All posts by Beth and Carolina

steam in the home, steam bathing, luxury steam shower, interior design, the benefits of steam shower

The Benefits of Steam in the Home

Using steam in our homes has been an age old function, but recently it has skyrocketed as an essential addition to luxury kitchens and baths. Steam showers and steam cooking are adding value to the home and becoming that quintessential luxury items that no high-end home should be without.

Aside from the growing popularity of Steam, we love incorporating steam in our client’s homes for more functional purposes: Because steam has an incredible benefit for your overall health and well-being.

Now, let’s explore how we’re using steam in the home…

Steam Bathing

Mr. Steam

Steam bathing may be viewed as just an additional luxury to your home, but in today’s generation is a lot more than just luxury.  Steam bathing brings numerous health benefits and adding it into our homes is now easier than ever.

The list of steam bathing benefits is more than 40 long, but here are some of the key benefits to using a steam shower and adding it to your home:

  • Respiratory Health
  • Enhanced Skin Care & Hydration
  • Detoxification
  • Pain Relief & Increased Circulation
  • Mental Well-Being & Better Sleep
  • Boosts Metabolism & Calorie Burn
  • Physical & Muscular Wellness
  • Inexpensive to Operate & Energy Saving
  • Increased Home Equity

So, basically…. Why wouldn’t you have a steam shower?

Mr. Steam makes it easy to add steam into your shower with as little as a 3′ x 3′ 7′ steam shower (and, of course, larger)! We have used Mr Steam in a couple client homes- But, one of the things we were so thrilled to hear is that existing showers can be converted for steam without the need of a separate room or area. (Pssst- for our previous clients who did not use steam- let’s talk!)

How does it all work?

  • A steam generator, typically no bigger than a briefcase, heats the water.
  • Steam, heated to 110 relaxing degrees, enters the shower enclosure through steam heads.
  • You sit in total comfort, taking in the steam for 10 to 20 soothing minutes, followed by a refreshing shower.
  • Now wrap yourself in the comfort of a fluffy towel heated by a towel warmer to complete the total spa experience.

We are absolutely enamored by the steam shower experience. Every home should make use of steam in the shower, because what may feel like a luxury is really what will improve our overall health, well-being, and daily outlook.

Steam Cooking

Thermador Kitchen, steam ovens, the best steam oven, kitchen renovation

People have been steam cooking for ages! But, this age-old cooking method is becoming a key component in kitchen cooking through steam ovens. We have used Thermador steam ovens in our client homes and, as culinary enthusiasts, wanted to share why we love steam cooking, especially combined with convection cooking…

  • Steam and convection ovens provide unrivaled taste, texture and quality.
  • Food tastes better and loses fewer vitamins and minerals when cooked with steam
  • Steam lets you reheat without losing any moisture, texture or flavor
  • The Steam & Convection Oven features Thermador’s True Convection baffle system that directs heat to cook foods faster and more evenly than other convection systems.
  • When combined with convection, food is crisp on the outside and moist on the inside.
  • With Thermador, no pre-plumbing is required.

One of the things we especially loved about Thermador was that they are now making ovens that can fit a full catering tray, along with incorporating a steam oven. So, since most of our clients love to entertain, that’s a key feature that no other brand has.

Whether it be in your kitchen or in your bath, the benefits of steam are numerous and contribute to your health and overall well-being. Sometimes luxury takes you back to the basics… And, how simple is the concept of steam? It doesn’t get simpler and more luxurious than that.

Pulp Sourcebook: Contemporary Warmth Office

Interior Design by Pulp Design Studios

 As featured in the current issue of D Home, our busy lawyer couple, with three children, purchased a home that was modern on the outside, but dated on the inside. They called on Pulp Design Studios to make their dreams a reality. For this stunning office space they ensued a down to the studs renovation, moved walls and even moved the stairs, resulting in a dramatic result. Beth and Carolina layered in warmth and style throughout creating an edgy office space that exudes inspiration and creativity.

