This week's Q + A is with Stevie Dillman, Unscripted rockstar since 2007 and Senior Interior Designer for our Colorado Model Studio. She is a colorful and vivacious soul, and it has been such a rewarding experience to watch her grow into the designer she is today! We're so grateful to have her talents on our team... and we couldn't wait to sit down with her to chat more about her perspective on design, life, and of course, being a good human.
All Things Unscripted
Q: Tell us about your role in the company. What does a day in the life look like?
A: I am a Senior Interior Designer here at Unscripted. I have been here for almost 16 years! I design homes all the way from concept to installation. What I love about my job is that my days are always different. There are so many moving parts to designing model homes that I never get bored. I would say my favorite part about being a designer is the installation phase because you get to see all your hard work come to life!
Q: What does being a good human mean to you?
A: Being humble. As a parent to two pre-teens, this is an important concept we talk about a lot in our family.
"Not thinking you are better than anyone else but still putting your all into everything you do."
Q: How have you evolved as a designer since starting at Unscripted?
A: I started at Unscripted (Hillary Reed Interiors back then) as an intern. Over the years I have designed everything from residential homes to models and commercial spaces. My design style has become more sophisticated as I've aged in my career, but my personality is still playful, so my design style lends itself to that side of me also.
Design
Q: What is your favorite type of room to design and why?
A: Kids' rooms for sure! They are the best memory point of a house where you can let your imagination go wild.
Q: How does your design process start? Is there anything special to your personal creative process?
A: Usually I start by looking for a fun lead fabric with a funky color scheme. I love when colors are used together in a way that is unexpected.
Q: How would you describe your personal interior style?
A: I don’t really have one personal style, it kind of depends on my mood or what’s going on in my life. I love colorful, textural, feminine and a little bit coastal styles right now though. I love it when a color that isn’t normally a neutral is used as one. For example, the neutral color I use in my house to get depth is a super dark, muted teal.
Q: If you could buy one piece of furniture or artwork right now (with an unlimited budget) what would it be?
A: If I had an unlimited budget, I would buy all handmade vintage rugs for my house! I love the color saturation and the uniqueness that they bring to a space. When we were at Las Vegas Market last year, I fell in love with a vintage runner first thing in the morning and nearly broke my arm off carrying it around all day, but it was so worth it!
Getting Personal
Q: What artists, makers, or interior designers inspire you and why?
A: I know this sounds cheesy, but the designers and leadership on my team inspire me the most! They are some of the strongest and most amazing women I can think of and seeing what they have been working on is one of my favorite things!
I’m also really into the artist Adam Taylor right now. I love his paintings!
Q: Outside of work, what are some of your favorite passions or hobbies?
A: Camping, watching my kids play lacrosse and spending time outside with my family. I would never come inside if that was an option 😊 (which is kind of funny being an interior designer and all...)
Q: Tell us about a favorite trip or a favorite place you've been?
A: This summer our family went on a cruise! My favorite stop was Belize! All the colors of the flowers and the clear turquoise water were so amazing! We went snorkeling in the second biggest coral reef in the world and swam with a manatee, stingrays, and sharks!
Q: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
A: There isn’t really one place, but I would say when I retire I would love to live in my camper and see new beautiful places all the time.
Q: What inspires you and keeps you curious? Where do you find inspiration for projects?
A: Inspiration can come from anywhere! My mind never turns off and is always overflowing with ideas for upcoming projects. When I have a little down time, I like to just zone out and look at social to see what new trends are popping up for the next season. I follow a lot of textile designers, and seeing upcoming trends is so exciting to me.
Q: How does working for an Interior Design studio influence your personal life?
A: My daughter, Austyn, loves interior design too, so currently our favorite thing to do together is thrift shop and find “treasures” for our house. We just found the coolest giant spools of yarn that I think a lot of people would overlook but we bought all they had. The yarn lives on the bottom shelf of a console. I love showing her how to think outside the box and see different purposes for things.
Q: Tell us about any upcoming projects you are excited about + describe the design direction!
A: One project I’m excited about right now is a three-house project in South Carolina. All three homes feel so different even though they are all merchandised for an active adult, so I am really excited to compare the styles once they finish.
Thanks so much, Stevie for spending some time with us! Want more? Follow our blog to keep up with good humans, good design and get to know our Unscripted Rockstars!
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