Dear Alice | Interior Design

Episode Summary: “Finding Your Design Style: Interior Design Q&A”

Date: January 1, 2026
Hosts: Jessica Bennett (A), Suzanne Hall (C), and co-host (B)

Overview

Kicking off 2026 with energy and humor, the Dear Alice team hosts a Q&A episode built from thoughtful listener-submitted questions. The conversation ranges from defining personal design styles and collecting art to practical dilemmas like rug sizes and lighting configurations. The hosts fuse practical advice with candid personal anecdotes, offering both actionable tips and relatable moments from their own design journeys. Throughout, they emphasize self-expression, embracing the unique “weird,” and evolving one’s space over time.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Defining Your Design Style and Bringing It All Together

Listener question from Kaylee:
"How do I define my style? I collect art I love, but how do I bring it all together?"

• It's Normal to Feel Uncertain:
  • "Who am I? Sue, remind me." (A, 02:21)
  • Even design professionals get stumped by their own spaces.
• You're Likely a Mix, Not a Cliché:
  • “It’s usually you’re not so on the nose with just one [style]. You’re a mashup of two things or maybe two or three.” (A, 03:16)
  • The ‘perfect’ canned house is out—homes that tell your story are what’s in.
• Art as the Soul of the Home:
  • “Art is the hardest thing. So I’m stoked you’re finding pieces that you like… I called Jess: ‘All my art has people in it. How did this happen?’” (C, 04:23)
  • “It’s almost like the soul of your house.” (A, 05:13)
• Advice for Feeling Cohesive:
  • Frame art for the piece, not to match fixtures (A, 05:21).
  • Use favorite rugs as a secondary ‘artwork’ to inform your scheme.
  • Let your style unfold—don’t rush for instant cohesion.
• Evolving Collections Are Natural:
  • “It’s okay if some of those things go by the wayside as your style becomes more defined.” (C, 06:19)

2. Finding Inspiration and Seeing Room Potential

Listener question from Seiler:
"Where do you find inspiration for a room? Do you start with Pinterest?"

• Start With Problem-Solving, Not Pinterest:
  • “We’ll try to understand the room’s potential outside of seeing Pinterest… Sort of the problem solving of the room.” (A, 07:05)
• Use Pinterest Deliberately:
  • “You almost first want to solve the problem before you open up the can of Pinterest.” (A, 08:07)
  • Use client reference images to align, then broaden their vision.
• Magazines and Unexpected Sources:
  • “There is something about the tactile nature of a book. I always find something to inspire a detail.” (C, 09:50)
  • Inspiration for a kitchen may come from a color in fashion, not just other kitchens (A & C, 10:36–11:02).
• Let Inspiration Surprise You:
  • “It’s usually like finding it in an unexpected way that will sort of light you up.” (A, 10:36)

3. Displaying Art for Children’s Enjoyment

Listener question from Brianne:
"How to showcase art for kids’ viewing pleasure but still look cool?"

• Don’t Hang Low Just for Children:
  • “I don’t know if I’d intentionally hang art at a low spot unless you’ve collected so much you can go from baseboard to ceiling.” (C, 11:45)
• Include Kids in the Process:
  • “Have them part of just like the gathering and framing process.” (C, 12:01)
• Gallery Walls for Children's Art:
  • “She had a whole kids gallery… framed alike, up the back set of stairs.” (A, 13:16)
• Talk About Art, Not Just Display:
  • “It’s the stories she told me about that piece.” (C, 15:35)
• Expose Kids to Inspiration:
  • “Take your kids to museums, everybody… expose them, even if it’s for a microsecond.” (C, 15:43)

4. Lighting: Cans, Pendants, or Sconces?

Listener question from Michael:
"Recess lights, pendants, or sconces—what should reign supreme?"

• Layered Lighting Is King:
  • “D, All of the above.” (C, 16:09)
  • “Recessed lights should never be your only fixture… never reign.” (A, 16:10)
• Different Lights, Different Moods:
  • “In the evening, you’re never going to turn on those cans… It’s going to be the lamp that’s on and the sconces.” (A, 17:09)
• Lighting Sets Mood and Personality:
  • “The most overlooked thing… is the potential that having great decorative lighting can do.” (A, 18:02)
• Memorable Pop Culture Reference:
  • “That’s how important this question is. You have to get the lighting right or it will totally kill your vibe.” (A, 18:54)
• Quote: “What’s going to make you look really good and give you a vibe… it’s the pendants and the sconces.” (A, 19:06)

5. Embracing the ‘Weird’ and Changing Tastes

Listener question from Brittany:
"Is there a trend or style you’re secretly embarrassed about?"

