Podcast Summary: Dear Alice | Interior Design

Episode: Remodel Masterclass: The Grand Tour

Hosts: Jessica Bennett (B), Suzanne Hall (A), and Corey (C)
Date: December 18, 2025

Overview

In this “Remodel Masterclass” episode, the team at Alice Lane Interior Design—Jessica Bennett, Suzanne Hall, and Corey—walk listeners through a transformative remodel of a family home in Highland, Utah. They delve into their design process for five principal spaces: the dining room (formerly an office), butler’s pantry, kitchen, and the primary suite. With before-and-after insights, clever remodel tips, and personal anecdotes, the episode aims to inspire listeners embarking on their own renovation journeys to rethink and reimagine their home’s potential.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: The Project and Clients

• Location: Highland, Utah, an upscale residential area.
• Client Profile: A successful family in their late 40s, with teenagers, ready to invest in a home that reflects their evolving style, interests, and lifestyle (fashion, cars, travel).
  • “They were just primed and ready and really just such a fun, fun family and fun couple to get to work with on making their own home that they were living in.” – A (03:39)
• Design Philosophy: Transforming underused spaces, honoring the family’s style, and solving spatial problems creatively.

The Dining Room: From Unused Office to Hosting Hub

[05:13 – 09:45]

• Original Use: An office that wasn’t needed by the family.
• Key Move: Repurposed into a formal dining room to better serve the family’s habit of gathering and entertaining.
  • “When you do a remodel, you don't have to make that room the same thing it was once before.” – A (09:45)
• Design Details:
  • Incorporated a closet into a new butler’s pantry.
  • Added wallcoverings and texture for warmth.
  • Maximized flexibility: A table seating six—with room to adjust for eight.
  • Retained and integrated existing dark woodwork.
• Notable Quote:
  • “You can reimagine these spaces as something new. And I think that's what's so fun about this before and after...” – A (10:03)

The Butler's Pantry: Creating Function from Found Space

[11:51 – 13:51]

• Transformation: A storage closet became a chic, efficient butler’s pantry between the kitchen and new dining room.
• Design Tricks:
  • Antique mirror backsplash to amplify space, light, and a sense of luxury.
    • “If you are going to embark on a bar or a butler's pantry, probably 99% of the time, we're going to employ this trick of using an antique mirror as the back.” – A (12:33)
  • Open shelving for display, and glass-front cabinetry for more storage.
  • Emphasized the importance of easy flow between kitchen and dining.
• Pro Tip: Seek authentic “light antiquing” in mirrors for a timeless, not contrived, look.

The Kitchen: Bold Choices and Custom Details

[13:51 – 22:10]

• Original Layout: Outdated bi-level island, tight galley-like footprint.
• Upgrades:
  • Leveled island for openness and function.
  • Show-stopping marbled surfaces (Calacatta Viola with green slab detail under the waterfall edge).
    • “We did double slabs on the waterfall island. You get a green slab peeking out underneath this Calcutta viola slab. It's just... fashion points.” – A (18:12)
  • Marble slab carried onto backsplash and around the pantry door for visual expansion.
  • Custom metal range hood with a glass cover; polished nickel accents.
  • High-end Rocky Mountain Hardware—splurged on a few statement knobs and pulls.
  • Integrated glass display cabinets above fridge, echoing glass details elsewhere.
  • Color story: Warm, taupe-y gray cabinets instead of all-white—breaking from “gray everything” trends.
• Design Reflection:
  • “Small space dressed to the nines.” – A (20:36)
  • “It's just like so Tom Ford, you know, it's really, really good.” – A (20:59)

The Primary Suite: Creating a ‘Castle’ Sanctuary

[22:10 – 33:49]

• Client Dream: Husband requested a castle vibe (inspired by European travels, his imposing stature).
• Key Features:
  • Added a substantial, classic fireplace by leveraging an adjacent wall with an existing chimney.
  • 15–16' ceilings allowed for a dramatic two-tier mantle and expansive wall/ceiling treatments.
  • Custom floor pattern: real wood and limestone in a diagonal lattice, visually elongating the space.
  • Ceiling: Quadrant design, also on a 45-degree angle, using applied molding and a gold Philip Jeffries cork wallpaper.
  • Dramatic, patterned window treatments to maximize height and coziness.
  • Sculptural chandelier with glass globes and a classic ceiling medallion for an unexpected mix of old and new.
  • All walls, moldings, and ceiling painted in a deep peacock/navy for a “color drenched” look.
  • Notable door: Custom sliding “barn” door to primary bath, disguised with leather and a massive, gallery-worthy art piece made out of vintage book covers.
    • “It functions like a barn door, but it really is like an art installation that slides left to right…” – A (31:12)
• Sight Lines & Space Planning:
  • Intentional placement of art and transitions for focal points, especially important in remodels.
  • “If you want to work on your home, pay attention to your sight lines, pay attention to your transitions between spaces...” – A (32:00)
• Remodel Mindset:
  • Don’t default to open concept—sometimes keeping walls for art and transitions adds more richness.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On reinvention of existing rooms:
  • “Just because it was an office, you don't have to do an office.” – A (09:45)
• On bold design decisions:
  • “And the green connecting with the butler's pantry and the green counter stools, it's just such fashion points.” – A (18:38)
• On classic design tricks:
  • “I'm never going to be sick of this [antique mirror trick].” – A (13:05)
• On the finished project’s longevity:
  • “I look at these pictures, I'm like, gosh, how many years later? I'm so happy for them that they get to still live like this. I would make those decisions today.” – B (04:31)
• On remodeling priorities:
  • “Don't just take out walls. Sometimes the transitions and vantage points are what make a home special.” – B (33:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:13] – Repurposing the home office into a new formal dining room
• [07:19] – Creating a butler’s pantry out of a closet
• [09:45] – On redefining spaces during a remodel
• [13:51] – Butler’s pantry design details and mirror trick
• [16:19] – Innovative marble slab work and kitchen “fashion points”
• [20:36] – Splurging for hardware in small spaces
• [22:10] – The primary suite: fireplace and castle inspiration
• [25:40] – Custom ceiling and floor treatments, visual elongation
• [31:12] – The oversized sliding “barn” door as art installation
• [32:00] – The importance of sight lines and transitions in a remodel

Tone and Takeaways

The episode is upbeat, witty, and unpretentious. Jessica, Suzanne, and Corey combine actionable design tips with storytelling, making high-level design accessible and relatable.

Main Takeaways:

• Let your home evolve with you—don’t be afraid to reimagine underused spaces.
• Marry functionality with beauty: bold choices, layered materials, and future-forward risks pay off.
• Prioritize sight lines, transitions, and art opportunities in remodels—open concept isn’t the only answer.
• It’s okay (and fabulous) to splurge on a handful of statement finishes.
• Personalization that tells the client’s story will always be timeless.

For more inspiration or to book a home furnishing consultation with Alice Lane, visit alicelanehome.com and check out their Amazon collection.

End of Summary