10 Design Essentials

Juliette Arent, co-founder of interior design studio Arent & Pyke, talks us through her 10 design essentials, which include handmade ceramics, groundbreaking vintage pieces and even a loaf of sourdough.

With 23 years of experience in interior design and 17 at the helm of Arent & Pyke, Arent has honed her eye for interiors that are enduring, uplifting and evoke emotion. Her first design essential is the groundbreaking Womb chair designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll in 1948. One of the first designs to use formed fibreglass, it broke the mold of more formal, upright chairs by responding to a primal need for unbound comfort – and is still handmade to this day. “The quality and the craftsmanship and the organic nature of the shape makes it a design classic,” she says.

An unexpected addition to her list is a loaf of sourdough from Iggy’s bakery in Bronte – chosen for the way it embodies high quality materials and a palpable sense of pride in its making. “I always am reminded when I go into this bakery that something done with love, intention and integrity is always the best.”

This philosophy is evident in her choice of the Atollo lamp by Oluce, designed by Vico Magistretti in 1977. Another landmark design for its time, the use of opaline glass allows both the shade and the base to glow, creating an ethereal, ambient light source.

“Table lamps and floor lamps are really key for us in interiors,” she notes. “We like to have light down at eye level and we like to create atmosphere.”

Creating an atmosphere can also be achieved with a striking use of colour. “Colour is so important when designing a space because it really does bring out the character and the true essence of a home,” she says. She adores the ochre-brown tone of Venetian Slippers by Peter Lewis Paint, which is also completely VOC free – ”so it’s not adding any harmful chemicals to the environment.”

The versatile Claude and Callot wall scones by Dunlin remind Arent of another era. “There’s something that’s quite European about them, but they’re also quite modern,” she says. Created from weathered brass, they can be used outdoors to light architectural features or indoors to add a decorative flourish.

Arent often gravitates to artisanal pieces that bring softness and character to a home, such as handmade ceramics. The glazed vessels from Studio Gardner by Jodie Fried are elegant and utilitarian, while the Italian-made seafoam splatter plates by Alex and Trahanas bring a sense of vibrancy to the dinner table.

Dressing windows and doors is an essential in interior design. For this, Arent prefers using natural materials and finishes such as Belgian linen and bamboo blinds. “It allows light to be filtered in an interior, which adds poetry and ambience to a space,” she says. Similarly, incredible textiles such as those from Pierre Frey, can add fun and personality to any room.

Stone is another way to subtly inject drama and pattern into a space. Calacatta Viola marble, with its purple veining and nougat and caramel tones, is often utilised in Arent & Pyke kitchens, while Santamargherita Rossa Verona terrazzo brings texture and warmth to flooring. The stone will patina over time, which Arent loves for the way it expresses the life of a kitchen.

Similarly, the Fermat joinery pulls by Daniel Barbera of Barbera Design are cast in bronze and will age gracefully over time. “I love that this pair is asymmetric because it adds a quirkiness and a sense of fun,” says Arent. “Having decorative hardware like this is like adding jewellery to joinery – it just makes it more bespoke, more unique, more personal.”