Podcast Summary: Remodel Masterclass | House Of Kennedy

Podcast: Dear Alice | Interior Design
Hosts: Jessica Bennett (A), Suzanne Hall (C), Corey (B)
Date: November 20, 2025

Overview

In this episode of Dear Alice, the team at Alice Lane Interior Design breaks down their renovation of the "House of Kennedy," a 1990s rambler that underwent a transformation to suit modern tastes. Focusing on the main living spaces—entryway, family room, kitchen, and living room—the hosts provide strategies, insightful design tips, and clever solutions for maximizing style and function in older homes, especially those with 8-foot ceilings. Their witty, accessible, and encouraging tone makes this a master class in high-impact remodeling for everyday homeowners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The House of Kennedy: Background & Philosophy

• Project Timeline: Remodel undertaken from 2017-2019; featured in their portfolio since 2019.
• Client Focus: Budget was concentrated on the interior rather than split with the exterior, allowing for greater impact.
• Relatability: The 90s rambler layout is familiar to many, and their techniques apply broadly to similar homes.
• Design Approach: The client "wanted to put all of her budget into the interior, which I totally love and agree with" – Jessica (A) [00:35].

2. Entryway Transformation

Before:

• 8-foot ceiling
• Honey oak front door, banister, and window trim
• Swaggy, pleated drapery; royal-blue patterned carpet; “gas station” ceramic tile entry pad with bifold coat closet doors

Problems Identified:

• Disjointed, “hopscotch” flooring made spaces feel fragmented
• No defined or impactful entry; felt like a passage, not a welcome

Solutions & Designer Tricks:

• Continuous Flooring: “If we’re going to do continuous flooring… all of a sudden the space reads as one big one.” – Jessica (A) [05:01]
• Expanded Visual Footprint: By removing the coat closet and integrating the entry into the main area, they “gave ourselves a moment for a console” [05:20].
• Applied Panel Molding: Added blocky, modern panel moldings for “grandness in this full stairwell” – Suzanne (C) [05:15].
• Painted Stair Railings: Rather than replace, high-gloss black paint modernized the oak balustrades and coordinated with new flooring details.
• Marble Flooring: Installed a patterned floor with three types of marble, uniting the entry and hallway for maximum impact.

Notable Quotes:

• “A really great trick...when you chop up the floor...you are creating these little tiny spaces...” – Jessica (A) [04:31]
• “Occupying that coat closet was like the biggest win of this space.” – Suzanne (C) [08:31]
• “Continuous flooring visually enlarges your overall footprint.” – Jessica (A) [08:53]

Timestamps:

• Before and design evaluation: [02:10-05:00]
• Tricks for visual expansion: [05:01-09:15]

3. Kitchen Overhaul

Before:

• Honey oak cabinetry everywhere; white appliances “hanging out” from the cabinets
• Cityscape of upper cabinets up to the low ceiling; awkward peninsula
• Obsolete kitchen design approaches (e.g., floating upper cabinets, odd soffits or lowered portions)

Solutions & Techniques:

• Relocated Major Appliances: Moved the stove to the anchor spot with windows on either side for "the money shot" in the kitchen [12:21].
• Feature Range: Installed a European 48" range, framed as the “diamond ring” of the remodel (Jessica, [12:21]).
• Pantry Towers: Tall cabinet “towers” on the fridge wall replaced upper cabinets, making the kitchen feel “a foot taller” and keeping windows unobstructed [14:12].
• Banquette Integrated with Island: Custom channeled banquette in cognac leather added luxury and solved limited dining space issue [17:16].
• Lighting: Hung four designer pendants centered over island and dining table, avoiding visual clutter from can lights [17:18].
• Cabinet Finishes: Used automotive finish for high-gloss, metal-look doors with vertical gold inlay for stretch (Jessica, [17:51] and [18:24]); cerused blackened wood-grain island for contrast and forgiving wear.
• Functional Storage: Appliance garage, pocketed cabinetry, and floating shelves maximize utility and display [15:54, 16:15].

Notable Quotes:

• "Your range is your money shot...it’s that crown jewel in the prongs is the stove and the range hood." – Jessica (A) [12:21]
• "Tall tower storage...elongates the entire room. It's like the kitchen has stilts now." – Corey (B) & Jessica (A) [14:12-14:20]
• "We did the automotive finish on the actual perimeter cabinetry. But then we changed the finish on the island to this...cerused charcoal blackened wood grain." – Suzanne (C) [19:25]

Timestamps:

• Kitchen before & after intro: [09:21-10:45]
• Appliance, layout & window move: [11:45-13:32]
• Cabinet height, storage strategies: [13:32-14:22]
• Dining banquette & island solutions: [16:36-17:18]
• Finish and hardware details: [17:51-19:25]

4. Family Room Refresh

Before:

• Honey oak balustrades continued
• Brick fireplace with awkward, floating built-ins and odd desk nooks

Solutions & Techniques:

• Fireplace: Swapped raised hearth for a cast stone fireplace, dropped firebox to floor level—modern and expansive for rooms with lower ceilings [22:20-22:42].
• Painted Railings: Continued high-gloss black from entry/stair for unity.
• Flooring: Engineered wood replaces carpet, running seamlessly from kitchen for a sense of space.

