Latest Home Design Trends Reviewed by Dear Alice

Summary

Dear Alice | Interior Design Podcast
Episode: Latest Home Design Trends Reviewed by Dear Alice
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Hosts: Jessica Bennett (Jess) and Suzanne Hall (Sue)
Additional Contributor: Corey

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Introduction

In the latest episode of Dear Alice, hosts Jessica Bennett and Suzanne Hall delve into the top home design trends of 2025. Accompanied by Corey, they analyze, endorse, or critique each trend, providing listeners with insightful perspectives grounded in their extensive experience at Alice Lane Interior Design.

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1. Pattern and Paint Drenching

Timestamp: [04:08]

Discussion: Jess and Sue express strong support for the trend of pattern and paint drenching, emphasizing its ability to transform spaces with intentional color and pattern layering.

Notable Quotes:

• Jess: “The dividends that you get from sitting in a room that has been color drenched is like, unlike anything.”
• Sue: “I think treating an entire room as one is just something that feels fully designed and fully thought out.”

They highlight a project in Washington, D.C., where a library was entirely coated in glossy red, including the sofa, creating a cohesive and invigorating environment. The hosts discuss the importance of thoughtful execution to avoid visual chaos, advocating for either solid color drenching or strategic pattern layering.

Insights:

• Color drenching enhances natural light reflection, adding depth and vibrancy.
• Pattern layering requires careful consideration of scale and color contrast to maintain aesthetic harmony.
• Encouragement for listeners to experiment with smaller spaces before committing to larger areas.

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2. Wood Drenching

Timestamp: [09:46]

Discussion: Following pattern and color drenching, the hosts explore wood drenching. Jess shares her enthusiasm for using wood grain as a focal point, citing the Desert Oaks project in Odessa, Texas, where wood paneling adds warmth and historical depth.

Notable Quotes:

• Jess: “When you have that kind of sense on the outside, it makes going inside some of the choices feel really, really honest.”
• Sue: “They elevate everything around them.”

Insights:

• Wood drenching brings an organic, timeless feel to spaces, contrasting beautifully with modern elements.
• Emphasis on using high-quality, stain-grade woods like walnut burl veneer to add texture and character.
• The trend supports sustainability by utilizing durable, long-lasting materials that offer aesthetic and functional benefits.

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3. Fast Furniture is Out; Art Deco and Heirloom Quality Pieces are In

Timestamp: [14:21]

Discussion: Corey introduces the shift away from fast furniture towards Art Deco and heirloom-quality pieces, a move towards sustainability and timeless design.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey: “The throwaway furniture thing has just been around for too long.”
• Jess: “There's a soul to that [heirloom furniture].”

Insights:

• Heirloom pieces offer longevity and a unique character that mass-produced furniture lacks.
• Investing in quality furniture reduces waste and aligns with sustainable living practices.
• Combining antique finds with modern pieces creates a balanced and personalized interior aesthetic.

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4. Burl Wood Renaissance

Timestamp: [20:54]

Discussion: The hosts celebrate the resurgence of burl wood, a rare and intricate wood featuring deformed growth patterns that make each piece unique.

Notable Quotes:

• Sue: “Caviar of woods.”
• Jess: “Burl wood feels more exotic than just a straight grain.”

Insights:

• Burl wood is prized for its stunning visual complexity and durability, making it ideal for statement pieces.
• Techniques like resawing and book matching maximize the use of burl wood, enhancing its natural beauty.
• Incorporating burl wood adds a sense of history and craftsmanship to modern interiors.

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5. Rustic Farmhouse Revival

Timestamp: [25:53]

Discussion: Sue and Jess discuss the rustic farmhouse revival, characterized by honest, unpolished spaces that echo a simpler, more domestic lifestyle.

Notable Quotes:

• Sue: “There's something just really... honest about that.”
• Jess: “When you envelop yourself in this style, your consumption lowers.”

Insights:

• The trend emphasizes natural materials and indigenous cladding, creating spaces that feel connected to their environment.
• Rustic design fosters a sense of community and simplicity, aligning with current societal desires for authenticity and sustainability.
• Projects like the Linden Art Manor showcase how rustic elements can coexist with modern functionalities, such as integrating handmade features and maintaining functional homestead aspects.

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6. Earth Tones are In; Cool Gray is Out

Timestamp: [33:29]

Discussion: The conversation shifts to the resurgence of earthy color palettes and the decline of cool gray in home design.

Notable Quotes:

• Sue: “Return of natural, earthy colors like browns... creating a sense of calm and grounding.”
• Jess: “Let's just try and veer away from it [gray] just because it's only going to make things cool too.”

Insights:

• Earth tones such as browns, terracotta, and warm neutrals create a welcoming and serene atmosphere.
• Gray, often associated with sterile or impersonal spaces, is being replaced by more vibrant and comforting hues.
• The trend encourages the use of colors that connect interiors with nature, enhancing the overall aesthetic and emotional well-being of occupants.

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7. Dog Room as a New Luxury Must-Have

Timestamp: [34:07]

Discussion: Recognizing the integral role pets play in families, the hosts explore the emerging trend of dedicated dog rooms as a luxury feature in homes.

Notable Quotes:

• Sue: “Being able to accommodate for your dog means your pantries will not be overrun with all of the dog products.”
• Jess: “If you have pets, especially big dogs, how are we going to bathe them? How are we going to care for them?”

