Cheers to another edition of the PULP Design Duel! This month’s contestants need no introduction. You may have heard of Dabito from Old Brand New and Sarah of Note to Self… well, of course you have!

Please welcome them to Hello, Splendor as they “duel it out” over their individual take on the bar cart.

Today’s duel…

The Bar Cart

Dabito of  Old Brand New

Dabito epitomizes the ideas of craft, simplicity, comfort, and honesty. All of these things are evident at first glance through the styling and photography on his beautiful blog Old Brand New. His succinct commentary lends an air of mystery to his online persona but I can tell you from experience that Dabito is anything but distant. He is kind, approachable, and (of course) endlessly talented with all things vintage!

VS

Sarah Tolzmann of  Note to Self

Sarah Tolzmann is a wiz with graphics and branding. Her contributions to Matchbook Magazine are enough to speak for themselves. But this is a girl who frequently outdoes herself and her other side project, the elegantly curated blog Note to Self, is no exception. In addition to her online prowess, Sarah is simultaneous completing her MFA at SCAD in Design Management… she’s totally killing it too!

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Dabito’s Picks: Aldo Tura Bar Cart | French Gimlet | Couroc Poppy Glass | Tangerina Ice Bucket  | Copenhagen Carafe | Kilim Coasters from Sukan| Monstera Deliciosa | Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?  (The whole record is pretty fabulous.)

Sarah’s Picks: “The Sedgwick” from Society Social | The Elderflower Mojito | Kate Spade Larabee dot highballs | Vintage Ice Bucket | Mid-Century vintage decanters |Kate Spade creature coasters | Hydrangea | Ash Reiter – Paper Diamonds

Who has YOUR  favorite look?

Pulp Design Studios was recently welcomed to Seattle (thank you, Lauren Mang) with a fun project where we styled a bookshelf and showed Seattle Met Magazine readers how to style a bookcase. See the article for some fun tips & check out some behind the scenes photos below…

 Read the full article on SeattleMet.com.

Do you have a certain bedding or linen company that is your go-to? We do! It’s, hands down, Peacock Alley.

Find out why we love them and see how both Carolina & I use Peacock Alley in our homes.

Visit the Peacock Alley blog: 5 Quills.

Such a clever name, right!?!

A Room-By-Room Link Guide to a Splendid Mother’s Day Weekend in Your Home.

Boudoir: Treat yourself (or your mom) to the perfect bubble bath.

Kitchen: Moms, skip the cooking and enjoy a treat… Macaroons make a fab gift!

Closet: A chic mothers day brunch dress for the modern mom (or anyone, really).

Reading Nook: The perfect pop-culture guilty pleasure just released this week! Curl up to Andy Cohen’s Most Talkative!

Vanity: This little bauble is the perfect addition to any jewelry box!

Family room: Cozy up with this luxurious throw for the last of spring & treat yourself to a chick flick!

Patio: This cocktail spotted Coco + Kelley has been in my recipe book since last year. Mother’s day is my perfect chance to try it, since the hubby will be playing bartender while I soak in the rays.

Have a fabulous Mother’s Day!! 

Featured Image: Kate Moss for Vogue

Let’s recap our top reasons for attending so we can show you how High Point Market met & exceeded our expectations!

1. To spot the latest TRENDS so we can bring the latest & greatest to our clients.

We’ll share more on our favorite trend in the coming weeks on the DecorMentor site. Stay tuned! But, in the meantime, how hot is this brass peacock? [photo by PULP design studios at the Jonathan Adler Showroom] 

2. Form lasting CONNECTIONS with other designers to build camaraderie.

The relationships we formed on a personal & professional level were quite possibly one of the best things about market. We all shared information about our business & the industry at the ELEVATE launch party. If you want to join in the give/get process of sharing & gaining industry knowledge for your business, sign up on the sidebar on DecorMentor’s site. Be the first to be a part when the ELEVATE site launches! [photo by Bruce Barone]

3. build face-to-face relationships with VENDORS for the best possible service.

Meeting some of our reps and talking terms with them were some of the best things we could have done. Better service & pricing for us, means our clients get to reap the benefits. [photo by PULP design studios at the Christopher Guy Showroom]

4. See new PRODUCT in person so we bring the best in quality back to our clients.

Seeing product in person is priceless for us since our clients trust us to bring them the best in quality! Showrooms in Dallas & Seattle are limited and to be able to inspect the quality is invaluable for us. [photo by PULP design studios at the Christopher Guy Showroom]

5. A one-stop-shop for SEMINARS to maintain our interior design certification requirements.

One of the best seminars, among many, was the Branded! panel with Debbie Green, Lisa Ferguson, & Tobi Fairley. Getting information you can use and apply is really incredible. [photo taken with iPad]

The PERKS!!