GET THE LOOK:

1. Hourglass – White Sand | 2. Document Box | 3. Jagger Small Box | 4. Helmut Newton – World Without Men | 5. Rothko | 6. Cigar Style | 7. Diana Authentic Horns, Set of 2 | 8. Casper Aluminum Skull | 9. Black Chester Box | 10. Zebra Print Hide Rug | 11. Dru Small Sculpture | 12. Horn Asian Brush | 13. Agate Bookends Medium

Whether you just love what we do and want to create it for yourself or you have a space that you’d love to get the ‘Pulp Treatment’, we hope that this series inspires you to live more beautifully.  And if you’d like to hire us (And, really…you should hire us!  wink. wink.) get in touch and tell us about your project!

Note: Color is in essence, reflections of light and one’s surroundings.  As a result, the color you see in our client’s space would certainly translate differently into your own.  If you are not working with a designer, play with paint samples on various walls in your own space to see if you get the effect you want.  We would also be glad to provide you with a consultation if that would be valuable.  We want your space to reflect its own beauty and your style.

DXV Design Panel 2016

We are SO thrilled to announce that Pulp Design Studios has been selected to represent DXV American Standard in the DXV Design Panel 2016, among with other talented designers and friends: Richard Anuszkiewicz of Richard Living, Susan Jamieson of Bridget Beari Designs, and Genevieve Ghaleb of XY Contemporary.

We will be designing an amazing bathroom for their Fall 2016 national ad campaign! This is an amazing opportunity for our firm. We are a huge fan of DXV products and couldn’t be more proud to align our firm with such an incredible brand.

Follow along using the hashtags: #DXVDesignPanel #DXVTopSecret to get all the details and see all the amazing designs as we can share them…

See some of the gorgeous designs from Design Panels’s past: DXV Design Panel.

Behind-the-Scenes: Blog Tour KBIS in Las Vegas

We were recently asked to attend KBIS with the Modenus Blog Tour! It was a truly amazing experience, where we got to connect with some amazing vendors, get behind-the-scenes looks at some amazing design, and connect with some amazing women in our industry. Here’s a day-by-day look at what we did…

DAY 1

We arrived and scoped out our hotel and room before heading out to meet the whole crew… We had some amazing views from our room in The Cosmopolitan. As designers, we reveled in all the design details, and of course critiqued what we would have done differently from a functional standpoint.

2016 Blog Tour - KBIS - Las Vegas

2016 Blog Tour - KBIS - Las Vegas

DAY 2

After a delicious brunch with all the ladies (hello, mimosas), we headed to the Wynn Hotel for an amazing tour of the hotel, spearheaded by Vegas native Jackie Von Tobel. We had been to the Wynn before during our days in hospitality and commercial design, but it was an incredible insiders view into a truly stunningly designed space. Every single detail is thought through…

2016 Blog Tour - KBIS - Las Vegas

2016 Blog Tour - KBIS - Las Vegas

2016 Blog Tour - KBIS - Las Vegas

2016 Blog Tour - KBIS - Las Vegas

2016 Blog Tour - KBIS - Las Vegas

XS Nightclub Vegas Wynn

XS Nightclub Bathroom

After the tour at the Wynn, we departed to get to see a couple of show houses in Henderson. One was a pair of great responsive smart homes designed by Bobby Berk and the second was the New American Home, with appliances by Thermador. Take a look at a few of the shots from around the show houses:

DAY 3

We headed for KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, where we would be for the next two days…

Beth and Carolina Pulp at KBIS

The day started with a look at Mohawk & Karastan where we learned about their incredible hard surfaces. We all took a test where we had to identify their performance products as compared to other high-end flooring, and it was tough! We’re looking forward to exploring their flooring more (and sharing with you), but first- we had to pose with a Karastan carpet that we recently specified for a project!

