Loading summary
Transcript218 lines
- [00:00]
Alice
Foreign. Welcome to Dear Alice, a lifestyle approach to interior design.
- [00:22]
Jess
Hello, everyone. Welcome to Dear Alice. We are going to be answering your questions today.
- [00:28]
Sue
Listener questions.
- [00:29]
Jess
We always love these up these episodes soon. I don't know what the questions are. So we're going to shoot from the hip on this and we're going to get you guys those answers, which will be great. Thank you again for writing in. And if you ever have questions for us, these could result in a whole topic or they might just end up in one of these roundups where we answer all your questions at once. You can send those to Dear Alice, Alice lahome.com.
- [00:52]
Sue
Yes. Before we get into questions though, Mother's Day is in three days.
- [00:57]
Jess
Yeah.
- [00:59]
Sue
So yeah. What are you guys doing to celebrate yourselves being mothers or celebrating your moms Provo grandma?
- [01:05]
Alice
You hear me talking a lot about provo grandma on here. Y' all know. Y' all know Judy. I just love my mom so much.
- [01:11]
Sue
And her, she's awesome.
- [01:13]
Alice
Her birthday is also on the 13th and she is turning 80 years old, guys.
- [01:17]
Sue
Oh, crazy.
- [01:18]
Jess
Happy birthday, provo grandma.
- [01:19]
Sue
Happy birthday.
- [01:21]
Jess
Awesome.
- [01:21]
Alice
We'll be you guys. And I've told you this before, she's just like the master entertainer. Like turns two loves into feeds a thousand. Whatever. That's where is anyway also say is like we'll probably have a big Mother's Day dinner. She does a Sunday dinner every Sunday for just like any and all who can come. It's usually 30 to 50 people every.
- [01:39]
Jess
Do you guys cook for her when it's Mother's Day or does she still do the cooking?
- [01:42]
Alice
No, the. The fellas are supposed to kind of like man up on Mother's Day, so we'll see. Actually, Tom cooks way better than me, so tomorrow Tom will cook probably.
- [01:51]
Sue
But you're lucky. Yeah, my kids are getting old enough. I mean, well, Demi is now four, so Earl will be in a few days. So she's just like super excited about Mother's Day. She like knows what it is. So yeah, we're gonna try to like cook mari breakfast and stuff like that. And I ordered hanging basket. So we have like. Yeah. So hopefully she's not listening now cuz giving it to her on Sunday. But yeah.
- [02:18]
Jess
Such a great gift.
- [02:19]
Sue
So I got a bunch for our porch that we've always wanted, so. And they've been growing for like a month and a half. So I'm like, hopefully they'll be like really full and stuff by the time.
- [02:31]
Alice
I love it.
- [02:32]
Jess
So.
- [02:32]
Alice
Such a great idea. What about you, Jess?
- [02:35]
Jess
I don't know what our plans are. Yet again, the women are not in charge. But my mom is also just a huge part of my story and my inspiration and really my north star in life. We'll put a little picture up here of her. This is actually mostly me just clobbering her because I'm 58 and she's like 52 or something, and I'm hugging her. This was the day of our grand opening at our. At our most recent location. So this is about two and a half years ago. But she is just an absolute angel. Anybody that knows Polly feels her love, and she just radiates just goodness and kindness, and she's just kind of a Mother Teresa of a thing. So anyway, love you, Mom. Thank you for just absolutely being the world's greatest example, honestly.
- [03:19]
Sue
And thank you to all the moms, all the good moms out there. You know, that really is just. It's the warmth that everybody needs. And whenever I, like, see a good mom or hear a story, it just like, especially the older I get, I, like, want to, like, tear up. I'm like, man, love moms.
- [03:37]
Alice
And it's a hard day for a lot of people. So just like, surround yourself with people that love you and that you love.
- [03:43]
Sue
Okay, getting into the questions. The first one is from Kara Frederico.
- [03:48]
Jess
Okay.
- [03:49]
Sue
She wrote in and asked, I have finished work five feet from the floor. So if I hang art above the molding, the very bottom of the frame would start at 60 inches. Would we be craning our necks and would it look silly to have it higher up than eye level? Should I hang some art on the molding? And then she gave us a picture, says attaches a picture of the molding so you can see how high it reaches on the wall.
- [04:16]
Alice
Honestly, what we do a lot of the times, but it has finished work. Like you said, going up halfway in the wall, which is like where the natural gaze for anybody, like that middle of the composition, the middle of your piece of art should be around that 58. I think, like, art hangers be 60, so it'll be anywhere from that 58 to 60 for the center of your art, which does land like right in the center of your molding. And what we do when we go to install art at clients homes and they have finished work, we've designed finished work, is we do hang it at the ideal height, but you just build some blocking behind the art.
- [04:48]
Sue
So.
- [04:49]
Alice
So that means just like a flat board painted the same color as the wall, and then you mount that, and then you Add the art to it just so it's not like hovering, like popping a wheelie over the molding, if that makes sense.
- [04:59]
Sue
And so it's hanging straight down and clearing the molding all the way down.
- [05:03]
Alice
Yep. So really.
- [05:04]
Jess
And that. That actually. That dip below the molding and having that be flush just looks so expert. I really love. And I love a layer. I like when things overlap. It. It adds interest. So don't be sad that this molding height is where it's at. It's going to be such a beautiful vignette to see the molding and then lay it on top. This beautiful image that you have, whatever it may be. Susan's sketching for you, which is always such a treat. It's going to look awesome. So to all of you that have molding and you're nervous to. To install art, don't be.
