OKA Magazine: Summer 2020 (UK Edition)

M A G A Z I N E

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S U M M E R

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Our 21st Birthday

We celebrate over two decades of OKA

The Great Outdoors

Garden furniture to enjoy, whatever the weather

The Art Of Wellness

How to nourish your mind, body and soul

oka.com

Save your best ffor every day

#NoHouseRules

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hile 2020 may have got off to a challenging start, here at OKA, we have something to quietly celebrate. Back in 1999, my friends Annabel Astor, Lucinda Waterhouse and I started a small business selling hand-crafted rattan accessories and storage, inspired by designs from the Far East, but adapted for modern life in the West.

Sue Jones Co-Founder and Creative Director of OKA

Little did we know that 21 years later, we would be toasting such a milestone in OKA’s story. Today we have 14 stores in the UK (with our first in the US coming soon), our website oka.com, plus a flourishing interior design business and a broader product range than we could ever have imagined. We really couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come and would like to say a huge thank you to all our loyal and inspiring customers who have been on the journey with us.

If this year has taught us anything, it’s that we should never take for granted the simple pleasure of spending time at home with family and friends, so I hope you enjoy our latest issue and find plenty of inspiration in its pages. Here’s to the future.

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THIS EDITION’S

CONTRIBUTORS

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Rosemary Ferguson, Willow Crossley and Rose Astor Rosemary Ferguson modelled for the likes of Vogue and Prada for over a decade before finding her calling as a naturopath and nutritionist. Acclaimed floral stylist Willow Crossley is also an author: her latest book ‘The Wild Journal’ explores how to get back to your roots and celebrates nature’s potential to positively impact our minds. Rose Astor is a yoga instructor, freelance writer for The Sunday Times Travel, and a firm advocate of the numerous benefits of yoga practice. Together, the trio cover the most important elements of wellness, which has never been more relevant. (P.62)

William Sitwelll William Sitwell is one of the leading food writers and authors in the UK, an award-winning editor, TV and radio presenter, and currently, a restaurant reviewer for The Telegraph. He hosts a number of acclaimed supper clubs in London and Northamptonshire, and is also a regular critic on the competitive cooking programme MasterChef. (P.64) 4

Photo © Allegra Martin

Melanie Johnson Melanie Johnson is the food columnist for Country Life Magazine and loves to cook for friends without spending the whole evening in the kitchen. For our 21st birthday, she has created a spectacular croquembouche, the perfect centrepiece for any extra special celebration. (P.65)

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OK A .C OM Browse the entire OKA collection.

Your new OKA pieces could be on their way to you in just a click.

STOR E S NAT ION W I DE We have 14 stores situated around the country, and even more opening soon. See page 93 to find your nearest.

SU M M E R

2020 50

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The Design Insider

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Things to do, see and hear this summer from our industry expert.

Happy Birthday To Us

10-19

Explore our 21-year journey and celebrate everything that makes us what we are today: craftsmanship, colour, and versatility.

Take To The Hills

20-27

The Art Of Wellness

60-63

Our three wellness experts share their tips on how to nourish your mind, body and soul.

Hip, Hip, Hooray

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William Sitwell, The Telegraph’s restaurant reviewer, talks big birthdays and the best places to host your celebrations.

Sue Jones blurs the boundaries in this inside-out Portuguese home.

The Coast Is Clear

English Country Garden

Pack your bags and take a trip with us to this stunning Antiguan villa.

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All the outdoor furniture and accessories you could need to fully enjoy the Great British Summer.

Bohemian Days

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Handsome & Stable

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We transform a rustic stable into a sheltered alfresco lunch spot.

Create a mini festival right in your own garden.

A Quick Study

To Your Art’s Content

This study-meets-small-sitting-room-meets-library shows we don’t do things by the book.

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See the bigger picture by designing your room around a gallery wall.

The Angel Of Islington

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Step inside this cosy London flat, designed by Co-Founder Lucinda Waterhouse.

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Tailored by OKA HANDMADE TO ORDER

Introducing our new bespoke collection of sofas, loveseats, armchairs and footstools. Choose from several styles, which can be crafted in different colours and fabrics, with solid oak legs stained to a light or dark finish.

To find out more, visit oka.com/tailored 6

THE LATEST NEW SEASON FURNITURE, TEXTILES, LIGHTING & ACCESSORIES

Large Faux Fiddle Plant £195 Pair of Jonglere Decorative Wooden Balls £175 Nugola Leather Wine Carry £250 Bristow Magazine Basket £225 Decorative Golden Poulpe £55 Basket Vases From £65 Nesbitt Cushion Covers Red 60x35cm £50 Blue 56cmSq £60

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THE L ATEST

Elne Champagne Flutes Shown in: Tall | Small £45 Set of Six Rattan Coasters £45 Gyllene Salad Servers £75 Yibi Bowl £145 Thurstaton Decorative Ornament on Stand £85 Set of Three Cotteret Mini Vases £65 Small Potted Faux Aloe Vera Plant £55 Natural Teak Salad Bowl & Servers £175 Sillben Crockery Range Sets of four from £50 Nugola Leather Wine Carry £250 Decorative Golden Cerezas £30

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THE

DESIGN

INSIDER

Our undercover source reveals what’s going on and who is doing what in the design world each season.

HOUSE AND HOUND “Behind so many of the best designers is a dog waiting to welcome them home,” writes Nina Campbell in the introduction to At Home in the English Countryside: Designers & Their Dogs. This book is a glorious romp through the bucolic gardens and grand homes of 17 of the UK’s leading tastemakers, led by their eccentrically-named faithful furry friends. There’s William and Wattle, two sleek Italian whippets posing with Anouska Hempel in Bath; Mouse the Lurcher cavorting with Sophie Conran in Wiltshire; and Impy, Paddington, Button, Rupert and Pixie – glossy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels – cosying up to Kit Kemp in the New Forest. Pedigree pooches, patterns and pelmets; canines, chintz and courtyards… it’s all so brilliantly British and the perfect coffee table fodder.

At Home in the English Countryside: Designers & Their Dogs by Susanna Salk, £40, rizzoliusa.com

HOME SWEET HOME Summer sees the reopening of the Museum of the Home, formerly the Geffrye Museum, in East London. The £18.1m reincarnation, masterminded by Wright & Wright architects, doubles visitor space and promises to explore what the home means today through displays, immersive experiences and diverse stories. Joining the popular gardens (such as the Walled Herb Garden and Gardens Through Time) will be the Mediterranean-themed Living Green Rooftop, conceived by urban garden designer Dusty Gedge. The green-fingered can even get involved via the public fundraising Sow a Seed campaign. museumofthehome.org.uk

5 INTERIOR TRENDS FOR 2020 1 – Wall coverings go au naturel, with organic materials such as sisal, seagrass, raffia, abacá and coconut bark being used to create textured wallpapers that add depth to a scheme and improve acoustics.

THE MODERN HOUSE The UK’s hippest estate agency has launched a podcast.

Company Co-Founder and host Matt Gibberd talks to entrepreneurs and creatives as they discuss three of their favourite homes and what makes them a successful space – “I’ve even interviewed my own wife, which is an enlightening experience!”, he says of the Faye Toogood episode. Philosophical, fascinating and fun. themodernhouse.com

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2 – Abstract shapes are having a moment, with splodges and undulating asymmetrical forms appearing in furniture and home textiles.

3 – Golden yellow is set to become the shade of the summer season.

‘Saba’ wall covering (made from dried, plaited banana leaves) from Casamance’s Escambray collection, £123.20, casamance.com

4 – Waste not want not… designers are increasingly utilising disused and discarded materials to create new products.

5 – Cork continues to rule, in interiors, products and architecture.

for more inspiration visit the OKA blog | oka.com/blog | 9

The dawn of a new decade always marks a milestone, but 2020 is especially significant for us: this year, we’re turning 21. Join us to explore our journey and celebrate everything that makes OKA what it is today: craftsmanship, colour and creativity.

