Studio 29
Award-winning Cairns designer whose clients praise her for making complex whole-home decisions feel effortless.
The pattern that stands out most is her ability to make complex, high-stakes decisions (colour selections, finishes, spatial layouts) feel manageable for clients who came in feeling overwhelmed. One reviewer, who works in property and sees many finished homes professionally, singled her out as exceptionally talented — that kind of peer-industry endorsement carries more weight than a general compliment. With roughly 25 years of practice, she's not a generalist taking on whatever comes through the door; she appears to focus on whole-home residential projects where a single designer holds the brief from concept through to styling. If you're planning a kitchen renovation that sits within a broader home overhaul, she's worth a conversation — but if you need someone purely to manage a trades-heavy fit-out without design input, confirm upfront that her service model matches what you're actually after.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (7 total)
“made what initially felt like overwhelming decisions feel easy and enjoyable”
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 278 kitchen renovations in Cairns
Credentials & background
Sourced from 5 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About Studio 29
Studio 29 is run by Hyaesil Gilligan, an interior designer whose work spans full home renovations, new builds, and large-scale reinterpretations of existing spaces — with kitchen renovation being one facet of a broader residential design practice. Hyaesil's particular strength, as clients consistently describe it, is translating vague ideas into coherent, liveable spaces: she works hard to understand how a household actually functions day to day, then shapes the design around that — not the other way around. She operates a physical design studio stocked with material samples, giving clients a calm, focused space to compare colours and finishes without the pressure of a showroom environment. With roughly 25 years in the industry, she brings established supplier relationships and practical knowledge of sourcing — one client noted she prepared a detailed Melbourne showroom itinerary to streamline a research trip. Her work has drawn award recognition, and clients working on new builds specifically highlight her colour-flow guidance as a way to avoid costly selection mistakes before construction locks choices in. She suits homeowners who want a single designer to take ownership of an entire interior vision rather than manage piecemeal trades themselves.
Best for: whole-home renovations where design consistency across rooms matters, new home builds requiring colour and finish guidance, and clients who want a single experienced designer to manage the brief end to end.
Location
Often needed together
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about Studio 29
What kind of projects does Studio 29 typically take on?+
Based on the reviews available, Hyaesil works primarily on residential projects — including new home builds, large-scale renovations, and multi-room redesigns. Projects mentioned span three-bedroom houses in regional Queensland through to fully furnished and styled homes. Kitchen renovation is listed as a key category, but the design scope in reviewed projects often extends across the whole home rather than a single room. If you're looking for a designer to guide an isolated kitchen fit-out, it's worth confirming upfront whether that's a service she takes on independently.
Does Studio 29 have a physical studio I can visit?+
Yes — one reviewer specifically mentions visiting Hyaesil's design studio, which is stocked with samples for colours and finishes and described as a quiet, relaxed environment away from the pressure of a commercial showroom. This makes it easier to compare material selections side by side before committing. The studio appears to be in Cairns City. It's worth calling ahead to arrange an appointment rather than walking in.
How does Hyaesil handle clients who feel overwhelmed by design decisions?+
Multiple reviewers specifically mention that she has a knack for simplifying complex choices. Rather than presenting endless options, she gives focused recommendations that match the client's style — one client on a new build said she helped them avoid costly mistakes and made colour selections feel stress-free. Another noted she organised a detailed showroom itinerary for a Melbourne sourcing trip, handling the logistics so clients could focus on choosing. If decision fatigue is a concern, her working style appears well-suited to that.
Is Studio 29 suitable for regional Queensland locations outside Cairns?+
At least one reviewed project was located in Yungaburra, which is roughly an hour's drive from Cairns, suggesting she does work beyond the immediate city area. Reviews don't specify a formal service radius or whether travel fees apply, so it's best to ask directly when you make contact. If you're in Far North Queensland and outside Cairns proper, confirm location and any associated costs before proceeding.
What do customers say about working with Hyaesil throughout a long project?+
Reviewers who worked with her over extended builds and renovations describe the experience as collaborative and responsive — several note that nothing felt too hard and she remained genuinely invested in the outcome throughout. One client compared her to other designers they'd encountered through property work and found her standout. There are no reviews mentioning communication gaps or delays mid-project. That said, with only 7 reviews total, this reflects a limited sample rather than a long-term track record at volume.