All posts by Beth and Carolina

Before & After: A Home Office Makeover

June 6, 2016Pulp Design Workbefore and aftersBeth and Carolina

Earlier this year, we completed a Showhouse project with ATG Stores and Decorist to redesign the rooms of an amazing residence. Pulp was asked to design the Home Office and sourced everything solely from the ATG Stores website, and we designed it completely virtually. See how we transformed this space using only the before images you see below and some room measurements.

As you can see in the before photos, the space was basically a vestibule needing a little personality. We wanted to create a more neutral palette with lots of texture, while also showcasing the gorgeous downtown Seattle views the space had to offer.

Faced with giving a room without four walls purpose, we were able to design this office space to exude a more inviting feel while also incorporating serious ambiance and style.

“We fearlessly mixed metals for added flair, incorporated amazing lighting to create mood and ambience, and brought in a graphic wall covering for heightened style.” – Beth + Carolina

It’s amazing what new furnishings and style can do for the feel and functionality of a space, and this home office proves just that.

See the whole Home Office transformation!

7 Graphic Tiles for the Fearless Homeowner

June 1, 2016Design InsiderBeth and Carolina

There’s nothing that keeps us quite as captivated as pattern in design. Which is why this week’s renovation trend has us simply beside ourselves with inspiration! From bold black and white prints to effervescent and whimsical shapes, when strategically placed these hard surfaces can become both a show stopper and be one of those bold choices that make you smile every time you walk by.

Here’s a few of our favorite graphic tiles to give your bathroom flooring or kitchen backsplash a little something unexpected.

A Designer’s Guide to Venice

May 9, 2016Design Insider, Traveldesigners' guide, designhounds, Italy, Milan, VeniceBeth and Carolina

Now that we’ve taken you through some of the design showrooms we visited in Italy, we thought we’d take you on a visual tour of the cities we visited through a designers eye. Here’s a look at Venice through the eyes of a true design hound…

The City of Venice

The first thing to note about Venice is that it’s incredibly peaceful… There are no cars or bikes and when you are nestled into this gorgeous city, it feels like you’ve been taken back in time. Venice is situated on 117 islands, where buildings were built to the very edges of the islands creating canals to travel through. The architecture is old and full of history and the buildings, which seem unassuming on the outside are filled with opulent interiors and charming courtyards. Take a little visual tour of Venice, through our eyes…

A Design Tour of Venice

1. Mask making class at Ca’ Macana. Make a Venetian mask, like the one Beth made above and hear the history of Venetian masks by the artisans behind the masks from Stanley Kubrick films and the Venetian opera.

2. The Antiques Diva Tour. Get an insiders look at vintage and antiques from the Italian insiders. And, even have them ship it back for you!

3. Merceria Shopping District. You can’t leave Italy without some good Italian leather. Visit the luxury shopping spots for gorgeous displays and fashion.

4. Slow Venice Guided Tour. You must must must take a tour with Christina. She offered us a customized design tour that was absolutely insightful and inspiring.

5. Seguso factory tour. If you love design, you can’t leave Italy without visiting the island of Murano. We got to see Murano glass being made by a company older than America. Incredible.

6. Fortuny showroom. The fortune showroom is a must if you want to see luxury textiles situated in a showroom by their private factory and the famous gardens of Countess Gozzi.

7. Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The modern art collection of heiress Peggy Guggenheim, on permanent display, is a must-visit in Venice.

8. The Rubelli Archives. This historical textile archive, located in a palace and by appointment only, has over 6000 textile records which can be dated from the end of the fifteenth century.

Here is a glimpse at our visit…

The Food, People, and Fun

While visiting Venice you can’t help but sit for long leisurely lunches and be fueled by cappuccino, prosecco, campari, wine, and limoncello. Not to mention, the seafood and fish you’ll taste in Venice is some of the best you’ll eat. But, if you go to Venice, be sure to surround yourself with people who have the same love and curiosity for design, travel, and history. We had the pleasure of going with Veronika Miller and her Design Hounds (just a few pictured below: Richard & Heather), and we fostered some incredible friendships and left utterly inspired…

Up next, we’ll take you to Milan… Ciao!

