Podcast Summary: Dear Alice | Interior Design

Episode: House Lights by Alice Lane: Vintage-Inspired Lighting & Timeless Details
Date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Jessica Bennett, Suzanne Hall, Corey (product/design team)

Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners behind the scenes of Alice Lane’s newly launched “House Lights” collection—a series of vintage-inspired, yet modern lighting pieces designed to offer versatility for every size and style of home. The hosts break down the inspiration and creative process behind each design, highlight how these pieces fit into contemporary and historic spaces, and share firsthand experiences integrating the collection in their own homes. The conversation emphasizes balancing timeless design with fresh personality, and provides practical tips for impactful lighting choices.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to House Lights Collection

• Personal Connection: The collection is deeply personal—both Jess and Suzanne have installed these lights in their own homes and used their real living spaces for the launch shoot.
• Versatility: Designed to suit both small and large spaces, offering large flush mounts as well as mini sizes, sconces, and baby lamps.

Quote:
"These are scene changers... we've got really large scale flush mounts, we've got some tiny flush mounts, which is one of our favorite design tricks."
— Jess (00:17)

2. Sneak Peek: Upcoming Releases (The New Classics)

• Furniture Teasers: Excitement about the upcoming “new Classics” collection, including the Cocoon swivel rocker and new center hall tables.
• Focus on Function & Style: The designs address common client requests (e.g., sophisticated swivel rockers for spaces beyond nurseries).

Quote:
"Every man, male client of every design project has requested this thing. Yes, everybody wants movement …"
— Suzanne (01:55)

3. Vintage-Inspired Design Process

• Rooted in Treasured Finds: The team discusses hunting for vintage gems and translating these into modern, functional pieces.
• Example: The “Caviar” light began as a riff on a 1920s sconce Jess and Suzanne found on a treasure hunt, scaled up for today’s larger rooms and designed with exquisite brass and sculpted glass.

Quote:
"It's so gratifying that we're creating something so original but so steeped in something historic."
— Suzanne (05:19)

4. Detailed Review of the House Lights Collection

A. The Caviar Flush Mount (Big & Small)

• Design: Features solid brass bullnose and textured, amber-iridescent glass “bubbles.”
• Practicality: Comes in multiple sizes; can be used as flush mounts or sconces, perfect for everything from bedrooms to hallways and closets.
• Visual Impact: The glass casts dramatic shadows and creates a magical ambiance.

Quote:
"It really does feel like a little kid dipped his stick in his bubbles and started to blow. It's just so beautiful."
— Jess (07:01)
"There's a mystique to it. And that's what I feel in my bedroom... I love going to sleep looking at that, and I love waking up looking at that."
— Suzanne (07:44)

B. The Mod Sconce (Now in Red)

• Inspiration: Homage to French designer Jean Royère; previously only seen in high-end auctions.
• Color Journey: Took a year to perfect the “tomatoey” red hue.
• Function & Style: Playful, bold, and versatile; brings a statement pop to spaces like offices and powder baths.

Quote:
"I tell you, I put red in a room, and it's like, it's the star every time...He was playful, you know, and I think that this adds something...so we don't get too serious."
— Suzanne (11:38)

C. The Penny Lamp (Now in Calacatta Viola Marble)

• History: Penny has been a best seller for years; now reimagined in striking Calacatta Viola marble, available in both large and small.
• Placement Tips: Perfect for kitchen, console, desk, bathroom, or even as “nightlights.”
• Unique Variation: Each lamp is unique in its veining; designed to be both elegant and functional.

Quote:
"It's so classically beautiful...I want to steal it for other areas of the house. It is so classically beautiful. That little height lives perfectly on a backsplash under kitchen counters."
— Jess (16:08)
"Every one of them are different. So I love a wild card, y'all…it's like it was made for you."
— Suzanne (18:43)

D. The Alice Flush Mount

• Design Story: Updates the classic Alice sconce with a double bullnose, switching to white glass to keep it affordable in large scale.
• Functionality: Available in two sizes; ideal for hallways, mudrooms, closets—anywhere a stylish flush mount is needed.
• Aesthetic: Feels vintage, blends into artful spaces, softens straight lines.

Quote:
"There's something so sweet about the humble with all these oils and paintings and storytellers…it just gets along with everybody, but it has a cool vibe and cool mood that it feels at home."
— Suzanne (20:08)
"They're so cool. They feel iconic and it's just that vintage old school cool, man. It just is everything."
— Suzanne (21:59)

5. Unifying Details & Practical Advice

• Consistent Aesthetic: The “bullnose” brass detail creates cohesion across the collection—lending a jewelry-like character.
• Soft Shapes for the Modern Home: The orb and bubble shapes soften rooms full of hard lines, complementing the curve trend in interiors.
• Designed for Real Life: All hosts share where these lights shine in their everyday homes, providing concrete inspiration for listeners.

6. The Name “House Lights” (24:04)

• Reasoning: Named because “the house” designed the lights, turning the tables from specifying other lines to creating their own. Also a nod to theater “house lights”—the lights that fill a whole space.

Quote:
"So often we've specified lighting from other people's lines, and now we're designing the lights. So we thought it'd be fun to call it house lights."
— Jess (24:12)

7. Collection Harmony & Final Thoughts

• Mix & Match: The “House Lights” pieces are designed to live harmoniously together, allowing for unique combinations throughout the home.
• Limited Stock Warning: As with all Alice Lane launches, these are in limited supply, and there’s usually a rush to restock sold-out items.

Quote:
"House lights work so beautifully together…they are all part of the house lights collection and they all live really harmoniously together. So, cheers to that."
— Suzanne (24:37)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "These are scene changers... This is a really personal collection." — Jess (00:17)
• "It's so gratifying that we're creating something so original but so steeped in something historic." — Suzanne (05:19)
• "I love going to sleep looking at that, and I love waking up looking at that." — Suzanne (07:44)
• "I put red in a room and it's like, it's the star every time." — Suzanne (11:38)
• "That little height lives perfectly on a backsplash under the kitchen counters... so classically beautiful." — Jess (16:08)
• "There's something so sweet about the humble with all these oils and paintings and storytellers, you know, that it just... it gets along with everybody, but it has a cool vibe and a cool mood that it feels at home." — Suzanne (20:08)
• "So often we've specified lighting from other people's lines, and now we're designing the lights. So we thought it'd be fun to call it house lights." — Jess (24:12)
• "House lights work so beautifully together…they all live really harmoniously together." — Suzanne (24:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:09: Introduction & launch context
• 01:09–03:53: Sneak peek at upcoming “New Classics” furniture
• 03:53–06:25: Vintage inspirations & Caviar flush mount details
• 06:26–10:11: In-depth: Caviar Collection—application & installation tips
• 10:12–13:29: The Red Mod Sconce—design process and color story
• 15:16–18:47: Penny Lamp in Calacatta Viola—practical applications
• 19:06–22:20: The Alice flush mount and considerations for flush mount lighting
• 24:04–24:56: Why “House Lights” and collection harmony

Summary Takeaways

• The “House Lights” collection is a love letter to both heritage design and how we live today.
• Each item balances vintage inspiration with modern needs—from size to scale, finishes, and function.
• The hosts share not just product specs but real strategies for integrating these pieces naturally and beautifully into any home.
• The entire episode radiates their signature blend of wit, expertise, and warmth, making it as informative as it is inviting.