All posts by Beth and Carolina

Home Tour: Eclectic Abode

March 16, 2017Pulp Design WorkBeth and Carolina

Traditional with an eclectic twist, this historic Queen Anne home is highly personalized without losing its roots. Full of pops of teal and red amidst a background of textured neutrals, this home is a careful balance of warm grays and blacks set against bright whites, color and natural woods. Designed with kids in mind, this home is both beautiful and durable — a highly curated space ready to stand the test of time.

Take a tour of the space while learning more about the client and their experiences with Pulp…

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

A pair of busy medical professionals with two young kids, these clients lived next door to our clients from the Fearless Style home. When talking to their neighbors about their experience with Pulp, these clients realized that we would be a great fit for them and their design needs.

“We finally found our forever home, and I just wanted to finish it and make it beautiful.” – Dominique M., Client

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

After trying to design the home on their own, these clients realized that their home never felt as finished as they wanted it to be. While they had never before envisioned themselves using an interior designer, they realized that Pulp could make a huge impact on their home.

Initially, these clients brought Pulp on to do exclusively furnishings — after chatting with Pulp’s designers, they realized that adding a cosmetic refresh could dramatically increase their home value. Along with doing doing furnishings, Pulp repainted the kitchen and refinished the fireplace.

“I wanted somebody that actually had a good eye for things and also knew more about what was out there to pull from.” – Dominique M., Client

Q. WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST PROJECT CHALLENGE?

To keep the integrity of the home’s Victorian roots, our clients wanted to keep the original lighting. Designing around the existing lighting was a challenging process, since we wanted to update the home to feel more fresh and inviting while also involving this vintage lighting.

“I remember being really surprised that after we had talked for a bit, you came back and everything being like, ‘That is exactly what I want.'” – Dominique M., Client

Q. WHAT WAS THE MOST DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION?

We gave the kitchen a cosmetic refresh, making the room feel bright and airy from just a coat of paint and a few accessory and furnishing changes.

The clients originally weren’t interested in updating the kitchen at all — our designers slipped a slide into their presentation featuring some of the before and after images from refreshed kitchens in previous projects and the clients realized how much of an impact painting the cabinets can make. Now, the room feels so much larger, more expensive, and fresh, while also dramatically improving the home’s value.

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

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

I absolutely love the change in the kitchen. It’s incredible how little needed to be done to create such a dramatic difference in the feel of the room. Visually, painting the kitchen and adding some finishing touches makes the biggest difference in the entire Great Room area.

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

Refreshing the Breakfast Nook in the kitchen area made an incredible difference to to the home and to the usability of the space. We reupholstered the cushions in the window seat to make them durable and kid-friendly, as well as adding in wipeable pillows to add to the comfort of the space. Now, the family uses the space not only for quick meals, but also for spending time together. I’m so excited it made such a difference!

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

An Eclectic Abode

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

Happy exploring!

Pulp TV: WATCH 10 Years of Pulp, Then and Now

March 15, 2017News + AnnouncementsBeth and Carolina

Happy 10-year anniversary, Pulp! It’s been 10 years since Beth and Carolina started their humble business, which grew into what is now a nationally recognized design company published in Vanity Fair and Architectural Digest.

To celebrate 10 years, Beth and Carolina reflect on then and now… Let’s take a trip back to 2007, when Pulp got its start.

WATCH NOW: 10 Years of Pulp, Then and Now

See all of our videos on Pulp TV and look back at 10 years of Pulp!

For the Perfect Green Home

March 13, 2017Shopping GuideBeth and Carolina

We’ve fallen head-over-heels in love with greens this season… And no, it has nothing to do with impending St. Patrick’s Day — this hue is a stunner year-round. Our interior design team chose some of their favorite pieces to infuse a little bit of green into the home.

BETH’S PICK
Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

“Chic metallic silvers are catching my eye now more than ever. Paired with a cushioned green velvet, this round stool is the perfect pick for a well-curated seating area.”

Tabouret Round Stool (Contact Pulp to purchase)

CAROLINA’S PICK
Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

“The geometric tufting and sculptural legs of this lengthy sofa are completely drool-worthy. Its long shape ensures that all of your guests can get a spot, but its shape and color make it an artful addition to the room.”

Mayweather Sofa 2.0

TRACY’S PICK
Senior Interior Designer + Purchasing Manager

“This multi-toned emerald paired with metal inlay make this coffee table absolutely to die for. Its sculptural feel ensures that it will be the focal point of the room while perfectly encompassing its owners’ personal style.”

Savona Emerald Coffee Table by Palecek (Contact Pulp to purchase)

TARA’S PICK
Junior Interior Designer

“The acrylic collection from DVF is one of our favorites for sophisticated accessories. This kelly green bowl is an instant crowd-pleaser at dinner parties.”

AVF Acrylic Infinity Bowl in Emerald

SHANNON’S PICK
Junior Interior Designer

“This rug hits both my love of bright, solid colors and my love for patterns, all in one. It’s a more subtle way to add some pizazz without jumping head-first into an all-pattern rug. Plus, who doesn’t love this gorgeous hue?”