L’Ottocento: A True Craftsman’s Skill

May 4, 2016Design InsiderL'Ottocento, Milan International Design Week, Sam Cronos KitchenBeth and Carolina

While attending the 2016 Milan International Design Week as Design Hounds we encountered the amazing craftsman work of L’Ottocento, who sponsored part of our trip! L’Ottocento creates tailor-made products for the kitchen and home where practicality and well-being play a leading role. L’Ottocento is known for their classic taste that marries with innovation. Guided by a passion for wood and criteria of qualitative excellence, L’ottocento has timeless creations.

Our time at the L’Ottocento showroom in Milan was incredible! We were introduced to three new kitchen environments that took our breath away: the Floral Kitchen, Sam Cronos Kitchen, and Rovertto Kitchen.

The Floral Kitchen

The Floral Kitchen had an elegant, romantic soul and the tradition combines with the search for new ergonomic solutions such as storage modules constructed with doors to the floor. We were absolutely blown away by that marble sink!

The Sam Cronos Kitchen

The Sam Cronos Kitchen design by L’Ottocento and in collaboration with architect Samuele Mazza, combines sophisticated style and cutting-edge technology. Those bow-front drawers grabbed our attention immediately- absolutely stunning!

The Rovereto Kitchen

The last kitchen introduced to us, the Rovereto Kitchen, had clean lightweight lines that dominate the entire room, discreetly concealing special technical solutions that provide new functionality.

We love L’ottocento, not only for their beautiful hand-crafted design but also for their dedication to sustainable growth and customer health. But, more that that- as designers, we love their completely custom capabilities that can help realize our designs at an incredible level of quality!

Liebherr Refrigeration: A Perfect Combination of Form & Function

May 3, 2016Design Insiderappliance, designhounds, liebherr, refridgeratorBeth and Carolina

While attending the 2016 Milan International Design Week as Design Hounds we were sponsored by Liebherr Refrigeration. We already know and love Liebherr, but what we loved most about our time with them is that their commitment to freshness and ease of use was completely evident. They truly consider the most innovative solutions that keep food fresh and take into account the usability. When many think of this German company, they think of performance and quality in refrigeration.

Beyond amazing quality and performance, we were surprised to find many thoughtful details that elevated refrigeration and made them completely approachable and usable- which, as you know, is the Pulp motto!

5 Great Features from Liebherr

1. Push finger open. How many times have your arms been full or your hands dirty and you need to open your refrigerator? Life is made a lot easier in the kitchen with this genius feature. Just knock or push to open.

2. Thoughtful details. How many times have you opened the refrigerator doors and had the items in your drawer rattle, shift, and slide? Little details like this fitting above set Liebherr apart… and their refrigerators are full of these little details.

3. Freshness is key. The two most asked questions we all ask in the kitchen are simple… “What’s for dinner?” and “Is this still good?”. Well, Liebherr is answering at least one of those questions! Since their refrigerators maintain freshness for longer than the average refrigerator, they offer guides and indicators. We love the BioFresh compartment that keeps food’s healthy vitamins, aroma, and appearance significantly longer than in a conventional fridge.

4. Freshness meets technology. One of our favorite features is their app. The app alone is a great indication of what their BioFresh technology can do for the life of your food. But, the app in and of itself is something that answers an ongoing question and makes the user experience simpler.

5. Design made easy. As interior designers, we’re always thinking about how products will work in our client’s space aesthetically… after all, it’s all about function AND form. Liebherr refrigerators can be stylishly integrated into cabinets and millwork. They’ve also created a freestanding that can be made to look like a built-in. But, one of the things we loved was their new wine refrigerator that was made as the same size as a microwave for easy replacement, as fresh foods are on the rise. Fun fact: you can talk to this wine refrigerator and tell it to ‘open’. Hello vino!

Liebherr is an outstanding brand that is always developing new and innovative solutions. Their products accommodate healthy driven lifestyles, always trying to boost freshness, enhance ease-of-use and save even more energy.

