All posts by Beth and Carolina

Before + After: Eclectic Abode

March 1, 2017Pulp Design Workbefore and afters, eclectic abode, march 2017Beth and Carolina

This eclectic residence is a highly personalized take on a historic home in Seattle’s Upper Queen Anne neighborhood. With teals and reds set against highly textured neutrals, this home stays true to its traditional roots while showcasing eclectic accessories and patterns.

We transformed this home for a pair busy medical professionals with two young children — with no time to create a finished look on their own, we loved being able to help them create a comfortable home that perfectly reflects their personalities.

Take a look at the space before and after its refurbishing below, and don’t forget to look at the entire project here.

Kitchen

“One of the things that excited me was the refresh of the kitchen. It was a huge transformation just with some paint.” – Carolina, Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

“It’s bright and it’s light and it still feels homey.” – Dominique M., Client

Eating Area

“We did this really cool bone inlay table, and then we reupholstered all of their bench cushions in this indoor/outdoor fabric that was teflon-coated. You can’t kill it. It’s perfect for kids, perfect for an eating area.” – Beth, Designer

Formal Dining Room

“I remember being really surprised when you came back and gave your proposal, I felt like, ‘That is exactly what I want.'” – Dominique M., Client

Living Room

“I like the eclectic vibe of the entire home.” – Carolina, Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

Sitting Area

“I remember being amazed at how beautiful it was. And how it was just… done. And it was lovely. It felt like us and like we were starting the newest phase of our life.” – Dominique M., Client

We wanted to create a space that felt comfortable and personal. We’re so glad our clients feel at home! Don’t forget to take a look at the full project here.

Trending This February

February 27, 2017News + AnnouncementsBeth and Carolina

February has been all about fearlessness: Bold. Graphic. Personal. We love designing spaces that feel intrinsically dauntless; modern with a twist of adventure. This month we’ve been casting a spotlight on our favorite bold pieces, from essentials for powerful kitchens to our favorite adventurous side chairs. Did you miss anything this month?

SPOTLIGHT: OUR 3 MOST POPULAR ARTICLES
Take a home tour of our newest project, the Livable Mid-Century home.
We highlight a few of our favorite items from the colorful kitchen plumbing and appliances trend.
We picked our favorite decor essentials for a romantic dinner at home.

SHOPPING GUIDESThe Pulp Edit: February

Statement Must-Haves for the Home

Our 7 Favorite Bold Side Chairs

ENTERTAINING + HOME LIVING13 Essentials for the Modern Maximalist

14 Essentials for a Romantic Dinner at Home

Designers’ Guide to Palm Springs

CONSTRUCTION TRENDS

Home Trend: The Colorful Kitchen

PULP DESIGN WORK

Before + After: Livable Mid-Century Home

Pulp TV: Livable Mid-Century Project Tour

Home Tour: Livable Mid-Century Home

Sourcebook: Livable Mid-Century Living Room

TRENDING ON INSTAGRAM

1. We fell in love with this warm, sculptural partition at Modernism Week in Palm Springs.
2. We took a tour of the gorgeous Parker Hotel and swooned over its beautiful design.
3. We visited the home that inspired the slanted windows in our DXV Design Panel 2016 bath design.

Ciao,
Beth + Carolina

Designers’ Guide to Modernism Week

February 24, 2017TravelBeth and Carolina

We took Palm Springs by storm for Modernism Week 2017 after being invited to attend by DXV… Our Palm Springs Modern bath design was featured last year in DXV’s national ad campaign and was featured in publications including Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair and on the back cover of House Beautiful.

At Modernism Week, we attended a gorgeous dinner hosted for the Christopher Kennedy compound, spoke on the Love It or Hate It panel hosted by the directors of California Home + Design and Chairish, and viewed all the beautiful design Palm Springs has to offer.

Here’s a round up of the top 10 things a designer must do at Modernism Week…

1. Go to CAMP

2. Go to the Learning Lab at CAMP

On the Love It or Hate It panel hosted by the directors of California Home + Design and Chairish!

3. Network with designers and industry professionals

Here we are with our fellow Love It or Hate It panelists!

