All posts by Beth and Carolina

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!

What’s Trending in January

January 30, 2017News + AnnouncementsBeth and Carolina

In case you missed it

OUR 3 MOST POPULAR ARTICLES:

We launched 7 new videos on Pulp TV to clear the way for new episodes.

We started the month with January’s The Pulp Edit– all focused on luxury.

Don’t miss our design team’s 8 Luxury Must-Haves for the Home.

NOT TO BE MISSED:

Before it hits newsstands, read articles from our launch of our Traditional Home Napa Valley Showhouse design.

Are you thinking of hiring and interior designer? Make the right choice for you by reading our Top 10 Reasons to Work with an Interior Designer.

Happening in Interiors

We were blown away at KBIS by Ann Sacks new handcrafted concrete tiles by Itai Bar-On, with integrated lighting.

Our savvy clients are always asking for clever storage solutions. House Beautiful rounded up 20 unique kitchen storage ideas.

Architectural Digest explains why marble is still a top choice for kitchens. And, we couldn’t agree more!

We’ve got a Pulp new-construction project in design with a stunning colorful kitchen island. Better Homes & Gardens is sharing tons of inspiration for how to pop that color into your kitchen.

Trending on Instagram

Marble and brass tile is still a favorite! Ann Sack is always a winner.

Carolina shows off a new favorite wall covering by Lindsay Cowles.

Howie Mandell loves Pulp Design Studios! See him hanging out with us in the space we designed for DXV.

Look forward to this February as we focus on Fearless design…

10 Reasons to Work With an Interior Designer

January 26, 2017The Business of Designbusiness of design, why to work with a professionalBeth and Carolina

Working with a professional interior designer is an investment in your home and your happiness. Making the decision to bring a professional into the design and renovation process can be a big step, but ultimately can relieve a lot of stress and pressure on the homeowners. But, once you’ve made the choice to work with a designer, selecting the right designer isn’t always easy. We compiled our top 10 things to look for in a designer…

01 | Unique Sources

Rather than buying items from big-box retailers that were designed for the masses, we work with trade sources that allow us to tailor our designs to each unique client. Our sources don’t sell directly to the public, so you won’t ever run into the issue of having the same furnishings as all of your friends — your uniquely sourced pieces are highly customizable and high quality.

02 | Customization

When we can’t find the item we’re envisioning for your space, we create it: simple as that. We work with experts to produce the perfect furniture, art and accessories to fit our clients, and ensure they stand up to the test of time.

03 | Goods Priced Below Retail Prices

Because of our connections and year-round purchasing, we’re able to provide our clients with below-retail pricing. That means that not only will your pieces be designer-approved and -sourced, you’ll be paying less than if you bought it yourself.

04 | Avoid Costly Mistakes

Homes are investments — you want to get them right. Designers work closely with architects and contractors to make sure everything is executed according to plan. We also have extensive experience on the job site and know how to spot mistakes before they’re irreparable.

05 | Vision

It’s not just about style, it’s about function and usability — a great designer conceptualizes the design starting at the beginning all with your unique needs and style in mind. Don’t know where to start on your whole-home renovation? We’ve spearheaded complete renovations, taking them from dated, musty spaces to beautiful new designs that reflect your personality. A good designer can handle everything, from large scale to small, including that ‘Final 15 Percent’. The end result is something that should exceed your expectations and be better than even you thought it could be.

06 | Time-Saving

Most of our clients are busy, with high-pressure jobs, and little to no time to renovate and design on their own. We handle the entire process, from conceptualizing a design to handling construction issues to installing the finalized design. In fact, the less the client is involved and the more trust the client has for their designer, the faster the project goes.

07 | Functionality

Before Pulp Design Studios was created, we designed hotels and commercial spaces, where design is focused on durability and understanding how materials wear and tear. The extensive knowledge we gained of durability and functionality during that time has been essential to our residential work — we understand what materials work best in high-use areas. This is key for a client who wants to have beautiful and functional spaces!

08 | Experience

We’ve spent a vast amount of time at job sites managing installations and handling issues as they arise. We’ve designed and purchased more pieces of furniture than we can count. And, we’ve seen every paint faux-pas there is. A designer’s extensive experience means we can help you tackle issues more easily and quickly than you would be able to on your own. We’ve seen the mistakes happen before, so we know how to avoid issues before they pop up. If you’re investing, you want a designer with experience.

09 | Professional Training

At Pulp, all of our designers have professional training, degrees in interior design and extensive knowledge in interior architecture. We learn everything from building structures to legal requirements in design and will use our professional training to advise you to go in the best direction.

10 | Swoon-Worthy, Brag-Worthy Spaces

What more needs to be said — your final space will be drool-worthy. The resulting space completely representative of your style, but with next-level styling and design — and you never even lifted a finger!

Home Tour: Traditional Home Napa Valley Showhouse

January 19, 2017Pulp Design Workhome tour, Napa Valley, showhouse, Traditional Home, Traditional Home Napa Valley ShowhouseBeth and Carolina

We had an amazing time working with the Traditional Home team while designing the Traditional Home Napa Valley Showhouse stair landing and wanted to give you the inside scoop to our completed project before it hits the newsstands this year…

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

When Traditional Home reached out to us about being a part of their Napa Valley showhouse, our answer was an enthusiastic “yes!” We’re huge fans of Traditional Home and Ann Maine, its Editor in Chief. We were asked to submit a rendering and write-up of our design for the space before officially becoming a part of the showhouse design team.

Q. WHAT WAS THE CLIENT’S PROJECT SCOPE?

We chose the stair landing because we wanted to show our range as designers for our first national showhouse — we wanted to create a livable area from an often underutilized space. We played off of the gorgeous tones and luxurious feels of Napa Valley after harvest by using rich, jewel-tone colors and the traditional feel of the design to create an elegant space.

Q. WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST PROJECT CHALLENGE?

Creating a bold, eye-catching, useful design out of a space like a stair landing — which most people don’t think of as usable space — can be a challenge. Creating livable spaces is a key part of Pulp’s design aesthetic, so we were excited to transform it into a useful lounging area for the showhouse owner.

Q. WHAT WAS THE MOST DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION?

This space was new construction, so we were able to see it transform before our eyes! Before the wall covering installation, the stair landing was a blank, white space that was entirely empty. It’s always incredible to see a home fill with furnishings and be transformed.

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

I loved working to create the custom wall covering with Chad Newlon of the Newlon Collection — it was such an incredible process to see our ideas brought to life in the showhouse. We started with an idea to create a dynamic design inspired by the vines weaving across the hilltops of Napa Valley, and finished with a wall covering that’s beautiful in its own right.

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

These gorgeous hair-on-hide stools are such a fun play on vintage classics — we custom-made these pieces and upholstered them with Innovations’ dyed hair on cowhide textile. They’re the perfect touch to turn this stair landing into a beautiful, usable lounge space.

The end result of this design is sophisticated, luxurious and useful. Explore more of this design and other spaces we’ve created by looking through our portfolio.

The Final 15

The Final 15 percent: Pulp’s approach to creating full, well-rounded design.

Pulp TV: All About Pulp

January 17, 2017News + Announcementsabout, behind the scenes, beth + carolina, jan 2017 most read, pulp tv, story of pulp, video, videosBeth and Carolina

We’re in a new era of Pulp Editorial… An era of features, articles, and videos with a focus on Pulp’s expertise in the realm of design. We’re kicking off 2017 with a bang, including launching seven of our favorite Pulp TV episodes…