Sydney-based interior designer Jillian Dinkel redefines this historic home as a dynamic and dramatic entertaining space.
Built over a century ago, Kilmory House is one of the last grand estates in Point Piper, Sydney. The home’s creative owners, who love entertaining, engaged interior designer Jillian Dinkel to bring the home into a new era.
Initially, the brief revolved around reinventing the home for hosting guests, but as the project progressed, “the spaces became almost cinematic—rooms that didn’t just respect the heritage architecture but enhanced its presence through moody textures and layered materiality,” Dinkel says. “The home was an exercise between balancing the Arts and Crafts traditional detailing and bringing in refined, contemporary elements that made each room feel like an experience unto itself,” she adds.
The home features a commercial-grade kitchen, a 12-person formal dining setting to host gatherings and a custom wine cellar that can hold more than 400 bottles. Dinkel says the adjacent garden provides a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, perfect for intimate alfresco moments. The evocative powder room, with its custom vanity and hand-painted wallpaper, “offers guests a uniquely immersive experience—a small retreat that feels transportive and indulgent,” she adds.
The living room features the Tufty-Time sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, Mazer side table by Tom Fereday, Vitra Akari floor lamp by Isamu Noguchi, and a custom silk and wool rug by Jillian Dinkel, produced by The Rug Establishment.
The kitchen is comprised of a stainless-steel Poliform island and a second, hidden timber kitchen for chefs and catering.
The dining room features a custom limestone fireplace surround by Richard Ellis Design, Glove chairs by Patricia Urquiola for Molteni&C, an Apparatus Tassel 57 pendant light and Tassel 3 wall sconce, and the Collection Particulière Kafa stool.
Understanding the home’s Arts and Craft heritage was integral to the design process. Dinkel ensured respect for the home’s authenticity through craftsmanship and natural materials such as marble, solid wood and patinated metals. “We focused on using honest materials and honouring traditional techniques, ensuring each new element felt true to the original home,” Dinkel notes. “This approach allowed us to introduce refined touches that complement the estate’s character while enhancing its timeless appeal.” Veneers were avoided, as Dinkel wanted every surface to echo the home’s historical integrity.
To create a sense of intimacy, mood, and depth in spaces that lacked natural light, Dinkel leant into rich colours and textures. Where light was more accessible, these spaces were used for the children’s art studio and rumpus room, contributing to a playfulness brought by landscape motifs and colour.
Light and texture were instrumental in crafting the atmosphere at Kilmory House, where Jillian Dinkel’s impactful interiors underscore the opportunity to entertain and play.
The powder room features a custom vanity by Jillian Dinkel and de Gournay hand-painted wallpaper.
In the children’s space, the Vitra Resting Bear cushion and Ligne Roset Togo settee.
The ensuite features a Rogerseller Claybrook Orbit bath from Winnings and the Carl Hansen & Søn Egyptian stool.