Insights:

• Dog rooms integrate pet needs seamlessly into home design, ensuring both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
• Features may include built-in washing stations, storage solutions for pet supplies, and comfortable lounging areas tailored to pets' needs.
• This trend reflects a broader move towards inclusive design, where every family member, including pets, is considered in the interior planning process.

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Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Dear Alice underscores the importance of thoughtful, sustainable, and inclusive design practices. By embracing rich colors, quality materials, and accommodating personal lifestyles—including pet ownership—the hosts advocate for interiors that are not only beautiful but also deeply personalized and enduring.

Listeners are encouraged to experiment with these trends, starting small to gauge their impact before fully committing. The episode serves as both inspiration and practical guidance for anyone looking to refresh their living spaces in line with contemporary design movements.

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Stay Connected:

• Instagram: Alice Lane Interiors | Alice Lane Home
• Design Services: Visit Alice Lane Home and navigate to the Design Services tab to request assistance.

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Subscribe and Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and share your thoughts with us!

Transcript

[Jess]

Foreign.

[Sue]

This is what everybody's talking about right now, says the SEO searches. So we thought we would get on here and either lean in or debunk.

[Jess]

I will say, like, the dividends that you get from sitting in a room that has been color drenched is like, unlike anything, whatever their routine is. If you can kind of like, if that's going to be in your life, you know, for the foreseeable future, make sure that that's, like, thought of in the design.

[Sue]

Hi, everyone. Welcome to Dear Alice. We are going to be talking about the design trends of 2025 so far. I know these have come to us through different publishing opportunities. We're keeping tabs on the shelter mags. And this is what everybody's talking about right now, says the SEO searches. So we thought we would get on here and either lean in or debunk what we don't think is real.

[Corey]

Yes. Yeah. So we've chosen a few of, like, the trending topics, like Jess said from these major publications. And yeah, we're just gonna dive deep into them and either agree or disagree. Maybe we'll disagree, you know, with each other. Who knows? Yeah.

[Jess]

Arm wrestle.

[Corey]

Exactly.

[Jess]

Yeah, I know.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Jess]

Why I'm gonna stay here. Yes.

[Sue]

But first, speaking of design, you guys make sure that you're following us on Instagram if you guys are new here. Dear Alice is not the name of our company.

[Corey]

No.

[Jess]

No surprise.

[Corey]

And none of us are named Alice, actually.

[Jess]

Yeah, I know.

[Sue]

It's true.

[Jess]

This is Jess. I'm Sue. This is Corey.

[Sue]

Thank you. Yeah, so on Instagram, we're actually called Alice Lane and we thought it'd be fun to name the podcast Dear Alice. So this is where you kind of write in questions and we answer them here through different podcasts. So you can follow us on Instagram at Alice Lane Interiors, or our store is Alice Lane Home, where we're creating our own products and often featuring them here and sort of telling the backstories, which is really fun, and using those in projects too. And we also have a free design service available as well as a paid design service where we do full service new builds and remodels. That's the Alice Lane interior side. But through the home side, Alice Lane Home, we have a free service where we'll use all of our 200 vendors as well as our own proprietary product project products that we're making. And we have a free service called Home Furnishing Design. So we will learn who you are and work with you on those rooms for free, which is crazy. We have designers that all went to interior design school degrees. They're going to mock your rooms up in cad. It's amazing service. You guys need to know about it. I feel like it's one of the loopholes, the great loopholes in the world of interior design. So if you are interested in that, you can go to our Aline home and then there's a design services tab. Right, Corey?

[Corey]

Yep. So if you scroll down on that, there's a little form you can fill out, and then one of our designers will contact you.

[Sue]

Yeah. And they're always accepting new projects there, so. And I think right now in Alid.

[Jess]

Yes, we are accepting some new projects. We are in the year of installs, which is like the grand finale of all these big projects we've been working on for three, four, five years. And all these installs are landing at the same time. So we're opening up some availability for new projects to still in the year 2025. So if you have a project, a new build, you have a plot of land, or you just want to do a remodel of what you're currently sitting in, we can help you, like, ground up or anything. We got you. And we'll do everything from architectural details to the furnishing and last layer. So, yep, you can still go to design services and then you'll fill the Alid form out and we'll reach out to you for that project. If you would love to get into it, we'd love to have you.

[Sue]

Awesome. Thank you.

[Corey]

Should we jump into it?

[Sue]

Let's do it.

[Jess]

Let's go.

[Corey]

Okay. Okay. So today we have, like, six. Yeah. Trends that we're going to kind of go over. So the first one is pattern and paint drenching, which we've talked about quite a bit this year, and I would say the last year in general. So thoughts on that? Agree. Disagree.

[Jess]

Agree.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Sue]

Agree. 100%.

[Jess]

Absolutely.

[Sue]

I think treating an entire room as one is just something that feels fully designed and fully thought out. We're kind of done with that era where you're just painting everything white and you have black windows and you're throwing in really neutral, dry furniture. Now we're seeing rooms that are covered in gloss, the ceilings, as well as the trims, the windows, like you're all in with it, and it's really fun. We've got an image right now on screen. If you're watching on YouTube or Spotify, you'll see this room that we did in a Washington, D.C. project that is a library. Completely, completely coated in this beautiful Glossy red. Even the sofa is in a red mohair, so it blends right in, and it just feels whole.