Gessi: The Ultimate Bathroom Experience

April 25, 2016Design Insiderdesignhounds, gessi, Milan, Milan International Design WeekBeth and Carolina

We recently attended the 2016 Milan International Design Week as Design Hounds! We are still awestruck by all the amazing things we saw and experienced. We got to scour amazing vendors for new products for our clients, get behind-the-scenes looks at some amazing hidden design gems, and connect with some amazing people in our industry. One of our biggest takeaways from Italy was getting to see the showroom of a long time Pulp favorite, Gessi. We love and use Gessi plumbing fixtures for our clients, but the chance to tour their showroom in the fashion district of Milan made us fall in love with these amazing products all over again.

What we love about Gessi, outside of their gorgeous products, is their values and mission so tightly align with Pulp’s firm approach and philosophy: That the everyday experience should be elevated to significance dedicated to wellbeing.

Gessi’s mission is to make everyday life more pleasant with objects of extraordinary beauty and functionality. Their style has revolutionized the perception of a faucet from a mere plumbing fitting to an object of art, aspiration, and decoration.

Gessi’s philosophy is to push the bathroom beyond its traditional function as a strictly utilitarian environment devoid of any aesthetic significance and, instead, transform it into a true private spa where one spends quality time dedicated to physical and mental wellbeing.

A PRIVATE TOUR OF GESSI

See snapshots from our incredible experience at their fashion forward showroom. Innovation, gorgeous forms, and tons of customizable finish options. Every designer’s dream. Gessi is truly a match made in heaven for our clients who want more than just a bathroom, but an elevated experience.

Enjoy our own personal tour of the Gessi showroom in Milano…

Featured image from Gessi

**Sponsored Post**

Pulp In Progress: Whole Home Renovation in Queen Anne

April 13, 2016Pulp Design Workpulp in progress, queen anne, seattleBeth and Carolina

As part of our Three Step Design Process, we are taking you on a tour through projects that are currently in progress. It will be a fun look into who we’re working with, what made them want to hire a designer, and how we are working with our clients to help solve some key design challenges that will improve their daily experience. Plus, you’ll get a glimpse at some of our designs before they’re completed!

Step 1: Consultation + Intake

Our busy clients found Pulp Design Studios through friends and neighbors in the highly sought after Queen Anne Neighborhood in Seattle. They called upon us in the midst of their large home renovation and wanted our guidance to fill in the blanks. After our interior design consultation where we offered some insightful suggestions, we quickly gained their trust and were brought on board to design their entire home. Our clients could see our creative vision for their home and knew the impact we could have on their space and on the important end-result.

Q. Who is the client and what is their scope of work?

Our clients are a busy family with two school-aged children and are both creative entrepreneurs in the Seattle-area. Our clients have hip and creative personalities and needed help translating that style into their home. They came to Pulp for help finalizing their renovation and we have now taken on the interior design of their home in phases, beginning with furnishing and continuing through next year into a dining room addition.

Q. Why did the client decide to hire an interior designer rather than taking the project on themselves?

Client, Mark + Rachel:

“We did much of an extensive cosmetic remodel ourselves; floors, paint, trim, fireplace.”

It was apparent to us that when we started lighting selection that we could really benefit by using an interior designer. From there, Pulp helped us with furnishings by merging our tastes and helping us feel more confident making the house more modern (rather than going for a traditional look, that wasn’t really us).

– Mark & Rachel, pulp client

Step 2: The Design Phase

Here’s where we took everything we learned from our clients at our consultation and intake process and put all that information and our creativity to work for our clients. We started really getting to know how our clients live and experience their home and how we could make it better, all while embodying and elevating their personal style. Then we started by gathering inspiration from our client in the form of a Pinterest board and began to collaborate between our Dallas and Seattle offices on the design.

Q. What is the inspiration behind the new design?

After digging deep into our client’s taste through our Splendid Living approach, we found that our clients are both passionate about fashion and have a great sense of style (which we can’t get enough of!). They love brands like Rag & Bone, Lanvin, and other strong, edgy labels that have an urban energy. Our job was to articulate their love for fashion and translate it into a chic luxe space that’s family-friendly and will stand the test of time.

