Dear Alice | Interior Design

Episode: Full Home Makeover & Architectural Redesign | Highland Manor Remodel Masterclass

Date: September 4, 2025
Hosts: Jessica Bennett ("Jess"), Suzanne Hall ("Sue"), and Corey

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Dear Alice team—Jessica, Suzanne, and Corey—take listeners through a full-scale, three-level home remodel: the Highland Manor project. The hosts share a candid, masterclass-style breakdown of their renovation process, focusing on how they reimagined an inherited home to suit the needs of a newly blended family. The conversation covers architectural fixes, practical design solutions, reuse strategies, and their signature approach for making spaces both timeless and deeply personal. The episode is packed with technical insights and joyful storytelling, making it both educational and entertaining for design enthusiasts and homeowners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Project Backstory & Approach

• Context (00:42 - 02:46)

  • The remodel was for a long-time client and friend who was transitioning into a new marriage with four stepchildren, requiring the merging of two households.
  • The house, built in the early 2000s, reflected an outdated Tuscan architectural style with challenging inherited features.
  • This project was a "remodel, not a new build," with an emphasis on reusing what they could, integrating input from both spouses, and working within a one-year-and-one-month timeframe.

  "We've done other homes for her... she's always like, all gas, all in... now she wants to bring us in to make this meaningful for the whole family." – Jess (02:48)

  • Importance of balancing practicality and creativity, especially considering time, budget, and a mix of family traditions.

2. Design Diagnostics: Where to Start

• Entryway as Experience (05:52 - 06:57)

  • The hosts highlight the power of the entryway to establish a home’s feeling, and the need to create harmony amidst conflicting existing elements (multiple flooring materials, heavy columns, clashing metals).

  "As you're remodeling, think of, like, what experience do I want to have? Is there a different way to enter into a space, to experience that space, to give the space back a little bit more richness and presence as the entry?" – Sue (00:04, repeated at 14:42)

  • Key insight: Visual clutter and unnecessary architectural divisions should be edited to create cohesive, peaceful transitions.

  • The original space had a "flooring decor showroom" feel with too many patterns and boxed columns that disrupted flow.

  "It kind of felt like that because, like, it just, like, wasn't harmonious... if it's not exactly straight, like, it's off." – Sue (08:31, 08:58)

3. Strategic Reuse & Architectural Enhancements

• What to Keep, What to Replace (13:35 - 16:34)

  • They reused the front door, some cabinetry, base built-ins, and wood floors where possible—updating via paint, plaster, or gold leafing for cohesion rather than ripping everything out.

  "We have a really great collection. So we used his office. The best I've ever seen of all the closets we've ever done." – Jess & Sue (14:26-14:28)

  • Architectural corrections: Simplified flooring transitions, plastered walls and ceilings, added tile borders for a custom, tailored look.

  "If you have borders around your tile areas in your bathrooms and your entries... doesn't feel complete, it doesn't feel finished. This really defines the shape of that." – Jess (17:45)

  • The use of graceful curves and circular motifs in floors and railings to soften the home’s geometry and reference personal symbolism for the client (eternity and wholeness).

  "We wanted to use circles... those non-directional shapes to sort of soften all the angles of this home." – Jess (11:46)

4. The Kitchen: Transformative Minimalism

• Clever Updates, Maximum Impact (23:03 - 27:48)

  • The perimeter cabinets were retained and painted; dated built-ins and trims were refined with new finishes to disappear rather than stand out.

  "You're not even to believe us when we say this... but we kept the perimeter cabinets. We just painted." – Jess (24:56)

  • Two new islands: one fully clad in marble slab ("baller move") for a Parisian feel, the other topped with custom butcher block and gold leafed ironwork for warmth and artisanal flair.

  "I think it just needs to be all slab, and we just wrap that around." – Sue (26:24)

  • Trim and existing built-in elements matched to the wall/plaster color for subtlety.

  "Let it kind of like, especially if it's something that you're like, we're not going to replace it... Just help it to disappear." – Sue (27:24)

5. Living/Family Room: Editing for Grandeur

• From Heavy to Airy (28:03 - 31:43)

  • Dark, bulky built-ins and Juliet balconies were removed or softened; cabinets and mantles were painted and gold-leafed.
  • Upper-level study was opened up with new railing, increasing shared light and connection between floors.

