This Historic 1913 Laurelhurst Tudor perched on the shores of Lake Washington, was taken under wing by Beth Dotolo of Seattle’s Pulp Design Studios and transformed by replacing a recent hyper-trendy makeover with a more artful aesthetic. The previous owners had wisely updated the kitchen with modern-day amenities, but their choice of a Legacy Grand design overflowing with glitzy gold and crazy pattern on patterns throughout did not suit her clients’ taste.
Dotolo calls the work she and her team did “a micro renovation,” which focused on blending the home’s existing Tudor bones, including its handsome stained-glass windows and original fireplace surround, with the clients’ modern art collection and Pulp Design’s fashion-forward furnishings. After visiting the homeowners’ former home where their significant modern art collection was set against a warm palette featuring subdued greens, oranges and lavenders, it confirmed her choice to accentuate the classic Tudor with a more art-driven update. “As a textile driven design firm,” says Dotolo, “we designed the home around textiles that were more artistic in nature with a color palette that amped up the typical Northwest home.”
Making use of her clients’ favorite furnishings, including a prized apothecary chest, as well as an exquisite Eames chair - along with their remarkable collection of art – gave these recent empty nesters a familiar, yet delightful transition into their freshly redesigned historic home. From the moment you enter the historic Tudor, you are greeted with the juxtaposition of old and new. Whether it’s the original arched oak door crowned with a tiered glass chandelier, or the stark modern art grounded by a wrought iron bench trimmed in a deep velvet that echoes the original marble floors, the contrast is instantly achieved. “We placed the painting before we collected the textile for the bench,” recalls Dotolo, who adds that she selected a fabric that plays off the art, rather than taking away from it.
An exquisitely embroidered fabric chosen to trim a pair of sofas used to anchor the so-called “cocktail meeting room,” features all the colors found in the home’s new palette. Like a magnet, the embroidered art deco style fabric draws visitors into the room, where the sofas’ lush, durable performance ruby-red velvet cushions ensure a care-free entertaining experience. A pair of neutral-colored chairs can swivel to allow enjoyment of the stunning lake views as seen across a gold tête-à-tête chaise lounge. “We wanted to create a furniture layout in a more intimate setting within a room that is also the center point of the home which connects to all the other rooms,” says Dotolo, who adds: “A pair of moveable chocolatey gray stools, upholstered with one of our studio’s line of textiles, make the room feel more approachable and less formal.” Watching over it all is the homeowners’ very airy artwork by Alden Mason, a perfect conversation piece.
Sharing the stellar lake view is the more intimate den which is located immediately adjacent to the cocktail meeting room. As a place for the homeowners to unplug and recharge, it features the family’s Eames chair and ottoman alongside their collection of guitars on one side and a plush gray velvet Highland House sectional on the other. The latter’s soothing fabric choice echoes the adjacent Emmi Whitehorse artwork that exudes a peaceable vibe all its own. Reuse of the homeowners’ rust brown rug grounds the room, which offers views of the water flanked by curtains with a geometric patterned fabric from one angle, and someone cooking in the de-glammed kitchen in the other. Perhaps the most eye-catching element in the otherwise serene room is the fabric-covered coffee table ottoman whose flashes of velvety hot pink remind the homeowners that every now and then a visual “hot lick” can add spice to one’s serenity.
Dotolo continues the den’s peaceful feeling in the once “super glammy” dining room. Here, a hand painted geometric wallcovering by Porter Teleo draws the eye upward toward the ceiling where the room’s only nod to a former glammy look includes the sumptuous Gisele chandelier from Oly Studio. While the homeowners’ own cozy amethyst cushioned dining chairs pair with a Julian Chichester dining table, a bit of whimsey is found in the nod to rock n’ roll with the addition of a Johnny Cash mugshot whose silvery tones are reminiscent of historic tintype photos.
Downstairs a former gym has blossomed into a cozy office that offers views of the lake and mountains for inspiration. “We put the offices there to capture the view, but we kept the former wallcovering and Roman shades intact, which is a good example of how to make use of existing pieces. Not everything needs to be new,” says Dotolo. The one important addition was the desk from Made Goods which married well with the former furnishings both in size and finish.