- [05:39]
Alice
And don't hang it above the molding. Don't feel like you're stapled into that position where you have to, because most people, I think, without asking the questions, will do that. And your art will be too high. You won't be able to appreciate it. You won't be able to see the detail. And so you want your art. You want it to be at, like, people's human, natural gaze level, which is that 58 to 60 at the center of the composition.
- [05:58]
Sue
I feel like when it is hanging above, that's kind of. That feels like an amateur thing. But if it's, you know, like you said, using the. The cleat blocks behind it to kind of push it out from the wall. Yeah, that's okay. That, to me, that's like. That's perfect. You know, That's. That's like, hey, I know what I'm doing type of thing.
- [06:21]
Alice
Exactly. Yep.
- [06:22]
Jess
Yeah, that's great. Guys. I know this might seem like common sense, but I'm just gonna say it anyway. Your. Your eyeballs are down from the top of your head. So let's just say I'm five eight. I am five eight.
- [06:37]
Sue
Let's pretend.
- [06:38]
Alice
Imagine I'm five.
- [06:40]
Jess
Imagine, like, my eyeballs are probably down from the top of my head, like, five inches, right? So that's your eye level. So when we say, like, 60 inches, 60 inches is five feet, right? So my eyeballs are probably, like, around five two or five, three. That's what we're saying. Our eyes want to be in line with the composition of the image. So let's just say it's a landscape. That horizon line of the landscape is where I want my Eyes in line with that.
- [07:05]
Sue
So.
- [07:06]
Jess
So depending on who, if you live with a partner in your life, if they're tall, if they're short, those kinds of things are always considered, you know, in choosing the height. But we have worked with professional art hangers on installations, and their magic number is usually 60. 60, they say almost everybody is really happy with 60, which is 5ft off the ground to the composition, like sue said. So if it's a photograph of a human that you're probably looking right at their face. Their face is kind of in that 60 inch range. Yep. Yeah.
- [07:37]
Alice
That's why people hang too high.
- [07:39]
Sue
Yeah.
- [07:39]
Alice
In general, that is like the most common mistake we see when we walk into anyone's home. And it's usually the taller person in the relationship is the one hanging the art most often. So they're hanging at their eye level or again, above the molding or whatever's most convenient. Where the nail was, you know, from the previous guy. So make the correction now and like, really study where your natural gazes and find that median between whoever's living there that they can all appreciate the art. And it looks also good in composition with the furniture and everything around it.
- [08:09]
Jess
Yeah, yeah. Things are closer together and they're more interesting and they make a beautiful story. When the art is within range of.
- [08:16]
Alice
The furnishings and honestly layered behind, I think that that's also something to care. I don't know if you ran into this. We have where people are like, above a nightstand, we'll want to put a piece of art or something there. And they're like, but you're going to cover it with the lamp. And you're like, well, like, it's okay to have some overlap. And it's actually more pleasing to the eye when pieces are kind of sharing space. And that's part of that overlap. So be okay with some. I think it adds intrigue and it adds so much more to the composition, like, all together as a home. When you go into a home that feels good, start to, like, understand the overlap because it's there. Guarantee it.
- [08:50]
Sue
The next question is from Jessica to break. She asks. My topic idea is around eat in kitchen, dining, banquettes or booths. Should you do it? How should you do it? Should it match the kitchen? I have a space that isn't working for me and I bet many others do, too.
- [09:08]
Jess
Jessica, we are passionate about this. You should absolutely do it. We actually just got. We just switched up our podcast set.
- [09:16]
Sue
I don't know, we forgot to mention that.
- [09:17]
Jess
If you're watching. Yes. But we actually Have a banquet here. I have a banquet in my kitchen, and not only is it the best seat in the entire house, everybody fights over it. We do have chairs on the opposite side, which are the last to get sat in. It's so comfy and cozy. If I'm working on anything at all, that's going to take a while. Long paper, a long email. I. Instead of my going to my office and sitting in my task chair, I go to the banquette. It's just so cozy.
- [09:47]
Sue
It's like.
- [09:47]
Jess
I mean, it's surrounded in windows. Yeah. And it's. It's really, really comfortable. So close to the food, and it feels cozy. Yeah, it is. It's like the one sectional, if you will, that everybody wants to sit and stay for a really long time. Yeah. And it looks good.
- [10:04]
Alice
Yeah. I like that. She's asking about, like, the rules, like, for banquets, the rules against banquettes. Because I think there's a broad spectrum of, like, what is a banquet and what's the best kind. I remember, like, when we first started, like, in the business and going into homes, and you'd often see, like, these banquets, and a lot of times the finished worker, whoever's building, or the builder's like, I'll build you a banquet, which means that he's building basically, like a wood box, a board, you know, kind of tracing a corner. And then you might have a cushion or something made for the bottom of it, but you might have a flat back or something that's not comfortable.
- [10:36]
Jess
They might be using the wall as their back, and then they're putting, like, throw pillows up against the sheetrock.
- [10:41]
Alice
We've torn out so many of those.
- [10:43]
Jess
They don't work.
- [10:44]
Alice
They're not comfortable.
