Dear Alice | Interior Design

Episode: Top Interior Design Myths — Debunked by the Experts

Date: October 9, 2025
Hosts: Jessica Bennett, Suzanne (Sue) Hall, Alice Lane

Episode Overview

In this lively and insightful episode, the Alice Lane Interior Design team—Jessica Bennett, Suzanne Hall, and Alice Lane—dismantle some of the most persistent myths in interior design. Drawing on their extensive experience and peppering the conversation with real project examples, the trio discusses how to be bold, playful, and personal with your interiors, regardless of budget or background. The episode is packed with practical advice, memorable moments, vibrant storytelling, and actionable takeaways for listeners looking to make their homes more reflective of their own style.

Key Myths Debunked & Major Insights

1. "Small Rooms Should Only Be Painted White"

[03:27]

• Myth: White is the only safe choice for small rooms.

• Debunked: The hosts advocate for bold colors, dramatic wallpaper, exotic slabs, and patterns in small spaces to create personality and surprise.

  • "I'm gonna say small rooms should never be painted white." — Jessica Bennett [04:28]
  • "Use the wild slab in the small space." — Alice Lane [06:09]
  • Examples include tiny pantries and powder rooms transformed with murals, color-drenched walls, and vibrant furniture.
  • Notable Project: Desert Oaks secret room with tangerine wallpaper and pink chairs.

• Tactic: Start taking risks in small spaces to boost design confidence, then extend boldness to larger rooms.

2. "Everything Must Match"

[09:07]

• Myth: Matching furniture or decor (e.g., bedroom sets, dining sets) is ideal.
• Debunked: Curation and contrast bring depth and storytelling; harmony is more interesting when built from complementary, not identical, pieces.
  • "Matching is giving up the opportunity to tell your story." — Alice Lane [09:14]
  • "Like a museum with multiple artists...so much more interesting than just one flat one." — Sue Hall [09:57]
• Examples:
  • Lovers Lane home office with a mix of orange upholstery, goatskin desk, vintage zebra chair, and a blue room.
  • Dining rooms featuring varied chair colors, mixed leathers, contrasting tables and credenzas, with harmony achieved through art and rug choices.

3. "You Need Overhead Lighting to Brighten a Room"

[13:56]

• Myth: Can lighting is essential for good lighting.
• Debunked: Overhead lights are rarely needed except for cleaning; mood and atmosphere are made with lamps and layered lighting.
  • "You don't have to have all those lights on. You rarely are going to use them." — Sue Hall [14:06]
  • Sue’s own home has no overheads and achieves vibe and romance with lamps only.
• Tip: Dimmers and smaller cans (if any) help; avoid “acne on the ceiling”.

4. "Stick to Neutrals—They're Always Safe"

[15:33]

• Myth: Neutral palettes are timeless and easiest.
• Debunked: Neutral spaces can be more work to make interesting and often feel stale if not thoughtfully layered with art, textiles, and details.
  • "You have to do a lot more work in a neutral space to make it interesting." — Sue Hall [15:40]
  • "Relaxation of neutrals just looks so stale and boring... It's not 2015 anymore." — Jessica Bennett [16:14]
• Vivid Example: Alice describes her own living room transformation from "bronze grasscloth and white" to a "high-gloss, color-drenched" sanctuary.
  • "I feel like I've been reborn just getting to live in color." — Alice Lane [19:24]
• Insight: Taking small risks with color can boost confidence and lead to more daring choices later.

5. "Mirrors Only Belong in Bathrooms or Entryways"

[21:45]

• Myth: Mirrors have limited places in a home.
• Debunked: Mirrors can go almost anywhere—closets, above nightstands (a designer favorite!), mantels (feng shui benefits), or even as sculptural elements.
  • Memorable Install: Attic-turned-closet clad in mirrors on all surfaces, doubling its perceived size and drama.
  • "It’s basically a much less expensive window that you're putting in a room." — Sue Hall [23:29]
  • Phoenix mirrors are a favorite above nightstands for breadth and light.