Q. What was a unique design challenge and how is Pulp solving the problem?

The home was previously owned and built by a shipyard manager in the early 1900’s. We love a home with history and our clients wanted to honor the history, as well. Our challenge was to take some of those existing elements and incorporate them with a modern approach.

Q. What about the new design is the client most excited for?

Client, Mark + Rachel:

Easy. The lighting, but maybe it’s because it’s the only thing that’s been installed and it’s gorgeous! Seeing it all together will be exciting!

– Mark & Rachel, pulp client

Step 3: Execution + Installation

Status: In-progress! Our client’s renovation is almost complete, including the installation of all of our amazing light fixtures and wallcovering. Furniture & drapery are on order and many of the custom pieces we designed are currently being made, just for our client. We will share the process on @pulpdesigns Instagram as it’s available…

Splendid Living with Dallas Influencer Cynthia Smoot

April 4, 2016Entertaining + Home LivingBeth and Carolina

What is Splendid Living? For Pulp, Splendid Living goes beyond beautiful spaces and is about how you ‘do’ life in your home, making room for everyday indulgences. It’s about experiencing life, enjoying it, and having a beautiful home that is tailored towards enhancing your everyday life.

When we design spaces that are a thoughtful reflection of our clients, we have to start by getting to know them with our Splendid Living questionnaire. Our interior design firm’s Splendid Living approach offers completely personalized design that is built around how our clients answer many of our Splendid Living questions. We thought we’d ask some of our favorite people in style, fashion, and entertainment a version of the same questions we ask our clients when we begin a project… First up:

MEET CYNTHIA SMOOT

Cynthia is a socially savvy wife and mother, a Publicist for Gangway Advertising, and a Lifestyle Blogger at OhSoCynthia.com. And, for all of us Bravo junkies out there, she happens to be a major insider and have all the behind-the-scenes scoop on the new Real Housewives of Dallas! After being connected with Cynthia online, we first met Cynthia in person over five years ago at a Dallas event we threw. Her boundless energy and fearless approach to Dallas’ social culture has kept us watching her ever since.

Like most of our clients, Cynthia is on-the-go busy and but still relishes in life’s indulgences at home. We wanted to see how Cynthia lives splendidly…

Q. Tell us about your household?

A. I live with my husband, Randy, and 15-year old son, Jackson, and our dog, Tuco. The original 3/2 was built in 1954. Like most of the homes in Park Cities, it has been remodeled and added onto over the years. It is now a 4000 sq. ft. 5/5/3. As for the style??? It’s just a brick home. I don’t think it was patterned after any particular style other than All-American.

Q. What is your favorite room in your home, and why?

A. My bedroom is my favorite room because it’s the most relaxing. Between my job at Gangway, my blog and parenting a Sophomore who’s learning how to drive, my days are stressful and BUSY. In my bedroom, the walls are painted a deep ocean blue so it’s very serene and calm. I have a beautiful sleigh bed that I love to climb into, read magazines and just disconnect.

Q. What is your favorite project by Pulp Design Studios? And, why?

A. I’m going with ‘Relaxed Luxury‘. I had an interior designer tell me once that you should “refresh” your house at least every ten years: new bathroom fixtures… new paint… And now that I am approaching the big 5-0, I get it. I’m not the same person I was when I got married at 30. My taste in decor has changed. What I am drawn to in a color palette has changed. And, obviously, styles have changed. In my 20s and 30s I was all about accumulating and acquiring stuff. Now, I am divesting myself of “stuff” as much as possible. In 2 years I will be an empty-nester. My husband and I plan to sell our current home and downsize. It will be a new beginning and…

I am drawn to your “Relaxed Luxury” project because this is where I am in my life. I want elegant simplicity. Less is more and I can’t wait to simplify my life!

[‘Relaxed Luxury‘ powder bath by Pulp Design Studios]

Q. What was the last time you entertained?

A. All of my family lives out of town and we weren’t able to connect this year for the holidays. On Christmas Eve I had two of my best girlfriends over and their husbands.I always say “There’s the family you are born with and then there’s the family you choose – that’s Framily”. So, I had my family over for a tamale dinner, lots of cocktails and Christmas Eve merriment. When I entertain, I don’t spend hours in the kitchen stressing out over the meal. There are too many great chefs in Dallas for that! I purchased amazing Beef Tenderloin Tamales from The Tamale Company, made guacamole, queso and a pitcher of margaritas and we just enjoyed everyone’s company.