10 | view the entire collection at oka.com

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN B

ack in 1999, three great friends and entrepreneurial women Annabel Astor, Sue Jones and Lucinda Waterhouse - founded OKA, as they wanted to make good design accessible to everyone.

Each brought with them their own expertise, great taste and strong business acumen – the balance of which is the secret to OKA’s individuality and success. Together, they established our signature look, originally inspired by the English country house and refined it to a style that suits a multitude of personalities and homes, one where nothing is too precious or perfect to be enjoyed.

OKA originally launched as a mail-order company; our first catalogues featured only handcrafted rattan accessories and storage. Thanks to this unique offering, OKA became an instant success. At the turn of the millennium we opened the doors to our first store in Parsons Green, West London. Over the past two decades, we have expanded online,

Annabel, Sue and Lucinda in 1999, at tbe barn where OKA was first imagined.

launched in America, collaborated with the best in the industry and created countless iconic spaces. The brand has grown more than our founders could ever have imagined.

Yet Annabel, Sue and Lucinda’s individual style sensibilities continue to shape the core of OKA, woven into every piece that we create and into each home that we design.

Once described by Vogue as “the stylish solution to any interior dilemma,” OKA has become synonymous with good taste and timeless style; the go-to for interiors enthusiasts looking for inspiration for their houses. Whether you want to add seasonal colours to a scheme, are searching for expertly crafted furniture or looking for versatile pieces that transcend eras, you know you can find it at OKA.

“OKA has become synonymous with good taste and timeless style.”

In 2000, we opened the doors to our first store in Parsons Green, West London.

Our first catalogue.

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DESIGNED IN ENGLAND, INSPIRED BY THE WORLD Our very first collection was inspired by ancient designs, adapted to suit modern lifestyles. This ethos remains intrinsic to OKA today: the aim is to create pieces that are in keeping with traditional styles and artisanal processes but with a contemporary edge. We believe that inspiration can be found in the most unlikely of places and anything can lead to something beautiful. From mountainous villages to windswept beaches, nowhere is off limits – we are always on the lookout for potential new muses.

“The aim is to create pieces that are in keeping with traditional artisanal processes, but with a contemporary edge.”

Once a piece has been conceptualised, the search for the most skilled artisans to build, weave or paint each item begins. Since day one, our founders have travelled all over the world to find the finest craftsmen to bring their designs to life. From glass blowers to carpenters, the range of makers we work with is huge, but each possess skills that have been passed down through the generations. At OKA you’ll find rattan storage and accessories that have been intricately woven by hand, rugs that have been hand blockprinted using natural vegetable dyes or treated with a herbal wash and left to dry in the sun to create a specific aged finish.

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Lucinda and Sue in India, inspecting our collections. ell.

T H I S P A G E Upolu Cushion Cover 51cmSq £40

Bishkek Rug 244x305cm

£1,595 Tisser Rattan Laundry Basket 38cmDiax53cmH £160 O P P O S I T E P A G E Kraak China

Range From £25 Kraak Chinese Barrel Seat 34cmDiax44cmH £345

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Whether h a giant urn or a tea cup, each piece is unique and has a story to tell.

“The exceptional quality and timeless elegance will make these pieces the antiques of years to come.”

We return to these trusted craftsmen year on year, and we have had relationships with some for over 20 years.

Some of our most popular and signature pieces are those that require the most talent to create.

It took us a long time to find a potter who was able to craft Chinese porcelain that looked like a genuine antique, but it was worth the wait for our timeless blue and white Kraak China Range. All of the items in this collection are made and hand-painted by a couple in Jingdezhen – known as the porcelain capital of China – where the traditional techniques used date back over 1,700 years. The exceptional quality and timeless elegance will make these pieces the antiques of years to come.

Tailored by OKA HANDMADE TO ORDER

In homage to this culture of craftsmanship and to mark our 21st birthday, this year we launched our bespoke sofa collection: Tailored by OKA. We enlisted the help of a highly experienced, British family-run business to bring our sofas, armchairs, loveseats and footstools to life.

oka.com/tailored

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Grenadilla Lamp Persian Red 20cmDiax39cmH £145 (seen with Empire Card Shade - Cream 41cmDiax24cmH £80)

Triomphe Side Table 60x40x62cmH

£550

Blake 3-Seater Sofa Off White 240x99x90cmH £2,525 Roku Block Stripe Cushion Cover 60cmSq £45 Plain Linen Cushion Cover - Deep Blue 51cmSq £40 Nesbitt Cushion Cover - Blue 56cmSq £60 Set of Two Opplyst Tables Large 100cmDiax40cmH; Small 80cmDiax45cmH

£1,395

Shanren Planter £125 (seen with Faux Bougainvillea Bunch £75)

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“The landscapes depicted on our Kraak pieces are so beautiful and intricate.�

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Tachete Range Tablecloth 150x240cm £125 Set of Four Napkins £65 Set of Four Lavaux Goblets - Crème de Menthe £45 Urchin Jug 2.5 litres £35 Faux Poppy Stem Shown in: Scarlet | Plum £8 Stafford Velvet Chairs 45x59x92cmH

£335 (available

Plain Velvet Cushion Covers in a range of colours)

51cmSq £55 (available in a range of colours)

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COLOUR

WITH FLYING COLOURS

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The idea of ‘luxury’ in interiors is often synonymous with a neutral palette, but not at OKA. Colour makes everyday items exciting, reflects personality and brings a room to life.

Our classic Stafford Chairs and Costellini Ottomans are testament to this: simple, elegant designs that are elevated by colour, making as much of a statement in pared-back Sea Blue as they do in rich Rioja.

Making a home unique is all about displaying aspects of your character and colour offers an excellent opportunity to indulge your creative side. It needn’t be limited to furniture and accessories, what about the walls and floor? Everything and everywhere can be an opportunity to play with new shades. Colour sets the mood of a room, so let your space dictate the ones you choose: a light, airy sitting room may call for relaxed pastels whilst an intimate dining room with dramatic architecture allows for plenty of rich tones.

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Colour can be used both to create a coherent look and to add contrast. Don’t be afraid to mix and match all kinds of tones – warm, cool, bright, dark – sometimes the pairings that work best are those that are the most unexpected. And, don’t forget that colour and pattern go hand in hand. Echo your palette with delicate florals, ikat designs, bold stripes and animal prints. Each will influence the look and feel of a room in its own way.

EASY WAYS TO INJECT COLOUR INTO YOUR HOME

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Cushions Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones.

A scattering of vibrant cushions on a sofa, bed or armchair can lift a room in an instant.

Kawa Kaleidoscope Cushion Cover - Loganberry 56cmSq £95

Lamps & Shades A neutral lamp lightens a dark corner; a colourful one really enlivens it. Switching an existing lampshade with a patterned or bright one also makes a big difference.

Calabash Lamp - Saffron 28cmDiax42cmH

£175

Costellini Ottomans Small in size, but certainly not in character, every home can benefit from a Costellini. Thanks to their multitude of uses – from footstool to makeshift side table – they add a pop of colour just about anywhere.

Shown in:

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Putting Green Velvet 47cmDiax45cmH £235

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Stafford Dining Chairs Featuring a slim silhouette that allows you to fit more guests around the table, our Stafford Chairs can introduce colour - and comfort - into dining rooms of all sizes.

Shown in:

Sea Blue Velvet 45x59x92cmH

£335

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CREATIVITY IS KEY OKA embodies the spirit of true English style, a look and feel achieved through the expertise of our designers and the subtle art of layering colour, texture and finish in a relaxed, sophisticated and versatile way. We create beautiful furniture and accessories that are also practical; pieces that are designed to be enjoyed at every moment and suit all kinds of homes. Whether you live in a country house or city apartment, we have something to fit in, or stand out.

We are renowned for creating unique, elegant and personalised looks, and that is down to our belief that there should be #NoHouseRules. In your home, anything goes. When creating a new scheme, don’t overthink it – an artful mix of styles, cultures and eras is much more interesting than adhering to tradition or convention.