- [10:45]
Jess
Yeah. There's not a pitch for the seat. How you sit in a car. Like, if you were to open up your car door right now and look at the position your driver's seat is in. Your seat is going to go down where your bum is. It'll go downhill right from your legs to your bum, it's going downhill. And then on your back, it's going from your bum to your head is also sort of angled. Those pitches are what make you want to sit and stay for a while. Those are considered in furniture design, in banquette design, if you're going to get one from a really reputable company, and then you can choose all your finishes. But this is the favorite seat in the house, and you don't want to cut corners on doing, like, a homemade version that is just, like a ledge that you're going to have an upholster cushion on because it's not going to have a pitch in it. Your legs are going to get tired, and you're going to want to get up as soon as you're done eating and get out of that. Your back's going to ache, especially your low back. Yeah, yeah.
- [11:39]
Alice
So I'd say that's foul. Number one is, like, know what kind of banquet you want. They're not all created equally. Our very, very favorite type of banquet is when we can do one made by a furniture maker because they understand pitch, they understand the human body and. And scale and all the things. And so yours is made by hickory chair, and it does have the perfect pitch. I've sat in many a times, and I totally agree. I'm like, it is the most comfortable thing. I'd rather sit there than a sectional. A hundred percent.
- [12:05]
Sue
Yeah. Like, I like you guys keep saying sectional because banket is related to a sofa, not a bench.
- [12:11]
Jess
Right, Right.
- [12:12]
Sue
Yeah.
- [12:13]
Jess
And I would. I give you this pro tip to do the seat in leather so that's wipeable, because when people eat, inevitably things drop. You don't want to have a fabric seat. So get that thing in leather. Your back is where you're going to have fun. So one of the questions she asked was, like, what do I upholster it in? Right. Does it match the kitchen? Right. And I think this is kind of your moment to do something fashionable as far as matching the kitchen. No, it doesn't have to. I have a white oak kitchen. I have white oak floors. My big cat is like a black and white, really cool, like, knit fabric. And it brings this fashion element.
- [12:52]
Alice
Very noble about it, too.
- [12:53]
Jess
Yeah.
- [12:54]
Alice
There's something like, I don't know, international about it.
- [12:56]
Jess
It felt so gutsy. But you put a white table with it, you're really only seeing, like, half of it right from table height up and then below the surface. Because I have a black and white fabric. I did a black leather, and then I just did, like, a natural leg on it. So you can certainly consider the whole outfit. Like, what's my table? What are my chairs going to be? But I would say definitely go for it on that back fabric.
- [13:17]
Alice
Yeah.
- [13:18]
Jess
You just need it. You need the movement, you need the rhythm. You don't want to just phone it in with, like, a linen back. You're not even going to see it. It's going to go away. You want credit for putting this thing there. It's going to be such a nucleus in the house.
- [13:30]
Alice
Yeah, I feel like the banquet and the Roman shaders, where you can, like. And your brush tools are where you can actually, like, start to have fun. Aside from, like, tile. Yes, you can do all those things, but the things that if you wanted to reupholster the back of your banquet in five years, you could do it. Yeah, you know, but totally, I think you would, because you picked it well. But anyway. But you do have a little bit of flexibility there, and you do. That's the art in the. In a space of cabinets.
- [13:51]
Jess
Totally.
- [13:51]
Alice
You should 100 do that. Second party foul for the banquette, though. We just looked at some plans that an architect sent us, and they drew this banquet in this massive window, and we started to look at dimensions of it, and it was huge. And I'm like, that poor kid or a lady that's sitting in the center of that banquet that has to go to the bathroom in the middle of the mail. Like, good luck to them. Like, trying to get everybody out, everybody's bottoms out of the way. So anyway, just be cautious of the proportions, because you're like, oh, I can get so much seating in there. Just do a banquette, be cautious of that and, like, shorten that so it's an approachable length of space for somebody to squeeze in and squeeze out of that. It's not too cumbersome, and you'll enjoy it a lot more. So then in that space that you're not using, that's where you're gonna plant a lemon tree.
- [14:35]
Jess
So, yeah, that's great.
- [14:38]
Alice
Great question, Sue.
- [14:40]
Jess
How do you unwind at home?
- [14:42]
Alice
The second I get home, I light a candle and I change into my, like, buttery, soft loungewear from Cozy Earth. I love it so much. It is changing from. So from the time I get home, circa, like, five, 36 o' clock, I get that stuff on, and I have it on till the next morning. And it just changed my whole routine. It's amazing. I love that it, like, never peels. I've had some of these sets for. I have multiple sets, but I've had them for, you know, a year plus, and they still don't peel. Their color fast is amazing, and they really have made me so much more relaxed, you know, especially with the stresses of home. I have three little boys. There's a lot going on.
- [15:18]
Jess
I also have to say, like, you look incredibly chic in them because they drape. It's true. Right?
- [15:23]
Alice
It kind of frumpy.
- [15:24]
Jess
It feels like a dressy sweat, the way it sort of drapes off your body. It looks more expensive than just like the average sweats.
- [15:31]
Alice
No, I feel so much cuter in that than just like a normal cotton sweat set.
- [15:34]
Jess
Yeah. Let's just call it luxury loungewear.
- [15:37]
Alice
Luxury loungewear.
- [15:38]
Jess
Right.
- [15:38]
Alice
Luxury loungewear made from viscose from bamboo.
- [15:41]
Jess
Yeah. Yeah. The drape, the hand, it's so, so soft. Yeah. I'm a huge fan too. Also love that luxury sweatsuit. And I feel cuter in that than anything else. Luxury shouldn't be out of reach. Visit cozyearth.com and use my exclusive code Dear Alice for up to 40 off Cozy Earth' selling sheets, towels, pajamas, that great lounge set we've been talking about. Trust me, you won't regret it. That's cozyearth.com code Dear Alice. And if you get a post purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth from Dear Alice. Sanctuary awaits at Cozy Earth.
