house in the future. We know which styles, colors, appliances, and finishes will attract home buyers, and what will increase or decrease the value of your home. Studies have also shown that a property sells for more if the interiors look professionally done. We’ll tell you where to splurge and where you can save, so you’re making the smart decisions for your home.

Fearless Style Fit for a Family 20 — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

An invaluable resource

We love the subcontractors and resources that we work with – and we have access to the best! We have great relationships with artisans, drapery workrooms, specialty painters, home furnishings resources, custom wood shops, and more. And we coordinate all of those people and their work so you don’t have to do a thing other than enjoy the craftsmanship and quality they bring to the project.

unspecified-16 — Interior by Pulp Design Studios. See full project here.

You’re worth it

We specialize in creating custom and unique homes that also include unexpected touches. We want you to be surrounded by beauty and things that you love. A recent Forbes study shows that living in a gorgeous space reduces your stress levels and makes you a more creative thinker. You deserve a home that’s gorgeous and inviting!

Have any questions about investing in your home? Click here to contact us!

Inspired by Adventure

February 11, 2019Traveladventure, aspen, color, Dallas, decor, decorating, design, food, greece, home, hotel, house, ideas, interior design, interior designer, living, Los Angeles, mexico, museum, paris, pattern, pulp, pulp design studios, rooms, santa fe, seattle, space, tips, travel, trendsBeth and Carolina

We’re asked so often about where we get our inspirations and how we stay creative. Our answer is simple: We love to travel! It can be a trip to the State Fair or a voyage to Greece, but any day spent out of our own home cities is always an adventure!

One of our favorite sources of inspiration is a well-designed boutique hotel, like the one above in Baja, Mexico. The color palette, the chandelier, and that floor definitely are giving us ideas for upcoming projects!

In this Parisian hotel, we were fascinated by the nooks cut into the wall, and that gorgeous glowing metallic ceiling.

Even in a grander hotel that’s more traditional than our designs, we can find plenty of things that spark ideas for us. In the Tulsa hotel above, we loved the pattern on the floor and those huge sconces.

We’re crazy for a funky pattern, and these plates in a Dallas restaurant made us swoon! You never know where you’re going to find your next favorite design idea.

Obviously art is a major inspiration for us, and that can be everything from street art to grand museums, like the Picasso museum we visited in Paris.

How gorgeous is the Jeff Koons piece right out in the open in New York? That’s a city that offers so many ideas and creative sparks!

Creations by local artisans are just as exciting for us as those major museums. We love to find fantastic and unique pieces for our clients’ homes, like these snakes made in New Mexico.

Architecture, new and very old, can be an endless source of inspiration and ideas. Seeing The Acropolis up close was completely awe-inspiring. Even the shades of sand colors in those columns can give us ideas for an upcoming project.

It isn’t always adventure we’re looking for on our travels – sometimes it’s a view. Look at the colors through this window in Mexico. We may just have to use a few of those in another collection of our fabric line.

And sometimes we’re just looking for the peace that comes on a fabulous trip, like this one to Palm Springs. It’s so important to recharge our batteries so we can keep that creativity flowing.

We’re endlessly inspired by our travels around the world, and can’t wait to take off on our next adventure! Where will you go this year?

The Value of Building a Community

February 6, 2019Entertaining + Home Livingcollaboration, color, Dallas, decor, decorating, design, entrepreneur, home, house, ideas, inspiration, interior design, interior designer, living, Los Angeles, pattern, pulp, pulp design studios, rooms, seattle, small business, space, tips, trends, working with othersBeth and Carolina

At Pulp Design Studios, we love to collaborate. Given that we’re a partnership, it’s in our DNA. Some people are surprised, though, when they learn that we love to collaborate with other designers. We’ve even had people ask us why in the world we want to network with people who might be our competition. Well we have 5 fabulous reasons, and we can illustrate them with photos from an exclusive designer dinner we hosted at the most recent High Point Market (Fashion Week for the furniture world)!

1. Other designers inspire us.

The reason we hosted the Black & White dinner for interior designers is to celebrate other creatives who inspire us! We love looking at beautiful rooms on Instagram and Pinterest as much as you do. When we see gorgeous interiors, they inspire us to stretch our boundaries and challenge us to push ourselves creatively. Although we all have our own styles and niches, inspiration can come from seeing how others interpret a room differently.

2. Networking is critical for any business.

You never know where a connection might lead! We’ve recommended other designers for jobs that weren’t a fit for us. We’ve introduced our designer friends to contacts we think would be good partnerships for them. And we’ve had many generous industry friends do the same for us. It only makes us all more successful if we collaborate when and where we can.

3. We learn from each other.

With our amazing network of designer friends, we talk about everything from where to find the best trim to what the going rate is for the best tile installer. At our Black & White dinner, we used ice-breaker questions to talk about everything from our biggest design issues to our favorite clients! What we learn from each other makes us even more effective and efficient businesspeople.

4. We solve problems.

Crowdsourcing an issue is instrumental in getting to the right solution! We host, and belong to, several industry forums where we can ask for help and ideas. If we’re doing a showhouse in Napa, for example, we can ask for resources in that area to help us get the job done. And we’re happy to help with any information or ideas that we can, too! We all win if we’re all successful.

5. We make lifelong friends.

Relationships are really what life is all about. We feel that way about our clients and our designer friends. Making friends through our work is truly rewarding!

We loved hosting our first Designer Dinner, and look forward to many more! If you’re in business, think about how you can work with people that might be your competition to help create success for everyone!