[Jess]

Yeah. Like, you had to pay attention to every detail because, like, it would stand out if you didn't because of that dark color drench. Right. And so when you do things neutral, you can kind of get away with not caring. Right. But it doesn't look thoughtful. A color drench room or a pattern drench room. It has to be thought out. If you're going to layer patterns with patterns, you. It has to be thought out if you're going to layer different tones with different tones and color block something. It has to be considered and thought out. Otherwise, it looks like a terrible mess. But I will say, like, the dividends that you get from sitting in a room that has been color drenched is, like, unlike anything. Light looks different. Like, what comes through the window looks different. Like, all your assets that you're currently sitting within your house, if you throw color and saturation into a room, you. You just gain, like, 10 more, like, prisms of light. I swear to you, like, by the way light reflects. So I think it's just. It's the most powerful thing that you can do to a space to make it change. Jess, you've. You've at least you've released it. Your room, your living room. How does that feel? Like, you had a neutral room, still really thoughtfully designed. It was grass. Grass cloth. It was lovely. And then you were in a mood to do this color drenching. Like, it took a lot of thought.

[Sue]

It did, but.

[Jess]

But then, like, how does it feel?

[Sue]

It was a total brain buster. I just feel like we're designing different in 2025. Yeah, we're. I mean, we were designing different even a year ago. But you continue to see this in all the shelter mags. It's color, color, color or pattern? Pattern, pattern. You're seeing the murals, these Gracie wallpaper murals or de Gorny full. Full floor to ceiling. So it's all in design, and it's really making designers have to put on a different cap and think about things differently. And I think as a designer, if you'. You're. You're definitely on the clotting edge, and we have to be on the cutting edge, which is why I made myself take the physical challenge and really take my beautiful, sophisticated, neutral living room that I think anybody be really happy with by. By any stretch. And I said, I'm painting all of it floor to ceiling, the windows, the casings, all of it high gloss. And I really, truly feel so much more in that room. Not just because it's different, but because it's so much color. I didn't use a neutral, and it's been invigorating. Like, I feel like I had a facelift or something. I don't know. It's just so, so different. And I'm excited for people as they take on this challenge. You should at least do a room in your house and take this on. Whether it be your closet or your powder bath or your pantry, something easy. Or go all in with a living room or a primary bedroom or something like that. You're going to get so much payoff.

[Jess]

Yeah.

[Sue]

Yeah.

[Jess]

I will say, when you were talking, I'm like, you can kind of ask yourself if you are like a pattern drench person or a color drench person. And, like, what makes. And like, we've been doing a lot of these installs for these homes that we've been finishing that have both components, ones that are more pattern on pattern, ones that are more like color drench. And then you have glossies and color blocking with other materials happening in the space. And I will tell you, like, just my own opinion how I feel. I love a color drench room. I love it when it's solid. I dress in color blocks more than pattern on pattern. Like, like historically. And that's something like, I'm like, realizing when I go from room to room to room, I'm like, there's something about just a full color drench that just, like, allows everything else to pop off. The profiles of things. The art, the framing, the, you know, the light. It feels different when it's against a crisp edge of a solid color. Anyway, it's a good question to ask yourself. So in this trend.

[Sue]

Totally agree with you.

[Jess]

Yeah.

[Sue]

Because I won't wear a pattern. I. I've given away so many clothes in my closet that are patterns I have. I just. I feel like the cloth are wearing me.

[Jess]

Yeah.

[Sue]

When I'm wearing a pattern and I can't even see myself at all in this piece, and then I always end up taking it off and putting on a solid. So I've learned that about myself. I'm just. I'm just more simple that way. But the color block gives you that really fun contrast and play. Especially if you're using opposites on the color wheel.

[Jess]

Yep.

[Sue]

Which is so fun. In my color drenched new room, that's a dark teal. I put a bright yellow chair in there, and it feels so designer. And it woke the whole seam scene up. So I'm with you. I do appreciate the pattern on pattern. It feels more traditional to me. And in my heart, I'm not a traditional girl. I love doing traditional work. I love knowing traditional people, and I love being able to flex that muscle. But in my own home, I'm just a little bit more. I don't know, just color block a little simpler. I still like really dressy, fancy things, but the pattern on pattern on pattern, English style is just almost too much for my brain, for my own home, because I just wanted to be quiet because I guess we've designed all day. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Corey]

Kind of the next, like. Yeah, kind of the next portion of this is. What did you call it? Wood drenching.

[Jess]

Wood drenching, yeah. Yes.

[Corey]

So this is still number one. It's just kind of in addition to.

