The apartment in the family house on Čiovo, where she spent a childhood filled with laughter, the sea, and unforgettable memories, is not just a vacation spot for former model and jewelry designer Anita Dujić Broadfoot, but a second home. Seven years ago, she carefully decorated it, and a few years later her parents replaced the roof and installed thermal insulation so she could enjoy her sanctuary year-round, not just in the summer months. Now, for the first time, she has shown us the interior of the charming apartment where she loves spending time with her family.
Like any adaptation, it did not go without challenges, but Anita admits she still enjoyed the entire process. Tirelessly, she traveled between Zagreb and Čiovo, greeted the workers, all to transform her apartment into a true Mediterranean oasis. She paid the most attention to the details, which is not surprising, as she has a creative streak. She loves natural and organic materials, collects shells, dries plants, and uses them to decorate the space. But, as she says, the apartment is constantly changing, growing, and developing together with her family’s needs.
"My parents live in the house, my brother often comes with his children, and the best part is when we are all together. The children especially enjoy it, as do grandma and grandpa. The house is tied to my happiest memories—my first friendships, first crushes... actually, my first everything. Growing up in the nineties was completely different from today," Anita recalls with a smile.
Her childhood was filled with days spent on the beach, playing in the woods, climbing trees, and building playhouses. It was wartime, but she says the children were spared the worries of adults.
"There were many of us, we were always playing and laughing. There was no internet or mobile phones, we only came home when we got hungry. Through play, we developed skills that later became very useful in life. Everything was somehow more gentle, simpler. There were no divisions, we were all the same."
Today, she wants to give her daughters that same kind of childhood—six-year-old Lily and two-year-old Elli Skye, who love coming to Čiovo. In the company of their cousins, their days are filled with joy, children‘s laughter and bustle, and there is true, sincere love among them. While the girls immediately rush to the beach, Anita first takes a moment for herself on the balcony, which means a lot to her.
"When I arrive at Čiovo, I first sit on the balcony and enjoy the view of the centuries-old pines. Right now, an eagle has a nest in one of them, and I love watching it. These are the same trees I used to climb as a girl, only now they are much taller. When I arrive, I also like to do yoga there," she notes.
The family house consists of several smaller apartments; her parents live in one, her brother who comes from Split in another, while the rest are used as storage. The house is always full, the table is crowded, and the atmosphere is filled with laughter and warmth.
"We rarely argue, we all get along great. I especially look forward to the fruits from dad‘s garden. That is true wealth nowadays," Anita emphasizes.
In the summer, the garden yields peppers, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and in the winter, potatoes, broccoli, chard, parsley... There are also fruit trees: mandarins, lemons, oranges, and kiwis. She enjoys picking fruit and vegetables with her daughters, savoring what her father lovingly grows.
Their days pass quickly: the beach in the morning and afternoon, and in between, Anita works on new collections for her jewelry brand, Juno.
"Summer is the busiest season for Juno, so I work a lot, often from early morning. Mom cooks for all of us, the children play, and I balance between work and time with the girls. Sometimes I manage to ‘steal‘ a drink with friends or a dinner with my husband, but that‘s really rare," says Anita.
She herself enjoys cooking, but on Čiovo she knows she can relax. "My mom is already experienced and sometimes there are several dishes on the menu because the children often don‘t eat what we do. Dad dives and catches fish, so fresh fish is also often on our menu," says Anita, who will soon pop down to Dubrovnik, and then spend a week in Scotland with the other part of her family.
Soon, Anita will travel briefly to Dubrovnik, and then for a week to Scotland, where the other part of her family lives. Her husband, who is currently working on the Hollywood hit Dune 3, uses every free moment to be with the family.
"The most beautiful thing is when we are all together. That is what fulfills me the most," concludes Anita.
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