Attending High Point Market came with so many perks and opportunities (some that we can’t yet discuss – exciting!). But, here are some of the other bonuses we got while attending High Point Market…

1. The parties! 

Where else can you be in the same room as Margaret Russell, Thomas O’Brien, Thom Filicia, Bunny Williams, and more? Rubbing elbows with some of the best in the industry was quite inspiring! [photo using instagram of Architectural Digest Party]

2. Queen for a Day!

I won the Queen for a Day service from GFW Shuttles & High Point Market, simply by watching their discovery video before market. Be sure to get on the High Point Market email list to be in the know about opportunities & news. You can also follow along on Twitter: @HPMarketNews. [photo by PULP design studios]

3. The Swag!

The best part!! Carolina and I were sent some amazing jewelry to wear at the ELEVATE party. Carolina is wearing a gorgeous Layla Grayce necklace that’s perfectly understated & I’m wearing a stunning piece by Nina Nguyen! We can’t thank them enough for sending our gorgeous necklaces! They have quickly become pieces in our daily wardrobe. See what the rest of the DecorMentor ladies were wearing on Jenn Brouwer’s blog. [photo by Bruce Barone]

So… I think it goes without saying… We’ll be back to High Point! I think you’ll see the benefits of what we’ve learned and found here on the blog and in our client projects!

1/ Frisco Capri Orange Rug, Zinc Door 2/ 100 Year Earring #2, Lulu Frost 3/ Mandarin Sofia Lamp, Mottega 4/ Zebra Tangerine Pillow, Dwell Studio 5/ Draped Crepe Jersey Dress by Lanvin, Net-a-Porter 6/ Whitaker Stockholm Saffron Ottoman by Jonathan Adler, Zinc Door

High Point Market is just days away and soon Beth and Carolina will be getting on planes from Dallas and Seattle to meet-up in North Carolina for what is the New York Fashion Week of interior design and the home furnishings industry. Besides designer presentations, showroom appointments, and industry networking, the PULP girls are most excited about one special event in particular. ELEVATE, a concept conceived by Lisa Ferguson and her Decor Mentor collaborators, will launch on Saturday April 21st. The idea is simple… give expertise. get expertise. amongst peers. There will be an interactive ELEVATE pin wall accessible April 21-26th. Participants will be able to…

• pin/post their business cards in business categories they want to give their expertise. Areas of their business they have mastered, in some way, and
• also in categories they want to get expertise on. From peers who have mastered what they haven’t!

Welcome to another edition of the PULP Design Duel! We’re so excited to share another genius pairing of home fashion as chosen by two new-to-us bloggers from the East Coast, Alex Yeske of Dreams + Jeans and Sarah Lederman of Chevrons & Stripes.

In case you’re not familiar with this series, here’s the idea… We ask some of our favorite design bloggers to go up “against” each other and share their own unique taste in an oh-so-friendly design duel! There are no winners or losers here; just a fun look at two different takes on the same space.

Today’s duel…

The Styled Bookcase

Alex Yeske of  Dreams + Jeans

Alex Yeske is a graphic designer living in NYC. She’s obsessed with nail polish, guacamole, stationery, cute flats, and lots of other things. She launched dreams + jeans in May 2010 as a way to share things she loves and is inspired by. Any given day, you’ll find a beautifully edited collection of posts featuring design, interiors, fashion, and whatever else might strike her fancy!

VS

Sarah Lederman of  Chevrons & Stripes

Sarah Lederman is a stylist, jeweler, blogger, dog lover, and design junkie who splits her time between NYC and South Beach. Besides authoring the blog Chevrons & Stripes, Sarah also works with designer Lauren Bergman on their organically inspired jewel line, Aroc Urtu! Sarah loves chevrons, stripes, the color gray, sunflowers, The Beatles, a splash of glitter, and above all, her new fiance (congrats!) Evan and their mischievous pup, Ziggy.

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Alex’s Picks: Parsons Tower Bookcase | Art Print by Aurore de la Morinerie | F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Hardcover Classics | Whale Bookends | Easel Floating Frames | Family Photo by Max Wagner | Wild Card

Sarah’s Picks: White Washed Wood & Metal Shelves | Moss Growth IV Art Print | “Downtown Chic” & “Undecorate“ | Petrified Wood Bookends| Charade Flower Frame |”Our little family pic from the day we got engaged” | Wild Card

We’ve been chatting up next weekend’s High Point Market trip quite a bit on the PULP social webs but Beth & Carolina’s North Carolina adventure isn’t the only exciting event coming up! Next Saturday, I’ll be stepping out on behalf of PULP Design Studios with Dallas’s stylish set at the Annual Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children charity event. Join me at Park Place Motorcars for an exclusive evening of Accessible Luxury full of fashion, food, and fun benefitting an incredible cause! Here’s a snippet of what you can expect from the evening:

• McLaren State-of-the-Art featuring Wisby-Smith Fine Art

Browse and buy original art from one of Dallas’ finest art galleries. You won’t find a better exhibition space than in the company of a McLaren Roadster, a super performing, adrenalin-pumping sports car.  As one of only 6 McLaren dealers in the United States, Park Place McLaren Dallas is at your service.