[Jess]

The pattern and color, this is my kind of pattern. I mean, I Don't get me wrong, I love Gracie. I love de Gorny. I love all of that. And, like, it's incredible when you. And when you get a really well designed mural, like, hands down, it's an experience. And all these give you an experience. I will say that wood drenching. The picture that we have shown on the screen right now is of our project, our Desert Oaks project that we just installed in Odessa, Texas. And there's this, like, large. I'm calling it a salon because it's where you receive people. It's a little bit more formal. It's where you show art and all the things. So it's like the entry salon. And at one point, we did the paneling details. We have these beautiful two columns separating this entry gallery from a living. A formal living room with a marble fireplace. At one point, it was proposed to paint the paneling white. And this concept, we just. I kept staring at these wood grains. I'm like, gosh, it would be so much more impressive if this. If we're trying to tell this story of this. This historic spot of the house that everything was, like, branched off of. It needs to be wood grain. And we. We finalized that decision. I think that that's when this house started to have a real pulse, is when we decided that we needed to keep the grain in this room. And, like, this. We've looked forward to this house for five years, and everyone's like, what's your. What are you most excited to see? And I'm like, this room. This is the room I would want to sit in. And I thought that, like, during the process and Being in the house and, like, amazing spaces. We have Gracie in the bedroom. We have all sorts of things happening. Being in this room was just, like, otherworldly. Like, you did not feel like you were in the year 2025 in the United. Like, it was insane. It was so beautiful. And just have everything branch off of these. These tones and just that natural grain was incredible. So I'm like, I am here for the wood drenching. I love, like, 70s paneling. I'm going to tell you right now. I think it's really fun. And again, it's the contrast of what sits in front of it. Whatever you put in front of that, like, looks incredible. It's so good. And everything becomes sculpture when you have that dark contrast of, like, wood tone on the wall. We had, like, a cute little throwaway. This, like, window seat with this yellow. It was supposed to be a neutral bench, and then we changed it to this, like, yellowy marigold color with, like, this pink piping. And it was so happy. So again, just like, those color blocks that make you happy, the reference, other things in the foreground in the next room. I'm really excited for you guys to see this whole house. It'll be a second until we get it professionally photographed, but it's so good, and it makes you feel something.

[Sue]

You can see some sneak peeks on our Instagram, usually on shooting projects. Some of the shelter magazines like to wait a year before they're shot. So it really could be a full year before you see this in the portfolio and before we talk about it on here. But this is a sneak peek. These are just some cell phone images, those of you that are watching.

[Jess]

So wood drenching here for it.

[Corey]

It's a thing.

[Sue]

Yeah, yeah. Pattern drenching. You saw some of that in some of the images just after. This is the boys and the girls bedroom from that same home. You got several layers of stripes happening on the bedding.

[Jess]

Yep. We did this on. In a few of, like, their guest bedrooms and in the boys bedroom, where we have, like, dark grass cloth. We have green trim. We have, like, this axis that he was a trophy that he won. Anyway, all these things, like, the pattern on pattern is the story of the individual that, like, sleeps there. And, like, it just feels so. Such a doll. I think a doll face move. I love it. Speaking of doll face, this is one that we did this, like, little office for this gal here in Utah county, and we. It was. I don't even know if this is available anymore, this Kate Spade pattern, but.

[Sue]

It'S so project is probably like 15 or 14 years old.

[Jess]

It's an oldie, but it's a goodie.

[Sue]

Pattern on pattern. This is, you know, the old decorator trick of the wallpaper being the same pattern as the fabric. This was employed in this room. I think it was a Kate Spade wallpaper and a fabric and the drapes match the wallpaper. And it's just so fun, so cute. It's so good. And this has been good for 14 or 15 years. I would not change this today.

[Jess]

I wouldn't either. And I love to. I mean, we use this again, an heirloom rug, a hand knotted rug that's also a pattern, but the field of it's not white. So I think when you're playing pattern on pattern, you kind of have to do this like your pattern scale and then your pattern filled colors that those are contrasting. It's not all the same field. So anyway, but look how rad that like the color block of the green velvet against the wallpaper and the. It's so good. So yes, we're here. We love pattern. We love wood, we love all things.

[Corey]

Okay. The next, the next trend we're going to talk about is fast. Furniture is out. Art deco and heirloom quality pieces are in. I love this one because I feel like just to throw away furniture is a thing of the past and we want, you know, quality. I think, you know, probably every one of these trends is. Is the pendulum shifting the other way. Right. It's a reaction to what's just barely been happening. And I think the whole throwaway furniture thing has just been around for too long. And it's just about time that we, like, you know, as a society reinvest in quality and in thoughtfulness behind the pieces that are in our house, you know?

[Jess]

Yeah.

[Corey]

So obviously, yes, I agree.

[Jess]

No, I know no surprise to anybody that we love fine furnishings. Like, that's what we try and like create, you know, for our own products. And that's what we specify for our clients because we don't want them, you know, calling us in here saying like, my sofa collapsed, you know.

[Sue]

Yeah.

[Jess]

Anyway, so we love find furniture, but there is something when you start to get into like the antique realm of just like getting something that was so well built that it's like lasted for decades and you get to like still live with it. There's a soul to that.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Jess]

I can think of all the projects, like even the shot, the photography shots where it's captured in antique. I'm like, man, like, I feel like the spirits of old are just like traipsing around and like, that is magic. The shot is magic because the furniture has magic or the accessory has magic that's like lived on for years and years and years. So we just actually we're. We're. We're working on a home in Boston, Beacon Hill area, and we went to New Hampshire to go antique shopping in this last site visit and it was so much fun.

[Corey]

Oh, I bet, I bet, I bet there too. Like that side of the country, just their antiques are insane.

[Jess]

New Hampshire every day, all day. But just the. Some of the pieces that we were able to rescue that were like perfect for the house, it'll be. I think it's the juxtaposition of those mixed with like newer pieces too.

[Corey]

I love that.