  "We just did railing on that whole thing. So when you are up there, you just can like overlook and, like, share light." – Sue (29:36)

  • TV was relocated to a built-in nook, so the fireplace and mirror (a feng shui trick for energy balance and visual expansion) became the room’s core.

6. Personalized Artistry in the Primary Suite

• Emotion & Heirloom Integration (31:55 - 38:45)

  • A fine artist and plaster specialist created a custom, gold-leafed chrysanthemum mural in the vestibule referencing the client's family heritage.

  "When they come home from a day of exhausting, you know, engineering, technical... you just kind of let your shoulders down because it's like you're entering another world." – Jess (33:19)

  • The bedroom was enveloped in deep midnight-blue plaster, creating a cocooning effect, while taking advantage of the high ceiling.

  "Her directive was just, like, she wanted her room to feel just like. Like a dark night sky." – Sue (35:08)

  • The fireplace mantle was softened with curves and new finishes; a four-poster bed added intimacy within a grand volume.

  "This is so romantic... It can still sort of feel intimate even within a grand space with a ton of volume." – Jess (38:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Remodeling vs. New Build
  "This is a brand new relationship... Often they say this is the most stressful thing you’re going to do is build a home together or remodeling too." – Jess (09:45)

• On Removing Visual Clutter
  "It was heavy. You were just like, pinball... it just wasn't harmonious." – Sue (08:31)

• On Entryway Tile Borders
  "This to me is one of the things that separates the good from the greats... it looks so much more classic, like going to a tailor." – Jess (17:45)

• On Embracing a Home’s Personal Story
  "You buy a property for a reason... But just like understanding who you are, what you love is so key as you start to make these big expensive decisions." – Sue (09:18)

• On Using Color in Restful Spaces
  "People don't. Don't be afraid of color in your bedroom... when you can go somewhere dark... you can actually allow your whole body to calm." – Sue (35:50)

• On Design Legacy
  "I can't think of a time in history as long as we've been doing interior design, you and I, both over 20 years, where this wouldn't be so beautiful... I will always love this entry." – Jess & Sue (22:49-23:03)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:42 – Backstory: The client, marriage, and project goals
• 06:13 – Design critique of the original entry: flooring, columns, clutter
• 11:10 – Railing inspiration and eternal motif for client symbolism
• 13:35 – Elements kept (front door, reuse, closet expansion)
• 17:45 – Design tip: Important of tile borders
• 23:03 – Kitchen reveal: What was reused vs. replaced
• 26:24 – Marble slab island and "baller move" insight
• 28:03 – Family room transformation: editing built-ins and balconies
• 31:55 – Artistry in the vestibule; chrysanthemum mural story
• 35:08 – Bedroom retreat: Dark color, plaster, and cocooning effect
• 37:04 – Overmantle redesign, bullnose details
• 38:34 – Four-poster bed, intimacy in volume
• 38:59 – Reflection on reuse and final thoughts

Practical Tips & Takeaways

• Reuse and Transform: Sometimes, painting and finishing existing cabinets or trim can be just as impactful as replacing them.
• Edit Ruthlessly: Clear out visual clutter—remove mismatched patterns, unnecessary curves, and heavy built-ins to create a calm, organized space.
• Entryways Matter: Define them purposely with special tile borders, a sense of arrival, and scale-appropriate lighting.
• Integrate Meaning: Use heirlooms, motifs, or client stories for personalization; don’t shy away from color or texture that resonates emotionally.
• Create Flow: Prioritize direct pathways, harmonious flooring transitions, and open sight lines wherever possible.
• Lighting & Finishes: Upgrade lighting generously, soften architectural details with plaster, and don’t overlook the impact of finishes on overall atmosphere.

Conclusion

This episode is a tour-de-force exploration of thoughtful, practical interior remodeling—blending technical details, personal storytelling, and adaptable design tricks. The Highland Manor project is a showcase in how to reuse, refine, and reimagine a home for new beginnings, with timeless style and soul.

For more design inspiration and project photos:
Highland Manor on Alice Lane Portfolio (referenced by hosts)

To inquire about interior design services:
Visit alicelanehome.com → Design Services tab → Alid (for full-scale remodels/builds) or Home Furnishing Design (for decorating help).

Contact:
dearalice@alicelanehome.com (for feedback or episode suggestions)

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