Allison worked with Jonathan and Drew Scott to surprise her assistant, Ilana, with a renovation of her kitchen, dining room and living area. Allison met Ilana around the time she did the pilot for The West Wing, and her manager suggested she might need an assistant. "I laughed and said, 'No, Rob Lowe has an assistant. I don't have an assistant,'" said Allison. "Cut to 20 years later, and I can't live without her. She has become more family to me than anything else."

The women have helped each other through good and bad times, and Allison wanted to give her a home that functions better for her family and her love of entertaining — including continuing to throw parties for Allison. "It's not just a 9-5 job Ilana has. She's there for me in so many more ways that go beyond being an assistant. She's there as a friend in more ways than one; so to do this for her, it's just nice to give," said Allison, "I'm very lucky to have her in my life."