[Jess]

It's not like she got a full sofa for the family room at the antique store, you know, that's not going to be comfortable. Those are. They were smaller then, but it's just like those case goods, like a chest. We got a really amazing dining table that was like just massive and huge and gorgeous.

[Corey]

Even rugs.

[Jess]

Yeah.

[Corey]

I think like when we have.

[Jess]

We love vintage rugs.

[Corey]

Yeah. Whenever we have those animals, just like, man, imagine the people that have like walked on this just like, you know, from 100 plus years ago. Just that thought of it to me is just insane. Just. Yeah. Because I bet those people then I'm always like, I. They probably never thought in their wildest dreams, you know, someone would have this in, you know, in Utah of all places, you know, 100 plus years from. From then. So I just think that's cool. The story behind it is cool. And like you said, the vibe, like the feel of it, the spirits. Yeah, well, whatever you believe in. Yeah, I think that's cool.

[Jess]

I think they're ghosts and spirits and things like that.

[Corey]

Yeah. Yeah, definitely.

[Jess]

Hanging out, hanging out, adding to the spirit.

[Corey]

I mean, on top of that, though, there's also a sustainability story for sure with it too. You know, like, I. Whenever I'm throwing anything away, especially something like big that I paid a good amount of money for, that's just going to sit somewhere in a landfill. Like, it just. It breaks my heart a little bit, you know, so that to me is. Is important as well. And I'm glad, you know, we're kind of all shifting to kind of think that way as well, because I don't. You can't keep everything, that's for sure. But if you work towards buying things that are quality, that are going to last, you A long time that. That diminishes the amount that you will waste or throw away. So I think that's important.

[Jess]

And you get to this point, too. I feel like I'm at this with, like, my house in its current, like, state of, like, the size that it's in. Like, my consumption isn't as great. There's not a lot that I'm consuming right now as far as just, like, getting additional things, you know, like, just to, like, layer on top of. Because I'm really happy with, like, where it's sitting because it was done really well. And occasionally I'll find something that I fall in love with and I'll just rotate things around. But there's something really, like, lovely. If you're continually thinking that you need to consume and get more and more and more and more and more, something's just, like, not right. And you should ask for help, you know, design help, truly, you know, to see, like, how can I get my home to where I'm really. I'm happy with it. Like, the base layer is right. There's only so many ways you can arrange a room where it's going to feel right. So if you're consistently thinking, like, gosh, like, I'm never going to be happy with this place. You just need an expert eye or a fresh pair of eyes to help you see what, like, the good is in the room and what you need for the space so that you can, like, consume what you need and then just, like, let it sit because it's right, you know? I don't know.

[Sue]

Yeah, well said.

[Jess]

And we love a hunt. I mean, we love vintage shopping. You love vintage shopping.

[Corey]

Jess, you have an expert tip on how to sleep cool during these hot summer nights. Let's share it with the people.

[Sue]

I really do. Guys, it's the cozy earth sheets. I have to tell you, they regulate temperature. And by regulate temperature, I mean between me and my husband, we sleep. Sleep very different. He's a much bigger person than I am, and he sleeps so hot. Even just touching his body is hot. So I got the sheets, and I have to tell you, he's sleeping through the night, and we're both comfortable. Also, they have this really pretty sheen to them, which I appreciate. Beautiful things as, you know. So I think they're gorgeous. The hand is amazing. And they just naturally wick away heat and moisture from your body, helping you sleep several degrees cooler. And sleeping in a cooler environment helps offer scientifically supported benefits that enhance your sleep quality and your overall health. So I feel great about that.

[Corey]

Guys, this is a risk free purchase. Cozy earth offers a 100 night sleep trial. So try them during the hottest nights of the year. If you're not in love, return them hassle free. But trust me, you won't want to upgrade your summer. Go to cozyearth.com and use code Dear Alice for up to 40% off. Best selling temperature regulating sheets, apparel and more. Trust me, you'll feel the difference at the very first night. Sleep cooler. Lounge lighter. Stay cozy. Okay, the next point is that burl wood, there's a burl wood renaissance. So obviously, yeah, like sticking with, with furniture. But to if you guys don't know what burl wood is. A burl in a wood is a deformed growth like on a trunk of a tree. So it's as you can imagine, those don't get huge. So that's why it's expensive and it's rare delicacy. Yeah, exactly.

[Sue]

Caviar of woods.

[Corey]

Yes. Yeah, perfect. And so then they'll take that and then they'll like resaw it is what it's called to make really thin veneer with it. And so they can maximize the use of that burl because you would never like chop that into like material that you build a structure out of that would obviously be insane. Yeah, so they resaw it really thin and make veneer out of it which is also really cool because then you can do fun things like book matching where it's where you take two pieces of that veneer that go together and put them together on the piece. It's. It adds another architectural element to the furniture. So yeah, I again I'm here for it. I think it's cool. Jess and I have like been working on some burlwood stuff for probably a year and it should come out in the fall. Really is that we're planning.

[Sue]

Yeah, yeah. Super, super handsome and just feels like an old train car or you know, something from another world. And I get it because traditional has been trending and so you get to see these stain grade woods coming about. We're going to start to see woods get darker in the home. We're going to be done with the blonde floors and you're going to start seeing like the walnut woods and whatnot coming into play. So if you're watching here on the screen we have Suze's bathroom that she completed last year. Sue, tell them what we're looking at.

