All posts by Beth and Carolina

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!

Product Focus: Tantalizing Tile

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Tile is one of our favorite materials for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, entries, and more! Tiles can add pattern, color, visual interest, and texture. You can find gorgeous looks in cement, glass, porcelain, stone, and more. And in ultra-functional spaces, tile is also easy to clean and care for. It’s like the magic material! Here are some of our favorite ways to use this fabulous product!

The Classic

Subway tile is a long-term classic for a reason. This style delivers on a timeless look that everyone loves. We like to mix things up with thinner subway tiles, different colors of grout, and subways with a bit of texture. In the kitchen in the top photo, we used white tiles with a darker grout for contrast. And in the bathroom just above, we placed the subway tile vertically for an eye-catching design.

The Bold & the Beautiful

Tile gives you a stunning way to inject some personality into a space. For the pool room Pulp designed above, we added a wavy pattern that mimics the water in the pool just outside. It’s a cheeky look, but it’s also super-functional in a room that needs to deal with a lot of moisture.

Pattern Play

In the floor of this bold black bathroom, Pulp wanted to add some visual interest that could compete with the drama of the space. Those patterned tiles are the perfect complement. And they also look like a woven rug, which works well with the hall rug just outside.

Dimensional Design

Tile can also function as art for the walls. The geometric glass mosaic tile behind the sink in the powder room above is almost like a David Hicks pattern. It looks like a wallcovering, but is a bolder and more dimensional design.

In every home we design, Pulp defines fearless and bold style. Get in touch with our team today to create a new home that showcases your unique personality!

House Tour: A Tudor Full of Personality

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Your home should always reflect your personality – it’s what adds that unique charm and rare style that no one else can duplicate. Pulp’s team of experts knows how to bring that fabulous personal style into every space we design. When we took on a 6,000-square-foot Tudor project in the Laurelhurst neighborhood of Seattle, it was an historic home from 1913, so it had some quirks. While there were stunning architectural features like stained glass windows and original doors, there were also odd nooks and crannies in the layout. Pulp came to the rescue with interiors full of personality and flair. Let’s take a tour!

ENTRY

First impressions are key, so Pulp wanted to set the tone right at the entry. These clients have amazing art, so we wanted to balance the home’s history with their modern art. A great bridge item is the super-modern glass light fixture that adds fabulous shape and style.

DINING ROOM

The dining room has a lovely balance of historic and modern design. The color palette is calm, with a dreamy quality that’s enhanced by the custom-colored Porter Teleo wallcovering on the ceiling. It’s the perfect backdrop for the breathtaking Oly light fixture.

LIVING ROOM

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.

KITCHEN

The kitchen had a low-key redesign, with new fixtures, hardware, and a backsplash inspired by the lake views just outside.

DEN

The den is a beautifully quiet gathering place for our clients to recharge and reconnect.
It offers a lot of space for guests and family, including functional ottomans that can pull out for extra seating.

PRIMARY SUITE

The gorgeous views of the lake inspired the tranquil palette in this suite. Textures and subtle patterns offer a quiet character and personality, including fabrics from Pulp’s S.Harris collection.

Does your home have a fabulous personality? If not, get in touch with our team for an injection of style!

6 Tips for Bathroom Renovations

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Bathrooms are at the top of most renovation lists, whether it’s powder rooms or primary bathrooms. Pulp loves to recreate these spaces so they are stunning and have lots of functional bells & whistles. Here are 6 things to consider when reworking a bathroom.

1. Storage

One of the first things we talk about before a bathroom renovation is what type of storage our clients will need. Not only do you want to plan as much cabinet and drawer space as possible, but this is the perfect time to come up with specialty ideas. Custom cabinetry can give you specific storage for make-up, hair care tools, shaving items, towels, toiletries, and more! Talk to your designer about everything that you want to store in your primary bathroom and keep those countertops clean and clear.

2. Spa Details

A primary bathroom should be an escape, an oasis for the homeowners. This should be the place where you can (literally) wash away the stress of the day! So plan those spa details carefully. Some of the things we discuss with clients include a soaking tub, steam shower, heated floors, towel warmers, TVs, sound speakers, and even sonic wave bathtubs.

