Dear Alice | Interior Design
Episode: Interior Design Q&A: Fireplaces, Contractors & Red Flags
Release Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Alison, Suze (Suzanne Hall), Sam

Episode Overview

This lively Q&A episode tackles some of the most common – and vexing – interior design dilemmas sent in by listeners. With their signature wit and eye for high-style, Alison, Suze, and Sam dig into everything from the realities of living in a log cabin and handling awkward fireplaces to how to select the right designer or contractor and let go of unwanted furniture. Warm, practical, and occasionally hilarious, this episode is full of actionable advice for homeowners and design lovers alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Living in a Log Cabin: Pros, Cons, and Design Strategy

Timestamps: 04:00 – 12:47

• Pros: Cozy, absorbs sound well, natural aesthetics, solid structure, easy to cut in new features like windows. Excellent insulation for cold climates.
  • "Noise can... bounce around... [but] log cabins really absorb sound..." (05:12, Alison)
• Cons: Ongoing maintenance (chinking and resealing every 5–10 years). Bugs can burrow into chinking, particularly certain types of bees and spiders. Visually busy with lots of orange tones; nothing is perfectly square or level, making furniture placement tricky.
  • "It's very busy visually... sometimes on a Zoom call, I'm like, whoa, what is all that behind me? It's just tons of orange." (06:36, Alison)
• Design Advice:
  • Lean fully into the log cabin aesthetic (think Ralph Lauren/Sundance style). Use warm tones, patterns, and layering to harmonize with the bold environment.
  • Art on the walls and rugs can break up the expanse of wood and tone down the orange.
  • Logs let you hang art anywhere without searching for studs.
  • If the logs are too orange, consider sanding and restaining.
  • "More is more in this circumstance." (11:38, Suze)
  • "I think the look and the memories are absolutely worth it. I would do it." (12:43, Suze)

2. Friends as Designers: Smart Boundaries & Smoother Projects

Timestamps: 12:48 – 17:52

• The dilemma: A listener wonders if hiring a close friend — who has opposite design tastes — for a project is a good idea.
• Alison and Suze’s take:
  • Friendships are precious and can be harmed by the stressors and tensions of design projects.
  • Refer to stylistic differences as a gracious reason to choose another designer.
  • If you proceed, have frank conversations upfront about how to communicate and handle disagreements.
  • "There is just something really sacred about friendship. So it can be tricky with friends and family." (13:11, Alison)
  • Suggest enlisting your friend’s help to find a designer that's a better style fit — keeps the friendship intact and is honest about your needs.

3. Corner Fireplaces: How to Place Your Furniture & Make it Work

Timestamps: 19:33 – 24:52

• Big frustration: Corner fireplaces are universally disliked for awkward space planning, yet are common in many homes.
  • "Builders, developers, you are not saving space. You are making things complicated. Please don't use them anymore. No one likes them." (19:33, Suze)
• Suze’s real-life solutions:
  1. Ignore the fireplace; orient furniture (sectional, TV) to another wall if the fireplace isn’t worth highlighting.
  2. Remodel: Extend and dramatize the mantle so it feels built-in and intentional.
  3. Space plan to accommodate both the fireplace and conversation areas; allow directional choices for TV/fireplace/window viewing.
  • "We actually took the mantle and elongated it... made a proper built-in that made it look more grand and glorious." (21:30, Suze)
• Focus on making the fireplace a focal point if you remodel. Otherwise, it’s okay to sidestep it in your furniture plan.

4. Hiring Designers or Contractors: Order of Operations & What to Watch For

Timestamps: 24:52 – 31:12

• Who to hire first? Always start with the designer, not the contractor.
  • Designers provide resources, vetted trade contacts, and help clarify your vision before it’s handed to the builder.
  • "The designer is going to have resources... the best wallpaper hanger, the best painters... They come with their own bank of resources." (25:23, Alison)
• Red flags:
  • Designers who don't have a strong list of trade contacts.
  • Lack of finished projects or positive referrals.
  • Designers who start but don't finish strong; experience matters.
  • Contractors who don’t finish jobs, or drag projects out because they’re juggling too many at once.
  • "She just, she can't get him back here to finish. And nobody wants to come and do half of a job." (30:51, Alison)
• Always check references and go with referrals from satisfied clients.
• Understand the difference between designers (build/construction) and decorators (finishing/styling).

5. Best Flooring Choice Today

Timestamps: 31:12 – 32:32

• Hardwood floors are considered supreme for both function and fashion.
  • Real hardwood (either sand-and-finish or engineered) is preferred over vinyl or tile lookalikes.
  • "I'm talking about real hardwood... sand and finish." (31:19, Alison)
• Use tile or marble only in entries; bedrooms may still have carpet or a runner over hardwood on stairs.

6. What to Do with “Throwaway” or Outgrown Furniture

Timestamps: 32:32 – 36:30

• Options beyond Facebook Marketplace:
  • Gift to family, friends, or workers (contractors, cleaning staff).
  • Donate to thrift organizations or charities (DI/Goodwill-style) — someone in need benefits, and you get a tax write-off.
  • "It was the coolest thing to see everybody that had worked on this house just, like, feel so grateful to have just, like, a piece that they get to go home with that, like, feels new to them." (34:07, Suze)
  • Visualize your donations helping someone specific to feel good about letting go.
  • "I just always think I'm giving it to my friend Shima when I donate it. And that feels really good to me." (35:44, Alison)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On leaning into the log cabin look:
  • "More is more in this circumstance." (11:38, Suze)
  • "I think the look and the memories are absolutely worth it." (12:43, Suze)
• On corner fireplaces:
  • "Builders, developers... you are not saving space. You are making things complicated. Please don't use them anymore. No one likes them." (19:33, Suze)
  • "We actually took the mantle and... made it look more grand and glorious..." (21:30, Suze)
• On hiring friends:
  • "There is just something really sacred about friendship. So it can be tricky..." (13:11, Alison)
  • "Friendship is the most dear thing. Yeah, it's like almost like family." (17:13, Alison)
• On referrals and finishing the job:
  • "A referral is the best thing. I love it when we get a referral just because they've lived with it." (27:31, Suze)
  • "Probably the number one complaint people say to me is ... 'they just never finished.'" (29:32, Alison)
• On donating furniture:
  • "It was the coolest thing to see everybody that had worked on this house just, like, feel so grateful..." (34:07, Suze)
  • "I just always think I'm giving it to my friend Shima when I donate it. And that feels really good to me." (35:44, Alison)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:00 – 12:47: Log cabin living: Honest pros and cons, embracing the style, practical tips
• 12:48 – 17:52: Should you hire a friend as your designer? Relationship boundaries, exit strategies
• 19:33 – 24:52: Solving the dreaded corner fireplace: Space planning examples and remodel tips
• 24:52 – 31:12: Designers vs. contractors: Referrals, warnings, who to hire first, and those crucial finishers
• 31:12 – 32:32: What flooring wins today? (Spoiler: Hardwood)
• 32:32 – 36:30: How to clear out old/good furniture in meaningful ways

Bottom Line

This episode exemplifies Dear Alice’s blend of down-to-earth realism and high-end design savvy. From navigating the quirks of specialty architecture to safeguarding friendships and creating homes where memories (not just style) are made, the candid advice offered here makes design feel approachable, impactful, and above all, personal.