Q. Before company arrives, what items do you hide?

A. All of my son’s lacrosse gear that is usually strewn all over my living room and dog toys so my guests don’t trip over them.

Q. What’s your favorite thing to cook at home?

A. I am the casserole queen. I have not mastered the ability to cook 3 or 4 different things and have them all come out of the oven at the same time, so I stick to a casserole and a salad! My favorites is a King Ranch Chicken Casserole recipe I got from my Mother.

20130222-241677-king-ranch-chicken-casserole-edit

Q. What are your favorite indulgences around the home?

A. Fresh flowers are my favorite indulgence.Even if you just pick up a bunch at the grocery store they brighten any room. My favorites are day lilies because they smell so amazing.

Q. What’s one thing you can’t live without in your home?

A. My television. I am completely addicted to HGTV and Bravo. Home decorating/repair shows and the Housewives are my guilty pleasure.

Q. What’s on your bedside table?

Magazines. Lots and lots of magazines. Vanity Fair is my favorite national magazine. And I subscribe to all of the local publications. It is my job to keep up with the local press, but I also love the act of flipping through the pages and appreciating the photography and stories. Print is NOT dead!

Q. What’s the most important thing you do to get a good night’s rest?

A. My absolute favorite time of day is the moment that I crawl in bed each night. The minute I lay my head down, I literally feel the stress of the day leave my body and I can RELAX. I have always been a good sleeper. Within 5 minutes of my head hitting the pillow, I am out for the night.

Q. What is your ideal Saturday morning at home?

A. I love to sleep in. Which to me, means waking up naturally, without an alarm clock. I love to wake up and just lay there for a few minutes, relishing that the fact that it’s Saturday and I don’t HAVE to get up if I don’t want to.

Brunch is my favorite meal of the day because not only do I love all brunch foods but I love to day drink, so to indulge in Eggs Benedict and a Blood Mary over a leisurely meal is heaven.

Q. Fill in the blank: The first thing I do when I get home in the evening is _______________.

A. Take off all my makeup and bra and put on my PJs and my comfy robe and slippers. I seriously live in my PJs.

Q. What is your favorite color or color combination?

A. Currently, I am loving neutral tones accented with pops of color. I love the sophistication of whites and grays with pops of color using peacock blues and tangerine.

[a Pulp Design Studios’ interior design scheme for a client]

Q. What are your go-to sources for home inspiration?

A. HGTV shows. They are always surprising me with unique ways to utilize space and add fun touches.

Q. What are your favorite fashion influences?

At this age, I find myself not so much “influenced” by trends or styles. I know my body and the styles that look good on it.

A. For example, I am short-waisted, so if high-waisted trousers are the in thing, you will not catch me dead in those because the waistband would literally be at my bra. I’m all bout fit and form. I like to hunt small, locally owned boutiques as much as possible as opposed to hitting the mall department stores. I like to support small business and I want to find lines no one else carries! My favorite Dallas shops are Elements, Lion & Witch, Accessory Concierge, Rio Ritz, Milk & Honey and Vintage Martini. For evening wear, my go to is Dallas fashion designer, Ese Azenabor. Her couture pieces are jaw-dropping and she always lands me in the society pages!

Q. What is your favorite way to spend your leisure time at home?

A. I’ve already said it above, but my favorite thing to do is to grab a glass of wine and unwind in front of the television watching the Real Housewives, or Fixer Upper on HGTV. Coming April 11th, I will be watching my friends on the Real Housewives of Dallas! Although I’m not sure that watching them will be relaxing, since I will be live-tweeting all of the episodes! LOL. Join me on Twitter to dish the dirt and get behind-the-scenes scoop at @OhSoCynthia!