3. Tile

Pulp is a huge fan of tile and the wow-factor it provides. Not only is tile functional and easy to clean, but it also can really add an artistic element to the bathroom. The geometric glass mosaic tile behind the sink in the powder room above is almost like a David Hicks pattern. It looks like a wallcovering, but is a bolder and more dimensional design.

4. Lighting

This is one of the MOST important rooms in the house for lighting, so layering that light is key. In the bathroom above, you can see that sconces are going to light the way in the mirror. Note that they are to the side of the person’s face, rather then above. Lighting from above isn’t the most flattering. Then you also need brighter canned lights, and an amazing statement light. This type of lighting plan offers bold light for tasks and quieter lighting for relaxing in the tub!

5. Color

Color always sets a mood in any room, and the bathroom is no different. With all of the amazing tile, paint, and wallpaper options available, be sure you’re taking advantage of all the colors available. Pulp likes to go more neutral in the primary bathrooms they design. That allows for a more relaxing vibe. But in guest baths, powder rooms, and kids’ bathrooms, show some personality and create those pops of color!

6. The Details

We take care of every single detail in our client’s renovations, including a smart electrical plan so there’s an outlet right where it’s needed. Other details include vanity areas, statement lights, window treatments, and seating. Remember that those details can really determine how much you love your new bathroom!

If you’re ready to start a new renovation, be sure to give the Pulp team a call!

The Pulp Edit: It’s a Material World

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Pulp is always looking for unique and exciting material, especially for our renovation projects. We love texture and natural elements, and we want to bring a sense of discovery and adventure to the interiors we design. Here are some of our favorite looks right now.

Porcelain vases from Regina Andrew have a beautifully artisan style, and the natural and textured finish offers a handmade look.

Varied shapes are embroidered onto a textural ground cloth and then embellished with chunky stitches and French knots for the River Stone fabric by Donghia.

Jean Cocteau’s art inspired the faces in the Poteries wallpaper pattern. The design from Scalamandre is available in blue or terra cotta.

The Washington drop pull from Modern Matter has the look of a beautiful brass door knocker.

Texture and material take a softer approach with a lovely taupe-colored sheepskin by Zinc. We love the depth and dimension provided by this oh-so-natural look.

Abstract hand shapes are cast in solid iron with gold leaf finish to hold a 5-inch crystal sphere. This handsome accessory is from Global Views.

Pulp loves terrazzo stone looks, and this Arabescato Bianco pattern from Santa Margherita is a standout. It has a varying pattern with larger stones that’s stunning.

Stars and Xs interlock for a fantastic pattern that we love! Le Cafe is an interlocking porcelain mosaic tile from Bedrosians Tile & Stone.

The Pulse wallcovering pattern from Innovations has the look of a gorgeous stone. And it’s “green” in more way than one since it’s crafted of environmentally friendly cellulose.

The Zulma tape from Schumacher was inspired by the mosaic columns of a
seaside monastery in Palermo, Sicily.

If you’re considering a major renovation, check out our latest issue of ICON that covers every detail of what a Pulp renovation can be!

Founders’ Five: 10 Travel Must-Haves

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It’s finally summer, which means we’re all planning vacations and fabulous trips! The Pulp duo loves to travel, both with their families and with each other. As they’re gearing up for their getaways, they’ve found fabulous travel must-haves that everyone should pack. Let’s take a look!

BETH’S PICKS

I always want to be comfortable on the plane, so these great joggers from CRZ Yoga are the perfect trip ‘fit.

Pure silk creates a cloud-like sleep mask from Slip that blocks the light for a dreamy in-air snooze.

You can never have enough containers when you travel and these pieces from Cadence snap together thanks to magnets!

No matter where I go, I want a little kick in my food. These travel packs of Jennifer Fisher’s Spicy Salt are always in my bag!

These flat-pouch bottles from Kitsch are easy to fill and TSA friendly.

CAROLINA’S PICKS

I love to have moisture on hand when I travel, so this fab lip balm from Sisley Paris is a real lifesaver.

Everything is organized and packed within reach in this lightweight traveler from Parallelle, an amazing woman-owned company!

I just used this Clutch charger in Italy and it saved the day! It’s thin, light, and magnetically attaches to the phone.

This on-the-go set from The Pillow Bar includes everything I need on the plane: a travel pillow, satin-lined eye mask, and oversized cotton throw!

These comfortable pants from Spanx have a four-way stretch that keep you looking good and feeling good when traveling.