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Then we were taken through a tour of the Thermador line. We have specified Thermador for our projects plenty. But, to get a walk through of all of their products and innovations, we realized that Thermador really does set the bar for kitchen appliances. Perhaps the thing we loved most about Thermador, aside from their lifestyle-driven design, is their customization! Look at these ‘food preservation center’ door fronts below! And, it didn’t hurt that they wined and dined us.

thermador at kbis

To end the day, we were whisked away in a party bus back to the Wynn for a private dinner at the SW Steakhouse, hosted by TOTO with Courtney Novogratz. As if we didnt already love TOTO enough, we were treated like royalty! We’ve got lots more to share on them later- specifically about their self-cleaning toilet (Yes, you heard right).

Beth and Carolina Blog Tour KBIS

BlogTourKBIS group at Wynn 2016

TOTO Dinner at SW Steakhouse Private Room

Beth and Carolina Pulp Vegas

DAY 5

On our last day together, we headed back to KBIS… Our first stop was to visit the DXV Booth to check out their amazing products in anticipation of our partnership with them for the DXV Design Panel 2016 (more on this in the coming months)!

Beth Dotolo Carolina Gentry DXV Design Panel 2016

We stopped by the booths for an insider’s look at some of our Blog Tour sponsors

First stop, was Blanco! We were blown away by the new IKON sink. The black (and virtually indestructible) apron front sink was utterly stunning and completely on trend, while still timeless.

Blanco KBIS IKON Sink

We then took at look at Top Knobs. We loved some of their super affordable and incredibly stylish hardware pieces, many of which we snapped shots of instantly for projects. But, I think what we were most excited to see was some of their interior cabinet components!

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Top Knobs Cabinet Organization

Wilsonart surprised us! We’ve been using laminate for years on commercial projects, but they are truly reinventing the way people look at surfaces. Some of the installations were really incredible, and we’re looking forward to using them more on our projects.

Wilsonart KBIS

Beth Carolina Pulp Wilsonart KBIS

After our amazing dinner the night before, hosted by TOTO (with lots of potty talk!), it was time to stop by their booth for an official look at the amazing self-cleaning toilet… It’s truly an incredible piece of technology that you can really invest it. You use it everyday, so why not make sure it’s top of the line? Take a look at the Neorest… We’re officially obsessed.

TOTO toilet as featured on Kardashians

TOTO plumbing at KBIS

Last stop on the KBIS floor was Woodmode. We loved learning more about their cabinetry. It’s completely made to order and completely customizable. Their finishes and interiors were absolutely stunning, but most importantly for our clients is the ability to specify sizes, heights, and unique storage components- like a cigar humidor!

Woodmode KBIS

Woodmode KBIS

Woodmode KBIS

To end the experience, our whole group was treated to a steam experience at the spa by Mr Steam. After learning more about the benefits of steam, we are going to start pushing for all of our clients to incorporate a Mr Steam product in their bathroom design. We will share lots more on this in the coming weeks, since we’re incredibly passionate about health & wellness.

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But, out of our entire experience, the thing that enriched us the most were the relationships we made. They say it’s hard to make friends as adults, but we left Vegas with 25+ incredible new friends (and, designers, at that). Each and every one of them was incredible, with a personal journey of their own… It left us fulfilled and curious. You see a photo and bio of someone and think you know what you’re getting into. Sometimes it’s nothing like what you expect and sometimes it’s exactly what you’d expect but with so many more layers.

We left this trip transformed- we cried for our new friends, laughed with them (hysterically), and learned so so much about so many great new design trends and products. Modenus has created something truly special with this experience and we can’t wait to share everything we learned with you.

If you haven’t heard of the sponsors from Blog Tour, we will be sharing lots more in the coming weeks. We are not obligated to share, we’re just passionate about what we learned!

And, please, follow each and every one of our Blog Tour partners in crime– they are all amazing in their own rights. Especially, Veronika and Flo, with Modenus.