[Jess]

This is a walnut burl veneer. This is my, my little vanity. And I told my cabinet maker that I Wanted I had a picture. I'm like, what kind of burl do you think this is? Because it's interesting when you're talking about just that deformed little pocket inside the trunk, like, that's in every type of wood, right. You have walnut, you have ash, you have like, all these different species. And so it's interesting when you think of, like, walnut is a premium cut of wood. It's hard. It costs a lot, like, to probably get the caviar of walnut. It's probably going to be more expensive than the caviar of, you know, a lesser. Yeah, a lesser species. So he said it was really hard to find.

[Corey]

Yeah, I bet it's supposed to. This is, like, odd. Like, it's a pretty intense burl that you have on it.

[Jess]

And it's super cool because some of them will feel more flat. This one had, like, some, like, just pockets and things that he had to, like, do his, like, little magician photography.

[Sue]

Of yours has a real texture to the face of it. It's not just flat. So, yeah, whatever piece you got, you definitely. You just paid a premium. Yeah, yeah. It's so stunning.

[Jess]

Anyway, so again, it's not a big space and. But I knew that I wanted a stain grade because I just wanted to fill figurine. And I'm like. And burl is king. We've been in love with it for a really long time. And I'm like, I want a brill cabinet. And there's just such a history to it also. And just again, it's. It's just such a special grain and it feels more exotic than just a straight grain. I think that that would have been the. The lame trick to pull. It needed to be, bro. And so now, like, I'm obsessed with.

[Corey]

My sanity, especially on something that isn't gigantic and huge. And it's to kind of just all concentrated to. Yeah, yeah. That's really cool.

[Jess]

Which is why a lot of times when you see Brawler, you can, like, capture some out in the wild. You'll see it in, like, an antique chest or something, you know, and somebody that has some, like, real presence when you enter into a room or at the end of the hallway or. I think that that's such a beautiful place to invest it in because your eye can focus you and just, like, shoot you like laser beam and, like, just pull you in. Because, like, that's what braille does. I think it's such a magical, magical species.

[Corey]

Yep.

[Jess]

So here are some, like, examples. This one that you're seeing right now on the screen is of the project that we just installed in Odessa last week. Anyway, this was in like the back mud hall and it's just such a, I don't know, an antique of a thing. This is actually reproduction that we carry. But they do all these like really fine, beautiful pieces in BRL that are heirloom quality that you. They will pass on down through generations and generations. Like I'd put my name on the back of this.

[Sue]

Yeah.

[Jess]

Reese, if you hear me, put your name on the back of this.

[Sue]

Totally. The inlay and some of the carvings and the hardware, it's all so special. And this is the type of thing that you're going to be looking for in the marketplace if you want to try this or you're looking for in antiques. You love those figured woods. Yeah. They just look old worldly. They look expensive. They look like they've been handed down from generation to generation and they give your home a generational build kind of a feel.

[Corey]

Even a collected maybe even too.

[Sue]

Yeah, definitely they. And they elevate everything around them. Yeah.

[Jess]

Like it's fancy but it's also cowboy.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Sue]

Another thing on the website that's been a really amazing bestseller are burlwood boxes. These are fun, I think in bathrooms or in like his spaces, his closets for him to put all of his stuff in. I think a hotel even, even reached out.

[Corey]

Oh yeah.

[Sue]

Ordered like 150 of these. Yeah.

[Jess]

Yeah.

[Sue]

They're very good looking. And there's a matching tray so you can bring in some of these elements into your existing decor just to give it that feeling without having to break the bank on an entire piece.

[Corey]

Yep.

[Sue]

So cool.

[Corey]

Yeah, awesome. So the next trend we're going to talk about is the rustic farmhouse revival. So yeah, what are your thoughts on that?

[Sue]

Yeah, we saw this. We've been seeing this come in from some of the publishers looking to be able to tell this story in the magazine. Because what they're looking for right now is very different than what they were looking for in the years past. They used to want these really beautiful, polished, perfect, expensive looking spaces. And today they're looking for honest spaces that are almost unstyled. And that feel, I don't know, there's just honest. I don't know how else to say it. So a couple. There's. Homesteading is a really big thing right now that we keep seeing where we're kind of seeing this turn back to the way our grandparents did it or parents where people are gardening, growing their own jam, baking sourdough. So there's this. They're. They have chickens. They're gathering their own chickens. And there's just kind of this sort of sweet, innocent, turn back the time kind of a feeling where people are becoming more and more domestic. And I think that's showing in some of the homes where they're less polished looking. And so one of the roundups. We're looking for this sort of thing right now on the screen. Sue, do you want to tell them what we're looking at on the home on the left and the clients ask for this?

[Jess]

Yes, this is the Linden Art Manor on our portfolio. And the client. This is just, again, in a city called Linden, not London, Linden in Utah. And it. They just had, like, a really lovely piece of property. And when they were drawing this up with the architect, they said they just wanted to feel like a historic pioneer home, you know, so, again, a much more simple time. I think when you think of, like, pioneers and just like that rustic nature of just, like, being industrious and just kind of farm studying, I think you feel that when you feel like one whole material cladding something, you're cladding it in, like, this tumbled rock that's over grouted and feels foundational, because back in.

