Heart & Heritage: Interior designer Jacqui Mitchell’s work is an ode to thoughtful living, with design made to last.
Natural materials are at the heart of what Jacqui Mitchell (above) and her team at Twill Interiors create. “We believe great design is a balance of aesthetics, function and cost — all thoughtfully considered, all equally valued.”
Jacqui Mitchell’s creative career began in South Africa in the 1990s, where she studied fashion. It wasn’t long, however, until she moved to London where she stepped into the world of textiles — an experience that left her forever attuned to the power of materiality. “It deepened my appreciation for texture and the stories materials can tell,” she reflects. But it wasn’t until she met her builder husband that the worlds of construction and creativity began to fuse. She enrolled at the Chelsea College of Arts and found her true calling: interior design. In the early 2000s, Jacqui and her young family moved to Queenstown, before settling in Tauranga, where her design language truly began to evolve. “It was a hands-on education, working across group housing and learning how to balance aesthetics with buildability,” she explains. That marriage of creativity and pragmatism remains at the heart of her design philosophy today. In 2011, Twill Interiors was born — named with intention. “There’s something about a twill weave,” Jacqui says. “It speaks of craftmanship and heritage. It’s subtle but strong.” It’s also a sentiment that ripples through her work. From cedar-clad rooms that echo the curve of the coastline to linen curtains that filter the late-afternoon light, her interiors are deeply grounded, elegantly restrained, and tailored to real life. “At Twill, design begins and ends with people,” Jacqui says. “Our spaces aren’t just beautiful, they work.
Our aim is to always support the way our clients live, move and feel.” Function is never sacrificed for flair. Instead, it’s elevated — with a palette often drawn from nature and a material library rich in texture and integrity. Think wool carpets that soften over time, aged timbers with visible grain, and finishes that shift with the light. Jacqui isn’t one to chase trends: “I favour the voice that lingers — not the loudest one in the room,” she notes. Still, there is a quiet shift happening in her recent projects. Warm tones are making a comeback. Layered pigments, veined stone and softly patinated finishes are finding their place in the Twill vernacular. “It’s a response to pace; we’re all craving homes that restore us.”
Designing in the Bay of Plenty brings its own set of considerations: harsh sun, salt spray and families whose days are punctuated by surf checks and school runs. Twill’s spaces embrace this with resilience and grace. “A home should feel as good on a busy Monday as it does on a quiet Sunday morning,” says Jacqui. It’s clear this well-travelled creative doesn’t just design for now — she designs for what’s to come. Her approach is deeply intuitive, guided by life stage, legacy and light. “We always ask: how will this space feel in five, ten, twenty years? Design should grow with you.” As for dream projects, Jacqui is less concerned with location or budget and more focussed on trust. “When someone lets you into their life and says, ‘Help me make this feel like home’, that’s the real privilege.”
Whether she’s working on a windswept bach or a forever family home, her design ethos remains: caring, curious, grounded. For those seeking a blueprint for easy living, Twill Interiors offers a quiet, confident guide. This isn’t about showmanship or spectacle — it’s about creating spaces with depth, honesty and a heartbeat. And in Jacqui’s hands, every detail tells a story worth listening to.