- [16:19]
Sue
The next question is from Meredith Sealy. She asks, can you provide some advice on selecting a timeless house color that will grow with you? We are near a river with lots of trees and greenery, so I love the contrast of a cream home in our area. But my husband is adamant that it will look dirty quickly. This leaves me debating between shades of blue, dark Pacific blue or light blue and green, dark cypress or light seagrass color. I'm avoiding anything gray as I prefer warm wood tones for our large front porch and white window trim. House color feels like the decision that will keep me. Will keep me happy in this home for 30 years or want to move every time I pull up. So the pressure is on. We are leaning towards removing the shutters. So if the team has an opinion on shutters, I would love to hear that too. Oh, and we do get to pick a shade. Sorry. We do get to pick a shade for the roof shingles. Another choice related to the exterior color. Thank you for your help in adding so much beauty to all of our homes.
- [17:30]
Jess
Oh, that's really sweet.
- [17:32]
Sue
And then she. So she gave us a little rendering at the bottom of her home.
- [17:37]
Jess
Great. I think that sue and I are going to fight on this one, so I think we just fight about it. We just both give opinions. I'm. I'm coming from a place of. I, I built my home about 10 years ago and there's two homes across the street from me, kind of far away, diagonally in different directions that have been varying shades of blue and green. And I have to say, over the decade I've lived there, I haven't ever felt like, please bless my neighbors. Don't listen to the podcast, I haven't ever felt like it's been right. Yeah, it hasn't been. It hasn't looked in place.
- [18:15]
Alice
Do you think it's the house, the architecture that doesn't lend itself to the blue and green?
- [18:19]
Jess
I think that there's like some craftsman elements to it, but I just, I mean, we even have a community here in Utah called Daybreak, and all the homes are like different shades out of a crayon box. It's like this really sort of perfect, idyllic looking community. What was that movie with Stepford Wives with or with Jim Carrey where he's like, good morning, good afternoon. It's like that. It's like utopian, like perfect. And there's all different colors. And we even have a. My parent, my in laws have a summer cottage on a lake and all the cottages are different colors, so I can picture different things in different colors. And, and I don't know exactly where this home's going to be, but it sounds like they've got some really beautiful forested areas. Right. Lots and lots of green. And I just. I have to side with you on this, Meredith. I would go off white. I know that's not popular for your husband to say, but I think your landscape's going to be so heroic and it's going so pretty and pristine. Sue's lives in an off white house that was built in the 70s and it's. I'd say it still looks fantastic. I know he's afraid about it being dirty, but I think with all of these, this, this great greenery that you have, you know, it's not like, like construction sites. If all of your neighbors homes are under construction, there will be a lot of airborne dirt. But depending on, you know, if it's a really lovely, you know, forested area, I don't know how dirty it's going to get.
- [19:42]
Sue
I honestly don't think it. I don't think it will. Um, it obviously depends on like the quality of paint that you use too, because some's going to adhere better to. I don't. She didn't mention like, what the material of the sighting is, but yeah, some will adhere to that more and be more of a protectant and therefore kind.
- [20:00]
Jess
Of like like a hardy board or something like that. Totally.
- [20:04]
Sue
I don't think it'll get dingy either. And I'm. Yeah, I'm kind of like in your camp. When I think of like colorful homes, I think of like Norway and Sweden and that has that like, charm to me. But it's almost like everybody's bought in.
- [20:17]
Jess
Yeah.
- [20:18]
Sue
You know, when you're the one. Yes. Yeah.
- [20:20]
Alice
The water, that is the difference.
- [20:22]
Jess
Like Amsterdam. Yeah. So pretty.
- [20:24]
Alice
Like, look at island isles and stuff. And they all have like colorful houses against the green. And it's like so gorgeous because everybody's playing the game, you know, and it's like this whole symphony of something.
- [20:34]
Jess
It is.
- [20:34]
Alice
But when you're the one where you're.
- [20:36]
Sue
At that, to me, that feels like.
- [20:38]
Alice
I, if I, if I blame my house pink, like, it's going to be an upset. Yeah, it's going to be an upset in the neighborhood.
- [20:43]
Sue
I mean.
- [20:44]
Jess
Yeah. I also grew up where our next door neighbors and like best friends, they lived in a blue house, like right behind our house. And it just always was this one blue house. And her favorite color was blue and all the interiors were blue. And I get it, I get it. I love the color blue, too. But I just, I don't. I. I think it has to be the symphony where all of the homes have bought into this thing. Otherwise it's the one house that just really stands out. And it's like the one that you're like, I don't know what's going to happen in resell here.
- [21:15]
Sue
Yeah.
- [21:15]
Jess
Right. It's. I, I don't know. It will have to be somebody else's project. So I just think the most everlasting, beautiful, classic look is that's going to pay you back and that you're going to love for. She said that she needs to be happy there for 30 years. So in the 30 year decision we've been. Alice Lane's been around for about 20 of those years. I still think I'd be happy with an off white house from here to there, but fight me on it. Sue, what do you think you would do if you were her?
- [21:42]
Alice
I agree. And like, as I look at, like, take Utah for example, which was like a sea of brown. Like 50 shades of brown is what it was. And now it's 50 shades of this. Actually, no, it's like one shade of optic white that everybody's doing. And like there is definitely. You can feel when these things were timestamped. And so this idea of this timeless exterior of like, what is everlasting when you look historically having like a neutral house that the landscaping can stand off of.
