OKA Magazine: Winter 2019 (UK Edition)

CHRISTMAS 2019

MAGAZINE

Fairytale of New York A Greenwich Village apartment receives a Christmas twist

Ron Arad for OKA Explore our new collaboration with the designer and artist

Pick a Present Browse our extensive collection of Christmas presents

Who says it has to match? #NoHouseRules

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Christmas is coming, it’s time for warm jumpers, mulled wine and to start looking for your stocking (you know it will take you until Christmas Eve).

If you are already panicking about what you’re going to give this Christmas, then stop. We have created this magazine to give you inspiration for getting your house ready for the season and to guide you effortlessly through what gifts you can give. We’ve also collected tips from industry experts to help you on your way.

Happy Christmas from everyone at OKA.

Sue Jones Founder of OKA and Creative Director

CONTRIBUTORS Lucy Williams

The blogger and writer tells us about her favourite things interiors and books.

Melanie Johnson

The food writer, stylist and photographer shares her delicious Christmas recipes.

Elizabeth Hurley

The model, actress and bikini designer shares her best fashion tips and Christmas traditions.

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In thi s Is s ue

10-13 Ron Arad for OKA

Our exciting new collaboration with the renowned designer.

14-21 By Georg(ian), It’s Christmas

Sue gives a period property in Bath a creative festive update.

26-27 A Rather Yogi

Christmas

After finding himself in Peru, Yogi Doga finds returning home quite the struggle.

30-39 Fairytale of New York Prepare to be utterly enchanted by this Greenwich Village apartment.

42-43 The Art of The Table Fiona Leahy lets us in on her tablescaping and career secrets.

45-49 A Most Historical House We created an understated scheme in St. Giles House, which dates back over 400 years.

OK A .C OM

ST OR E S N AT ION W I DE

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

We have 14 stunning stores situated around the country, and even more opening soon. See P.97 to find your nearest.

52-54 It’s Time to Reshuffle The Deck

Discover the bespoke tailoring company that is reimagining women’s suiting.

62-67 Join The Kew Nature reigns supreme in Lucinda’s London house.

92-93 Raise The Heat From Turkey to Nicaragua, explore the hottest holiday destinations for 2020.

AU T U M N/ W I N TE R 2019 DI R ECTORY For our entire range, pick up a copy of our Autumn/Winter Directory, available at our stores and to download at oka.com

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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

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THE L ATEST NEW SEASON FURNITURE | NEW SEASON TEXTILES & LIGHTING | NEW SEASON ACCESSORIES

DUONG FRAMED TEXTILE 90x8x90cmH £895 VIRVEL ON STAND £80 OLSON LAMP 55x20x80cmH £250 GOLDEN BANANAS £30 DECORATIVE ROBIN £12 ELTHAM HURRICANE LAMP £395 MERLE COFFEE TABLE 80x60x40cmH £725 PLAIN VELVET CUSHION COVER - RIOJA 51cmSq £55

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T H E L AT E ST

PLAIN VELVET CUSHION COVER - RIOJA 51cmSq £55 TEXTURED LINEN VELVET CUSHION COVER WITH TASSELS - GRAPE 56cmSq £80 AYABACA CUSHION COVER 56cmSq £95 LENOX DRINKS TROLLEY 91x48x88cmH £995 JADIS OCTAGONAL DECORATIVE JUG £110 SET OF FOUR LAVAUX GOBLETS - AUBERGINE £45 TORTOISESHELL GLASS DECANTER £45 FAUX MAGNOLIA BRANCH £20 BRASS BAMBOO TRAY £225 LARGE LOTUS CANDLE HOLDER £65

8 | view the entire collection at oka.com

THE

DESIGN

INSIDER

The Design Insider is our undercover source who reveals all the industry secrets.

Find out what’s going on and who is doing what each season, with our anonymous expert.