4. Go to the Opening Night Party

5.Dinner at Mr. Lyons

6. Go to the Parker Hotel

7. Shop at the Mod Show + Sale

8. Go on Showhouse Tours

9. Visit the Christopher Kennedy Compound

Photo credit: Christopher Kennedy

10. Take a pool day

What part of Modernism Week made you swoon the most?

Our 7 Favorite Bold Side Chairs

February 21, 2017Entertaining + Home Living, Shopping GuideBeth and Carolina

This month, we’re talking about fearlessness. Putting a personal flair on basic necessities like side chairs can be an incredible way to add personality into a space. Pulp loves to create custom pieces for our interior design clients, but sometimes our sources have the perfect piece… Here’s our seven favorite side chairs on the market right now.

BETH’S PICK
Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

The caramel hue and sculptural design make this chair feel like art — its bold-yet-soft form makes it an impactful part of any room. This piece would look even more powerful when customized with a new fabric.

BRABBU Batak Armchair

CAROLINA’S PICK
Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

I’m obsessed with the twist this armchair takes on a traditional high-back design. The side cut-outs make this design feel fresh.

Century Alifair Chair (contact Pulp to purchase)

TRACY’S PICK
Purchasing Manager + Senior Interior Designer

This gorgeous silver shade is an original take on overused grays. Paired with these elegant channel tufts and its velvet texture, it’s a chic statement piece.

Interlude Home Channel Chair (contact Pulp to purchase)

TARA’S PICK
Junior Designer

This gorgeous turquoise color and with gold accent legs make this piece instantly feel like the centerpiece of any space.

Eichholtz Trapezium Chair

SHANNON’S PICK
Junior Designer

This chair is all soft lines — it’s a sharp departure from most traditional chair shapes. In combination with the velvety crimson color, this chair feels like a fresh red rose.

Eichholtz Trezzo Chair

VILMA’S PICK
Junior Designer

We’re in love with reptile textiles in the Pulp office. This black reptile-texture leather and interesting shape make this chair feel edgy yet sophisticated.

Kelly Wearstler Rigby Chair

EM’S PICK
Design Intern

This cream chair with a touch of bronze is so refined. Its smooth lines and high arms are the definition of boldly elegant.

Holly Hunt Triomphe Chair (contact Pulp to purchase)

Which chair suits your style best?

Home Tour: Livable Mid-Century Home

February 16, 2017Pulp Design Worklivable mid-century, most read feb 2017Beth and Carolina

This bright and airy Dallas home is perfect for both entertaining and a comfortable night in with family. With pets and a young daughter, our clients wanted a space that was both durable and beautiful — we feel like we hit the mark with the resulting space. Check out our home tour below and watch our clients talk about the space here.

Q. WHO IS OUR CLIENT AND HOW DID THEY FIND US?

A. When we originally met these clients, we were hired to simply add furnishings to their home. When they saw how much of an impact an interior designer can make, they ended up decided to renovate the space. In the middle of that renovation process, their dream home in that same neighborhood popped up for sale — they immediately gave Pulp a call and we went with them to check out the space. It was a perfect fit, so we jumped into the renovation process with them… This beautiful space is the finished product!

Q. WHAT WAS THE CLIENT’S PROJECT SCOPE AND WHY DID THEY SEEK OUT A DESIGNER RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING IT ON THEIR OWN?

A. Our clients wanted to create a new feel in the entire home. We renovated the space to make the entire home usable and livable for the clients’ lifestyle: both family life and entertaining. They knew they couldn’t accomplish this on their own — because they had previously been renovating a home with Pulp, they knew we would be able to make more of an impact than they would be able to make on their own.

Q. WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST PROJECT CHALLENGE?

A. Because we have been working with these clients for so long, we felt that we already understood their style. We’d previously selected items for their past residences, so figuring out how to reuse pieces while making them feel fresh can be a challenge. It was important to us to be able to reuse pieces to save them money, but reusing pieces can be a double-edged sword. We wanted to make sure we understood how their styles had grown and changed since their last home and that we weren’t just rehashing what we had put together before.

Q. WHAT WAS THE MOST DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION?

A. The living room and den area was completely unused before we found comfortable pieces that made the client feel at home in the room. Removing the wrought-iron room divide and replacing it with glass instantly created a more open-feeling area, and the feel of the room entirely changed.

