All posts by Beth and Carolina

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…

The Client/Designer Relationship

The most important part of the interior design process: the relationship between client and designer.

Education + Professionalism

With lengthy backgrounds in professional interior design, Pulp’s design duo discusses their education and experience.

Full-Service Interior Design

Pulp is experienced in bringing a project from concept to conception…

Pulp Style

Graphic, luxurious, and layered, Pulp specializes in executing a client’s style while infusing pops of Pulp.

Sources + Individualization

Pulp designs unique spaces with a flare for the unexpected, including using custom pieces and trade sources to create one-of-a-kind designs.

Splendid Living Approach

Beth + Carolina explain their unique approach to getting to know a client’s design sensibilities and style…

The Final 15

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

We’re excited to be filming all new video content next month… To view all of our Pulp TV videos, head to the Videos section of our site.

Splendid Living Approach

Beth + Carolina explain their unique approach to getting to know a client’s design sensibilities and style…

11 Essentials for a Luxurious Fireplace

January 13, 2017Entertaining + Home Living, Shopping Guidearmchair, fireplace, fireplace accessories, fireplace screen, living room, modern fireplaceBeth and Carolina

We love including gorgeous fireplaces in the homes of our interior design clients. Creating a luxurious home is more than using incredibly crafted pieces — while quality is important, luxury is also about creating luxurious experiences for the home. Our interior design team picked their 11 favorite pieces for elevating a fireplace to luxury level.

All month, we’ll be talking about what makes life luxurious — from beautifully crafted materials and one-of-a-kind creations to spaces that perfectly reflect the way you want to live. Come back to the Pulp site all January for more on luxury construction trends, materials, and fixtures… We’ll see you then.

Ciao,
Beth + Carolina

Traditional Home Showhouse: Creating the Wall Covering

January 11, 2017Pulp Design Workgraphic, napa valley showhouse, Newlon Collection, Traditional Home, Traditional Home Napa Valley Showhouse, Wall coveringBeth and Carolina

When putting together our design for the Traditional Home Napa Valley Showhouse, we worked with Chad Newlon of the Newlon Collection to create a wall covering that reflected the pattern of the vines covering the hillsides of Napa wine country… The result is a a graphic, bold covering that elevates the rest of the space.

When initially conceptualizing the wall covering, the color, texture, and scale of the graphic were our focus. We wanted to create a piece that blended seamlessly with the rest of the elements, that adds to the feeling of luxury that encapsulates the space and all of Napa Valley.

Customizing elements that perfectly reflect the personality of our clients and the brands we work with is a definitive part of Pulp’s design sensibilities… Here’s an inside look at our wall covering customization process, beginning with creating the digital copy and ending with testing printed samples.

Creating the custom wall covering and putting together our stair landing design for the showhouse was an incredible experience — thank you to the Newlon Collection for being a dream house and to Traditional Home for allowing us to show off our work!

10 Luxurious Leather Items for the Home

January 9, 2017Entertaining + Home Living, Shopping Guidecalf hide, hide on hair, leather, leathers, luxe, luxury, shagreenBeth and Carolina

This month, we’re focusing on luxury… Our interior design team is always looking for ways to elevate the spaces of our clients to include high-quality materials that will last through constant usage. We love using textured, quality leathers like gorgeous hair-on-hide and shagreen pieces… Here are our top 10 picks for luxe leathers items for the home.

Ciao,
Beth + Carolina

10 Metallic & Reflective Trends For Your Home

January 6, 2017Entertaining + Home Livingmetallic, reflectiveBeth and Carolina

The Pulp design team has been falling in love with touches of metallics and reflective textures in interior design — it’s a glamorous way to add a statement to any room. The touch of metallic in the Pulp-designed Guardian Cellars Winery brightens up the space and adds a modern, edgy touch. Here are our top 10 favorite metallic and reflective interior trends.

8 Luxury Must-Haves for the Home

January 4, 2017Entertaining + Home Living, Shopping Guidehome, home decor, home goods, jan 2017 most read, luxury, must-havesBeth and Carolina

This month, we’re reflecting on luxury in design. “Luxury” doesn’t just refer to cost — it’s expertly created fabrics and rugs, perfectly curated and customized art, and long-lasting pieces with textures that you drool over. Luxury is more than money spent: it’s a feeling, a way of living. Our interior design clients come to us for our ability to define and execute their styles while infusing little bits of that classic “Pulp style” — punches of texture, color, and graphics wrapped up in luxurious layers.

Luxury is an important element of Pulp’s signature design style — we choose pieces made from long-lasting, luxurious-to-the-touch materials and add elements that instantly make a space look more expensive. All of January, we’re spilling our secrets on what makes life luxurious… Here’s the Pulp design team’s favorite luxury pieces to elevate a space.

BETH’S PICK
Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

Rugs are always a good investment — when we select rugs for our clients we always have a mind for longevity and cleanability. The Porter Tello collection for Perennials is an amazing indoor outdoor product with an incredible feel to the touch! (Available to our interior design clients.)

Ink Blot Rug by Porter Teleo for Perennials

CAROLINA’S PICK
Co-Founder + Principal Interior Designer

Statement lighting is one of the best ways to elevate a space — this amazing custom-made lighting fixture feels organic and fresh but draws your interest upwards, adding a new level to the room.

Lindsey Adelmen Custom Lighting

TRACY’S PICK
Senior Designer + Project Manager

Adding art can instantly make a space feel luxurious — custom-made and curated art adds personality and interest to a space and can be reused for years and years.

Sam Glankoff, Four Panel: Untitled, c. 1972

TARA’S PICK
Junior Designer

Serving plates and other photo-worthy serving pieces are a sure way to impress your guests and a gorgeous way to brighten up open shelving while not being used.

Kelly Wearstler, Melange Serving Plates

SHANNON’S PICK

Junior Designer

The Eames lounge chair is a classic piece of luxury — it will never go out of style and always adds an interesting element to a space.

Eames Lounge Chair

VILMA’S PICK

Design Assistant

These incredible champagne glasses and cooler are the essence of luxury. Pick yourself up your favorite bottle of champagne and celebrate with these beautiful pieces.

Van Perckens Champagne Glasses + Cooler

ALISSA’S PICK

Design Assistant

Texture is as important as visuals in design — this luxurious cashmere throw adds so much to a space without being overwhelming. The perfect piece for infusing just a little bit more luxurious-yet-practical design into a living room or bedroom.

Kelly Behun Studio, Fine-Striped Cashmere Wool Throw

EM’S PICK

Design Intern

This gorgeous thin-frame statement chair immediately makes any space look more luxurious. Sophisticated and impactful, it’s an incredibly opulent seating choice.

Lawson-Fenning Thin Frame Lounge Chair

Wherever You Are

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

LEARN MORE