- [22:05]
Jess
Yeah.
- [22:06]
Alice
Is a natural white, but it's a natural white. It does have some earth to it that it will be more forgiving for, like this and the dirt. But it also look, it'll still appear to be white. Against your landscaping, you know, and against any contrasting as far as like your gutters, your fascia, your windows, all those things. And so, yeah, I would say like the most long lasting. I agree with you on that. Where I will, you know, I, I could argue is just that like we believe in an individualized interior. And I, I feel the same way about exterior. So like understanding if you are going to go against the grain, hopefully you are wooded because that gives you a lot of liberty if you have a lot of trees and things around you. Um, but you know, you. And from this, that is the correct answer for anybody else. Like if there is a color in your vein that like you're like you want, you know that forever you will love this color or you really are feeling passionate about this, consult someone that's great with color because that's I think the biggest thing.
- [23:05]
Jess
And then knows you, that's great with.
- [23:08]
Alice
Color and knows history has studied it. Can like pull out like a paint deck and not show you the first blue, but gets the more muddied one. That's going to look better with your landscaping or, you know, even in Ben More they have like the historic exterior colors and things. Those are the ones that have been studied and there's a certain like formula to it that it will be more long lasting but it'll give you more saturation. So I would just say I think pharaoh and ball. Yeah, ball is great at it. Obviously based out of the uk, they understand history and they understand saturation. So that's a great, I think, formula to go to. Again, Ben More has their exterior, like colors that have saturation. So if you are feeling it, just get the right tone. I think that's the biggest party foul on honestly, any interior or exterior paint is when they go, they're like, well, that's blue and like when you go inside, it's like a highlighter like neon blue or green because there's not enough dirt in it. So you just have to be good with color. Find someone that is so.
- [24:05]
Jess
Yeah, that's great. I think that's, that's really good advice. Meredith, I'm really excited for you. This is, this is going to be so fun. Sounds like it's a new build, so that's great. As far as shutter color on this, I think let's just pretend like the house is going to be a really beautiful earthen off white. Right. Ivory tone or bone? Yeah. Yeah.
- [24:28]
Alice
I. Well, first she even asked like, what are our opinions about shutters? Because she was thinking about removing them completely. Yeah, Shutters, I think, are only successful when you believe that they could be closed.
- [24:36]
Jess
I agree.
- [24:37]
Alice
Fortunately, like, they are the. The halves. You know, if your window is 60, you know, you have ones that, like, look that they could close that window. Right.
- [24:45]
Sue
Yeah.
- [24:45]
Alice
And so.
- [24:46]
Sue
So there.
- [24:46]
Alice
That. It's a sticker.
- [24:48]
Sue
Yeah. They're as wide as half of your window is wide.
- [24:51]
Alice
Exactly.
- [24:52]
Jess
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [24:52]
Alice
And I think what makes them great is when you have the correct hardware, like the shutter dogs and the hinges and all those things. I think that even if it is stationary, making sure you get that kind of hardware just, like, helps the story feel more authentic. Like, you really do live that Calamity Jane life where you get to close them and open them and let the breeze come in. That's the dream. Right. So if they are that way, keep them for sure and get the hardware for color. This. Every client's different. Some light contrast, and some don't. So even if they like contrast, just don't go. I would say, like, if you are a lighthouse and you want to feel some contrast, go with something that has warmth to it, like, whether it's, like, a darker taupe or whether it's a charcoal. Make sure that it feels. I don't know, just has some, like, again, earth to it. Like, you want that warmth for it to feel good on an exterior when the sun shines down on it.
- [25:43]
Jess
Yeah.
- [25:44]
Alice
I. I don't know. I. Again, it's probably because, like, my walls, like, in my general spaces are white. My floor is white. My ceiling's white.
- [25:52]
Jess
Yeah.
- [25:53]
Alice
There's something so lovely about, like, the soft step, too. I did this at Rachel's on her exterior.
- [25:58]
Jess
Yes.
- [25:58]
Alice
Where we did her shutters. Just like a different tone of, you know, of ivory.
- [26:04]
Jess
We'll put a picture. We'll put a picture up on screen for those watching.
- [26:07]
Alice
Saved. Like, on my Pinterest exterior boards, that has just that kind of soft step where it becomes more of a textural change. And then you feel the hardware.
- [26:14]
Jess
Yeah.
- [26:15]
Alice
And also, I think it's just different on, like, what type of landscaping do you have? What color your windows, what color is your trim? All that kind of plays into it. And so, yeah, anyway, so study, like, the whole exterior of that and how. And how much contrast you like. Because I think the shutters are really, really fun game. You have paneled shutters. You have louvered shutters. So, anyway, I'm so excited for you, Meredith.
- [26:35]
Jess
There's a trick that they play in Charlotte, not. Charles. Is it Charleston, South Carolina, or New Orleans? I think it's in New Orleans. And there's this historical color that they use for the trims and the shutters and everything. And it's. Their formula is nine parts black and two parts yellow. And it makes this almost greenish black. And it's the historical color.
- [26:58]
Alice
Like the bag.
- [27:00]
Jess
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I don't know where this. I don't know where this house is located, but I think that sort of blackened green, if you have forested areas and all that, where it's black on first note, but it's got an earthiness to it. Totally. I think, again, Farrow and ball or some of those historical colors could be an answer. I'm with Sue. I'd probably do the stepped thing where it's, you know, sort of that. That. That sort of topy, just, you know, a couple shades darker than the off white. I think would be such a beautiful estate. And actually, when I think about driving up to meet my in laws in their home in Maryland, which is in the south, they had a home that was very sort of similar in style to this home. And it was all off white. And it's the topi shutters. And it was just this beautiful long sort of rambler. And it just. It was in this wooded area on two acres, and it was pristine. It was so pretty to drive up to have like a circular drive in front of it. So I can kind of picture this being off white. I think it'd be lovely.
