Local builder, interior designer win state award for Tillie’s project

When Brad Kimmell with Kimmell Builders, Inc and Deborah Kirk with Deborah Kirk Interiors were hired by the owners of Camp Lucy (Whit and Kim Hanks) to work on building and designing Tillie’s restaurant, they knew they were in for a treat. “It was a custom project from start to finish. It had a lot of rock work, stucco work and clay work,” Kimmell explained. It was a unique project in that elements would be added or changed as the project evolved. Kimmell said some parts of the structure were from an old building that the owner purchased in Vietnam and had shipped here. “It was approximately a $3 million project,” Kimmell said. “It was a year long project.” The restaurant was actually completed two years ago.

Once Kimmell completed the structure, it was time for Kirk to add “jewelry” as she calls it. “The finishing touches,” Kirk said. That includes things like the paint colors, the lighting and more. “We had all custom furnishings. The bar, it was clad in marble. Wood carved interest pieces. The wallpaper was carefully chosen,” she explained. “The idea was that when you walked in there, you were in a whole other world, and you were outside of Dripping, outside of Texas. You’ve really traveled to somewhere wonderful, magical and whimsical and that was the whole idea of every finish that you see in there.”

It was a unique project for the duo to work on, and now it’s an award winning one. The project recently won 1st Place in Best in Commercial - Hospitality and Best in Show in the State of Texas from the American Society of Interior Designers. Kirk and Kimmell credit teamwork for their success. “We’re a really good team. We work really well together with Brad and his wife Barbara,” Kirk said. “I’ve been entering these awards since probably 2012, and of the awards that I’ve entered and won, every one of them has been with Kimmell builders.” However, to win best in show in Texas, “really tops the cake,” Kimmell said.