{"id":9891,"date":"2025-11-20T08:00:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T09:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rutha.org\/?p=9891"},"modified":"2025-11-21T12:27:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T12:27:01","slug":"jillian-dinkel-turns-arts-and-crafts-home-into-dynamic-entertainers-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rutha.org\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/jillian-dinkel-turns-arts-and-crafts-home-into-dynamic-entertainers-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"Jillian Dinkel turns arts and crafts home into “dynamic entertainer’s retreat”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Stairwell<\/div>\n

Interior designer Jillian Dinkel has transformed an arts and crafts house<\/a> in Sydney<\/a>, Australia, into a dedicated space for entertaining that combines traditional details with contemporary finishes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kilmory House<\/a> is part of a redevelopment of a 1913 arts and crafts estate located within the heritage enclave of Point Piper, one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs.<\/p>\n

\"Credenza
Jillian Dinkel has completed Kilmory House in Sydney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Having designed the clients’ main residence in the same estate, Dinkel<\/a> was asked to create a second home exclusively for entertaining so the family could host private dinners and parties in style.<\/p>\n

“Kilmory House reimagines Australia’s arts and crafts legacy through a modern lens, transforming a historic home into a vibrant entertainer’s retreat,” said Dinkel<\/a>. “The design needed to capture the spirit of the original estate while accommodating quite diverse purposes, seamlessly transitioning from one use to the next.”<\/p>\n

\"Stairwell
Custom Venetian plaster was applied to the entryway and staircase.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The original redevelopment of the estate, undertaken in the early 2000s, preserved the home’s traditional exterior but produced a compartmentalised layout that felt dated and unsuitable for modern living.<\/p>\n

The three-bedroom property was reconfigured to accommodate a variety of spaces for entertaining, including a commercial-grade kitchen, grand dining room, wellness space, pilates studio, playroom and art studio.<\/p>\n

\"Living
Dark timber panelling and an oversized fireplace feature in the dining room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dinkel told Dezeen that her team of heritage specialist designers set out to reinstate the building’s early 20th-century proportions and detailing, based on photographs of the home’s original interiors unearthed during their research.<\/p>\n

“Aesthetically, our design approach balances heritage with contemporary functionality, reimagining the space through the lens of modern luxury, layered materials, rich textures and a bold, confident use of colour,” she explained.<\/p>\n

\"Living
A modular sofa faces French windows in the living room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The house’s dramatic colour palette aims to provide a “modern gothic” feel informed by Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. Inky blue tones and cool steel finishes combine with deep burgundy hues, including the custom marmorino Venetian plaster applied in the entryway and staircase.<\/p>\n

In the dining room, dark-timber panelling and an oversized fireplace evoke traditional English design elements, while a 400-bottle wine fridge, complete with a rolling library ladder, adds a luxurious touch.<\/p>\n