- [27:59]
Alice
Consider the landscape being the art. This is.
- [28:01]
Jess
Yes, absolutely. Yeah. Your big pots are going to be doing the magic and all those things. Yeah. Meredith, you're in for such a fun time.
- [28:10]
Alice
Yeah.
- [28:10]
Sue
Such a good. I also think, like, with her, like with her home, though, if she did no shutters, I think that would, like. If I was making the decision, I'd probably for myself, just not. Not do them just because of the rhythm of the windows. Like, they're.
- [28:22]
Jess
It's almost wall to wall from window to shutter to win. It's all touching. And the house. House can't breathe as much, so I can definitely see the benefit of just letting that breathe.
- [28:32]
Alice
Or we're looking at the elevation. We'll show it up on here on that center portion of the house. Like, she has a door, two windows on each side. I would take the shutters off of those and leave the shutters on the other wings, the left and the right wings.
- [28:43]
Jess
Where those gables are.
- [28:45]
Alice
Where the gables are, but on the main body of the house.
- [28:48]
Jess
Yeah.
- [28:48]
Alice
Planters and things on the front porch.
- [28:51]
Jess
Yep.
- [28:51]
Alice
Okay.
- [28:52]
Sue
Great question. Thank you. Meredith, Jess, we've been getting a ton of questions on who makes your glasses.
- [28:58]
Jess
Oh, really?
- [28:58]
Sue
Yeah.
- [28:59]
Jess
Oh, my God.
- [29:00]
Sue
Everyone wants to know, you guys.
- [29:01]
Jess
I. So I'm at this age now where my near vision is leaving me. You're not quite as old as I am. Yeah, but sue, you're experiencing this 40.
- [29:10]
Alice
Hit and like, yeah, I need to make glasses before, but I really, really need them now.
- [29:14]
Jess
Yeah, between 40 and 45, that cell phone type gets really tiny. So I was in search for the perfect pair of readers and I tried Look Optic. And I have to say I've loved them so much that I've actually began working with them a little bit as an advisor. And my dad's an eye doctor, my brother in law is. I really, really love eyewear and it's been really fun to be back in the game. And I love the readers. I love the fashion frames. It's not a pair of frames that looks like I'm wearing something made for men. You know, those readers when you go to Walgreens or when you go to the grocery store store or somewhere, and they're just like a three pack and they all look like they were made for men. Look Optic actually has really cute frames that are made for women, especially for.
- [29:57]
Alice
Again, those ones that look like men's. They look like a giant man on my little head.
- [30:01]
Jess
Yes. Suzanne small. Suzanne has a child siiz head. And they actually have minis at Look Optic. The Diane Keaton collection. I gave you all my Diane Keaton ones.
- [30:11]
Alice
I love the Diane Keaton collection. They fit my, like, head great. They're comfortable. They have the cutest colors. Like, some of them are matte. They have the bone ones. I love them so much.
- [30:19]
Jess
Yeah, they're cute. And one of the, one of my little, like, fast passes that I want to tell everybody is that if you do the progressive lens, it's clear up top. You just get magnification in the bottom where you need it, because that's how you're looking in a cell phone or you're reading paper down here or on your laptop. You don't need magnification out the top because that's going to make your eyeballs look huge.
- [30:40]
Sue
Yeah.
- [30:40]
Jess
And then you really look like you're wearing a reader. So we're trying to, like, keep this low profile. And so I always go with the progressive. My favorite styles, I really love the Laurel. And they have this cool one that's like the Muse. It kind of looks like a 70s update. It's cool. They have one with the Pink lens too. In fact, my daughter stole that one from me. It's great. Anyway, there's something they, they have one called Evita that's kind of a cat eye. Anyway, you guys can discover your own styles. But I will say Look Optic has been such a gateway for, for me as I've needed to jump into that reader category.
- [31:14]
Sue
And they Look Optic is going to give away 50 pairs of readers to the first 50 of our listeners. Yes, that. Text Alice to 21252. So text Alice A L I C E to the number 21252. And then for if you're an existing customer or you want to purchase classes after that, go to lookoptic.com and use the code ALICE15 and you'll get 15% off.
- [31:44]
Alice
That's amazing.
- [31:46]
Jess
Yeah, go make that happen.
- [31:48]
Sue
The next question is from Jamila. No last name, but she has a question on countertops. She asked, what do you do if you get a house that has countertops you don't love? In both the kitchen and the master, but you can't afford to change them just yet because there are way more important things that take priority. Is there anything you can do stylistically to improve the aesthetic? Specific to my situation, these have very large splashes of gray and it just seems a bit jarring to me. I'd rather it be more simple, but maybe I could love it if I knew how to style it. Thanks for your help.
- [32:26]
Alice
Oh, sister Jammala.
- [32:28]
Jess
Suzanne. Suzanne hall is living in this exact same situation.
- [32:33]
Sue
I can't. The thing is like the problem. There are so many rad things about your house. I can't even picture what your countertops look like because I'm so focused on so many other cool things.
- [32:41]
Alice
It's true. And so that was what I was just about to say.