“There should be #NoHouseRules. In your home, anything goes.”

DON’T BE AFRAID TO...

Pair the old with the new. A contemporary sofa can look all the more striking in a period setting and vice versa.

Clash colours and patterns. Play around with prints and tones on furniture, textiles and accessories - who knows what magnificent combination you could discover.

Mix materials. There’s no reason why wood, goat hair, leather, and metal can’t sit side by side.

Save your best for every day.

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O P P O S I T E P A G E Chyangra Goat Hair Cushion Cover - Cheetah 50x35cm £100 Faux Mophead Hydrangea Stem - White £18 Tuan Framed Textile 90x8x90cmH £995 Tarma 2-Seater Sofa £1,995 Set of Two Mirrored Solasta Tables Large 92cmDiax41cmH; Small 61cmDiax36cmH £995

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TA K E TO THE HILLS W h e n Su e J o n es d es i g n e d a h ou se i n t h e Por t u g u e se h i l l s , sh e w a nte d i t to i n co r p orate co l ou r, p at ter n , s y m m et r y a n d n at u r e. A p l a ce w h er e t h e i n s i d e b l e n d e d w i t h t h e ou t s i d e a n d t h e ou t s i d e w i t h t h e i n s i d e.

20 | view the entire collection at oka.com

PORTUGAL

NEW

Hanway Garden Parasol - Black 300x200x260cmH £395 (seen with Hanway Garden Parasol Table 71x35x40cmH £195) Miniature Faux Fiddle Plant £75 Huaca Reversible Cushion Cover - Charcoal 51cmSq £75 Rander Ceramic Stool - Red 33cmDiax46cmH £175 Pentire Adjustable Sunbed 210x64x94cmH £795

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“

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here is something particularly wonderful about having a tree inside your home, it really introduces drama. In this house, I had a fun time playing with repetition and symmetry, with the hats in the sitting room and the leaves and baskets in the outside dining area.”

It was important to keep the sitting room cool in a warm climate, so Sue stuck to a mainly neutral palette but included a few darker tones, which come through in the cushions, lampshades and tables.

NEW

T H I S P A G E Cairngorm Throw £145 O P P O S I T E P A G E Kaishu Console Table - Black 200x50x85cmH £1,395 Papavera Vases From £95 Jaqueta Table Lamp 35cmDiax58cmH £395 (seen with Kawa Pleated Silk Drum Shade - Jet 50cmDiax33cmH £195) Lamorna Left Hand Corner Sofa - Natural 307x223x95cmH £3,985 Large Pompidou Coffee Table 150x90x45cmH £635 Large Loutro Vase £65 (seen with Faux Phalaenopsis Orchid Stems £12 each) Set of Three Sibudu Wooden Sculptures £125 Ely Floor Cushion 69cmSqx30cmH £325

22 | view the entire collection at oka.com

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24 | view the entire collection at oka.com

The shaded outdoor dining area is really the centre of the home. The tree trunk dining table makes such an impact, whether you use it inside or out.

“This area was entirely designed for comfortable entertaining, from the inbuilt seating covered in cushions, to the woven Taino chairs.

It is an informal and relaxed area that really encourages a good time.”

NEW

Silverstein Tree Trunk Table 240x130x78cmH £3,895 Taino Chair 68x52x86cmH £195 Fyli Vases From £25 (seen with Faux Magnolia Branches £20 each) Thalassia Range Basket Vase £145 | Planter £245 Faiyum Basket Vase £145 Pulcinella Glassware Sets of four from £40

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NEW NEW

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PORTUGAL

O P P O S I T E P A G E Pandanus

NEW

NEW

Insulated Jug £95 Sillben Range Set of Four Side Plates £50 Set of Four Dinner Plates £80 Rattan Underplate £16 T H I S P A G E Cushion Covers 51cmSq (from left to right) Rhossili £65 Dahan £55 Stonewashed Linen With Fringing - Off White £65 Naraan £38 Rattan Cake Stand Shown in: Small £55 Medium £75 Large £95 Taino Bench 137x50x84cmH £545

To shop the look, visit oka.com/portugal

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS Is there anything quite as nice as a sunny afternoon in an English country garden? Our collection has everything you could need to really make the most of those warm summer days.

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GARDEN

NEW COLLECTION

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O P P O S I T E P A G E 1. Tamworth 3-Seater Sofa 226x104x86cmH

£1,895 2-3. Pattani Cushion Cover Collection - Indigo 2. Eclipse 3. Dots & Dashes 51cmSq £45 4. Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover With Fringing - Off White 51cmSq £65 5. Faiyum Basket Vase £145 6. Thalassia Planter £245 T H I S P A G E 7. Katavi Sofa & Armchair Set Sofa 155x78x89cmH; Armchair 73x77x89cmH £1,995 8. Hanway Garden Parasol - Natural 300x200x260cmH £395 9. Hanway Garden Parasol Table 71x35x40cmH £195

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The Carrillo Set is particularly versatile, as the table can transform from a coffee table to a dining table and back again. The collection also includes a storage corner unit which can be used as a side table whilst simultaneously storing all your garden necessities.

Carrillo Storage Coffee Table Set Bench 150x80x62cmH; Armless Bench 140x80x65cmH; Corner Storage 92cmSqx65cmH; Coffee Table 120x100x70cmH; Footstools 45cmSqx35cmH

£2,750

Hanway Garden Parasol - Natural 300x200x260cmH £395 Hanway Garden Parasol Table 71x35x40cmH £195 Pattani Cushion Cover Indigo Shown in: Dots & Dashes 51cmSq £45 | Geometric 60x35cm £40

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NEW COLLECTION

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GARDEN

NEW COLLECTION

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T H I S P A G E 1. Accona Range Armchair 79x88x76cmH £1,595 3-Seater Sofa 207x88x76cmH £3,295 Hallerbos Side Table 73cmDiax55cmH £495 2. Canopus Bistro Table 100x70x76cmH £1,295 Talland Dining Chair 49x59x88cmH £250 3. Chillon Armchair 62x78x99cmH £645 O P P O S I T E P A G E Karama Daybed 198x77x200cmH £1,495 Karama Coffee Table 130x75x76cmH £895 Rander Ceramic Stool - Charcoal 33cmDiax46cmH £175

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LOREM IPSUM

To see the full collection, visit oka.com/garden stores nationwide | oka.com | 33

BOHEMIA N DAY S Bring bohemia home. All you need is a dining table, floor cushions and some hanging lanterns and you can create your own mini festival.

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NEW Batur Hanging Lantern £65 Pandanus Insulated Jug £95 1. Anar Reversible Cushion Cover Blue 51cmSq £60 2. Koyari Cushion Cover -Vermillion Red 51cmSq £55 Round Callanish Dining Table - Brown 123cmDiax75cmH £1,895 Faux Poppy, Ranunculus & Thistle Bunch £95 ‘Ivory’ Cutlery From £16 Shagreen Print Melamine Range Sets of four from £35 Tantallon Floor Cushion - Red 62cmSqx55cmH £295 Set of Six Rattan Coasters £45 Rattan Bottle & Glass Carrier £125

34 | view the entire collection at oka.com

LOREM IPSUM

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LOREM IPSUM

W E AVE GOT IT COVER E D After a long, stormy winter, we’re looking forward to fully embracing our outside space once again. Whether you prefer natural tones or want to go grey gracefully, our Garden Collection is on hand to give yours some TLC in time for the Great British Summer.

36 | view the entire collection at oka.com

OUTDOOR

N E W CO LOU R , SA M E COM FO RT

S

ome of our favourite pieces are making a long-awaited comeback – this time, in a beautiful, flint grey weave. This subtle shade change gives them an elegant, contemporary feel and ensures they’re a perfect match for gardens, terraces and conservatories alike. The unique finish sets them apart, but it isn’t all they have going for them: thick, foam-filled seat cushions and sturdy steel frames bring a practical element.