Q. CAROLINA, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THIS SPACE?

A. I love the family room. It has some interesting plays on color with the artwork, rug and textiles on the pillows but yet, it’s simple and soothing. More important than the visual appeal, though, is the use of the space. I love that now the family is able to actually make use of this previously unused area!

Q. BETH, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THIS SPACE?

A. I’m in love with the master bedroom transformation. We wanted to create a relaxing retreat for the adults of the home, a calming space for them to live once their young daughter had gone to bed. The finished space is full of textured, layered pieces that feel elegant and refined. We also loved being able to reuse these highly coveted custom pillows from their past home — they used to be on the couch!

See the entire project for yourself, complete with a brand new Before + After gallery and client testimonial:

LIVABLE MID-CENTURY HOME

Don’t forget to hear about the project from the clients themselves through Pulp TV…

Happy exploring!

PULP TV: Livable Mid-Century Project Tour

February 8, 2017News + Announcementslivable mid-centuryBeth and Carolina

We’re so excited to be releasing a new project, this mid-century home in Dallas! This residence was designed for one of our favorite longtime clients, keeping in mind their signature style — highly curated, livable, and personal — while being highly cleanable and wipeable for their young child and pets.

WATCH NOW: Dallas Midcentury Project Tour

See all of our videos on Pulp TV!

The Pulp Edit: February 2017

February 6, 2017The Pulp EditBeth and Carolina

This February at Pulp is all about fearlessness. We pride ourselves on designing with a flair for the unexpected and choosing unusual picks that make a residence feel truly customized. Bold, adventurous design can often feel more vulnerable than choosing standard, popular features — we’re a huge advocate of being daring and personal when putting together a home.

“Color is very intimate,” says Katharina Grosse. “It triggers your responses right away.”

Using pointed additions of color or going with over-the-top, maximalist style is a powerful design statement. We love artist Katharina Grosse‘s dynamic, color-heavy style and her artistic philosophies.

This cylindrical, gold double range hood is a luxurious addition to the kitchen in this project by Auhaus Architecture published by Luxe Magazine. Make necessities into accessories by using pieces that have an artistic or sculptural quality to them, pushing the room to immediately feel more polished.

We’ve been long-time obsessed with this gorgeous lobster print wall covering from Abnormals Anonymous. We’ve been dreaming of covering a chef’s kitchen or a marine biologist’s office with this beauty for years. Choosing powerful printed wall coverings are the best way to immediately transform a room.

Feeling a little bit unsure about jumping into a bold home? Start small — focus on your powder bath or small workspace before leaping into transforming an entire home. Moody, statement powder baths are one of our favorite spaces to design — we’re in love with this design by Nina Farmer Interiors, published in House Beautiful.

This gorgeous Lindsay Cowles wall covering is what dreams are made of. Making the daring decision to add a multi-hued wall covering to your space instantly transforms the room — focusing attention on the wall covering immediately makes the entire wall into a piece of art.

Statement pieces are all about personalization. Adding curated pieces from your travels or that have been hand-sourced from across the globe is the ultimate statement — a perfectly personalized element to your design.

Hardware — like this Pomegranate piece by Du Verre — is one of the best places to add an unexpected element to your design — it’s easily interchangeable when you’re ready to switch things up, but can make an immediate difference to an otherwise understated kitchen or bathroom.

We’re all about texture here at Pulp. Pattern on pattern can be a bit too bold for some design aesthetics, but an easy way to elevate a space is playing with texture on texture. We’re in love with these textured Kelly Wearstler for ANN Sacks tiles — the beautiful fan design is slightly raised and intensely impactful.

Creating bold design isn’t all about playing with patterns and colors — it’s about creating a breath-taking, multi-layered space. We’re obsessed with this all-white space that plays with textures and sheens to construct an open, dynamic stairway. This house was designed by Greek architecture firm Omniview and photographed by Marina Vernicos, featured in Galerie Magazine.

This contemporary artist is one of Spain’s most celebrated for a good reason: his paintings are rooted in social realism and grounded in creating political statements. Soulful art goes a long way in adding elements of personality to a home, and Juan Genoves‘ expressive, compelling works are the definition of soulful.