Q. If you could change one thing about your home, what would it be and why?

A. Because our house was built in 1954, it is rather choppy. Although it’s been improved over the years, it’s still not as open a floorplan as I’d prefer. My son graduates high school in 2 years and we plan to downsize. I told my husband to start mentally preparing himself because I will be having an Estate Sale to divest myself of literally everything. I can’t wait to start all over with a brand new house and brand new furniture!! You know men hate change, so it will be his worst nightmare and my ultimate fantasy!

_____

Thank you so much, Cynthia, for sharing with us how you live splendidly!

_____

images: Cynthia Smoot photo by Thomas Garza, tamales via Abeline Scene, king ranch casserole via Serious Eats, fresh flowers via The Sparkle Blog, magazines via Garance Dore

WATCH: Home Tour of Pulp’s First Project

March 15, 2016Pulp Design WorkBeth and Carolina

It was 9 years ago that we decided to start an interior design company while working at another large commercial firm together. We just had a vision. We started designing furniture and taking residential jobs on nights and weekends… And, thanks to our amazing clients (some of which we’re still working with today on new projects), it was 5 years ago that those projects called us to take the plunge into a full-blown firm. We thought we’d celebrate by taking you on a tour of our first project as a firm! See Relaxed Luxury, a Pulp favorite that’s still trending and current today!

Watch our video tour of the original Pulp project…

Happy Birthday, Pulp!

We can’t wait to see where this next year takes us!

Pulp In Progress: A Lakewood Mexican Mid-Century Update

March 7, 2016Pulp Design Workchildren, Dallas, family, in progress, lakewood, mexican, midcentury, midcentury modern, pulp in progressBeth and Carolina

Step 1: Consultation + Intake

Our busy Dallas clients reached out to Pulp Design Studios after reading about us in a magazine. A couple years prior they had completed a nearly total home renovation on their mid-century modern home. They were at the point where they needed some professional direction to finish their renovation and make their home feel more cohesive and personalized.

Q. Who is the client and what is their scope of work?

Our clients are a busy family with three children wanting to maximize the space they currently have for their growing family. They love their home but wanted a complete and cohesive look. They brought on our design team to help with some key renovation items and furnishing throughout to help their space flow, add functionality, and create a cohesive story that matches their eclectic tastes.

Q. Why did the client decide to hire an interior designer rather than taking the project on themselves?

Client, Regan + Josh:

“We were fortunate to acquire a unique home built in 1959 from its original owner. The house was a time capsule that had been styled, furnished, and maintained in its original mid-century modern / mexican design for over 50 years. We wanted desperately to keep the original theme and feel of the house intact while updating the space and personalizing it with our own belongings.”

“After 2 years of tackling this project on our own, we realized we needed professional guidance to achieve the overall look and feel we’ve been wanting. Not to mention, with three little kids demanding most of our free time, we just didn’t have the time or energy to get this project completed on our own anytime soon.”

– regan & josh

Step 2: The Design Phase

Q. What is the inspiration behind the new design?

The home’s architecture itself is a huge inspiration for the design and it’s all about bringing this home into today. The house was originally built in 1959 with some amazing unique features, which the clients wanted to keep and we wanted to design around. We wanted those original architectural elements enhanced and to create an updated stylish and functional flow throughout the entire home. It will have an incredibly modern and eclectic feel that’s a pure reflection of our homeowner’s unique style.

Q. What was a unique design challenge and how is Pulp solving the problem?

The client was attached to several items existing from the original design of the home because they had a meaning to the original architecture. One of those items was the unique wall covering, which covered the Powder Bath door. But, it really needed a update! We were able to compromise by moving forward with new wall covering. We kept the door and are using it in a creative way by turning it into a unique piece of artwork. Everyone wins!

Q. What about the new design is the client most excited for?

Client, Regan + Josh:

“We are most looking forward to a unified design approach to our crazy and eclectic home. So far, we’ve had one room wallpapered, and based on those results, we are beyond ecstatic for the rest of the design to get installed. Pulp understands the look we are trying to achieve, and we’re just so excited to see the final outcome!”

– regan & josh

Step 3: Execution + Installation

Status: In-progess! All the approved furnishing items are arriving and almost ready for installation, some of the wall covering has been installed, and we are moving forward on the renovation portions of some of the final spaces in the home. We will share the process on @pulpdesigns instagram as it’s available…

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