NEW COLLECTION O P P O S I T E P A G E Luccombe Range - Flint Grey

Corner/End Unit 87cmSqx67cmH £745 Armless Chair 77x87x67cmH £625 Ottoman 75cmSqx40cmH £525 T H I S P A G E Luccombe Trunk 132x86x45cmH £645 Pentire Adjustable Sunbed 210x64x94cmH £795 Riscal Chair £225

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OUTDOOR

NEW COLLECTION

N ATU R A L B E AUTI ES

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new weave isn’t all we’re excited about… first up, the popular Orseno has returned.

If you aren’t on first name terms, this clever dining set is great for entertaining thanks to its shape, scale and striking features. We’ve also launched a brand-new chair that pairs wonderfully with any dining table and a double lounger that adjusts to your requirements. Making its debut, our Fontelina sunbed lets you face the same direction or top and tail if you’d rather – ideal if you’re enjoying the sun and your companion wants to read without its glare distracting them.

T H I S P A G E Conisbrough Dining Table 260x100x75cmH

£2,650 Fontelina Double Lounger 210x130x97cmH £1,995 Newport Chair 60x64x94cmH £295 Talland Dining Chair 49x59x88cmH £250 O P P O S I T E P A G E Orseno Dining Set

Bench 227x64x96cmH; Table (with lazy susan) 180cmDiax82cmH; Table (without lazy susan) 180cmDiax74cmH

£3,995

38 | view the entire collection at oka.com

LOREM IPSUM

“I love round tables for big groups, especially if you’ve got an odd number of guests.”

Sue Jones

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COVER STORY What’s featured on the front page of every home this season? Cushion covers; telling their tales of bringing colour, character and comfort to all kinds of spaces.

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40 | view the entire collection at oka.com

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1. Ayabaca Cushion Cover 56cmSq £95 2-3. Pattani Cushion Cover Collection - Mustard 2. Dots & Dashes 51cmSq £45 3. Geometric 60x35cm £40 4. Majuro Cushion Cover 51cmSq £40 5. Ulaika Cushion Cover 51cmSq £55 6. Koyari Cushion Cover – Vermillion Red 51cmSq £55 7. Yocha Cushion Cover 51cmSq £55 8. Anar Cushion Cover - Blue 51cmSq £60 9. Danos Cushion Cover 60x35cm £52 10. Plain Velvet Cushion Cover - Air Force Blue 51cmSq £55 11. Mosaic Cushion Cover - Blue 51cmSq £60 12. Linnaeus Birds Cushion Cover - Indigo 56cmSq £38 13. Naraan Cushion Cover 51cmSq £38 14. Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover With Fringing - Off White 51cmSq £65 15. Ipazi Cushion Cover 60x35cm £38

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42 | view the entire collection at oka.com

TO YOUR ART ’S CONTENT

A beautifully hung gallery wall can make a room. In fact, it is surprising that gallery walls aren’t more frequently the starting point of a space.

Read on and see what happens if you centre your room around prints and pictures. stores nationwide | oka.com | 43

NEW

NEW

44 | view the entire collection at oka.com

GALLERY

O P P O S I T E P A G E Hatsumomo Round Vase

£45 Pattani Dots & Dashes Cushion Cover Onyx 51cmSq £45 Set of Three Cotteret Mini Vases £65 Medea on Base £55 Eustace Lamp 17cmDiax35cmH £295 T H I S P A G E Framed Prints Pair of Branch & Leaf 69x93cmH £275 Set of Eight Coral & Seaweed 44x55cmH £425 Set of Eight Woodland Leaf 60x44cmH £475 Set of Eight Fern 47x59cmH £325 Set of Twelve Exotic Leaf 24x31cmH £295 Large Coleridge Armchair Natural 105x190x88cmH £1,195 Mesmer Cushion Cover 51cmSq £55 Hatta Coffee Table 105cmDiax40cmH £1,875

P

art of the beauty of the gallery wall is that there is no right or wrong way to go about it. Variety is key, mismatching is encouraged, and it works in all kinds and sizes of spaces.

Getting started, however, can be a little daunting, so let us help you out with a few essential tips.

Firstly, choose your artwork. The gallery wall is all about eclecticism so feel free to use both mirrors and prints, and incorporate different genres, mediums and frames. Measure the wall space you’re looking to cover, then transfer

your measurements to the floor and lay everything out. Select a piece to be a focal point - the largest often looks best - and play around with different arrangements until you’re happy. Once you’ve made a note of the distances between your artwork, which should be about the same, it’s time to start hanging. Begin with the one that will be at the centre of your configuration, then start filling in the gaps with the rest of your pictures. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to do some shuffling, and always trust your eye.

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SE T T H E SCE N E Get the look at home with these key pieces.

O P P O S I T E P A G E Set of Six Framed Whippet Portrait Prints 35x45cm £295 Fyli Vase From £25 Washakie Velvet Chair - Air Force Blue 50x59x98cmH £325 Six Tarifa Napkins, Tablecloth & Tote Bag Set - Imperial Red £195 Callanish Dining Table 270x100x74cmH £2,950 T H I S P A G E Falkor Lamp 17cmDiax35cmH £295 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade - Black 40cmDiax23cmH £45) Set of Four Skeleton Coral Prints 50x70cmH £325 Mysore Rug 255x314cm £1,795 Zebre Cushion Cover 35x50cm £100 Costellini Velvet Ottoman Charcoal 47cmDiax45cmH £235 Aulnay Sideboard 140x50x84cmH £1,550

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WHEN ABBOTSFOR D MET MONTFORT The Abbotsford is already one of our most popular sofas, but we have something to take its appeal to another level.

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ccording to Harry of ‘When Harry Met Sally’, there are two kinds of people: high maintenance and low maintenance. If you prefer your shelves “on the side,” you may be in the former camp. The Montfort Shelves, however, will be you and your sofa’s new low maintenance best friend.

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Their elegantly simple design means they’re perfect for displaying books and decorative objects, but when called upon to be a side table, they’ll graciously hold your drink and make your life a little easier. All this, and they’re stunning too, with a burnt oak finish and gold stainless steel trim.

Kutcharo Lamp 30cmDiax49cmH £395 (seen

with Drum Linen Shade Natural 45cmDiax29cmH £65)

Bizele Lidded Pot - Dark Green £70 Faux Shagreen Memory Box - Taupe £395

Designed to complement the Abbotsford, the Small Montfort Shelves are happy as a pair, positioned behind our best-selling sofa; the Large Montfort Shelves look great styled next to it.

Montfort Shelves Large 111x27x70cmH Small 97x27x70cmH

£1,100 £995

Abbotsford 3-Seater Sofa Wide Herringbone Linen 195x84x75cmH

NEW COLLECTION

£1,995

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THE A NGEL OF ISLI NGTON Co-Founder Lucinda Waterhouse designed a cosy flat in the heart of Islington, which maximises on colour and pattern.

50 | view the entire collection at oka.com

“One of the first things that struck me about this flat was the balcony. All it took was a table, chairs and a couple of faux olive trees and suddenly it was the perfect sanctuary.”

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Canopus Bistro Table 100x70x76cmH £1,295 Orzola Dining Chair 55x58x85cmH £425 Koyari Cushion Cover – Teal Blue 51cmSq £55 Omilla Jug £35 Faux Large Potted Olive Tree 100x88x196cmH

£325

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NEW COLLECTION

“This bedroom is a reasonable size but it has low ceilings, so I added a tall headboard to give the illusion of height, as well as multiple mirrors,” says Lucinda. She kept the colour palette neutral but added sparks of fun with a leopard print throw and faux tortoiseshell mirrors.