• Maserati Man Cave featuring Beretta

This male-dominated cavern showcasing Beretta’s polished apparel and gear awaits you for an evening of luxury cars, specialty drinks and hand-rolled cigars.

• Bentley Bubble Room featuring Eiseman Jewels

Sip champagne as you pick out a new precious gem from Eiseman Jewels. Browse the collection of Texas native and jewelry designer Katie Decker.

• Rolls Royce Runway Show featuring Oscar de la Renta

Be inspired by the new fashion obsessions and vogue looks of Oscar de la Renta at this 8 p.m. show featuring Model Citizens and Campbell-Wagner models.

And did I mention that there will also be a raffle? Put your name in the hat for a chance to win a $3000 gift certificate to Oscar de la Renta, a floral design class hosted by Dr Delphinium, four Cowboys tickets with seats on the club level at Cowboys Stadium, an original painting by Dallas artists and TSRHC friend Christopher Martin, or a Silver Pigeon shotgun valued for more than $2,200 from Beretta!

Courney Kerr, Bravo’s Most Eligible Dallas, will be the evening’s emcee,  Lucy Wrubel will be mixing the tunes, and society photographer Bob Manzano will be capturing the evening.

Pretty stellar line-up, right? TICKETS are going fast, so pick up yours today. You will find me sipping champagne while admiring fine jewels in the satin smooth seat of a Rolls or Bentley and soaking in the latest Dallas fashion scene – and all for a good cause. If you happen to see me, be sure to say hello and share a toast!

Carolina and I have been talking for what seems like years about how we want a designated design bag for client meetings & running around. It seems we always forget something. When GiGi New York came to us about creating personalized bags for their amazing new fashion-driven line, which is a branch of our other favorite brand Graphic Image, we just couldn’t resist. We decided to have some official PULP Design Studios handbags personalized for us! And, let me tell you, these have gone from our ‘PULP’ bags to our ‘everyday’ bags. These cross-body bags are exquisitely made, practical, and just plain gorgeous!

GiGi New York sent one bag to Carolina in Dallas and one to me in Seattle! It’s funny how differently we seem to use them. With Carolina, more is always better! She’s always prepared, carries large bags, and fills & stuffs with reckless abandon. Because, hey, you never know when you’ll need an architectural scale! It’s funny how she tends to be the mamma bear, when I’m the one with the kiddo.

And, with me, less is more! I take the bus these days and travel light. All I need is a tape measure, my camera phone, and a good notebook. Also, check out that amazing little iPhone case in white python that they sent around the holidays last year as a collaboration for Gaga’s Workshop for Barney’s New York. I use it everyday for my business cards & my bus pass! I can’t get enough!

So, why (aside from their seriously must-have handbags and accessories) do we love GiGi New York? Because they love bloggers. And, they love blogger’s readers. As a little nod to you, they are giving Hello, Splendor Readers & Pulp Design Studios fans, 20% off of anything from the GiGi New York & Graphic Image sites! Just use the promo code below:

To stay in the loop and all their new products & promotions (and, let me tell you, they do some really cool collaborations!) follow them:

Twitter  +  Facebook  +  Mailing List

We know you’ll love them just as much as we do!

Thank you, GiGi New York! We’re smitten.

We’re really missed hanging out around here on the blog…. But, we’ve been a little busy the past several weeks! I just wanted to stop in to tell you a bit of what we have going on in case you’re missing us, too.

Here’s 8 newsworthy things we’ve had going on:

1. Carolina came to visit the PULP Seattle office! We had a blast! Here we are eating in the famous Pike Place Market (completely ragged from a long day’s work, mind you!).

2. While Carolina was here, we managed to squeeze in a shoot with Seattle Met Magazine that’s due out in May!

3. We shared 7 Concepts for Creating a Dramatic Interior over on DecorMentor.

4. Speaking of DecorMentor, who will be at High Point Market? We’ll be there next week kicking off the ELEVATE wall!

5. Hop on over to Smmidge, where Beth did an interview & offered a sweet little PULP deal to Smmidge readers

6. HGTV deemed PULP’s work some of the most pin-worthy in their latest email!

7. Hello, Splendor is undergoing a major re-design that you’re sure to love! We’ve hired one of our friends & favorite bloggers! Just wait…. it’s going to be a good one!

8. The PULP girls are planning another blogger social for August in Dallas! We’re looking for sponsors & want to hear from the bloggers who attended the last blogger social! What did you love? What did you hate? What did you want more of?? This year it’s all PULP throwing the bash, so we have complete control over making sure it’s what you want! Want to sponsor or sound off?? email me….  hellosplendor [at] pulpdesignstudios [dot] com