Thanks for joining us on this amazing adventure…

Pulp Sourcebook: Dallas Highrise Living Room

Interior Design by Pulp Design Studios

This Dallas high-rise project presented a unique challenge for Pulp Design Studios. Working around standard builder finishes and a specified budget, Pulp incorporated vintage finds, rustic wooden and modern accents, and pops of color to personalize the space.  Shop the style that Beth and Carolina were tasked with to keep the budget in-check and create a collected look in this Dallas high-rise.

Sourcebook - Dallas Highrise

GET THE LOOK:

1. Citron Scales Embroidered Pillow | 2. Eggplant Cotton Velvet Pillow | 3. Orsino Vase | 4. Natural Horn Bowl | 5. In the Spirit of St. Barth’s | 6. Big Book of the Hamptons | 7. Sol Mirror | 8. Limed Wash Stool | 9. Showstopper Lamp  | 10. Large Gabrielle Vase | 11. Gray Chevron Rug

Whether you just love what we do and want to create it for yourself or you have a space that you’d love to get the ‘Pulp Treatment’, we hope that this series inspires you to live more beautifully.  And if you’d like to hire us (And, really…you should hire us!  wink. wink.) get in touch and tell us about your project!

Note: Color is in essence, reflections of light and one’s surroundings.  As a result, the color you see in our client’s space would certainly translate differently into your own.  If you are not working with a designer, play with paint samples on various walls in your own space to see if you get the effect you want.  We would also be glad to provide you with a consultation if that would be valuable.  We want your space to reflect its own beauty and your style.

Pulp In Progress: A Seattle-Area Kitchen Renovation

As part of our Three Step Design Process, we thought we’d start 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 to improve our client’s daily experience. Plus, you’ll get a glimpse at some of our designs before they’re completed!

Step 1: Consultation + Intake

Ashley, along with her husband Joe, found us through social media and discovered she actually worked with Beth’s husband. After filling out our online intake form, we learned a ton about our new clients and booked a consultation to see what their space looked like.

exisitng kitchen 3 existing kitchen 1 existing kitchen 2

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

Our clients are 30-something professionals in the Seattle-area who purchased their first home together. As avid cooks, frequent entertainers, and wine aficionados, this couple was ready to make their house, with standard builder finishes and unfurnished rooms, their own!  They wanted something fresh and happy that was an expression of them and their style, and the new home they purchased just wasn’t that. It was time to invest in better appliances and finishes for a lifestyle return on investment. They came to Pulp to take on the interior design of their whole home in phases, beginning with a complete Kitchen renovation and overhaul!

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

Client, Ashley + Joe:

“We knew we could put together something that would work for the kitchen, but, I know we would have played it safe and ended up with something resembling all the other kitchens on Pinterest.”

“We wanted something original, authentic, and reflective of our personal taste.  This room is the center of our house and our daily activities, we both love to cook and entertain so it also came down to wanting to love spending time in this room whether it’s just us making dinner on a Tuesday or we have a house full of people for dinner and, inevitably, we’re all having a glass of wine, hanging out in the kitchen before dinner.”

Step 2: The Design Phase

Here’s where we took everything we learned from our clients at our consultation and through our Splendid Living intake process and put all that information and our creativity to work for our clients. We started by gathering inspiration from our client in the form of a Pinterest board and other collections of images and began to collaborate between our offices on the design.

Q. What is the inspiration behind the new design?

Since our clients really disliked all the orange-toned wood, they wanted their kitchen to be bright, fresh, and modern without being overly fussy. We decided to go high contrast with lots of whites and creams. And, since they spend the most time in this space, we’re giving it a Living Room feel with lots of great art, amazing lighting, furnishings, and textiles. Rich and saturated pops of color with contrast off the neutral finishes.

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

A unique request our client had was that they wanted zero upper cabinets. It is quite possibly the first time we had a client tell us they have too much storage! But, we had to devise creative ways to treat the walls that would be functional and not break the bank filling the walls with hard surfaces. The look will be really incredible and feel soothing and open!