THE NEWT One of the most exciting openings this year is the country house hotel, spa and 800-acre estate The Newt in Somerset. Koos Bekker and Karen Roos, the formidable husband-and-wife team behind the effortlessly chic Babylonstoren hotel in the South African Winelands, have invested six years, and one can only guess how many millions, in transforming the Grade II*-listed Georgian Hadspen House and surrounding stables into a 23-suite hotel, with furniture and lighting by the likes of Patricia Urquiola, India Mahdavi and Tom Dixon.

Guests can also just visit for the day to explore the beautifully landscaped gardens, sample the cider, or to enjoy farm-to-table dining at The Garden Café. thenewtinsomerset.com

OUTER SPACE No doubt planned to coincide with the 50th anniversary of man’s first foray into space, ‘Moving to Mars’ is an intelligent, fun and informative look at how design might play a part in humans colonising the somewhat hostile Red Planet. Over 150 exhibits will include original objects and materials from NASA, Raymond Loewy and SpaceX, plus new commissions from cutting-edge industrial designers, and an interactive installation from Hassell.

18th October 2019 - 23rd February 2020

FESTIVE FLORALS

designmuseum.org

At McQueens Flower School in East London, there are half-day or evening masterclasses where expert florists will show you how to twist and craft your own beautiful fir-scented wreath using fresh, fragrant and rustic winter flora.

Classes between 27th November -19th December mcqueens.co.uk

Mars Habitat by Hassell, HASSELL + Eckersley O’Callaghan

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR...

Book ‘KELLY WEARSTLER: EVOCATIVE STYLE’ You may have admired this glamorous West Coast design doyenne’s many hotel interiors, but she also creates one-of-a-kind residences too. In her fifth monograph, she showcases new projects, from a turn-ofthe-century Beaux-Arts townhouse to her own Beverly Hills home.

Available to buy now.

Exhibition

BRIDGET RILEY Don’t miss this major retrospective at the Hayward Gallery. Spanning 70 years of Bridget Riley’s work, it will stretch from early representational paintings, through to her dizzying Op art of the 1960s, expansive canvases in colour and more recent works.

23rd October 2019 - 26th January 2020 southbankcentre.co.uk

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

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Written

by Isabel Lane

With the launch of our exciting new collaboration with renowned designer Ron Arad, we discover the story behind the creation of this iconic piece.

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rchitect, industrial designer, artist... Ron Arad pretty much defies labels. He may have trained as an architect at London’s AA, yet he thinks more like an artist, approaching projects in an unconstrained, freewheeling way that produces inspired results. Being labelled by others no longer frustrates the Tel Aviv-born 68-year-old, “If I painted the Mona Lisa people would say ‘designed

by Ron Arad’,” he shrugs, “but I called my [2008] retrospective at The Pompidou Centre No Discipline, because I don’t have exclusive membership of one discipline.”

A visit to his sprawling Camden studio, a ramshackle cabinet of Arad curiosities, reveals the vast scope of his creativity; from the sloping skatepark-style interior architecture to the littering of various chairs in many materials – including his original ‘readymade’ Rover chair.

There’s a gallery of illuminated etched glass sketches produced by friends such as Antony Gormley and Ai Weiwei, that originated from his collaboration with Steinmetz Diamonds for the 55th Venice Art Biennale in 2013, a prototype of his iconic bookworm shelves, and a copy of his recent 3D-printed book Genius: 100 Visions of the Future, shaped

like Einstein’s head. You begin to wonder if the be-hatted designer’s everchanging choice of headgear is a sartorial nod to this effortless wearing of many professional hats.

It’s the artistry behind Arad’s work that initially appealed to OKA, says Creative Director and Co-Founder Sue Jones when we all meet at his studio to discuss the collaboration.

Celebrating 20 years in business, OKA decided it would be a “fun, interesting idea to push the boundaries.”

