Jillian Dinkel
Interior designer Jillian Dinkel designs spaces which embrace the passage of time, respecting a home’s heritage architectural detailing. We chat to Jillian about her design journey, her passion for historical interiors and her appreciation for timeless design.
Photography: Pablo Veiga & Hannah Blackmore
‘It’s an honour and a privilege to be entrusted by clients to transform their daily life by creating beauty around them,’ says Jillian Dinkel. Photo: Hannah Blackmore
Bronte House by Jillian Dinkel. Photo: Pablo Veiga
1904 Victorian by Jillian Dinkel. Photo: Pablo Veiga. Editorial Styling: Kerrie-Ann Jones
1904 Victorian by Jillian Dinkel. Photo: Pablo Veiga. Editorial Styling: Kerrie-Ann Jones
H&F: Hi Jillian, what led you to where you are today?
Jillian: So many career and personal detours and evolutions- the path has certainly never been a straight line!
What first inspired you to start a journey in interiors?
I was working as Vogue Australia’s photography and casting director, having moved to the country from New York a few years prior. I was really craving more independent and personal creativity at the time and I’ve always loved interiors, particularly in historical homes. The pull to work directly as an interior designer became too strong a force to ignore.
As an designer, what’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way?
To always remain curious.
Do you have a disciplined studio routine and any rituals to help keep you focused?
Our work is so varied-two weeks are never alike, so we try to remain flexible and adaptable. However, a daily internal meeting and keeping new client meetings and site meetings to specific days of the week means we can ensure we allow for large blocks of in studio creative time.
What drives your creativity?
I’m just back from Salone in Milan- it was wonderful to be back in Europe, the heritage is always inspiring for me to see. Day to day so many things inspire me- my team, the craftsmen and makers we collaborate with as well as our clients. I also love to flip through an international design magazine to see a more global and varied perspective on the meaning of home.
Do you have any daily rituals?
I try to stay off email until about 10AM, so I can ensure the day starts in a very productive matter for myself and the team, focused on our big projects. I finish my days at 5PM on the dot to pick up my 4 year old daughter and spend quality time with her before bedtime.
What’s the most important stage of the design process for you?
The concept and research phase- understanding the history of a property and a family, their dreams for the future and dreaming of how the house can support creating those happy future family memories. The concept phase is where we get to dream big and explore paths our clients hadn’t considered before, both spatially and aesthetically.
Jillian Dinkel in her Sydney-based studio. Photo: Hannah Blackmore
Wiltshire House by Jillian Dinkel. Photo: Pablo Veiga. Styling: Madeline MacFarlane
“We have a deep respect for the passing of time and the craftsmanship that went into building a home over 100 years ago. That respect leads us to the preservation of original architectural details and drives us to find creative solutions to suit the lifestyle of contemporary families.”
Bronte House by Jillian Dinkel. Photo: Pablo Veiga. Styling: Madeline MacFarlane
1904 Victorian by Jillian Dinkel. Photo: Pablo Veiga. Editorial Styling: Kerrie-Ann Jones
You’re passionate about period homes which are adapted to contemporary living - how do you find the balance achieving this when designing?
We have a deep respect for the passing of time and the craftsmanship that went into building a home over 100 years ago. That respect leads us to the preservation of original architectural details and drives us to find creative solutions to suit the lifestyle of contemporary families. This can often feel in direct opposition to the way period homes were build – this is the central challenge that drives our passion and creativity.
What is about period homes and interiors you're most drawn to?
The detailing, the proportions and of course the craftsmanship.
What do you love most about what you do?
It’s an honour and a privilege to be entrusted by clients to transform their daily life by creating beauty around them. The relationships we get to form with our clients through this process is truly magical.
What advice can you share with someone who aspires to be an interior designer?
Expand your mind, travel, and take notice of everything around you. Be confident in your vision and the unique perspective you have to offer to the world.
Where/who do you mostly draw inspiration from in your work?
Travelling is always a source of inspiration. I’m as likely to be snapping photos of beautiful buildings as I am a tiny detail at a cafe. I often find that something I saw many years ago manifests its way into my work- even when I only am reminded of the thread much later!
What are you looking forward to most this year?
We have an exciting project in construction for repeat clients of ours that should be done before end of year- the brief was so bold- it’s so creatively different from our typical work and has been so fun to design. We are debuting a interior project we’ve been working on for nearly three years that has just finished months ago and I’m also planning on a trip back home this year to see family and friends.