Dear Alice | Interior Design

Today we’re talking about taking your vision to the finish line, or following through with your dream. We share some insight into a unique, wonderful project we worked on years ago, which the owner didn’t want us to share until just recently. This man wanted us to design a chandelier room, which we felt was a terrible idea, but he insisted it would be great, so we took it upon ourselves to do the...

In this episode we're celebrating two major milestones with the one year anniversary of the podcast launch and 12 years in this business. We started Alice Lane because we saw a spot in the market locally that wasn't being represented. We talk about what we have learned over the years from our successes and mistakes. It started as a store front and has grown to a full service design firm that has b...

Today we talk about one of the hardest working rooms in the house, the mud room. A space that sees all the comings and goings in the household and is your entry & exit. There are a few tricks to organizing this space and contain the mess. Start with a large format tile floor with a walk off mat on the garage side and a nicer rug inside the house. We suggest using plenty of hooks so you don't overl...

In this episode we define and describe. space planning and give some examples of how to arrange your space to inspire conversation. Space planning is a critical part of the design process and we find that often architects don’t create the right amount of space for your furniture because they use generalized sizes, not specific to your furniture selections. You’ll want to work with the architects a...

We are talking about fireplaces today on Dear Alice. Because most homes today have central heating, fireplaces are mostly used as a piece of architecture or to create a mood. Because of this we have a little more control of the size, look, and when we use it. We talk about what materials to use when building, what to match this material with, and how to update or change a current fireplace in your...

Today are talking laundry rooms and we want you to make this space one you enjoy spending time in because it will likely be a lot. Take some risks with the wallpaper and don't forget to style the space with good looking containers and smells, like Mrs. Meyer’s, to make it comfortable and enjoyable to be in. We talk about the different options for sorting and drying clothes, whether it be a rod to...

In this episode we discuss those special hard to find pieces, which will be exactly what you need for your style. We love vintage decor because it can bring an original point of view to your space, if you are using it right. Sue tells how she got into vintage shopping and finding heirloom pieces she could use in her own life and offers a word of caution as well. When you find a piece you love, it...

In this episode we discuss from where we draw our inspiration and how we inspire our own ideas and styles. Sue tells us what her inspiration is and why you shouldn't get rid of everything that is “out of style.” She suggests using Pinterest to find inspiration, and if you're kind of tired of the things you're seeing on there, follow someone else. Look for new designers until you find something tha...

Today we talk about the things that really make the open concept work and how to define those spaces. We discuss our opinions on open concept versus segmentation of rooms and the benefits or advantages of each. We bring up the fact that an open concept can often get loud, so we provide solutions for ways to dampen that sound like adding drapes and rugs to absorb the sound. We answer a question abo...

Today we are talking about closet design and are sharing some tips for creating more closet space, including knocking down walls and using a room next to your bedroom. We talk windows and the role they play and a few other tricks for arranging storage & furniture. We have some suggestions for mirrors and our love for valet rods and hooks. We talk about using wallpaper in your closet and the unexpe...

In this episode, we talk with Jen Dolan, Director of Sales for residential and retail at Arteriors. Jen tells about where Arteriors started, how far they've come in design and how they have moved into all aspects of interior design development, including furniture, accent furniture, upholstered seating, wall decor mirrors, lighting, and accessories, so that people can come in and decorate basicall...

In this episode we talk about the dining room and how it’s a place for celebration and we say go wild and really embrace the fact that a dining room is a special place for special occasions. We discuss the details of lighting, how your chandelier should hang and a few tips to make it look exquisite. We discuss the round table vs a rectangular table and how it interacts with the shape of your dinin...

Today we talk about the powder bath, our favorite room in the house where people can play all their cards and take some risks because you won't be in there for long. Choose wallpaper for this room like you are choosing art. You should feel excited and have an emotional connection with it. We prefer large organic prints to loosen up the space and lose the hard corners amongst the leaves or foliage....

Today on Dear Alice we will be talking about mixing styles. The best way to successfully mix an overstated design with a more understated style is to start by neutralizing the colors then start to add the layers back in. An important thing to ask yourself is how your room makes you feel. You want your design to match your personality, and that can even include your children so if it feels good and...

We discuss the final layer that brings everything together. You can help kids to keep things neat by accommodating some styles to their interests, and giving them their own shelf to display their own stuff. Make a distinction between their toys and “your toys.” This can give them pride in their own stuff. Give them a delicate collection of their own delicate toys with which they have to be gentle...

Today we discuss the family room, and why it is different than the living room, which is usually more dressy and reserved for company and adults. Some houses get rid of the living room and instead have what some would call a great room, one really large scale room, which is open to a kitchen and an open floor plan and could also be considered the family room and the nucleus of the house, where you...

In this episode, we talk about the master or primary bedroom and advantages of investing in your own sleeping space, which can tend to get neglected when you're a parent trying to tend to the other rooms in your house. We want to help the listener have a better experience sleeping & living in your room of privacy and repose. We start our discussion by answering questions from listeners, including...

Today, we talk about how we at Alice Lane Interior define luxury and ways to experience luxury in your everyday choices. We start our discussion by talking about a conversation between Whitney Robinson (former editor in chief of Elle Decor) and Martyn Lawrence Bullard (star on Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators and decorator for Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Tommy Hilfiger, C...

Today’s episode is all about entryways and entrances to your home. We give you advice and solutions for entry spaces of all shapes and sizes. We recommend useful and inviting items like a tall pedestal console table, a mirror, a lamp, or a piece of artwork for small entryways. We talk about the importance of making your home inviting to your guests with your entryway, prioritizing accommodating ne...

Today, we discuss what inspires us as designers, creators, and people. We talk about how to find inspiration from design books and the unique view they give into the creative process. We talk about the inspiration that can come from extraordinary people who live exemplary lives. We also share the unique perspectives and experiences that come from nature and travel. We give other tips for resources...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we get to interview Thom Filicia, one of the original designers from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He is a well seasoned interior & product designer with amazing experience and has such a great way of working with clients. We discuss what inspires him, how he works with clients, we get to know his background. We also get to hear some amazing advice on styling. Join...

"In this episode of Dear Alice, we talk about patterns. Mixing patterns with patterns takes some effort and there is definitely an art to helping patterns work together so have dedicated an entire episode to it. We discuss matching patterns and colors, where to put patterns, maximalism, and what NOT to do. How to match patterns and colors 4:12 Patterns in Drapery 14:48 Maximalism/Studying 18:20 Wh...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we are so pleased to have Ashley Stark, the creative director from Stark Carpet. We get to dig into Ashley's creative process when starting a room, what inspires her and what advice she has for how and when to use trends when designing a room. We also learn a bit more about Ashley's role at Stark and some secrets about her life that not many people know. Subscribe to...

In this episode of Dear Alice we do a series of rapid fire questions followed by a game of Would You Rather. Our answers are personal preferences, so you don't need to agree with all we say but hopefully you can ask yourself the same questions and learn more about your own tastes. We hope you enjoy this fun episode. Introduction 0:22 Beginning of Questions 1:27 Stones 7:27 Design Pet Peeves 20:02...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we are privileged to interview Ray Booth, an architect, product and interior designer. Ray’s work is widely known and we are so excited to have him on our show. We discuss Ray’s approach to understanding his clients and how he sees past the design to the heart of what is important to his clients. We also dive into the differences and similarities between interior and...