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

Client, Ashley + Joe:

I know Joe would say the wine fridge, for me it’s not something tangible. I can’t wait to walk in and see this beautiful finished space. We’ve lived in the house for a year and I would say this is the first room that will feel done. Ironically, it’s also the beginning of our work with Pulp to get the rest of the house feeling like our home.”  

“The finishes, art, and lighting that the Pulp team picked for us are things we never would have come across but really love!”

Step 3: Execution + Installation

Status: In-progess! Demo starts this week and all the approved items are on order and in transit! We will share the process on @pulpdesigns instagram as it’s available…

Kitchen & Bath Trend Hunting at KBIS

We are over the moon excited to be attending KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, next week! We’ve been asked to attend with Modenus as part of their Blog Tour, where a team 24 influencers in the home design industry (that includes us!) tour the latest and greatest innovations in Kitchen and Bath. For us, we’re incredibly excited to stay up to date on the latest innovations and products for our Pulp Design Studios clients. We’re ready to be wowed with jaw-dropping installations and products!

When renovating or building a new home, Kitchen and Bath are typically the two largest investments in your home. They are also the two spaces that can possibly affect the way you live and function in your home. It’s so important that they’re designed well, for daily use and to stand the test of time. Take a look at some of Pulp’s recent Kitchen and Bath designs to inspire you…

Pulp-Design-Studios-Master-Bath-Detail Pulp-Design-Studios-Master-Bath2 Pulp-Design-Studios-Kitchen2 Pulp-Design-Studios-Kitchen21 Pulp-Design-Studios-Bar1

We are over the moon excited to see what the Blog Tour sponsors have up their sleeves in new innovations and we’re crazy excited that we have used most of these sponsors in our designs throughout our careers: KBISThermadorBlancoTop KnobsTOTOWoodModeWilsonartKarastan, and Mr Steam.

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Get ready for lots of fun @pulpdesigns instagram posts, where we’ll share updates in real time. Be sure to follow us, interact, and ask questions! You can also follow along on social media by using hashtag #BlogTourKBIS!

Home Tour: Jewel Box Townhome

Not too long ago we completed a great project in West Seattle! This project was featured in Domino and the Today Show!  We wanted to take you on our own little tour of this project and share some of the background and the project challenges…

Q. Who is our client and how did they find us?

A. Our clients, a busy working couple, had recently purchased a townhouse in West Seattle. They moved from Dallas to Seattle, and being from Dallas they knew Pulp well and wanted the opportunity to work with us. One of our homeowners is actually a writer for many magazines specializing in home and garden, so she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to design!

They wanted a new look that reflected their personal style and they were finally ready to invest in themselves to create a space they could be proud of and show off to their friends.

house tour: #westseattletownhome

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 refresh the Living Room, Dining Room, and Powder Bath- with a plan for renovating the kitchen at a later date. They are an incredibly stylish couple and knew they wanted something high on style, but didn’t know how to pull it together on their own. They also needed help articulating their style, in how personal style translates to the home. This project in particular was fun for us because we were given full control to create a concept that was within budget, but had a dynamic yet livable feel.

house tour: #westseattletownhome

We took a high/low approach and splurged on some key pieces (like the bone inlay coffee table) and then scaled back with artwork that was created using feathers and ikea frames to fill up a double-volume wall.

house tour: #westseattletownhome

house tour: #westseattletownhome

Q. What was the biggest project challenge?

A. Our clients were not ready to remodel, so we found ways to cosmetically enhance this space without involving construction. There were minimal changes requiring an outside contractor that made a huge impact: The dining room chandelier, the powder bath wall covering, and relocating the television and moving cords to make for a more welcoming space.

house tour: #westseattletownhomehouse tour: #westseattletownhomeQ. What was the most dramatic transformation?