One visit to Arad’s studio and their minds were made up. “I didn’t know what to expect,” admits Jones, “I’d seen his work but didn’t realise everything was so usable and incredibly comfortable. At OKA we have to create comfort with something like feathers, but Ron manages to do it with a piece of wood, or steel or metal, it’s amazing. We spent quite a long time trying every single chair, it was eye-opening.”

to explore the collaboration stores nationwide visit oka.com/ronarad | oka.com | 11 | 11

RON ARAD

Ron Arad - the designer and artist

For Arad, part of the attraction was exploring a different territory from his (relative) norm, or at least from working with the likes of Vitra or Moroso.

“OKA is the other side of the spectrum from what I do, although of course it’s actually the same.”

“A chair or sofa is to be sat on, but I never did things for interior design, I just did them because I was interested in them,” he explains.

Arad was immediately impressed when he paid a visit to the HQ in Chelsea. “I could see the care, taste and consistency. To me, the brand seemed the epitome of Englishness.”

Jones couldn’t agree more. “If you think of Englishness as eclectic and having the confidence to mix things, not sticking to one particular style and being crazy enough to introduce African or eastern art or something Turkish,” she says, “those are all very English things. It has been so for hundreds of years and we definitely try and do that.”

And so, from this mutual admiration, the project was born. Going back to his roots, Arad selected two popular OKA products, the oak and wicker Washakie Velvet Dining Chair and the Crosby Armchair, and decided to ‘interfere’ with them in an archetypally Arad way. “My first piece of furniture was the Rover chair,” he explains, “but I also used to do this thing called Chair by Its Cover. I’d go to Camden Market, pick up a chair and play with it to make it my piece. And I miss that, so here was a chance for me to go back to something that I used to enjoy doing.”

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AKO is a limited edition evocative of Arad’s late 1980s pieces that saw him wrapping a simple secondhand timber chair in chunky sculptural stainless steel. In the prototype, the Washakie Dining Chair wears a high collarlike coat of highly reflective, slender stainless steel which refracts and distorts a mirror image of the chair and the words ‘Reserved/ Reversed’ are painted on its rear, transforming it into a throne of sorts. In addition to his creative genius, Arad is also a brilliant pundit: the further 10 chairs in this exclusive collection each bear their own catchy title, half-wrapped

Working on the AKO chair

in a reflective sheet of stainless steel or copper.

For Arad, part of the process is about changing the experience and behaviour of the user. “What is the point of a chair if you can’t sit on it? It’s not a big deal to make a chair that is comfortable, it’s easy.”

“I wanted to add something about sitting. From a dining chair it becomes a throne; you enjoy sitting on it, but differently.”

Jones loves the drama of the piece. “Dining chairs are really strong for us and we’re aware people can never buy just one.”

“I love the idea of one being more special than another, but it hasn’t lost its identity.”

“You could have a dinner party with this at the head of the table and the rest just uncovered,” she says. “Uncovered and jealous!” concludes Arad with a grin.

AKO is available to buy exclusively on theinvisiblecollection.com.

Part two of the Ron Arad for OKA collaboration will be unveiled in early 2020.

“What’s the point of a chair if you can’t sit on it?”

Ron Arad

to explore the collaboration visit oka.com/ronarad | 13

B Y G E O R G ( I A N ), IT’S CHRISTMAS The historical English city of Bath was the setting for OKA Creative Director Sue Jones’ festive scheme.

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hen I was decorating this Georgian home in Bath, I wanted to take the history of the building into consideration but also add worldly twists. By combining cultures and styles, you can create such depth,“ Co-Founder and Creative Director Sue Jones says. “The architecture of the house makes it perfect for Christmas, it’s so

spacious and the high ceilings allow for a very tall tree. The simple mantelpiece needed only a garland of foliage to give it a festive makeover.”

When Sue created this house, she wanted every room that you entered “to feel like an experience each different from the other, but loosely held together by a sense of travel and adventure.”

