A Conversation with Julie Hillman
- jad7156
- Oct 3
- 2 min read
Julie Hillman’s approach to designing residential spaces focuses on a thoughtful curation of collectible items that speak to both the client’s interests and her eclectic aesthetic. Julie cultivates a creative dialogue between the architects, artisans, and craftsmen to ensure that each home tells its own story. As a returning member of our Design + Art Advisory Council, Julie joined us for a rapid-fire round of questions on dream collaborations, how to decide when a piece is "worth it," and more.
Art + Design Favorites
If you could add one museum piece to your personal collection, what would it be?
A Brancusi totem.
Which design era or movement most inspires you right now?
Shaker.
What’s a piece in your collection that always sparks conversation?
A Richard Nonas sculpture.
If you could collaborate with any artist or designer, living or dead, who would it
be?
What’s your favorite space you’ve ever visited for its design or art alone?
Advice
What’s a lesson you learned the hard way in collecting or curating?
Always follow what you love, not the trends.
What’s the best question to ask a dealer or gallerist when considering a piece?
If it’s a vintage piece and I already know who the maker is, the provenance is extremely important. If it’s a contemporary piece you really want to understand the designers background and what he has done in the past, as well as what direction he seems to be going in the future. Who represents them, and who’s collecting them
What’s one myth about art or design collecting you’d like to debunk?
That in order to by a collectible piece it must be expensive. Collecting can start at any price point. You can find wonderful collectible pieces everywhere. You just have to trust your eye.
How do you decide when a piece is “worth it”?
You need to do your research looking into past auction sales. Speak to experts on that artist studying other examples to make sure the work is representative of the artist. Most importantly does it.
