Our Directors - Hill House Interiors

JENNY WEISS

FOUNDER DIRECTOR

Born into the middle of a large family of high achievers, Jenny quickly discovered that being creative was a means to carving out her own identity, while also offering a refuge from the noise of family life.

The sort of child who could happily spend many hours drawing, daydreaming or quietly absorbed in making things, she continues to view creative endeavour as an essential life skill. “Creativity is important for the soul,” she insists, “and it brings joy to others.”

It took a while, however, for her to discover her talent for interiors. Passionate about art, film, theatre, textiles and costume design, a career in fashion design seemed to initially beckon. It was during her 20s, however, when she moved house many times in quick succession, turning each home into an inviting space on a shoestring budget, that she found her true calling for interiors. Always resourceful, with a confident eye, she began working within the property sector where her renovations of empty properties became a catalyst for fast lettings and sales.

Jenny and Helen Bygraves met in the 1990s through their husbands, and the two women struck up an instant friendship. Their shared interests and values rapidly evolved into a business collaboration, and Hill House Interiors was born.

Although she would eventually study interior design at Chelsea School of Art, Jenny maintains that it’s her practical experience designing people’s homes that has given her the most valuable lessons in the transformative power of beautiful and welcoming interiors.

“Your home should be your sanctuary, a place where you can relax,” is one of Jenny’s mantras. While an uplifting environment of timeless elegance is paramount, Jenny also brings a practical approach to design, with a forensic focus on eliminating the jarring small details that can disrupt the enjoyment of a space. From sound systems to lighting, simplicity is her byword, with everything in its place.

As a result, Hill House Interiors creates harmonious, beautiful homes that are as delightful to live in as to behold.

"Creativity is important for the soul and it brings joy to others."

HELEN BYGRAVES

FOUNDER DIRECTOR

Helen Bygraves’ unique perspective on interiors draws on her singular background as a professionally trained dancer. From an appreciation for proportions, volume and movement to her sense for narrative and theatre, Helen’s experience on the stage has given her an inherent understanding of how to present interiors to their best effect.

Her aesthetic choices are further enriched by a passion for travel, which she indulged during a period in her 20s working in the airline industry. Her insatiable curiosity for other cultures led to a period of several years exploring the world. Even today, Helen relishes working on overseas projects, where the local architecture, fashions, aesthetic traditions and culture are a constant source of inspiration.

Born and raised in London, Helen fell into her calling as a designer almost accidentally, by renovating her own properties, which caught the attention of friends and led to her first clients. With her trademark enthusiasm, passion and exceptional organisational skills, she began her career in interior design while working in the travel sector and raising her daughter, Daniella. Never daunted by any challenge, Helen fervently believes in pushing boundaries, maintaining that progress comes when you venture beyond your comfort zone. This mantra applies as much to her creative process and life choices as to the design decisions she encourages her clients to explore.

Helen met Jenny in the early 1990s when they were both starting out in their creative careers. Their instant friendship was a meeting of two creative minds, cemented through shared aesthetic values, convictions and a sense of humour, and it quickly evolved into a business collaboration that now spans 25 years. Hill House Interiors has grown organically through word of mouth over the years, and continues to evolve. With her nurturing personality, Helen takes particular pleasure in furthering the careers of her staff and watching them flourish.

With a beautiful new office in Dubai to better service clients in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and the launch of an exclusive range of furniture, rugs, cushions and trimmings, Helen is relishing every moment in the continuing evolution of Hill House Interiors.

"THE UPLIFTING EFFECT OF LIVING IN A BEAUTIFUL SPACE IS OFTEN UNDERESTIMATED "