Visby Cabinet 112x45x200cmH £1,995 Thovarton Armchair Natural 81x92x99cmH £1,950 Cosimo Chest of Drawers 113x47x86cmH £1,795 Ianassa Lamp 18cmDiax35cmH £295 (seen with Pleated Linen Shade - Grey Blue 40cmDiax28cmH £70) Medium Fyli Vase £60 (seen with Faux Easter Lily, Anemone, Hydrangea & Eucalyptus Bunch £165)

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LONDON

NEW COLLECTION Faux Tortoiseshell Mirror 60x80cmH £250 Egon Lamp 25cmDiax56cmH £375 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Shade - Indigo 35cmDiax23cmH £75) Natoire Super King Upholstered Headboard - Eau de Nil 193x10x185cmH £1,325 Cushion covers, as pictured from left to right: Rhossili 51cmSq £65 Kabibi 51cmSq £65 Naraan 51cmSq £38 Stonewashed Linen With Fringing - Off White 51cmSq £65 Chyangra Goat Hair Throw - Cheetah 130x160cm £750 Small Tisser Rattan Dog Bed (cushion not included) 63x49x29cmH £195

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LONDON

The sitting room was a real opportunity to add colour.

Lucinda used bold red, charcoal and gold accessories to contrast with the neutral palette. “This is a small sitting room but that doesn’t mean you have to use small furniture.

I used a large corner sofa, to maximise space and create an entertaining area. I wanted to introduce pattern, so I included a rug, armchairs and lamps.”

Hevsel Rug 200x300cm £2,995 George Club Chair - Cheetah 61x72x71cmH £2,995 Decorative Golden Cerezas £30 1a&b. Aldus Cushion Cover 1a. Persian Red/Lead 1b. Lead/Walnut 51cmSq £60 2. Duffy Lamp 35cmDiax44cmH £175 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Shade - Onyx 35cmDiax23cmH £75) Pietro Corner Sofa 283x97x65cmH £5,500 Gillear Coffee Table

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150x85x43cmH

£1,325

Decorative Pied Ornament £55

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56 | view the entire collection at oka.com

LONDON

SE T T H E SCE N E Some of our favourite pieces from ‘The Angel of Islington’ look.

O P P O S I T E P A G E George Club Chair - Cheetah 61x72x71cmH £595 T H I S P A G E Textured Linen

£2,995 Mysa Mirror 34x200cmH

Velvet Cushion Cover with Tassels - Rubellite 56cmSq £80 Anar Cushion Cover - Lead/Walnut 51cmSq £60 Oromo Lamp 38x13x42cmH £550 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Lampshade - Mustard 45cmDiax31cmH £110) Costellini Linen Ottoman - Wide Herringbone 47cmDiax45cmH £235 Set of Three Circle & Diamond Box Files £50

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COLOUR FOCUS

Caught Red-Handed If the concept of a truly red room makes you go a bit scarlet, then fear not start with a cushion or lamp and you won’t come across any red flags.

T H I S P A G E Large ‘Garden Rose’ Bunch £105 Fauteuil Velvet Chair - Blood Orange 76x92x92cmH £895 Cushion Covers 51cmSq From left to right: Petiole - Grenache £60 Kitsai - Red £60 Small Camellia Lamp - Red 18cmDiax27cmH £175 (seen with Empire Card Shade - Cream 28cmDiax16cmH £55 ) Tantallon Floor Cushion - Red 62cmSqx55cmH £295 Cria Throw - Flame £285 Pasha Tableware From £20 O P P O S I T E P A G E Stafford Velvet Chair - Blood Orange 45x59x92cmH £335 Koyari Cushion Cover - Vermillion Red 51cmSq £55 Grisewood Lamp & Shade - Loganberry 31x20x42cmH £175 Duong Framed Textile 90x8x90cmH £995 Large Ithaca Rug 240x305cm £795

58 | view the entire collection at oka.com

“There is nothing quite as bold as the colour red.�

Sue Jones

THE ART OF WELLNESS There’s nothing quite as important as being well, so we spent a day at Bibury Farm Barns with three experts who tell us how they nurture their minds, bodies and souls.

The Art of Nutrition Rosemary Ferguson is a naturopath, nutritionist and author. rosemaryferguson.co.uk @rosemaryferguson_ Coming from a holistic background of homeopaths, with a grandmother who was one of the first people to own a health food shop, it makes perfect sense that Rosemary has always been fascinated by nutrition.

After over a decade of modelling for the likes of Vogue and Prada, where she describes her outlook as being a bit like the perception of a bank balance - “I’d be in debt from a night out, so I started looking at food to try and give my bank a bit of credit”- she went back to college to train as a nutritionist.

For Rosemary, nutrition is all about the ‘why’. “People need to get back to understanding why food is a really important fuel,” she says. The positive impact of eating whole, fresh foods can take

T H I S P A G E Urchin Jug £35

Set of Four Lavaux Goblets Crème de Menthe £45 O P P O S I T E P A G E Artichoke Serving Bowl £75 Aragonez Melamine Tableware From £35

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effect incredibly quickly, which shapes the philosophy behind ‘The 5 Day Plan’, her food delivery service. “It’s amazing how much you can change how you feel in five days, so it became a bit of a mission to do just that. It’s to give your brain clarity and help your energies - a really quick reset, basically,” Rosemary explains.

The maintenance of a healthy lifestyle is the notoriously tricky part, to which she suggests taking small steps: having a balanced diet, slowly doing a little more exercise than you would usually, and not stressing out about it too much.

“People need to get back to understanding why food is a really important fuel.”

Summer Slaw 1 red cabbage, thinly sliced 2 carrots, grated 1 white cabbage, thinly sliced 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar A good glug of olive oil 250g pomegranate seeds 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds 1 small bunch of parsley, chopped Start by preparing the cabbage and carrot then combine together.

Make the dressing by combining the apple cider, lemon, and olive oil.

Mix through. Add the pomegranite, parsley, and seeds, Rosemary whipped us up a delicious selection of salads, to explore the whole menu visit oka.com/blog

for more inspiration visit the OKA blog | oka.com/blog | 61

“Planting from seeds is so lifeaffirming, it’s a proper miracle watching these babies that just come out of nowhere.”

The Art of Nature Willow Crossley is a floral stylist and author of multiple lifestyle books, including, most recently, ‘The Wild Journal’. willowcrossley.com | @willowcrossleycreates Having spent her childhood in the middle of nowhere in Wales, you might think that Willow Crossley would crave busy urban life. In fact, quite the opposite is true. “I live in the country but have often spent my life in a car. On the road, I crave green, so I’ll just take myself into the woods and sit and look up at the sky and trees,” she says. Although Willow admits that this sounds a little “airy-fairy” there are countless studies and evidence to suggest that simply being immersed in nature can work wonders for your body and mind.

Take the phenomenon of ‘forest bathing’ for instance: a practice invented in Japan for highly stressed businessmen, where you are taken to decompress under a

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canopy of trees. “Pine trees emit chemicals that are meant to calm you and reduce your stress levels – you don’t even do anything, you just be,” Willow explains.

When you can’t escape to the woods, you can still get back to your roots in the city, something that ‘The Wild Journal’ looks at in detail. Willow advises doing simple things like flower arranging, where you take time out of your normal day to focus on creating something. “Make little posies for your bedside table or plant window boxes if you live on the ground floor.

Planting from seeds is so life-affirming, it’s a proper miracle watching these babies that just come out of nowhere.” If you’re not naturally green fingered, Willow has plenty of tips for those starting out.

“Always consider your container and the rule of proportion – your flowers should be, on average, about one and a half times the height of your vase – and try to use seasonal flowers.”

LOREM WELLNESS IPSUM

“Leave your phone at home and look around you and appreciate it. It’s such a tonic for the soul.”

The Art of Yoga Rose Astor is a yoga instructor and freelance writer for The Sunday Times Travel Magazine.

The benefits of yoga are numerous and well documented, yet it’s one of those practices that can feel hard to get into. “I think a lot of people can be a bit intimidated if they look at certain yogis on Instagram, constantly doing handstands or incredibly complicated poses, but anyone can do yoga,” says Rose. She advises starting off with gentle exercises, but, most importantly, finding the class, teacher or style that suits you and your body.