Here’s the guest list for our first Black & White Designer Dinner – be sure to check out the work of these incredible creatives:

Jeanne Chung, Cozy Stylish Chic
Cheryl Kees Clendenon, In Detail Interiors
Kara Cox, Kara Cox Interiors
Kati Curtis, Kati Curtis Design
Lori Gilder, Lori Gilder Interior Makeovers
Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason, AphroChic
Susan Jamieson, Bridget Beari Designs
Denise McGaha, Denise McGaha Interiors
Lisa Mende, Lisa Mende Design
Melissa Mittag, J. Banks Design Group
Krista Nye Nicholas and Tami Ramsay, Cloth & Kind
Glen Peloso, Peloso Interior
Natalie Reddell, Commander in Chic
Justin Shaulis, Justin Shaulis Inc.
Traci Zeller, Traci Zeller Interiors

The Pulp Edit: 10 Bold & Beautiful Trends

February 4, 2019The Pulp Editbeautiful, black, black and white, bold, color, Dallas, decor, decorating, design, fabric, graphic, home, horn, house, ideas, interior design, interior designer, kelly wearstler, living, Los Angeles, necklace, pattern, pulp, pulp design studios, quartz, rooms, sea glass, seattle, space, tile, tips, trends, wallcovering, wallpaperBeth and Carolina

The Top 10 Bold & Beautiful Looks for Spring

Graphic patterns, bold statements, and dramatic black are making daring debuts for the spring season. Here are our top 10 fearless looks in interiors and fashion.

Oversized patterns are making a bold statement on wallcoverings, and this nature-based print from Voutsa lets the butterflies fly free.

F is For Frank celebrates the human form in all its glory with the Goddess Necklace. Also look for accessories shaped into hands, faces, and lips.

You don’t have to scream color to make a strong statement. This Weitzner wallcovering in the Isolde pattern speaks softly but carries a big punch with the glow of metal.

Nothing makes an impact in a room more than original art. We love the artist William McLure and we’ve commissioned him to create a very large custom painting for one of our clients – it will be the show stopper of the room!

With the lovely look of sea glass, these Ghanian beads from Ngala Trading are actually created with recycled glass. They look amazing on a coffee table, or hanging from a lamp.

Mom, actor, singer, performer, ex-Fly Girl, super businesswoman and HOT AF at 49! Hats off to Jennifer Lopez, Harpers Bazaar February cover girl, who shows us you can keep killing it at any age!

Bold lines are taking center stage on fabrics and wallcoverings in 2019. The pattern is formed with chalky lines on the Pastiche fabric from Kelly Wearstler for Ground Works. In a great embroidered trim called Drum Circle, S. Harris makes a point with triangular shapes. And Arte adds a little blue-green color to its Oculaire Metric grass cloth wallcovering.

The pattern of liquid and bubbles on the Vapor plates from CB2 is mesmerizing. They would add a bold layer to a dinner table!

The Kudu Horns from Ngala Trading are sustainably sourced and offer an adventurous look that works in any room.

Speaking of bold and beautiful trends, Art Deco is just starting to make a comeback. We love the more graphic elements of this design style, like the Ellington collection of tile from Walker Zanger, in brass and ebony.

8 Can’t-Fail Tips for Choosing Art for Your Home

January 30, 2019Entertaining + Home Livingart, color, commissioned art, decor, decorating, design, drawing, emerging artists, framing, interior design, interior design trends, interiors, life, painting, pattern, pulp design studios, pulp home, sculptureBeth and Carolina

We love using original art in our interiors – it adds a unique touch and personality to the rooms. And original art can tell you something about the people who live there. Art selection is a personal process, and it can be intimidating if you’re not a curator or designer. So here our our 8 can’t-fail tips for selecting art that will give your interiors the perfect look!

1. Go with Your Gut.

This is THE most important tip! If you love a piece, if it speaks to you, then it is the right one for you. You are the one who has to live with it in your home, and it should be a reflection of your taste and personality. Let your art tell the story of who you are. That’s what we did for a client who is an orthopedic surgeon in the photo above – that art definitely tells his story!

2. Color Your World.

You can use your art to complement the colors in a room, either matching the palette or offering a great counterpoint. You can even use a statement piece as the jumping-off point for the decor of the entire room.

3. Size Matters.

Remember the size and scale of the art you choose has to fit your room. As you go through the selection process, have an idea in mind of where you’re going to place the art and how large (or small) it should be to balance the scale of the room.

4. Look for Emerging Artists.

Not everyone can afford art by well-known artists, so look for emerging talents. Local galleries and shops often showcase new faces who offer very affordable art. And who knows – it might be one of the best investments you make! We love the stunning work by Gordon Shadrach, a Toronto artist we were introduced to by Aphrochic at High Point Market.

5. Know Your Style.

Know what type of art is your favorite before you begin to shop. Do you love landscapes or portraits? Are you fascinated by watercolors, or are you more about sketches? Narrowing down your choices will save you a lot of time. We’re currently obsessed with photographic art.

6. Switch Things Up.

You may have traditional decor in your home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also hang that stunning contemporary painting in your living room. Some of the best looks in home decor today mix things up with vintage art in modern settings, or a cutting-edge print in a boho interior.

7. Be Bold and Commission Art.

If you love a piece, but it just isn’t the right color or size for you room, ask the artist if they can customize the art for you. Many artists specialize in creating pieces that are uniquely yours. And emerging artists are also great for fully-commissioned pieces that no one else will have.

8. Make Your Own Mix.

As you start to create a collection, don’t fixate on price. A great mix can include flea market finds mixed in with expensive works. Create a collection of things you love and you can’t go wrong.

Wherever You Are

We work all across the country, designing primary residences, pied-à-terres, and vacation homes, for our clients near and far.

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