Climbing Leopard Rug by Diane von Furstenberg for The Rug Company

EMILY’S PICK
Marketing + Communication Coordinator

“This small, fashion-forward box is a subtle nod to color-blocking runways. I’m obsessed with this blue-toned green in combination with the mustard-hued tan and grays… It’s such a fun way to add pops of color without feeling overwhelmed by green.”

Mondrian Box

EM’S PICK
Design Intern

“Imagine how gorgeous this piece of green art would be in an all-neutral room… The perfect pop of color. If there’s one thing I’ve learned at Pulp, it’s that you can’t forget the art in an interior design!”

Green Abyss art

What’s your favorite way to incorporate bright colors into design?

Pulp TV: WATCH Eclectic Abode Home Tour

March 8, 2017News + Announcementseclectic abode, march 2017Beth and Carolina

We’re thrilled to be launching a new project, this eclectic Victorian home in Seattle’s Upper Queen Anne neighborhood! This residence is a highly personalized home for two busy medical professionals with two young kids. Filled with textured neutrals and pops of teals and reds, this home perfectly reflects the family while still being highly durable and cleanable.

WATCH NOW: Queen Anne Victorian Home Tour

See all of our videos on Pulp TV!

The Pulp Edit: March 2017

March 6, 2017The Pulp Editmarch 2017Beth and Carolina

March 2017 is all about customization and individualization on Pulp Editorial. We rounded up our favorite tricks and trends for making a space feel custom and personalized on this month’s Pulp Edit…

This drool-worthy Pierre Frey linen is bound to be a statement piece in any room. To make a room feel even more customized, don’t feel afraid to step out of the boundaries and swap out neutrals for bold fabrics like this, creating a feeling of customized art in the room. This fabric is even slated to be in one of our upcoming clients’ designs.

This installation from Bardula Studio in Moncler’s new Madison Avenue storefront — as featured in Architectural Digest — makes the room feel like a standalone piece of art. Installing custom tile patterns in your home immediately makes the room feel incredibly individualized. Why not commission tiles to perfectly reflect your design sensibilities?

Since seeing these gorgeous Kelly Wearstler by ANN Sacks tiles at KBIS this year, we’ve been obsessing over the idea of putting these little beauties into one of our clients’ homes. These statement tiles with metal inlay would be a perfect match for one of our interior design clients with a big, bold design personality… Finding a statement tile that matches your aesthetic is one of our favorite ways to make a home feel more individualistic.

Don’t forget about how important texture and shape is to a home. As much as we love bold colors and patterns, texture and shape can sometimes speak even louder. These sculptural tiles from ANN Sacks have an amazing convex exterior that make them feel art-worthy in their own right. Want a customized feel without feeling like your home is overbearing? Sculptural tiles might be the answer.

We’ve said it once (or maybe twice, or maybe one hundred times), but we’ll say it again because this month is all about customization… A design just doesn’t feel complete without the final 15 percent — ACCESSORIES. There’s no quicker way to make a design feel more personal than by adding home decor accessories that speak to your personality and individual aesthetic.

There’s no bigger way to make a statement than by going big: literally. Large-format art takes up whole-wall spaces or wraps around a room, filling a room with its personality. This piece by Charles Arnoldi is in a home designed for business executive Paul Boschetto by decorator Sheldon Harte and featured in Elle Decor. Nothing speaks more to a client’s personality than their taste in art — why not go big, bold and intrinsically individualistic?

This personable kitchen is in the home of Spanish interior designer Manolo March and features floor-to-ceiling velvet-upholstered walls — swoon. Nothing feels more swanky or custom than upholstered walls. If you’re as in love with this trend as we are, don’t be afraid to pull the trigger and make your home feel maximum-level personal. We spotted this design in the pages of Elle Decor.

This design by Nick Olsen, featured in the pages of House Beautiful, breaks just about all of the “rules” of design. But we’re in love with rule-breakers here at Pulp… We encourage everyone not to shy away from picking colors outside of the same color family or items from a variety of design eras. This curated design has us falling in love with its bold, personable vibe. We can absolutely imagine who lives in this space, and we’re sure that the close friends of whomever lives here agree that it matches them perfectly.

There’s nothing more compelling than wall coverings in fresh materials, like this hand-cut wall covering from Phillip Jeffries. These beautifully cut natural wood pieces overlay a silver metallic background, a welcome take on the storied wood wall trend of the ’70s.

We’re obsessed with the big, bold personality that shines through this space — everything from the lighting fixture to the art and watercolor-print rug is perfectly on point. Ron Woodson designed this home featured in California Home + Design — after speaking on a Modernism Week panel with both Ron Woodson and his design partner Jaime Rummerfield, we fell in love with their California aesthetic and the huge personality in each of their spaces.

Keep an eye on Pulp Editorial as we talk all month about customization and individualization, and don’t forget to check out all of the Pulp Edits we’ve published previously.

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!