NEW COLLECTION

LARGE ARRINA ECO VASE £150 FAUX GRAPE LEAF STEM £12 HECUBA ON BASE £55 TRIANON MIRROR £575 MARU CUSHION COVER - LOGANBERRY 56cmSq £95 BLAKE 3-SEATER SOFA - OFF WHITE 240x99x90cmH £2,525 EMILE SET OF THREE NESTING TABLES Large 117x61x47cmH; Small 53cmSqx39cmH £1,195 BLAKE ARMCHAIR - OFF WHITE 86x87x89cmH £1,195 FLAVIAN SIDE TABLE 80cmDiax77cmH £1,195 FAUX CYMBIDIUM ORCHID WITH NARROW VASE £145 (seen with SMALL ARRINA ECO VASE £75) COSTELLINI VELVET OTTOMAN - ALCHEMILLA £225 FAUX GOLDEN NUGGET £35

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BATH

“I always decorate with faux flowers and berries at Christmas, so when there’s no room on the table, it’s time to get creative.”

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THIS PAGE KAISHU EXTENDING DINING TABLE - WATERED GREY 250x100x78cmH (closed); 300x100x78cmH (extended)

£3,250 MYSA MIRROR 34x200cmH £595 (per mirror) STAFFORD VELVET DINING CHAIR 45x59x92cmH £325 ENYO LAMP 24x22x60cmH £145 (seen with DOGE EMPIRE CARD LAMPSHADE - BURGUNDY 45cmDia £105) OPPOSITE PAGE SET OF FOUR PULCINELLA COCKTAIL GLASSES £75 ALTENA LED LAMP From £55 FAUX TORTOISESHELL 28-PIECE CUTLERY SET £175 KRAAK CERAMIC RANGE From £25

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BATH

GEHRIG LEATHER BAR CHAIR 66x62x92cmH £895 BARICELLA SIDEBOARD 160x39x86cmH £1,195 MAGRITTE MIRROR 205x102cmH £1,295 FAUX TORTOISESHELL MEMORY BOX £145 ENYO LAMP 24x22x60cmH £145 (seen with DOGE EMPIRE CARD LAMPSHADE - BURGUNDY 45cmDia £105)

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18 | view the entire collection at oka.com

“Every home benefits from a well-stocked bar, especially at Christmas.”

Sue Jones

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BATH

NEW COLLECTION THIS PAGE SULAMANI RUG 260x305cm

£1,595 SET OF TWO MIRRORED SOLASTA TABLES Large 92cmDiax41cmH; Small 61cmDiax36cmH £995 TURRET SIDE TABLE 49x48x63cmH £350 MERTENSII TABLE LAMP 36cmDiax28cmH £175 (seen with DRUM LINEN SHADE - NATURAL 40cmDiax25cmH £50) OPPOSITE PAGE DUONG FRAMED TEXTILE 90x90cmH £895 KING JADAHUA HEADBOARD 159x5x167cmH £725 APADANA ARMLESS CHAIR - BLOOD ORANGE VELVET 61x71x85cmH £595 SUKHO DECORATIVE STATUE £75 1-3. SHIROKU CUSHION COVER COLLECTION 1. Maru - Jet 56cmSq £95 2. Kawa Maze - Jet 56cmSq £95 3. Kawa Maze Bolster - Loganberry 55x20cmDia £95

To shop the look, visit us online at oka.com/bygeorgian

20 | view the entire collection at oka.com

“Don’t be afraid of adding darker tones to a bedroom.”

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At Home With Lucy Williams We caught up with the blogger, writer and brand consultant to shoot some pieces from our new collection, and discuss some of her favourite things: interiors and books.

Having started out working in fashion, it stands to reason that Lucy has also developed a passion for all things interiors.

As with her clothing, she has a knack for effortlessly putting pieces together, in an unexpected and relaxed way.

“Over the years I think my interiors and personal style have slowly married more. I like to be eclectic and comfortable in both, and like mixing and matching textures and colours with just a bit of refinement. I’m very unprecious in my home (I have a dog that jumps on everything) and like people to feel like they can just flop on my sofa and settle down for a coffee and a chat,” Lucy tells us.

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

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“I really like the square, painted Lea Lamp - I have a weakness for anything blue and white.”