When it is time to unwind at the end of the day, Dotolo wanted the primary bedroom with views of the lake and mountains beyond to become a treasured retreat. “Serene, calming, and very at peace,” she says, referring to the subtle silver-gray Phillip Jeffries silk wall treatment behind the upholstered bed, the only area that features the added element of silver leafing to the treatment. The homeowners’ request for a casual-looking bed, directed its simplicity. “We chose a Bernhardt bed that’s not tight, tufted or with a flanged headboard,” says Dotolo. A pair of creamy Bernhardt swivel lounge chairs are the perfect place to enjoy a cup of morning coffee while catching the view framed by the subtle geometric fabric found in the drapery’s window treatment.
Another corner of the primary bedroom features a desk for the writer in the family, along with a comfy chair from Julian Chichester that invites inspiration as much from the inherent comfort as from the sparkling view beyond.
Looking back, Dotolo says one of the biggest and most joyful aspects of working with this very talented couple was to create a home that reflected who and what they are with the clients’ total trust in her team’s vision. “They relied on us to find a new style for them to move into that is at once cool and eclectic, and that also reflects how they like to live and entertain. As art collectors, they were, for example, unafraid of the colors or pattern we selected to highlight their sofas. Happily, in trusting us to do our job, they not only enabled us to do our very best but have chosen to once again engage us to design yet another home for them as well.”
PROJECT SOURCES
INTERIOR DESIGN
Pulp Design Studios
pulpdesignstudios.com
RUGS
Driscoll Robbins Fine Carpets
driscollrobbins.com
SELECTED FURNITURE
Seattle Design Center
seattledesigncenter.com
Shoptalk - Beth Dotolo + Carolina V Gentry
Beth Dotolo & Carolina V Gentry, Co-Principal Interior Designers Pulp Design Studios, pulpdesignstudios.com
Was design something you’ve always felt strongly about or was it a gradual process of finding your voice?
Beth: I felt strongly about a sense of place, but it wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized that my passion for creating a sense of home could be translated into interior design. When that realization hit, I sought a formal education in the field.
Carolina: I grew up with my parents always mid-renovation, so I was surrounded by construction. It inspired me to seek an education and make a career of it.
You are known for blending bold color and textural palettes, creating beautiful, well-designed homes. Tell us about your “modern with a flair for the unexpected” approach.
Design shouldn’t be boring. It should surprise and delight! That could mean a serene getaway with fantastic texture and a soothing palette. Or, it could be a dynamic, color-filled, art-inspired home that energizes. As we get to know our clients through our unique intake process, we figure out all the things our clients love, and we help them define their unique style.
How does running a national interior design firm, as well as managing passion projects including licensed lifestyle collections and product design, influence your thinking?
We love creating! We are fueled by the opportunity to bring new products into the world, especially for designers or homeowners who aren’t ready to invest in full-service design. Our licensed textile collections with S. Harris and Fabricut have allowed us to join the design community in a new way, and it has been thrilling to see our fabrics show up in homes, hotels, and restaurants around the world.
You’ve built up a notable body of residential work, including new construction, renovations and furnishings. What are some major takeaways from designing homes?
Homes are so personal. Every home should reflect those who live in them. That sometimes means taking calculated risks. Why would you want your home to look like everyone else’s?!
What is your design philosophy? How do you tell your client’s story and define their personal style in their home?
We’ve coined a concept we call “Fearless Design.” We design homes with fearless style, courageously putting our own spin on our clients’ personal styles. We also believe that you should be able to live in your home fearlessly. We design functional and beautiful homes for our clients that are a reflection of them.
With offices in Washington, Oregon, California and Texas, are there particular differences in what clients are looking for?
It’s funny because our clients in every city say they love our style because we aren’t like other designers in town. Our exposure to all the different sources and markets has given us a unique perspective. All clients are looking for professional designers who care about their homes as much as they do and someone they can trust to see their vision come to fruition.
In your opinion, what is the most fundamental element of interior design?
Scale! Size and scale can make or break your design. It’s a skill that most overlook and a sure differentiator between an amateur and a seasoned professional.
How do your interests outside of work influence your designs?
Fashion and jewelry are passions that inspire many of our designs. And we both love to entertain, so we’re always thinking about how our clients will share their spaces.
When you were growing up, do you recall feeling amazed by design?
Beth: I was always amazed by architecture growing up.
Carolina: Yes! Exposure to my grandparent’s floral business and my parent’s renovations inspired me.