• Leaning Into Inherited Weirdness:
  • Suzanne’s 1971 ranch home: “She has a barn… what she inherited was just some weird choices from the previous owner… Suzanne started to like the things.” (A, 19:45–20:42)
  • “Living with the orchid bath… it was kind of fun for a minute.” (C, 21:54)
• Style Evolves Over Time:
  • “You might be sitting in a home that you’re just kind of embarrassed of… but you figure out who you are, and can be proud of where you’re at.” (C, 23:47)
• Editors Want Personality:
  • “They want weird things, things that are personal or unique… dig deep and find who they are.” (A, 22:44)

6. Dream Projects—If Budget/Time Wasn’t an Issue

Listener question from Oaky Family:
"If logistics weren’t a concern, what dream project would you take on?"

• Dream Locations and Collaborations:
  • B: “I would love to build a house in Mexico, next to my friend’s. If money and proximity weren’t an issue.” (B, 27:10)
  • A: “A collaboration with a big brand would be really, really fun. I want this to be a full body yes for me.” (A, 28:02)
  • C: “I think specifically it would be fun to collaborate with musicians—Rosalía, Lenny Kravitz, etc.—they have a strong point of view.” (C, 32:16)
• Collaboration Culture:
  • “It’s all about collabs right now… I’m loving a collab, actually.” (A, 30:06)
  • “If we ever do that, we’re not going to make it Hunger Games for people.” (B, 32:05)

7. Rug Size Support Group and Practical Rug Advice

Listener question from Solace:
"Support group for buying the wrong rug size three times in a row?"

• The Common Problem:
  • “I’m guessing… you have purchased too small a rug every time.” (A, 33:44)
• Go Big or Go Home:
  • “Even my small living room fits a 10x14 rug… my space feels giant… Go as big as you can.” (C, 34:06)
• Complimentary Design Help:
  • “We have a home furnishings design program…we’ll put your room into CAD and tell you how big a rug you need.” (C, 36:21)
• Custom Sizing Available:
  • “We’ve been offering customizing rugs…not only can we provide pieces, but we can get them customized for your home.” (B, 36:23)

8. House “Roast” Confessions: What Would Your Home Call You Out For?

Listener question from Sydney:
"What would your house roast you for?"

• Hosts’ Home Confessions:
  • Never painting trim/ceiling to match wallpaper in powder bath. “Every time I look at it… palm face.” (B, 38:02)
  • Exterior lights left from previous owner—"not good, they're old, they're rusted." (C, 38:15)
  • Motion light installed by dad: “It just yells at you.” (C, 38:39)
• Lighting Temperature Woes:
  • “Nothing makes me feel like I’ve been roofied more than different temperatures of lighting.” (C, 39:02, quoted by A)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “It’s almost like the soul of your house.”
  —Jessica (A), 05:13

• “Art is the hardest thing. I’m stoked you’re finding pieces that you like. That’s huge.”
  —Suzanne (C), 04:23

• “Recessed lights should never be your only fixture. They should never reign.”
  —Jessica (A), 16:10

• “Go as big as you can [with rugs]… my space feels giant.”
  —Suzanne (C), 34:06

• “If you date the wrong guy for a long time, you really start to think he’s fantastic… you start to see the potential in the orchid bathroom.”
  —Jessica (A), 21:07

• “They want weird things… so sick of the same thing over and over again.”
  —Jessica (A), 22:44

• "If we ever do that [collab], we're not going to make it Hunger Games for people."
  —Jessica (A) & Jessica (B), 32:05

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:17]–[06:30]: Finding your style, mixing influences, and collecting art
• [07:02]–[11:23]: Finding inspiration: Pinterest, magazines, and the creative process
• [11:27]–[15:43]: Showcasing art for children and building a family gallery wall
• [16:09]–[19:20]: Lighting—recessed vs fixtures, mood setting, ‘Nobody Wants This’ reference
• [19:32]–[26:37]: Embracing “super weird” trends and living with inherited style
• [26:46]–[33:30]: Dream projects and fantasy design collaborations
• [33:41]–[37:07]: Rug sizing dilemmas and practical advice
• [37:06]–[39:44]: House “roasts” and embarrassing unresolved home issues

Takeaways

• Your design style is personal, evolving, and likely a blend—not a strict archetype.
• Let art and key pieces inform your story, and don’t rush to a ‘perfect’ final look.
• Layering lighting and going big on rugs are universal upgrades.
• Embrace the “weird,” the inherited, and the things you feel a little embarrassed by—they create individuality.
• Engage all household members, including children, in the world of design and art.
• Everyone has at least one “unfinished” or “cringe” element at home—even the pros!

In the hosts’ words:
“Homes that tell your story are what’s in. It’s about finding what really lights you up inside.” (A, 03:36)
“Take your kids to museums, everybody… even if it’s for a microsecond.” (C, 15:43)
“You figure out who you are, and then you can be proud of where you’re at.” (C, 23:47)

Happy 2026 and happy designing!