With this in mind, we were excited to see how she chose to style some of our latest furniture and accessories in her West London flat. As her east-facing home is on the ground floor, it receives minimal natural light for most of the year, so Lucy chose to incorporate plenty of jewel tones and dark colours instead, as well as lots of bright artwork and light-reflecting surfaces.

A self-proclaimed “natural hoader,” the art of accessorising is something Lucy has down to a T - she loves “filling empty shelves with books, trinkets picked up from travels and various ceramics.” It’s no wonder therefore that the eclectic, wordly OKA pieces Lucy opts for fit seamlessly into her look.

SET THE SCENE

Some of Lucy’s favourite pieces this season.

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LEA LAMP 18cmSqx30cmH £295 (seen with EMPIRE LINEN SHADE - WHITE 46cmDia £60) TANTALLON FLOOR CUSHION - BLUE 62cmSqx55cmH £265 SET OF FOUR KIRIBATI MUGS £45 DANOS CUSHION COVER 60x35cm £52 VASA LINEN LOUNGE CHAIR 73x79x83cmH £695

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A NOVEL CHRISTMAS

Lucy’s Book Choices

Make sure your books stay cosy this winter by framing them with bookends.

AN ELEPHANT NEVER FORGETS And nor will you, when these beauties are sitting on your shelf.

TEMBO BOOKENDS 32x12x20cmH £75

EXPECTATION Anna Hope

THE CORRECTIONS Jonathan Franzen

I just finished this moving book about three female friends finding their way through their mid-thirties in London. We all have ideas of how our lives should look, but what happens when they don’t look or feel how we thought they should? It’s hard not to resonate with the themes and characters laid out in here, from the consequences of one missed opportunity or one mistake, to dealing with the ebbs and flows of marriage, fertility and female friendship, as life moves us to different places at different times.

The Corrections revolves around a grown-up Midwestern family and the intricacies and troubles of the three children who have now moved away to the East Coast, and are struggling to make their way in the world. It follows their lives and their parents’ lives from their youth right up to the year 2000 when the whole family reconvene for one last Christmas together. Sad, anxious, and a little bleak at times sure (Franzen’s speciality!), it also has great moments of affection and, above all, humanity.

AMERICAN WIFE Curtis Sittenfeld

OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYS Claire Fuller

THE REPTILE ROOM Gaze by name, gaze by nature... these resin lizards will ensure your favourite novels aren’t up to any mischief.

GAZING LIZARD BOOKENDS 40x14x16cmH £55

PINE FOR THESE Shaped like pine cones, these bookends add a natural touch wherever they are placed.

PINUS BOOKENDS 11x10x16cmH £35

24 | stores nationwide | oka.com

Rumour has it that the book is loosely based on Laura Bush, wife of George W Bush, and follows the life of Alice Lindgren from her childhood in Wisconsin in the 1940s, through to finding herself as the First Lady of the United States. Sittenfeld’s story-telling is unbeatable when it comes to painting vivid pictures of class, moral ambiguity, prejudice and American society. Moving and stirring throughout, it weaves an intricate tale of a small town life that ceaselessly revolves around great loss, great love and great sacrifice.

The daughter of a famous travelling pianist and a young father who fears and ceaselessly plans for a looming apocalypse and Soviet nuclear war, Peggy doesn’t have a conventional home life. Then, a breakdown pushes her father to run away for a new life in the middle of the Bavarian wilderness, taking his young daughter Peggy with him. The novel explores Peggy’s coming-of-age in a life dictated by nothing more than the seasons and a web of lies.

ONLY WISECRACKERS These aren’t your ordinary crackers, they’re full of beautiful gifts - not to mention the abundance of witty jokes.

SET OF SIX LUXURY SHAGREEN CRACKERS £95

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A RATHER YOGI CHRISTMAS Written by Isabella Blyth Currie

Once upon a time, Yogi Doga went on a life-changing adventure. Find out what happened next...