Like many, Rose dipped in and out of yoga until she lived in Sri Lanka for a while. “I just did it every day, because it was everywhere, it was all around us, and then by mistake formed a habit of doing it,” she explains. Since becoming a yoga instructor, she has found she listens to her body much more. Poses which you do on each side of your body – one on the left, one on the right – can reveal things that might be out of balance: your yin, your yang, your masculine and feminine. “You can sometimes feel that one side is much tighter, and your body is just holding onto something on that side; maybe it’s something that’s not physical, it’s more emotional.

It’s just so interesting to see,” she says.

O P P O S I T E P A G E Faux Stems From £5 each Twig Lamp 26x25x62cmH £155

Linen Shade - Natural 40cmDiax25cmH £50) Dige Urn £575 Polperro Armchair 74x76x92cmH £1,150 T H I S P A G E Costellini Velvet Ottoman 47cmDiax45cmH £235 Shown in: Alchemilla | Sea Blue Large Faux Fiddle Plant £195 Large Zagora Rug 300x340cm £3,195 (seen with Drum

Yoga is excellent for clearing your mind, but Rose is also an advocate for walking every day to gain clarity. “Leave your phone at home and look around you and appreciate it. It’s such a tonic for the soul - I always have my best ideas when I’m on a walk,” she tells us.

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Hip, Hip, Hooray William Sitwell, the Daily Telegraph’s restaurant reviewer and MasterChef critic, gives us 21st birthday tips.

SO Happy Birthday OKA! 21, eh? Given how you’ve grown up into such a fragrant, calm and stylish creature, I don’t suppose you’ll be celebrating like I did when I was 21. I held a treasure hunt at home in Northamptonshire, one in which among the trophies you needed to secure were a chicken and policeman’s helmet. I didn’t stipulate that the chicken should be alive but quite a few keen competitors arrived back with clucking Legbars and Welsummers under their arms. Somewhere a policeman or two were looking around to see where they’d placed a key part of their uniform.

And my pals must have covered their tracks well because the ensuing party in a tent ended without the sight of any angry locals asking if we had seen their poultry or the sight of flashing blue lights.

I can recall other distinct parties, marking some key ages. My 40th was an 80s affair

in the village hall (with prawn cocktails and profiteroles proliferating) where the best costume award went to a couple dressed in 1780s attire - much to the frustration of the two Freddie Mercurys. And my recent 50th was a glorious weekend in Paris to watch the Prix de L’Arc horserace amid an array of great lunches and dinners.

Countless other birthday parties of mine were spent around a long table at The Chelsea Arts Club, and so in my mind, I can’t tell one from the other even if there’s a decade between them. But then I didn’t hold the parties in order to remember them but to have a good time. It’s an odd approach to life to deliberately set out to collect memories.

Then again, it’s a shame if you can’t actually recollect the good times.

So, if you can, plan your birthdays with some originality and you can get a good time and a memory for the same price. And, for me, the starting point has to be that I’m heading up the planning. What can be worse than a surprise party? There is a reason why they are the constant cliché of soap operas. In the lead up to the (non) event, there is the birthday boy/girl’s silent resentment that their loved one isn’t organising anything for them - which nicely tests the relationship - then there’s the ghastly surprise itself when the victim, hoping for a quiet telly supper, discovers their house has been invaded by people they don’t like, food they don’t want to eat and the wrong gin.

Much of the fun of a party is in its anticipation.

Some might say that’s

where all the fun is: imagining friends together, contemplating menus… I’ve had unintentional rip-roaring wine tastings that were a hoot compared to the main event.

If you’re planning a birthday dinner at home, I’d rather invest in washing up than wine.

So if you’ve an eye on the budget, get some gluggable plonk and at least three hours of help to elevate your dinner with serving and not wreck conversations as everyone leaps to help clear plates. Heaven is a dinner cooked by you - but not cleared.

If you’re going to a restaurant with a gang of friends, a private room can be great especially if you want some speeches so people can tell you how fabulous you are.

Conversely, if you hate speeches, getting a big table in a noisy restaurant is the perfect way to avoid them. Remember, the most tiresome insistent speech-maker will be persuaded not to get to their feet if they’re told that the place is too loud so no one will hear what they’re saying.

And, let’s face it, it is quite fun when in a crowded restaurant, a cake comes out and the whole place sings you happy birthday.

Of course your birthday can also be a cosier affair.

What can be sweeter than a mid-week lunch for two with your beloved as you chatter away getting half cut on a rainy Wednesday. Or simply stay at home, open a special bottle and watch old episodes of The Chase.

Choose any of the above and I guarantee memories…

Sitwell’s Birthday Picks

Issy Croker Photography

Bunga Bunga

Le Gavroche

Sublimotion

Corrigan’s Mayfair

For rowdy crowds in the capital, metre long pizzas and a dash of karaoke.

The smartest, best-value lunch for two in London. le-gavroche.co.uk

12 friends, a weekend in Ibiza and the nuttiest, most expensive dinner you’ll ever pay for. sublimotionibiza.com

Book the private room for a classic feast in Mayfair. corrigansmayfair.co.uk

bungabunga.com

64 | for more inspiration visit the OKA blog | oka.com/blog

ROLL UP, ROLL UP Country Life Magazine’s food columnist, Melanie Johnson, shares her go-to recipe for making a statement at a birthday celebration. @melathomeltd

Dulce de Leche Croquembouche Serves 16 For the choux pastry: 660ml water 250g butter, diced 315g plain flour 1 tsp salt 9 eggs For the dulce de leche filling: 1l double cream 900g dulce de leche For the caramel: 175ml water 400g caster sugar 4 tbsp golden syrup Flowers to decorate

Method 1. Preheat your oven to 200˚C/ gas 6 and place a piece of baking parchment onto a large baking sheet.

2. Pour the water into a large saucepan and add the butter. Heat on a low setting, just hot enough to melt the butter. Meanwhile, sift the flour and salt into a bowl.

3. Once the butter has melted, turn up the heat and bring to a simmer, then carefully bring to a boil. As it starts to bubble up, with the butter collected in the centre, pour all the flour in. Remove from the heat and then stir vigorously until a smooth paste is formed. Leave the mixture in the saucepan to cool.

4. Beat the eggs in a jug with a fork. Add the beaten egg to the saucepan a tablespoon at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated.

The pastry will be a smooth, shiny and pipeable consistency.

5. Add the pastry to a piping bag and squeeze small balls onto the baking sheet, leaving room between them to puff up. These will need to be cooked in batches. Bake for 2030 minutes until well risen, puffed up and golden.

6. Remove from the oven, dropping the oven temperature to 170˚C/gas 3. Make a hole with a skewer in the base of each ball and then return to oven for 5 minutes. Remove and

leave to cool on a wire rack.

7. Meanwhile, whip the double cream with electric beaters and then add the dulce de leche. Beat until fully incorporated, then add to a piping bag with a nozzle. Squeeze the dulce de leche cream into the hole in each ball and set aside.

8. Prepare the caramel by placing the water, sugar and golden syrup into a saucepan. Bring to a boil over a high heat without stirring and then place a lid over it. Continue to boil for around 10 minutes before removing the lid and boiling until amber in colour. Test a small amount on a cold plate to check it has a sticky, syrupy consistency.

9. Dip the base of each ball into the caramel (which will act as the glue) and pile them high on a serving plate. Brush with more caramel and then decorate with flowers.

Enjoy!

Kraak Giant Charger Plate 42cmDiax6cmH £195

Set of Four Ranelagh Champagne Flutes £45

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SPOTLIGHT

WHAT THE SHELL?

These exotic shell lamps are definitely something to write home about, but the great news is you can actually bring them home.

Each has been made by hand and every shell placed with the utmost precision.

Cowrie Lamp 25cmDiax29cmH £175

Lucine Lamp 18cmDiax45cmH £195 (both seen with

Pleated Empire Linen Shade - Ecru From £75)

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Pack your bags and take a trip with us to this Antiguan villa. Nestled on the shores of the Caribbean island, it’s a home designed for sitting back, relaxing and taking in the stunning coastal landscape.