A. You must take a look at the before and after photos of this space. The overall feel of the space is truly the most dramatic transformation. It went from a cookie cutter townhouse with items from big-box retailers, to a fashion forward dynamic space that our clients felt proud of to entertain in. It feels like so much more of a reflection of this hip couple than their space did before.

house tour: #westseattletownhome

Q. Carolina, what is your favorite part of this space?

A. Even though our clients allowed us full control, they gave us a ton of push back on the teak hand chair! They thought it might be too odd and out of their comfort zone when we shared it with them in their design presentation. After a little convincing and a few private conversations between the two of them, they decided to let us go for it! In a conversation between the two of them they said:

“We’ve chosen to hire an interior designer, so why wouldn’t we trust them push us outside of our comfort zone?”

That chair is now their absolute favorite piece and mine, too! They love it and all their friends are wowed by it. That little design victory is one of our favorite memories from this project.

house tour: #westseattletownhome

Q. Beth, what is your favorite part of this space?

A. It’s really hard to choose just one part, but as a whole I’m proud that our client chose to trust our creative vision and that we created a really dynamic space from furniture to the finishing touches of art and accessories within budget.  This is what we do for our clients each day and we love seeing our vision come to completion. Even though our client had a budget, we understood that it was an serious investment for them and we are so proud that our client feels that it has paid off. It’s truly a lifestyle ROI.

Our client said that their favorite part of the finished product was the feeling they get when they see it each day. She told me that it makes her happy to walk into her space each day and that she and her husband just sit together with a cocktail in the evening and talk about how much they love their Living Room.

house tour: #westseattletownhome

As designers, creating that emotional impact that improves how people feel in their spaces is what is so important to us.

house tour: #westseattletownhome

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

Jewel-Box Townhouse | graphic style with an edge 

Enjoy exploring!

Spellbound – a Guildery Collection Styled by Pulp Design Studios

Pulp Design Studios was asked to style a collection by Guildery, a company that produces made-to-order products. Beth and Carolina curated a decorative fabric collection to have a look already styled for shoppers. For their Styled-By they chose an eclectic blend of three fabrics that express a bold, distinctive style.

Like art, pattern is subjective and it takes a trained eye to achieve those interesting balances that reflect the homeowner. We chose this combination because we love to have an eclectic blend in our projects that screams individuality. Unexpected pattern matches, like the Splotch pattern combined with the more geometric Fret Sketch, creates a balance that is warm and filled with personality. – Pulp Design Studios

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Shop the entire collection here!

 

 

Before & After: An Unbelievable Master Suite Makeover

Before & After: An Unbelievable Master Suite Makeover

We are fortunate enough to work with some pretty amazing clients. The clients from our latest interior project recently reminded us of what their Master Suite looked like before…

Even after we’ve been designing for as long as we have, these before and after photos are jaw-dropping. It is an amazing reminder of the transformations we’re helping to create.

Before we got our hands on the now Master Suite, it was a Mother-In-Law’s Suite with an exterior entrance on the side of the house. We worked with our team of architects and contractors to flip the entire second floor to meet our families needs. The Master Bedroom was on the other side of the home and there weren’t enough bedrooms to fit their family. First of all, they needed 3 bedrooms for the kids, including a craft room (hear more about that on our client’s video). And, they also needed a Master Bedroom, with Master Bathroom & Closet, Laundry Room, and Playroom. Not a small feat.

Before & After: An Unbelievable Master Suite Makeover

Here’s what you’re looking at in the Before photo: The exterior door is now the home of ‘his’ closet. The window above the sink is now home to the water closet. And, hopeful little bathroom is now home to the amazing bathroom you see below.

Before & After: An Unbelievable Master Suite MakeoverBefore & After: An Unbelievable Master Suite MakeoverBefore & After: An Unbelievable Master Suite Makeover

Even though the countertop and sink are in completely different places than before, let’s take a minute to see how the daily experience changes with this stunning makeover…

Before & After: An Unbelievable Master Suite MakeoverBefore & After: An Unbelievable Master Suite Makeover

Worth the investment? Our clients think so. And, so do we!