- [32:44]
Jess
I don't even think Suzanne notices her countertop she doesn't like anymore. Cuz there's so many, so much beautiful art at eye level and there's so much beauty going on that they're green that tell the the people, what are your countertops?
- [33:02]
Alice
Okay, well, they are like a total laminate. Again, built in 1971. I don't think they ever updated their kitchen once having lived there. So they have like a honey colored wood and they have like green laminate countertops that like also carry up to the backsplash.
- [33:15]
Jess
Like a Formica. Yeah.
- [33:18]
Alice
Anyway, but they're a dark green. And so I'm like, there's worse things. I mean, we will redo the kitchen and probably do a bump out and all things. But I will say, because people have asked, like, are you going to redo the kitchen on this? And in my mind, I'm like, there's other emergencies that take priority. Bathroom remodels.
- [33:35]
Jess
Depends on if the kitchen breaks.
- [33:38]
Alice
Yeah, yeah. When it breaks, people can only hope for a flood. But to that point, there's just, like, you have to address the thing that is, like, the most important. And if, like, I know you're not loving your kitchen countertops, what I would tell you is, is don't try. I know people might say, oh, you can paint them or you can do these things. Don't even put the effort there, because it's nothing that you're going to love now or in five years or in 10 years, like you want. You'll address that when it's time and you have the resources to address that. But I would. I wouldn't touch them, and I would, like, pay attention to what else you're doing around it, because hopefully you can distract the eye from focusing too much on, you know, the black and white spot countertops that you currently have. That would be. That would be my advice. And then when the time comes, then you can do something where you're going to go all in. You can do your cabinetry, your countertops. Like, you can dress all those things and make it exactly what you want it to be. So that would be. That'd be my suggestion.
- [34:34]
Jess
I think it's good. I think you just save until you can get what you really want and that you don't do anything cosmetically to alter them. You're just going to focus on your styling, getting great art at eye level, and you're just going to lean into what you can control. And then in five years, you'll probably quit seeing your countertops. You'll have to remind yourself why you were. Why you have that slush fund. Yeah. For a rainy day. Is because you're going to finally buy the beautiful marble of your dreams or whatever material you want. Yeah.
- [35:01]
Alice
I would say we sell this, like, large tea cutting board that's going to do a lot of work for you. Actually sitting. Have one sitting flat on my countertops. Like, it almost feels like a butcher block of sorts, kind of taking away some of that countertop. And then I have a big bowl that holds all of our breads and things, because we don't have a huge pantry. We have a small house. So anyway. But you can use that as, like, this kind of culinary moment where you're, like, putting your fruits there. And like, just making it a moment that feels like a garden.
- [35:27]
Jess
Yeah.
- [35:27]
Alice
Just to distract.
- [35:28]
Jess
Fresh basil on top. Gorgeous.
- [35:31]
Alice
Carry with you when you do the remodel. So again, we have like the little tray that holds like my tatine soaps and things like that. And there's things of beauty that I love in my kitchen that aren't the bones of my kitchen that make it tolerable until I get to it. So.
- [35:44]
Jess
Great answer. Yeah.
- [35:46]
Sue
Okay. The next question is from Janet. She wrote in and asked. I am curious about decorative hoods over stove tops. In my house, I have a stainless steel hood and I've always wanted to cover it with a custom hood. My kitchen is all white with a light. With light marble countertops and matching subway tiles. Sorry. Matching subway tile, marble backsplash. The stainless steel makes it feel cold. And I would like to warm up the space with potentially a plaster hood. Perhaps some wood detailing along the bottom. Do you feel that this is a good look? Can I add wood detail? If there's no wood detail anywhere else in my kitchen, is it even possible to cover an existing hood or what I need to replace the entire thing? I think it's like, good.
- [36:36]
Alice
That's a great question.
- [36:36]
Sue
Yeah. And good insight, like on herself. Just kind of questioning those things.
- [36:39]
Alice
I'll say probably most builder grade homes probably do this very trick. If it's not a microwave, it's the stainless steel hood that like match the. Probably the cheapest option that match the stove. Right.
- [36:50]
Sue
Yeah.
- [36:51]
Alice
And it is like, it's a buzzkill. And we. Yeah, we've replaced several in the 20 years that we've been doing this. And I think, yeah, we've done it with plaster. I'm thinking of my sister's previous home and we rearranged some things that weren't great, but she had the microwave over her range. And that was one of the first things to recommend is we need to get a new hood. And so we did do a plaster. When you're talking about the wood piece, that's just like kind of just that wood band, you know, that has that lip. I think it's okay. And especially depending on like your floor or is there any other warmth somewhere else? I don't think there needs to be like a wood feature or anything in the kitchen. I know your marble on your countertops and you have the marble tile on the backsplash. But I think. I think the wood is a nice. It feels more farmhouse for sure.
- [37:35]
Jess
I was gonna say I wouldn't do the wood. Yeah, I would just do A big beautiful plaster hood. And Corey, you'll have to speak to whether or not you could make a cuff over the top of the existing hood or do you rip that out and just get the insert and just do it the right way? Can you do a band aid over the top and just create like a three sided, you know what I mean? Like cuff and then get that plastered. Whether you would band the bottom or not is cosmetically like up to you. But what's your professional opinion on that? Since you do some of this stuff.
- [38:08]
Sue
The right way to do it is just to build a hood with an insert to fit. But if you did want to kind of just like you say, cover it up, you definitely could do that. Frame it out, drywall it, texture it. And then I mean. Yeah, I mean they make like really rad though. Yeah.
- [38:23]
Alice
And just kidding.