6. "Follow Trends to Stay Current"

[25:04]

• Myth: You must chase trends to be stylish.
• Debunked: Trends are fun for inspiration, but the best interiors translate personal style and bring in only resonant elements.
  • "The problem with investing big into a trend is that at some point, it will go by, and you will still be stuck..." — Jessica Bennett [25:27]
  • "If it's something that makes you feel alive—do it! Just don't follow blindly." — Sue Hall [28:26]
• Advice: Participate selectively and thoughtfully; micro-trends require extra caution.

7. "You Can't Mix Wood Tones or Metal Finishes"

[29:13]

• Myth: All woods and all metals must match.

• Debunked: Mixed woods and mixed metals add depth and sophistication when thoughtfully coordinated.

  • "I think when every metal finish is matching, that feels a little too phoned in." — Jessica Bennett [29:45]
  • Gold/brass hues are especially tricky; hosts advise caution and encourage polished nickel as a safe standard for plumbing and appliances.
  • "There's nothing more offensive to my eye than... three different brasses that were not considered together." — Sue Hall [31:34]

• Design Secret: Use utility finishes (posh nickel, stainless) for the fixes; use brass or other metals for decorative “jewelry” elements (light fixtures, hardware).

8. "Function Should Always Come Before Form"

[34:45]

• Myth: Utility trumps all.
• Debunked: The most remarkable spaces balance beauty and function; sometimes a little impracticality is worth the effect.
  • Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala dress used as an analogy—even the couch in your home can prioritize aesthetics if it delights you.
  • "We're always going to find the most beautiful vantage point. So there's going to be form, but we are going to pay attention to how this thing functions." — Alice Lane [35:30]

9. "Interior Design is Only for the Wealthy"

[36:18]

• Myth: Only the rich can have beautiful homes or hire designers.

• Debunked: Every home, at every price point, can be intentional and beautiful; everyone occupies a space and can express their story through it.

  • "Interior design is for everyone. We all have personal style. We all get dressed in the morning." — Alice Lane [36:28]
  • "Any decision that you make that you put money toward should be considered." — Sue Hall [37:41]
  • The evolution of design (beaded curtains, painted nightstands) is part of personal discovery. Curiosity and thoughtfulness matter more than budget.

• Wisdom:

  • "It's a marathon... part of the journey is discovering who you are and what makes you feel at home." — Jessica Bennett [39:13]
  • "That's the power of interior. Your walls start to talk." — Sue Hall [40:59]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fear & Risk:
  • "What if you lived your life that way? ‘I don’t think I could pull that off.’ You would never be pulling anything off." — Alice Lane [02:14]
• On Curated Homes:
  • "Those are the houses that are the most interesting... because it’s such a curated collection." — Sue Hall [12:48]
• On Color Courage:
  • "Get started in your small spaces, really creating environments, and that will give you the courage to do more." — Alice Lane [06:47]
• On Mixing Finishes:
  • "I'd rather 1be bronze and 1be brass, or 1b nickel and 1b brass." — Sue Hall [31:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Myth 1—Small rooms & color: [03:27]–[08:58]
• Myth 2—Everything must match: [09:07]–[13:54]
• Myth 3—Overhead lighting: [13:56]–[15:26]
• Myth 4—Neutrals are always safest: [15:33]–[20:39]
• Myth 5—Mirrors are for bathrooms/entryways only: [21:45]–[25:04]
• Myth 6—Follow trends: [25:04]–[29:13]
• Myth 7—Mixing woods/metals: [29:13]–[34:45]
• Myth 8—Function always before form: [34:45]–[36:18]
• Myth 9—Interior design is for the wealthy: [36:18]–[41:04]

Episode Tone & Banter

The episode is warm, irreverent, and encouraging, with the hosts bouncing between expertise and empathetic coaching. They celebrate bold choices, personal narratives, and living beautifully at all budget levels, using humor and relatable anecdotes to make high-end design wisdom feel accessible to everyone. Their enthusiasm for color, risk-taking, and curation shines throughout.

Final Words

The hosts invite listeners to submit their own myths for future debunking and remind everyone that design is deeply personal, always evolving, and inclusive. Their core message: everyone deserves to live in a space that tells their unique story.