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espite its small size, Antigua is home to 365 white sandy beaches; a particularly secluded one is overlooked by this spacious villa.

In the sitting room, the view takes centre stage, framed by two striking, classical pillars, the symmetry of which dictates the rest of the design. Pairs of armchairs, sofas, cushions and lamps create a cohesive look, inviting you to sit down and take in the tranquil surroundings. In homage to the landscape, we used a classic nautical palette of blues and neutrals, and added a touch of glamour with intricate shell lamps and beaded cushions.

Coleridge 3-Seater Sofa - Natural 182x104x82cmH £1,700 Fontana Side Table 45cmDiax60cmH £695 Plain Linen Cushion Cover - Deep Blue 51cmSq £40 Kabibi Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 Roku Cushion Cover Shown in: Block Stripe|Plain Stripe 60cmSq £45 Nesbitt Rug - Blue 230x315cm £525 Tjikko Coffee Table 170x100x49cmH £1,395 Costellini Velvet Ottoman - Sea Blue 47cmDiax45cmH £235

NEW COLLECTION

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ANTIGUA

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T H I S P A G E ‘Ivory’ Cutlery Sets of four from £20 Yibi Bowl £145 Round-Based Crystal Glassware Sets of four from £110

Rattan Underplate £16 Six Aswathi Napkins, Tablecloth & Tote Bag Set £195 (tablecloth and bag not shown) O P P O S I T E P A G E Gullion Bench 200x42x48cmH £1,950 Huaca Reversible Cushion Cover - Indigo 51cmSq £75 Silverstein Tree Trunk Table 240x130x78cmH £3,895 Newport Chair 60x64x94cmH £295 Barrington Hurricane Lamp £115 (seen with Large Wide Natural Glow Pillar LED Candle £40) Mosken Range Set of Four Side Plates £35 Set of Four Dinner Plates £45 Large Plate £18

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ANTIGUA

“With a view like this, who would ever want to leave the table? We’ve made sure you could be sitting comfortably until well after dusk with these huge hurricane candle holders.”

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In keeping with the rest of the home, the bathroom epitomises laidback luxury. Mirrored furniture adds an opulent element whilst rattan storage brings a natural, rustic edge. The space is designed to ensure that guests can make themselves at home: there’s plenty of space for towels, perfumes and other essentials.

Small Faux Fiddle Plant £95 Arisaig Lamp 21x18x59cmH £195 Versailles Range Large Mirror 90x140cmH £495 Dressing Table/Desk 152x66x79cmH £995 Large Chelak Rug - Indigo 240x300cm £1,095 Kirkwall Club Chair - China Clay Leather 70x63x78cmH £625 Nesbitt Cushion Cover - Blue 56cmSq £60 Lined Rattan Basket With Lid £95

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ANTIGUA

SE T T H E SCE N E Some of our favourite pieces from ‘The Coast Is Clear’ look.

Set of Four Seaweed Framed Prints £325 Girona Armchair 77x83x83cmH £450 Tall Versailles Ashmolean Bookshelves 89x28x218cmH £1,695 Roku Cushion Covers Block Stripe |Thin Stripe 60cmSq £45 Set of Four Small Elne Champagne Flutes £45 Terrazzin Dining Chair 54x58x81cmH £595 61x83cmH

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Leroux 69x137cmH

£895

Raphia 90x150cmH

£745

Hercule 122cmSq

£525

Large Killarney 66x86cmH

£175

MIRROR, MIRROR If you’re looking for an easy way to transform your home, a mirror can create the illusion of extra space and amplify light - if that isn’t magic, then what is?

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Ikkuna 90x140cmH

£295

Sash 95x130cmH

£275

Large Magritte 205x102cmH

£1,295

Phaedra 57x67cmH

£125

Sedgwick 120cmSq

£575

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Present and Correct It’s not just birthdays that require unique present ideas. What about presents for anniversaries or for the hosts of weekends away? Look no further than our brand-new gift range, full of pieces designed for all occasions.

Sheung Butler’s Tray 76x46x78cmH £850 Faux Shagreen Ice Bucket £345 Set of Four Pulcinella Cocktail Glasses £80

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NEW COLLECTION

BARWARE

Whether you need something for your mother-in-law, great aunt Deidre or your best friend, our gift collection is here to help you. Our leggy barware, regal cocktail stirrers and rather barking playing cards are just a glimpse of our collection, to see everything visit oka.com/gifts Faux Shagreen Salt & Pepper Set £145 Legless Nutcracker & Bar Kit £85 Stafford Leather Bar Stool - China Clay 45x59x110cmH £450 Playful Hounds Deck of Cards & Case Set £45 Set of Four Arlecchino Glasses £75 Unlock Trouble Bar Set (includes six stirrers and six straws) £60

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PR ESEN TING THE F IRST CH A P TER OF T H E CH RON IC L E COL L E C T ION We’re del i ghted to i nt ro duce you to OK A’s new Ch ron ic le C ol lec t ion of c a nd les a nd d i f f u s er s .

Written by Clare Montgomery A personal perfume is olfactory tailoring. Dabbed on pulse points, its aroma wraps around us like a jacket, accessorises like a scarf, crowns an ensemble like a jewel. It tells the story of who we are or who we want to be, communicates character, states intention. It’s in conversation with all who cross our paths. Home fragrance, on the other hand, is a quieter customer. Like the blanket enveloping idle toes, it doesn’t go anywhere; it imparts its message within four walls. It’s a conversation between your house and you, and whoever else crosses the threshold.

“Interior scent should be a signature for a home, creating atmosphere and telling stories.” Sue Jones Wanting to give the OKA home an olfactory voice, Creative Director and Co-Founder Sue Jones turned to the expertise of the world’s oldest surviving and most highly reputed chandlery, Cire Trudon, and sought the fluency of fragrance makers at Robertet in perfume’s capital, Grasse in the South of France. Perfumer Emilie Bouge’s practiced nose has interpreted Sue’s brief to create four transporting scents that launch flights of fancy to moments lost in time; a summer evening where the smoke of a twilight fire cuts through the lingering aroma of sun-warmed flora; a secluded island beach where a soundtrack of lapping waves is accompanied by the smell of patchouli and citrus fruits; a crisp mountain setting with violets underfoot, cedar in the air, and bergamot in the orchards; a festive moment by a winter fire, the atmosphere laced with spices and mandarin; a cold forest walk among pines; an amber autumn mist lifted to reveal ripening vines. “They are designed to trigger the senses, recreate amazing places, emote feelings, tastes, smells,” says Sue.

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Selecting and lighting a candle, pausing to hear its story and allow its aromas to massage the senses has become a modern ritual that slows us down and counters the chaos outside our four walls. It’s a deceleration that is perfectly matched by the slow, meticulous production techniques employed by Cire Trudon when making the candles themselves.

“The manufacturing of scented candles is a difficult art,” affirms Julien Pruvost, Creative Director of Cire Trudon, who are credited with furnishing the court of Louis XIV with candles.

“Blending two things that in atmospheric conditions are in entirely different states - one solid (wax) and one liquid (fragrance) that then burn and melt together to release scent is far more complicated than it may seem.” The manufacturer’s perfectionist pursuit is that of a homogenous burn (evenly across the surface), where the flame is stable - not too strong or low regular and safe, with a decent ‘throw’ (strength of scent release). To this end, rations of mineral and vegetable waxes in the blend are adjusted and wicks adapted, by varying the diameter, thread count and weave structure, according to the mix.

When the parameters are set, the quality of the burn is then rigorously tested. Whilst for the most part mechanical and modern, the process is nevertheless labour intensive. Not only are the wicks straightened no less than four times and then cut by hand, the end product is then wiped and packaged by hand, with every aspect of the unboxing experience considered.

