Dear Alice | Interior Design

There wouldn't be much purpose to spending your money and time on beautiful home furnishings and finishes without knowing how to care for them. We have interviewed the experts around us to find out what to and what not to use to keep your furniture and home beautiful. This is an episode for those moms out there that feel like they can't have anything nice till their kids grow up. Yes you can!! We...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we take a deeper dive into the world of art with our interview of Alex Marin, the Executive Vice President of Sales, at Soicher Marin. Soicher Marin is an exceptional art vendor we use often in our projects at Alice Lane and we are excited to introduce them to our listeners. We discuss how to find art, what the Soicher Marin process is like and what new products we w...

Rooms for children can be tough. It can feel like organization is a constant struggle so where should your energy be focused when designing? Designing kids bedrooms, especially when you give the child a chance to help in the process, can be amazing and special. We discuss how to design the room so children will love it, how to plan so that it will last longer than 4 years, what things to invest in...

On this episode of Dear Alice, we get the chance to talk with Jennifer Gracie, the Creative Director and the 4th generation to run her family business of producing hand painted wallpaper, Gracie. She tells us about the history of the company, how to use wallpaper, where she gets inspiration from, and talks about some of her favorite and most unexpected projects. This beautiful hand painted wallpap...

As being specialists in interior design we often get questions on what happens outside the home. We have brought Jeremy Fillmore, a landscape architect, to talk through everything outside your home. He talks about what role landscaping should play in your home. How your lifestyle should determine what’s around your home. We also talk about the benefits of hiring a landscape architect and what you...

In this Episode of Dear Alice, we talk about extending your design to the exterior of your house with exterior finishes. It is hard to know what details on the outside will make a difference but we have a few suggestions. We talk about painting brick, doors, and upgrading your railings and windows. Join us as we discuss how to give your home more curb appeal. Painted Brick 1:13 Exterior Paint Shad...

In this episode of Dear Alice we are talking about how to make a refuge while most of us are working remotely. We typically work for most of the day so making sure that where you work feels uplifting can really affect your work and how you overall feel. However, this isn’t just about work. Being asked to social distance ourselves and stay home gives us all a challenge to keep home feeling comforta...

In this Episode of Dear Alice, we talk again with Morgan Hadley. We brought Morgan back on to help us talk about pantries. We cover everything from beginning design stages to organization and upkeep. We discuss what kind of shelving, the difference between butler’s pantries and a typical pantry, and then all the amazing tools that Morgan uses to help organize pantries. Everything as usual is focus...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we talk about how to have a beautiful home even if you are living with kids or pets. So many people say they’ll wait until their kids are grown up before they will invest in decorating their home they way they really want to. We don't think you have to wait. We talk about what fabrics to choose for your lifestyle from color to composition so it can be forgiving with...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we talk about which pieces to invest in and where to save when designing a room. We try to focus the investment on the pieces that people will come in contact with the most. We talk about second hand furniture, repurposing furniture, how to know when you need to jump on something you connect with and when to wait. Introduction 0:15 Second Hand Furniture/repurposing f...

In this episode of Dear Alice we are talking about art. This seems to be one of the harder things to get right the first time in a home. You want to find something that speaks to you, something that you would love to look at everyday. This can depend on your experiences in life, what makes you happy, and what it is that you want to remember. It’s also important to find what styles you like. We tal...

In this episode of Dear Alice we are talking about hallways. Especially in this age of open floor plans, it sometimes feels like the journey of walking through a house can be lost. The hallway is an opportunity to have a smaller, more intimate moment and doesn't have to be a means to an end. We talk about how to make hallways more exciting with flooring choices and transitions, lighting and artwor...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we get to interview Kory Robison, a great builder that we love working with here in Utah. We often have many questions on the design side about timelines, the average cost per square foot, if you should remodel or build… Sometimes we don’t even know what questions we should be asking before starting. Today we are going to using Kory for his knowledge and figure out w...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we talk about scale and proportion. Scale is everything. You don't want to feel like a giant among dollhouse furniture so listen in to learn how to make your space feel generous by choosing the right scale for your furniture accessories, art, rugs, and lighting. Right Scale for small room 1:05 Starting Point for Rooms that “Feel Off” 10:19 Free Space Planning with Al...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we talk about our process. The design discovery process is much more than just making something beautiful, it is about understanding who our clients are and how they live their lives. We discuss the importance of finding a designer you can trust and who will push you to take risks. It is also important to understand the scope, timeline and mutual expectations. All of...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we talk about window treatments. Treating the windows is the finishing touch to a room and it never quite feels put together until done so. Window treatments can be a large investment, considering the size of windows increasing, so we want you to get this right the first time. We talk about the options you have: Drapes, curtains, blinds, and shutters. We talk about w...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we give some advice on making a builder-grade home feel more custom. If you are looking to upgrade, update or just freshen up your existing home, join us as we walk through multiple ways to achieve that. From simple changes like changing out your kitchen hardware or adding window coverings to updating your builder-grade lighting to something a little more interesting...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we dive deep into trends. Often we are scared to commit to something that could be short lived, rather than timeless. Or maybe we are afraid to make that jump to commit to any style for fear of judgement. In this episode, we talk about when to play it safe, what things to avoid, when to jump into a style, and really how to commit to what speaks to you. What is trendy...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we sit down with Morgan Hadley of @posysclosets to talk about closet organization. Having an organized closet not only looks better but also makes getting dressed everyday much more fun. In this episode, Morgan shares all her tips from what hangers to use, how to display accessories, and how to recreate the feeling of your favorite high-end retail store. For those bu...

In this two-part episode on kitchens of Dear Alice, we talk specifically about styling the kitchen. We cover topics from lighting, mixing metals to what we go for every time we style a kitchen. Easy Updates for Existing Kitchens 1:00 Pendants 8:10 Mixing Metals 13:06 Kitchen Styling Essentials 17:08 “I think the hardware is an easy thing to do. It’s not going to break the bank, but will give you s...

In this two part episode of Dear Alice, we will be talking all about kitchens. In this episode (part 1) we talk about making the right choices the first time with the more permanent choices in your kitchen. We'll cover things like the "working triangle", how to blend different wood tones, how to choose appliances and overall design. https://www.alicelaneinteriordesign.com/home-of-jessica-bennett B...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we talk all about built-ins. It can be tricky balancing a room with a fireplace, drawers, open shelves, cabinetry, etc. In this episode, we try to simplify how to approach all of these things in the most beautiful way. See a few examples referenced in the show here: "https://www.alicelaneinteriordesign.com/blog/dear-alice-podcast-built-ins-episode" - Are Built-In Ent...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we talk about how to set up your guest room to give your guests a welcoming experience away from home. It is truly about making them feel special by considering all of their needs from luxurious bedding to small thoughtful amenities. Decorating Small Guest Bedrooms 0:35 Sheets, night lights and drapes 3:45 Furniture besides the Bed 7:15 Smell 11:27 Reading Material 1...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we share all you need to know about the art of gift-giving. Learn a few of our "no-fail" gifts for the practical ones on your list and some luxury gifts that someone might not buy for themselves. It doesn't have to be big or over the top, it just needs to be thoughtful. Happy gifting! https://www.instagram.com/alicelaneinteriors/ https://www.instagram.com/alicelaneho...

In this episode of Dear Alice, we talk about how to be a generous host. From the food you choose, the music you play, the lighting, and even the set up of the furniture. - Introduction 1:13 - Being the Host/Hostess 6:28 - Music 11:11 - Games/Entertainment 17:01 - Question on Updating Art 23:04 “Be pretty if you can, witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you.” 2:16 Learn more about your ad...