A grand heritage home brings new modernity
Vogue Living's 2025 Top Australian Interior Designer and esteemed Sydney-based creative director, Jillian Dinkel, re-imagines Kilmory House, a grand Arts and Crafts estate in Point Piper, Sydney, as a bold and evocative entertaining space, where heritage detailing is punctuated by iconic, contemporary design.
Jillian Dinkel with the powdery pink Cipria sofa designed by Fernando and Humberto Campana for Edra adds a sculptural and evocative touch to the interior. Photo © Dave Wheeler & interior styling by Joseph Gardner.
The entertaining hub of the home features an oversized Tufty-Time sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, introducing effortless comfort and a modern silhouette. Photo © Dave Wheeler & interior styling by Joseph Gardner.
'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.'
Jillian Dinkel, Creative Director
Kilmory House, one of the last grand estates in Point Piper, was originally conceived by architectural practice Mason & Pickering in 1913. When its new creative owners, who are also avid entertainers, enlisted Jillian Dinkel to usher the home into a new era, a deep reverence for its Arts and Crafts heritage became the foundation of the design. With an expert understanding of heritage and period homes, the designer saw herself as a custodian of the home’s history, weaving her own interpretation into its next chapter while reviving the residence’s golden cinematic era’ 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,' Dinkel remarks.
The home was designed with entertaining front of mind, from a grand dining space for gatherings to a bespoke wine cellar housing over 400 bottles. The open-plan living areas seamlessly integrate with the hub of the home where bold materials bridge the existing heritage charm. At its heart, a stainless-steel Shape kitchen from Poliform has become both a showpiece and a workhorse, its refined materials blending effortlessly with modern innovation.
The B&B Italia Tufty-Time sofa is designed for conversation, connecting the living space with the open kitchen. The stainless steel and marble Poliform Shape kitchen has a tapered design with sleek integrated handles, perfectly complementing the marble columns that anchor the island. Photo © Dave Wheeler & interior styling by Joseph Gardner.
Detail of the Tufty-Time sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia. Photo © Dave Wheeler & interior styling by Joseph Gardner.
'Space’s design pieces frequently serve as the focal point in our projects, acting both as conversation starters and as enduring symbols of the elevated, bespoke designs we strive to create.'
Jillian Dinkel, Creative Director
Honouring the home’s authenticity, Dinkel worked with enduring materials: marble, solid wood and patinated metals to preserve its narrative. A Baroque-inspired palette of burgundy, charcoal, deep teal, and chocolate creates a moody richness throughout, punctuated by iconic Italian furniture pieces from Space.
Statement design pieces include Patricia Urquiola’s Tufty-Time sofa for B&B Italia in the open-plan living space, a Vitra Resting Bear cushion, and a plush pink Edra Cipria sofa in the children’s area introduce a sculptural softness. Playful elements like the Vitra Resting Bear cushion add personality while enduring pieces ground the interiors with refined elegance. 'Space’s design pieces frequently serve as the focal point in our projects, acting both as conversation starters and as enduring symbols of the elevated, bespoke designs we strive to create,' Dinkel adds.
With hospitality at its core, the home is anchored by a striking Poliform kitchen that was conceived by the designer as 'both a bold design statement and a practical centrepiece,' positioned at the heart of the interior to seamlessly integrates the kitchen into the flow of the home, setting the stage for memorable gatherings.
The Kilmory House, Point Piper, Sydney, by Jillian Dinkel, furniture by Space Furniture and kitchen by Poliform, all photography © Dave Wheeler, and interior styling by Joseph Gardner.