“Peace and good wishes, man,” Yogi Doga said, as he dumped his suitcase at the door. He had just come back from an extended sabbatical (rumour had it he had been hit rather abruptly by the mid-thirties crisis); his hair had become long and matted and his rancid stench was something else altogether.

“Did you not shower for the past year either?” Aunt Laah asked, her nose high in the air. “I was just chilling Laah, learning how to connect with the people, how to keep them calm. It was amazing, I learned how to put them into a meditative state - they can be so relaxed they’re almost unconscious,” Yogi Dog said. “I’m not surprised at all, I am nearing unconsciousness from just being around you. Hop into the bath immediately, you

flea bag... and you may no longer be a pup but I am not ‘Laah’, I am Aunt Laah,” the reindeer said.

And that was how the Yogi Doga was welcomed back home. When he had walked out of the office doors at ‘Get Stressed and Overworked’ it was meant to be just for a year, but the dog was a new hound now. Before the day was over (and struggling quite severely with jetwag), Yogi Doga started putting up posters around town. ‘Yoga Classes Available - paws up if you’re keen’.

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Illustrations by Ioana Iepureanu

The first issue Yogi Doga encountered was Major D. Goon scurrying around town, tearing down his posters with his over-sized sword. Then there was The Marvellous Mrs Mousham, whose juggling classes had become so popular, the whole town was hypnotised and not interested in yoga lessons. Day after day, Yogi Doga sat in his empty studio, envisioning some of his townsfolk walking through the door, but no one did. But the biggest issue that the hound was facing was that he was being ostracized. His greatest friends, Lord Dashing, Our Lady of Billing, Count Pugnacious and The Earl of Barking, didn’t want anything to do with his new yogi life. He was no longer part of their fast lifestyle – preferring meditation to wild howling nights on the town, eating and drinking their bodyweight, jumping in the pond and biting the llocals. Yogi Doga was no longer one of the pack. He sstarted to become sad, whimpering late into the night with his Aunt Laah, who seemed to be the n only one who didn’t think he was completely barking mad. The holidays were fast approaching and Yogi Doga was feeling increasingly lonely.

T days were getting colder and The darker as Christmas drew nearer d and Yogi Doga still sat in his studio endlessly in a downward dog position. Until one day, on Christmas Eve, there was a knock on his studio door and Miss Bertha Badgering walked in. The dog’s ears pricked up.

“Bertha? You’re here?”

“It appears so. I just got back from a hike in the Himalayas.”

“What are you doing here?” Yogi asked, so excited to see his holiday romance that he was having to try very hard to restrain himself from licking her.

“I caught a whiff that you were melancholy, so I’ve come to cheer you up. I also thought it would be fun to continue what we started in n Peru.”

“You came all the way just to see me?” Yogi asked, blushing.

“Of course. Why not?

You only live once. e.

That’s what you kept ept saying on our trip.””

“I am just so pleased ed to see you!” He grabbed bed the badger in his arms and didn’t

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restrain himself this time, licking her face enthusiastically.

When they finally stopped embracing, the badger leaned forward and whispered, “I’ve got another surprise for you.”

“What?” asked Yogi Doga.

“Come with me,” Bertha said, grabbing his paw and walking him out of the door.

She led him to the town square, where all his friends from his travels were waiting.

“We’ve missed you!” they shouted.

“I can’t believe you came all this way to see me,” Yogi Doga said, tears falling from his eyes.

“Of course we came,” Bertha said. “You may have lost your pack but we’re your tribe.”

“I think it’s time,” Miss Lilly Flipping, a mermaid who Yogi had met in the Seychelles, said.

“Time for what?” Yogi asked.

“Our yoga lesson, of course,” F. Dhoff Esq. said.

“Really? You want a lesson?” Yogi asked, as he had started to doubt his own abilities.

“Yes!” they all shouted.

Soon, all his friends were being led from downward dog, to child’s pose, to tree, and finally, warrior. Within minutes other townsfolk began joining in, first Dame Mia Mousetake, then the Marvellous Mrs Mousham even Major D. Goon got involved. Yogi closed his eyes and began to guide his class into a meditation. His ears pricked up as he smelled a familiar scent. When he opened his eyes and said “Namaste,” he noticed his pack were also seated, with their tails between their legs.