For her part, Sue has ensured that the elegant aesthetic of the candles’ containers and accompanying reed diffusers - both tapering ceramic jars with a midnight blue glaze and minimal labelling, featuring only an insignia inspired by an antique lock - blends into the OKA environment and plays its part in the sensual feast that is a very modern scenting ceremony.

To see the full collection, visit oka.com

“They are designed to trigger the senses, recreate amazing places, emote feelings, tastes, smells.�

Sue Jones

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HANDSOME A N D S TA BL E Stables aren’t just for horses. We transformed this one into a rustic lunch spot, with a little furniture and some well-placed accessories.

Kino Wooden Bowl £85 Papavera Vase From £95 Curtiz Console Table 175x50x80cmH £1,395

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NEW COLLECTION

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here is something so nice about eating outside and this stable is the best of both worlds: you are in the middle of the garden but are shaded from all the elements.

For this stable, we used a ruggedly handsome table and a matching console, then took the reins and paired them with a naturally-grained bench. We pulled the whole look together with a large bunch of faux blooms and some extra cushions to add comfort.

O P P O S I T E P A G E Curtiz Range Console Table 175x50x80cmH

£1,395 Dining Table 300x110x79cmH £3,250 Pandanus Insulated Jug £95 Thalassia Basket Vase £145 (seen with Faux Poppy Stem - Flushed Cream £8 each) Orzola Dining Chair 55x58x85cmH £425 Pattani Cushion Covers - Mustard Eclipse | Dots & Dashes 51cmSq £45 Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover With Fringing - Off White 51cmSq £65 T H I S P A G E Pair of Patiner Rattan Baskets With Wheels £395 Faux Large Potted Olive Tree £325 Gullion Bench 220x42x48cmH £1,950

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CONSOLE YOUR SELF When you have nowhere to put your keys, your letters seem to be following you around and your matching lamps need a place to rest... you know what you have to do.

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1. Kaishu Console Table - Black 200x50x85cmH £1,395 2. Cricova Wine Rack Console Table 153x46x89cmH £1,575 3. Dalu Console Table 180x35x84cmH £2,525 4. Osiris Faux Shagreen Console Table 150x35x81cmH £1,695 5. Magicus Console Table 100x30x80cmH £750 6. Upton Console Table - Black 200x50x80cmH £1,395

84 | view the entire collection at oka.com

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Pair of Versailles Nested Console Tables Large 130x34x81cmH; Small 111x28x69cmH

£1,195

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STUDY

A Quick Study

NEW COLLECTION

s there anything quite as satisfying as filling a room with books? In this study-meets-small-sitting-roommeets-library we did just that, using our best-selling Ashmolean bookshelves.

We lined the whole room with novels and tomes, then split it into two areas: one acts as a small sitting room and the other a study. Luxurious velvet furniture and bright pops of colour link the two sections of the room together, which creates a tranquil, inviting aesthetic. This is designed to be a place of refuge, a place tucked away from the rest of the house where you can devour books to your heart’s content, or get your work done in peace and quiet.

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Nell 2.5-Seater Sofa 192x80x69cmH £2,295 Pattani Cushion Collection - Indigo Geometric 60x35cm £40 Dots & Dashes 51cmSq £45 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover - Grenache 51cmSq £55 Lazaret Rug 244x305cm £2,595 Loriini Side Table 78cmDiax41cmH £1,495 Faux Parrot Tulip Bunch - Multi £125 Ashmolean Shelves Tall 89x28x219cmH £1,175 Narrow 55x28x219cmH £950 Sherzad Chair With Side Table Shown in: Truffle | Grenache 97x70x68cmH

86 | view the entire collection at oka.com

£1,450

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DESKS

If you work from home, are an avid letter writer or like to have a special place to pay bills and contemplate the world, then you need a desk.

Not just any desk, you need a desk you adore so much that you actually want to go and sit next to it.

Cartama Desk ‘Weathered’ Oak 130x63x93cmH

£2,195

Set of Three Cotteret Mini Vases (one pictured) £65 Faux Poppy Stem - Plum £8 Ashinoko Lamp 18x19x37cmH £145 (seen with Narrow Rectangular Cotton Lampshade - Black 31x10x24cmH £35)

88 | view the entire collection at oka.com

BE OUR DESK We have desks of every style and size. Here are six of our favourites, but explore our full collection at oka.com/desks

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1. Lantau Desk/Dressing Table 120x50x78cmH £1,750 2. Chinon Desk 125x64x79cmH (closed); 170x64x79cmH (extended) £1,245 3. Campaign Desk 75x43x81cmH £525 4. Versailles Dressing Table/Desk 152x66x79cmH £995 5. Malmo Desk/Dressing Table 110x55x75cmH £650 6. Honshu Desk/Dressing Table 110x53x77cmH £1,450

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H AV E A G O O D C H A I R DAY

Imagine if every day when you got home you could sit in the most beautiful and comfortable chair. A chair that would be with you when your friends are round, when you are watching television and when you want to curl up with a riveting book. Make every single day a good chair day with one of these pieces.

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4 £1,150 2. Fauteuil - Moss Velvet 76x92x92cmH £895 3. Stanhope 69x95x99cmH £850 O P P O S I T E P A G E Apadana - Blood Orange Velvet 61x71x85cmH £695

T H I S P A G E 1. Polperro 74x76x92cmH

£995 4. Crosby 83x72x70cmH

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Faux Parrot Tulip Bunch - Multi ÂŁ125

Our extensive collection of faux flower stems and ready-made bunches are unbelievably lifelike - buy them for yourself or give them as presents. oka.com/bunched

Our Stores

Bath, Somerset

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Eastbourne Road RH9 8JB Tel: 01342 893868

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Crossways Village, Silwood Road SL5 0PZ Tel: 01344 622988

26-27 Milsom Street BA1 1DG Tel: 01225 443074 46 High Street WR12 7DT Tel: 01386 859631

155-167 Fulham Road SW3 6SN For full details, including Tel: 020 7581 2574 opening hours, visit Didcot, Oxfordshire oka.com/stores or get in - Outlet touch with our Customer 166 Purchas Road OX11 7BF Service team on 03330 042 042 Tel: 01235 820320 or customerservice@oka.com Edgbaston, Birmingham 20-22 Harborne Road B15 3AA (Parking Postcode: B15 1TP) Tel: 0121 454 4912

The Forge, Bath Road SN8 3LD Tel: 01488 684250 Tunsgate Quarter GU1 3QU Tel: 01483 906287 9 West Park HG1 1BL Tel: 01423 701161

Manchester Road WA16 0LT Tel: 01565 220020

Marlow, Buckinghamshire 25-29 Spittal Street SL7 3HJ Tel: 01628 481418

251 New King’s Road SW6 4RB Tel: 020 7751 9874

Sunninghill, Berkshire

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Hoopers Department Store, 2-12 Mount Pleasant Road TN1 1QT Tel: 01892 240403

Fontelina Double Lounger 210x130x97cmH

DELIVERY - UK MAINLAND Standard Delivery £6 Express Delivery £9.96 Fragile Delivery £6 Heavy Delivery £30 For full delivery details, visit oka.com/delivery.

PRODUCT INFORMATION We do our best to ensure that all items you see in the magazine are as close as

possible to the photographs shown, but since they are not mass-produced, slight variations in colour and size may occur. We hope that you understand this and appreciate the skill and craftsmanship required to make such high quality products.

NOT QUITE RIGHT? NOT A PROBLEM For our returns policy, see oka.com/returns

£1,995

PRICING The pricing and other details in this magazine are valid until 2nd September 2020. Although every effort is made to check accuracy, incorrect prices and other incorrect details may occasionally be printed.

We regret that such incorrect prices or details cannot be honoured. Prices include VAT at 20% and exclude delivery charges.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS For our full terms and conditions, visit oka.com/tandc. Your statutory rights are not affected.

All products shown are subject to availability.

HEAD OFFICE OKA Direct Ltd, 166 Purchas Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 7BF

Online oka.com Stores Click & Collect available Call 03330 042 042

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