[Corey]

That day, you would use the material that is indigenous to that area and closest to you because you were, like, purchasing it from.

[Jess]

Yeah, like, I'm not going to do siding over here and then rock over here, and then I'm gonna do a little brick piece over here. Like, it was a lot more primitive.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Jess]

I think in primitive homes, you see just, like, one material used. And there's something, again, quite sweet and honest about that, because I know at this. I know what this house is. I know what the people, like, live here. They probably make their own butter, you know, exactly. Kind of thing. So. And they for sure have their own chicken. So anyway, so I love that she kind of started us off there, because, again, it does. When you have that kind of sense on the outside, it makes going inside some of the choices, again, feel really, really honest. We did, like, a wood, you know, banister. You know, we didn't do, you know, anything too fancy because it needed to make sense with the outside. So. And I think that that's what you. What they're talking about is in this. What was. What did they call it, the publishers? The rustic farmhouse revival. Yeah, I like that, and I like the word rustic. I also think of Sundance. If you've ever been to Utah, we have, like, Sundance up the canyon, the Sundance Film Festival. That was started by Robert Redford. And when you go to Sundance and it's since been like purchased, blah, blah, blah. But if you've ever been like historically and they're trying to keep it that way, I'm rambling anyway. There's just like such like you have like the wood outside, you have the chinking that's kind of leaking over. You have black and white photography of like candid shots of all these movie stars with handwritten notes underneath it. You like, there's something just like, really again, that just makes you feel relaxed and there's nothing too uppity about it. And like, honestly, like, I, I love this style. I really, really do.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Jess]

Like, I feel like. And when you like kind of envelop yourself in this style again, I think your consumption lowers. You're not trying to get too fancy. It is, you're not getting over styled.

[Corey]

And it kind of is a lifestyle, you know, it's a lifestyle like that for sure.

[Sue]

And I feel like this person is gonna, you know, dress probably a little bit more simply. They're not worried about tons and tons of jewelry and, you know, all these things. It's, it's, you know, that's just a. Simplicity, more simple way. And I think with the world being so fast and in your face at all times, I can see why this is the response to that. The second image on the screen is a little garden cottage here. This was a project we worked on probably five years ago. And this was just an extra acre of land that they did. And they put a little guest house on the property to entertain, but also to like throw baby showers and wedding showers out here. And it's just a really quaint little tiny one bedroom type of a place. And it feels just really sweet and honest. Completely made of stone and beautiful shingles and surrounded in a little apple. Apple orchard. And all of this has been, you know, man made, but it's, it's made to look like, like time. Time worn and just really honest and beautiful and.

[Jess]

And it'll only get more lovely as just like the, the landscape and the growth outside of it just kind of gets unruly and just like isn't completely groomed and trimmed. And I think that that's part of this rustic revival of just like allowing nature to kind of envelop your home.

[Sue]

Yeah.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Jess]

I think it's really cool.

[Sue]

That's cool. Speaking of honest material, honest spaces, this is Sue Hall.

[Jess]

Susan is.

[Sue]

I love it. Suze, when was your home built?

[Jess]

1971.

[Sue]

1971. And it's in Utah. And what do you have in your backyard?

[Jess]

I have a barn. I have a massive barn. It's really neat.

[Sue]

And this was kind of a little homestead of. Of the. The people that built it, Right?

[Jess]

Yeah. The barn is larger than the house. Yeah, I'll say that. Like, it's. It's harder than. The trees are taller than the house. The house is, like, really, really humble. But it's all just like, made from this, like, 1971 brick, you know, just like kind of in a really cool zipper pattern. But they were. They were cowboys. Cowboys that did the electrical, cowboys that did the plumbing, all the kind of like, inherit with it. But it is a simpler. A simpler street that we live on. We don't even have sidewalks. It's just like, everyone's land just, like, butts right into the road. Everyone sits on at least an acre, and it's really lovely. Everyone has chickens or goats or highland cows or things that they're breeding, you know, and that's like, part of, like, how they've made a living. And I. It's really. It's a cool, cool, like, way of life to live, especially in raising a family that they just, like, getting dirty is okay. Like, go out to the barn. Like, there's irrigation. Jump off of something. Oh, for sure. There's the irrigation. You guys. I'm gonna put a little video of the irrigation canal that runs behind the barn, because it is magic. It's so cute. There's just, like, reeds that grow up and over, and just like, the kids are just. It's like building boats and floating them down. It's like. It's a really lovely way to live.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Jess]

And I'm here for it.

[Corey]

Really quick irrigation, for those who don't know is, like, how they, like, used to water properties like before. And so there'd be a ditch that runs either in front or behind a property. And when it was your turn to collect the water, you'd, like, put water share. Yeah, you'd. You'd put a blockade there, and it would flow into your. And just like flood your property, essentially. And that's what would water your lawn and your garden and all of that. And the water is run off from the mountain, so it's, like, cold. And I just remember, like, as a kid playing in it and. Yeah, like, making boats and letting it roll down there.

[Jess]

Our street still has water shares, and it goes down to the cycle property at the end. That's two acres. And it had. They have this massive pond. And anyway, it's Just the best. Yeah, it's a really.

[Corey]

It's magical.

[Jess]

It's magical. Yep. I need to go back there and see if fireflies are just floating around there because I'm. It's that magical.