- [38:23]
Sue
Insert like possibly. I mean if you're doing it yourself, it's not. But yeah. So that's, that is a way to do it. The only, my only issue with that is when you look up underneath it, you're going to see that old one and it's not going to fit in that box that you just created essentially. So that's the only downside to it.
- [38:44]
Jess
Here's what I'll say. When we're doing this from the ground up, we generally are making the range hood wider than the stove itself.
- [38:52]
Sue
At least six inches.
- [38:53]
Jess
Right. @ least. Generally what's there maybe not even be as wide as the current range and they're usually kind of angled and then you get like a chimney effect. Right. So you get that, that sort of, that sort of shape in your kitchen. And now today we love a hood that's just rectangular in line with, with the cabinet or I should say the sides are flush with, with the cabinetry. So getting that is going to give a larger presentation. But one reason to rip out the old is what Corey is saying because you're going to be able to see up under that because the hood is taller than you. And when you go to turn it on, you want lights that shine down on your range. You just want a really nice big hood if you can. I don't know if your cabinetry allows for that on each side, but that's generally what we would do. It is the money shot. Yeah.
- [39:41]
Alice
I will say just by doing it one solid like material like the plaster. And I think if you can like when you can have like yours like has. I think don't you have like a pitch on the front?
- [39:50]
Sue
Yeah.
- [39:50]
Alice
Anyway, just so it's not. Don't think of it as just like, a solid box. Like, have some form. Like, on the front, you're gonna be solid. I love that squared on the side, but have something. Whether it's a curve or, like, I've seen ones that, like, have the angle and up. If, like, your craftsman doesn't know how to do the curve. But I think having some profile from the side, that's pretty to look into, that graduates the height. So the distance of the actual insert and your cabinetry, that's usually about like 14 inches from the wall. It's not as drastic. So. Yeah, I'm so excited for you, though. That's a big upgrade.
- [40:20]
Jess
Yeah. Yeah. So our advice is rip it out, do it right. Definitely do the plaster thing. If you love the wood idea, do it.
- [40:29]
Sue
I. I would say, in my opinion, we're on the tail end of that trend. So if you do it in three years, you might not like it anymore. You always paint it or something. But yeah. Yeah, I would just maybe start researching, like, some things that you. That catch your eye on, like Pinterest and stuff like that, and kind of, you know, find the common denominator from everything that is catching your eye and. And. And, you know, show a carpenter that. And go that way.
- [40:55]
Jess
Yeah, yeah. Great advice.
- [40:57]
Sue
Okay. One last question from Laura Lambert. She asked. I'm not sure this would warrant an entire podcast episode, since you have already talked about ceilings in the past, but I don't think I've heard you address trey ceilings. Our home has two tray ceilings. One in the primary bedroom and one in the dining room. Do you like a tray ceiling? How would you treat a trey ceiling? Or. Or would you try to remove it? Can I turn it into a coffered ceiling? I am curious if you have any ideas for me.
- [41:29]
Alice
I do. I think any time you have any, like, interior architecture like that, like a tree ceiling that lifts you, like, in a space, I think it's lovely. I do think it's a bummer when the tree ceiling isn't addressed and it's just, like, left the same as the drywall. I think that that's a huge missed opportunity. So in homes that we've done, we've done done that where we have. We've wallpapered the tray or we have done, like, slight finish work. I don't know if I've ever. Especially depending on your tray, usually the tray has, like, angles on the sides to a flat. I don't think I've ever done a coffer in those situation that's usually when there's like more of a boxed out tray then you could add coffers or. But I think like shallow finish work and things. There's a lot of beautiful pictures. We can find some to throw up on here for you guys to see. Some like really successful applications of finish work on trays, I think. Definitely. What? I wouldn't rip it out. I think I would just like call attention to it and highlight it.
- [42:23]
Jess
Yeah.
- [42:24]
Alice
So be it. Wallpaper.
- [42:26]
Jess
And you have to have a fantastic light fixture.
- [42:29]
Alice
Oh yeah.
- [42:30]
Jess
You can't have that boob light or two boob lights in a tray. It's just the glory for no one. You've got this big moment, this big vibrato that's saying look at me. Right. And then if you go to the expense and all the detail to treat it, I think that already goes without saying. But you're not putting those boob lights back. You are going to do some really big beautiful grand fixture coming out of that that's going to really center your room. Whether it be a dining room underneath it or a living room or maybe it's your home office. It's just an awesome opportunity. Usually in primary bedrooms we see the tray ceiling a lot. So. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's great advice.
- [43:08]
Alice
I think so too.
- [43:09]
Jess
Okay, good.
- [43:10]
Alice
Awesome.
- [43:11]
Sue
That was it.
- [43:11]
Jess
Yeah, amazing. Yeah. Thanks for sending those in. And I was gonna say check out our Instagram if you are wanting to follow the journey of the interior side. We've got a lot of really great installs happening. Lots of fun projects. So much going on and the, and the getting there on all these projects, the building of the rooms and sharing what's happening. It's a real inspiration, I think to those of you that love interiors. So that's at Alice Lane Interiors. And then the home side of the business where we're selling the beautiful furnishings and all the product that we're creating is at Alice Lane Home. So check us out on Insta. And if you're an interior designer, you've got to check out our trade program. It's phenomenal. There's so many great perks and experts, expert help, hundreds of vendors, not to mention our exclusive. So check that out. You can apply online@alsinghome.com and we will catch you guys next time. Hey, thanks for listening. If you like our show, please leave a five star rating.