We’re back with new guest tastemakers for some quick-fire questions and a mini-curation of some fab Chairish finds!
This week, we are joined by the pair behind Pulp Design Studios. Since 2007, Beth Dotolo and Carolina V Gentry have established studios in Seattle, Dallas, and Los Angeles, where they bring to life their joint visions of spaces filled with unexpected details and a sense of adventure, that really live up to the irreverent name of their firm. Take for instance their upcoming projects, including a home movie theater lined with customized popcorn patterned wallpaper by Abnormals Anonymous, and a mountain home that features a cantilevered glass room that overlooks a flood plain.
Read on to find out how they’re taking charge of their wellness in quarantine, and the secret behind their design synergy.
What’s helping you get through quarantine? What are you excited to do once it ends?
Beth: My Peloton is helping me get through quarantine for starters! I love all the amazing trainers, and it’s helped me stay active. Once the pandemic is over, I want to travel! Travel is a huge part of our design aesthetic – we love to be inspired by the cities and countries that we visit. I miss it so much!
Carolina: I’ve always been focused on healthy eating, and even more so during the pandemic. It’s made me think a lot about how we cook and what we eat. And once we’re able to get out and about again, I definitely want to travel. Plus I want to see all of our Pulp team together again – it’s been too long!
What kind of design additions or changes have you made to your home since quarantine began?
Beth: I took an awkward room in our basement and converted it into a home office and personal sanctuary. It has a moody vibe to it with a warm wine color and oversized art by my husband, photographer Kevin Dotolo. We also got an outdoor pizza oven, which has been a lifesaver and fun distraction as we have two young boys who have been doing their schoolwork at home all this time.
Carolina: We finally finished our outdoor living spaces, which are coming in handy now that the weather is warming up. And we added a bit more to the dining room’s design. Our home is an oasis for us, and we’re thrilled to have the finishing touches completed!
What is the coolest vintage piece in your house?
Beth: I have a vintage leather ottoman that my mother brought back from a trip to Morocco. It has the most amazing patina, and it means a lot since it was my mom’s.
Carolina: I have a pair of vintage Moroccan camel saddles that have been made into stools. They are carved out of rosewood and are so very cool. They have a camel carved into what would have been the pommel. They’re just so unique and quite the conversation starter.
What sparked your passion for design?
Beth: For me, it was first a love of art in general, which grew into a passion for home design. There are so many similar concepts between the two, like symmetry, harmony, balance, and color. It was a natural progression.
Carolina: My mother is from Mexico, so I have been surrounded by pops of color and pattern in textiles and pottery from an early age. That was a huge influence for me and inspired my love of interior design.
What is the secret behind your creative synergy? What unique aspects to the design process does each person bring to the table when you are collaborating on a space?
Beth: I think the secret to our success is that we balance and challenge each other. Carolina has a lot of energy, which is completely contagious. She’s inspired me to bring in more global influences and a warmer style.
Carolina: I agree. It’s like we’re the yin to the other person’s yang. Beth’s style is all about mixing patterns and going for modern or graphic looks. It works because we push each other to mix things up and expand boundaries.
