Dear Alice | Interior Design

Episode: Inside Suz’s Kids’ Room Makeover: Whimsical Design with Practical Perks
Date: September 18, 2025
Hosts: Jessica Bennett (Jess), Suzanne Hall (Sue Hall)

Overview

In this personal and inspiring episode, Suzanne Hall takes listeners inside her recent makeover of her two youngest sons’ shared bedroom. The conversation delves into the journey of transitioning her boys from cribs to their first “big boy” twin beds, with thoughtful choices around functionality, style, color, and sentimentality. The hosts discuss childhood rooms, design memories, planning for evolving needs, and easy-to-apply professional tips—all wrapped in the show’s characteristic warmth and wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood Bedroom Memories & Early Design Influences

• The Power of Childhood Spaces:
  • Both Jess and Sue reminisce about their own childhood bedrooms, highlighting how formative and expressive these spaces can be.
  • Jessica shares memories of shopping for wallpaper with her mom in 1987, emphasizing personal input and family collaboration:

    “It’s like, such a core memory for me when I think about designing my bedroom with my mom and her trusting me to help make these decisions…” (05:05)

  • Sue recalls creating a unique, colorful California vibe in her teen years, complete with beaded curtains, glow-in-the-dark stars, and incense.

    “I just became, like, this little hippie child. And, like, I just, like, loved all the colors, which, again, has never left, you know?” (07:58)

2. Suzanne’s Boys’ Room: Process & Intentions

• Design Challenge:
  • Transitioning from cribs to twin beds for her youngest sons and maximizing a cozy 12x12 ft. 1970s bedroom.
• Intentional Design Decisions:
  • Involving her sons in the process (using favorite colors/characters for inspiration, e.g., Catboy blue).
  • Reusing and repurposing meaningful items from their green nursery for comfort and continuity:

    “If you can keep some things the same so that they have something familiar around them, I think that's really, really important.” (19:16)

• Room Layout & Space Planning:
  • Priority on function: beds that grow with them, accessible storage, and preserving play space.
  • Use of CAD planning to solve both organization and flow within the small space.
  • Deliberate choice to keep beds slightly off the wall (about 4-6 inches) for easier bed-making and fluidity. (29:41)
• Notable Tip:

  “There’s nothing worse than a one lonely twin bed in a room. You gotta second one…there’s something so cute about [twin beds].” – Podcast Host (11:10–11:14)

3. Furnishings & Finishing Touches

• Key Pieces:
  • Two Marlo twin beds (with soft, dipped headboards—“smiling” shapes—to counteract the boxiness of the small room).
  • Large Miles nightstand between the beds:

    “We actually opted for the largest, widest nightstand that we make…brought in that really deep, dark, almost coffee-colored wood that looked really handsome—like a pair of dress shoes for a boy.” – Podcast Host (13:54)

  • Mitzi Étagère for flexible, vertical storage of books, collections, and even shoes.
  • Sussex rug (in “little men” 8x10 size) to visually expand the space and add warmth.
• Display & Organization:
  • Importance of vertical storage to keep floors open for play and visually raise the ceiling:

    “That Mitzi totally makes my ceiling…so tall.” – Sue Hall (16:16–16:19)

  • Bookcases and shelves for “pride-of-place” Lego builds and easy-to-reach shoes.
• Window Treatments:
  • Custom Roman shades made by Sue’s 80-year-old mother (Provo Grandma), using cherished Schumacher geometric fabric.
  • Romans hung as close to the ceiling as possible to give the illusion of height in standard 8-ft. ceilings.
  • Sentimental value in handmade details:

    “She’s incredible…she used books from, like, the 1950s to sew these…look how cute she is, here she is on her bed, just, like, sewing these darling Romans for my kids. Oh, I just love. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to take them off. Why am I…am I gonna cry?” – Sue Hall (22:51–23:41)

4. Color, Pattern & Style Strategy

• Color Palette:
  • Wall color is Sherwin Williams “Irises”, with ceiling “Yukon Sky” and trim in “Amethyst Shadow”.
  • Room is enveloped in soothing shades of blue and green (“color drenching”) echoing the view outside.
  • Layered, small-scale patterns (rugs, drapery) used to whimsically “expand” visual space and add a touch of playfulness akin to Minecraft/Legos.
  • Not everything must be perfectly matched—harmony comes from things you love:

    “Things throughout your house should be able to migrate from one room to the next and get along because you chose them...it's not like a perfect formula...these are decisions that have just evolved over time that all come together really harmoniously.” – Sue Hall (26:08–26:44)

5. Design Philosophy & Practical Tips for Listeners

• Space Planning:
  • Start with floor plans and an inventory of functions/items needed before selecting furniture.
  • Consider circulation, room for play, and future needs.
  • Use larger rugs and hang treatments high to visually expand small rooms.
• Storage:
  • Combine open and closed storage (etageres, large nightstands, lifted pieces to allow air/light beneath), especially in rooms with small closets.
• Sentimentality & Whimsy:
  • Keep special artworks, objects, or details to provide comfort during transitions.
  • Don’t be afraid of fun, childlike patterns, or playful elements:

    “You don’t have to be so serious. It’s a kid’s room.” – Sue Hall (31:59)

• Timelessness Through Love:
  • If you choose things you genuinely love, a room’s style will evolve smoothly as needs (and children) change.
• Final Encouragement:
  • Take pride in curating a room with personal meaning and let it reflect your family.

    “Hopefully they see, like, there’s a pride in space, you know, and like identifying with this space. I hope that’s something they hold on to.” – Sue Hall (32:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s just so calming for the boys and so pretty. I think one of the things that was really cute…was she was like, ‘it’s just like the mountains. It’s like this purpley blue with green trees. And of course, they’re all going to get along together.’” – Podcast Host (25:09)
• “I like that it kind of smiles and dips in the bottom just because you’re in a small, rectangular room. So any…softness like that…it just helps to blur the lines and not make it feel like a small box.” – Sue Hall (19:28)
• “Buy cool stuff, y’all.” – Sue Hall (32:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–03:39 Childhood room memories, early design influences
• 09:06–11:55 Beginning of Suzanne’s boys’ room transformation & initial space planning challenges
• 13:54–15:56 Furniture choices, rug selection, and vertical storage strategies
• 16:59–18:06 Space-expanding tricks: patterns, shelf & window treatment placement
• 19:16–23:41 The emotional impact of design, importance of continuity, and family contributions (Provo Grandma’s Romans)
• 24:11–25:09 Paint colors and the calming effect of the color palette
• 26:08–26:44 The evolution and harmony of personal design choices
• 29:41–32:54 Practical advice, space planning tips, and the value of personal, whimsical touches

Conclusion

Suzanne’s heartfelt walkthrough of her sons’ bedroom transformation is packed with practical tips, meaningful takeaways, and warm anecdotes. Listeners are encouraged to combine functionality with sentimentality, make thoughtful use of small spaces, and fill rooms with things that bring joy and comfort—to both kids and adults. The episode ultimately champions a design philosophy where a home grows and evolves with the family, filled with intention, personality, and love.