Notable Quotes:

• "Cast is a really great option...gives you a really, really cool look and it's going to be less expensive than a carved marble. We saved the marble for her living room." – Suzanne (C) [21:19-22:20]
• "Getting rid of that raised hearth didn’t make it feel so short. So that’s another trick." – Jessica (A) [22:20]

Timestamps:

• Family room before: [20:13]
• Fireplace solutions: [21:19-22:42]
• Flooring and finishing touches: [23:08]

5. Living Room: Chic and Luxe

Before:

• Not detailed, but inferred similar blue carpet and built-ins

Solutions & Techniques:

• Marble Mantel: Installed a sectional, affordable marble mantel in antique oscuro, providing luxury without prohibitive expense [23:58-24:21].
• Flush Built-Ins: Removed dated cabinetry, added custom built-ins that remained flush with walls—maximizing existing cavities for storage without losing footprint.
• Grasscloth Walls: Used black grasscloth wallcovering to ground the space, continued black on integrated built-ins, offset by rusty-hued interiors for depth and drama [25:01].
• Lighting: Chose wide, semi-flush mounts for 8-foot ceilings, providing visual interest without requiring tall ceilings.
• Cohesive Palette: Continued use of black and metallics as “anchors” throughout.

Notable Quotes:

• "Add sconces when you can. Like I think on a fireplace it’s just such a gorgeous glow..." – Suzanne (C) [25:01]
• "I still love this space right now. So it's still relevant." – Jessica (A) [25:51]

Timestamps:

• Marble mantel and built-ins: [23:58-24:21]
• Grasscloth, color pop, and furniture: [25:01-25:51]

Standout Tips & Pro Moves

• Continuous Flooring visually expands both appearance and feel of space.
• Use tall cabinetry or “towers” to stretch the visual height—even with 8-foot ceilings.
• Invest budget for maximum impact: prioritize interior transformations if exterior is already passable.
• Paint existing features (e.g., railings) bold, glossy colors for a modern update.
• Banquette seating and custom layouts create luxury even in modest footprints.
• Distinguish family room vs. living room fireplaces: cast for casual spaces, marble for formal ones.
• Seek unique finishes (automotive, metal, cerused wood) for style and durability.
• Use design features that "anchor" (like black finishes) for sophistication and grounding.
• Utilize, adapt or remove inherited architectural elements for better flow and function.

Memorable Quotes (by Timestamp & Speaker)

• “If we’re going to do continuous flooring… all of a sudden the space reads as one big one.” – Jessica (A) [05:01]
• “Occupying that coat closet was like the biggest win of this space.” – Suzanne (C) [08:31]
• "Continuous flooring visually enlarges your overall footprint." – Jessica (A) [08:53]
• "Your range is your money shot...it's that crown jewel in the prongs is the stove and the range hood." – Jessica (A) [12:21]
• "Tall tower storage...elongates the entire room. It's like the kitchen has stilts now." – Corey (B) & Jessica (A) [14:12-14:20]
• “We did the automotive finish on the actual perimeter cabinetry. But then we changed the finish on the island to this...cerused charcoal blackened wood grain.” – Suzanne (C) [19:25]
• "Cast is a really great option...gives you a really, really cool look and it's going to be less expensive than a carved marble. We saved the marble for her living room." – Suzanne (C) [21:19-22:20]
• "Getting rid of that raised hearth didn’t make it feel so short. So that’s another trick." – Jessica (A) [22:20]
• "Add sconces when you can. Like I think on a fireplace it’s just such a gorgeous glow..." – Suzanne (C) [25:01]
• "I still love this space right now. So it's still relevant." – Jessica (A) [25:51]

Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with encouragement for listeners remodeling older homes: don’t undersell the potential of spaces with low ceilings or dated finishes—big, designer impact is possible with smart decisions, cohesive finishes, and an eye on continuous lines and bold, anchoring elements. The House of Kennedy serves as an inspiring template for turning a “forgettable” rambler into a modern, luxurious home where design and family life harmoniously coexist.

For further questions, listeners are invited to email Dear Alice.