Which design element feels the most fearless to you?

Statement Must-Haves for the Home

February 2, 2017Entertaining + Home Living, Shopping GuideBeth and Carolina

Pulp takes pride in creating interior designs with a flair for the unexpected. Drool-worthy design always come from knowing how to carefully curate a space so that the design is statement-making without feeling overwhelming. Our design team rounded up their favorite statement-making pieces to add to the home.

BETH’S PICK
Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

This teak hand chair is one of our favorite details from our West Seattle Townhouse project. It adds just the right amount of eccentricity to the space with its unusual shape, but its teak material makes it feel natural and livable.

Teak Buddha Chair (available to Pulp clients)

CAROLINA’S PICK
Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

Tables are an unexpected way to bring color and style into your home. I’m in love with this incredible melting pot table with organic-looking color and patterns. It’s the perfect addition to a maximalist home or an amazing statement piece for an otherwise-neutral space.

Dirk Vader Kooij Melting Pot Table

TRACY’S PICK
Senior Interior Designer + Project Manager

This table lamp is one of my all-time favorite statement pieces. The neutral colors make it work in almost any space, but the space adds that extra element of style.

Garvey Lamp

TARA’S PICK
Junior Designer

Go big or go home. This elegant chandelier fits perfectly in the center of a two-story spiral staircase. The statement comes from its oversized nature, but its elegant and simplistic shape makes it work in almost any home.

Lindsey Adelman Two-story, 20-bulb Agnes Cascade Chandelier

SHANNON’S PICK
Junior Designer

Kelly Wearstler is the queen of statement pieces. This astounding dining table adds a dash of sophistication to the dining room, but its downplayed colors make it the perfect addition to a room full of colors and patterns.

Kelly Wearstler Miramar Dining Table

VILMA’S PICK
Junior Designer

This neutral-hued rug is a fascinating conversation piece for an otherwise simplistic room. Its pattern adds a punch of exaggerated style to the space while its colors keep it from being too overwhelming — this is perfect for the homeowner that wants to make a statement in their home but doesn’t know where to start.

Thistle Pewter Rug by Vivienne Westwood for The Rug Company

EM’S PICK
Design Intern

I’m in love with this console table — its royal blue tone steals the show, while its Greek-inspired legs add grandeur to an otherwise-stark piece.

Barsanti Console Table (available to Pulp clients)

What’s your favorite stand-out item in your home?

BEFORE + AFTER: LIVABLE MID-CENTURY HOME

February 1, 2017Pulp Design Workbefore and afters, livable mid-centuryBeth and Carolina

This airy mid-century Dallas home is full of pops of color and designed with durability in mind. We’re sharing behind the scenes of our design process all this month, beginning with the before and after photos of this renovation…

We transformed the living room from having a wrought iron divider to using glass to make the room feel open and inviting, adding comfortable furniture to make this previously unused space entertainment-ready.

THE LIVING ROOM

“Before Pulp Design Studios designed this sunken den right here, we just didn’t use this space. Now this room really draws the family in — it’s a great room to hang out in.” – Clay H., Client

THE KID’S ROOM

We wanted to pull in bright, playful colors and patterns to make the room feel like home to our little client — now it’s the perfect place for reading, snuggling up in bed, and daydreaming.

THE POWDER BATH

It was important for the home office to become an area that was both ready for work and a comfortable space for family time — we brightened up the space with plushy pillows and a playful rug.

THE HOME OFFICE

THE KITCHEN

“We painted the kitchen… It looks like an entirely new kitchen at a third of the cost.” – Carolina V Gentry, Pulp Design Studios

THE DINING ROOM

The dining room is one of our favorite spaces in the home — the layered neutrals feel so sophisticated and fresh. This room is perfect for casual at-home family nights and for dinner parties with friends.

THE MASTER BEDROOM

“It was dark and now it’s beautiful, kind of sexy, and a little bit unexpected.” – Corinne H., Client

THE MASTER BATH

We wanted to create a beautiful space for the adults to relax on their own — this elegant master bath and bedroom are exactly what we wanted to achieve.

We’re so glad our clients feel so happy and comfortable in their new home!

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