Juliette Arent Squadrito is the most effortlessly stylish person I think I have ever laid eyes on. I am sure she will cringe to read this, but she really does epitomise summery Sydney chic – on any given day you’ll find Juliette donning some kind of cult-label printed pant, Chanel ballet flats, the perfect brimmed fedora framing her trademark blonde bubble curls, and an oversized French rattan shopping basket, overflowing with all manner of organic goodies. The magic is, despite looking paparazzi perfect at all times, Juliette always appears completely casual, as if she’s just ‘thrown together’ her look in a matter of seconds. Now that’s what I call stylish. It is seriously impressive and borderline infuriating. :)
I realise all this wardrobe related nonsense may seem superfluous, but in actual fact, Juliette’s innate, relaxed sense of style is central to this story, as it carries through seamlessly to the two bedroom apartment she shares with Husband Matthew Squarito in Bondi Beach.
As I am sure many of you will know, Juliette is one half of Arent&Pyke, the much respected interior design studio of which she is co-founder alongside business partner Sarah Jane Pyke. Juliette’s husband Matthew Squadrito, meanwhile, is Creative Director of Squad Ink design / branding studio.
Juliette and Matthew have been in their small but perfectly proportioned Bondi Beach apartment for just over 2.5 years. Though this apartment is a rental, of course being an interior designer, Juliette has still managed to improve the look and feel of her sun drenched Bondi pad by making a few strategic changes! ‘We gave up the larger bedroom to make way for a dining room – Matthew makes really yummy food and we love having friends over for dinner, so a this was a must. The smaller room is completely fine to sleep in!!’ Simple genius right there.
Favourite items for Juliette include the Kilim rugs – purchased in Istanbul, and the Gervasoni Ghost sofa from Anibou, purchased five years and 2 apartments ago! ‘the sofa is huge and I am truly shocked it has squeezed in and out of our last 2 apartments!!’ says Juliette. Other treasured possessions include artworks by Guy Maestri paintings and the late David Band. ‘The large Guy Maestri painting was purchased in the first year of starting Arent&Pyke, and it always reminds me of that incredibly exciting time’ explains Julitte. ‘It is a truly joyous painting that I look at at admire every day’.
But what Juliette and Matthew treasure most since moving here is the amazing location, just a stone’s throw from iconic Bondi Beach. ‘I used to groan disapprovingly when people would say that ‘once you move to Bondi Beach, you never want to leave’. But it is absolutely true!’ says Juliette. ‘I am sand/saltwater kind of girl, and even though I’m not able to get down to the beach as much as I’d like… being in the locale and knowing that the ocean is only moments away has a calming effect. It does get busy in summer, but difficult parking is a small price to pay for living in an area that feels like you’re always on holiday!’
MASSIVE thankyou to Juliette for sharing her gorgeous apartment with us today! I MUST mention that Arent&Pyke have just launched their own seriously excellent blog! Entitled the ‘In/Out Design Blog‘, here you will find such a dense and pin-able range of inspiring interior imagery and coverage of local design happenings… it is well worth a visit – immediate bookmark material!