[Corey]

Yep.

[Sue]

I love it.

[Jess]

Yep.

[Corey]

Great. The next one is earth tones are in. Cool. Gray is out. Something. Yeah. We've been saying for years.

[Sue]

I think that's funny that they're even remembering reporting on this right now. What they're saying is a return of natural, earthy colors like browns, which we have seen this in fashion Runway browns, the new black terracotta and warm neutrals, creating a sense of calm and grounding. And better homes. And garden says kitchens in particular need to switch over. So we're not seeing gray. I mean, I even. I think this needs to go out to say, even the people that are doing the fake wood floors, for some reason, I keep seeing that gray fake floor being installed.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Sue]

So, yeah, this is definitely something that stopped being done years ago. But I think if the magazine has to say it so everybody gets. Gets the word out, then we'll say it here, too.

[Jess]

That's probably what's still available in the market. Do you know what I mean? Like, the people that are making the decisions to produce this thing, that's still. It's probably available in Walmart and Target and, you know, just like whatever big box store you guys, you know, attend to. So it's still the option. So let's just try and veer away from it just because it's only going to make things cool to.

[Corey]

Yeah, let's change that option.

[Sue]

Yeah.

[Corey]

With our vote. With our dollar.

[Jess]

Yes, exactly.

[Corey]

Okay, then really quick. The last one is a dog room is a new luxury. Must have. So this one, I mean, obviously, you know, talked about like a ball pit and full TV setup and stuff like that. Yeah, yeah. In the. In the article, I'm like, yeah, I don't know about that.

[Sue]

From El Decor.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Sue]

Which was interesting. They're leading the charge on turning the officer guest room into a space entirely for your pets.

[Jess]

Nice.

[Sue]

Yeah, I. We have seen in the work that we're doing, we have definitely seen finally accommodating for the dog, because if you don't, then that means your own pantries will be overrun with all of the dog products. So we do need to pay attention. If you have dogs, especially big dogs, how are we going to bathe them? How are we going to care for them? Where does their food go? You know, all of that sort of things. So we have a couple examples We've done a podcast, really cute recently, all about pets. Yeah. And sue, do you want to just take them through these visuals?

[Jess]

Okay. Yeah, I'm gonna take you through these ones. Okay. This was in our Manchester house on the portfolio. We have a beautiful dog that they needed in their laundry room. They wanted to kind of create his entrance. And so we kind of see there's a dog door that we designed that was adjacent his dog wash basin. And it's so. It's so darling. So again, these are necessities that they needed for their dog. It's not a full room, but it's definitely a more beautiful way and more thoughtful way to accommodate the. The that person in the family. They'll always have a dog.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Jess]

And I think it's a selling point.

[Sue]

Or the laundry room. These are two really good rooms that you're already building or maybe you already have in your home that are a good place to fit. What's this dog's name?

[Jess]

Name? I just like blanks. Ruth. I'm sorry, what? Okay. I was gonna say Finn, but that's another dog and we have so many owner's dogs in her.

[Sue]

Well, anyway, the dog is definitely part of the family and so being able to talk about that during the design process to really accommodate for his needs. And what we're seeing is laundry rooms. You're just talking about your friend that has four wiener dogs.

[Jess]

Yes.

[Sue]

Is it their laundry room?

[Jess]

It's their mud room. So yeah, their mud room has been completely like changed. He even like did a hand painted, like dog wallpaper in there because like their dogs are there like lives. They love these wie.

[Corey]

And if they have four wiener dogs, like, they're probably gonna get another one when, you know, one passes.

[Jess]

So that's gonna be very, very likely. So, yeah, they love their dogs and so they get their own room. It makes sense. They don't have a ball pit, but they definitely have like a good size, like built in cupboard. They have like all the things that they would need to like, live a comfortable life and have it not look ugly and like you just got, you know, modular pieces from petsmart, you know, because I'm like, those aren't going to be great. So if you can be thoughtful, I think about if you have pets, whatever, cats, dogs, whatever it is, and just like whatever their routine is, if you can kind of like if that's going to be in your life, you know, for the foreseeable future, make sure that that's like thought of in the design and you know, wherever Their heat pattern is. It's funny that, like, people are dedicating a whole room, though, because I'm like, the dog probably wants to be. Unless they've, like, proven to them that, like, they're going to, like, stay in that room. Not likely. They're probably going to go where you are. And so make sure that where you are and the heat patterns that your dog currently presents, you're building spaces for them in those spaces.

[Corey]

Yeah. Yeah. Accommodate them in the way that you live in the house.

[Jess]

So I think it's smart to be thoughtful. Whole rooms, I don't know. But, like, definitely think about them.

[Corey]

Yeah. If someone out there has a ball pit or a full TV setup just for their pets, I'd love to see it. Yeah. Dear [e-mail] so you're a really good dog owner.

[Sue]

Yeah.

[Corey]

That's rad.

[Sue]

Guys, thanks so much for listening and please comment and review. Every little bit helps us grow this show. And again, check us out on Instagram. That's Alice Lane Interiors and Alice Lane Home. And if you have any questions for us, please send those in to Dear alice, alice lane home.com and we will either record an episode around it or we'll include it in one of our roundups for Q&As. Thanks so much, guys. We'll catch you next time. Hey, thanks for listening. If you like our show, please leave a five star rating.