“We’re sorry, Yogi,” Lord Dashing whined.

“We just fear change,” The Earl of Barking said.

“We’ve been thoroughly unreasonable,” Count Pugnacious added.

“You have, but it’s okay. We all make mistakes. I forgive you. I want to introduce you to someone,” Yogi said.

He grabbed gr Bertha, licking her gently on the cheek and introduced her to his pack. That night they threw the introd most barking party the town had ever seen, even Yogi’s old bo boss from ‘Get Stressed and Overworked’ was there, Colonel Al Parka. As the clock struck 12, Yogi thought Colon how quickly q things can change, how fluid life can be and how bad b times will never last. As the town celebrated, Yogi couldn’t think of a time that he had ever been happier. His pack and his tribe had merged. ha

1. COL. AL PARKA £10 2.

LORD DASHING £8 3. OUR LADY OF BILLING £10 4.

YOGI DOGA £10 THE MARVELLOUS MRS MOUSHAM £10 6.

MAJOR D. GOON £10 7. DAME MIA MOUSETAKE £8 8. AUNT LAAH £8 9. MISS LILLY FLIPPING £10 10. COUNT PUGNACIOUS £8 11. F. DHOFF ESQ £8 12. HON. CORAL SPLASHMORE £10 MISS BERTHA BADGERING £8 14. REAR ADMIRAL ALEXANDER (SANDY) SEYMOUR £8 15. THE EARL OF BARKING £8

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GOLD

With Father Christmas preparing his sleigh, now is your time to prove you deserve a place on the nice list. Which of these pieces are you asking for?

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“Gold adds a touch of glamour and a dash of elegance wherever it is placed.”

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BALLYGANNON MIRROR 62x102cmH £375 LOTUS CANDLE HOLDER From £55 CORLO TABLE LAMP 24cmDiax37cmH £375 (seen with PLEATED LINEN SHADE - OFF WHITE 45cmDiax31cmH £80) CRIA ALPACA THROW - AMBER 130x200cm £285 SET OF FOUR DECORATIVE FEATHER NAMECARD HOLDERS £35 GOLDEN BANANAS £30 BRASS BAMBOO TRAY £225 TRIOMPHE TRIPOD TABLE 43cmDiax64cmH £385

28 | view the entire collection at oka.com

MAGRITTE MIRROR 205x102cmH £1,295

LARGE OCTAGON SIDE TABLE 57cmDiax62cmH £410

OROMO LAMP 38x13x42cmH £550 (seen with RECTANGULAR LINEN SHADE - NATURAL 45x29x24cmH £65)

PALAPELI CONSOLE TABLE 101x30x77cmH £650

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FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK

A Greenwich Village apartment was the setting for this enchanting Christmas scene.

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here’s nowhere else we’d rather be snowed in on a winter’s day. This stylish Greenwich Village apartment has all the trappings of one of New York’s finest hotels, but it feels very welcoming and homely.

When dressing the space for Christmas, fun golden touches were added to the dining table, alongside coloured glassware and LED candles. An easy way to create drama is to hang it above the table: a chandelier can be given a festive twist just by adding some faux flowers and greenery.

Designed by Bruce MacArthur.

To shop the look, visit us online at

oka.com/fairytale

STAFFORD VELVET CHAIR - ALCHEMILLA 45x59x92cmH £325 CHARLOTTE EXTENDABLE DINING TABLE - ‘FRENCH WALNUT’ 290x110x80cmH (fully extended); 110cmSqx80cmH (no leaves) £1,895 CURLICUE CHANDELIER 76cmDiax72cmH £795 SET OF FOUR FEATHER BUTTERFLY DECORATIONS £12 SET OF FOUR LAVAUX GOBLETS - AUBERGINE £45 FAUX AMARYLLIS STEM £14

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“A festive dining table should always be over the top and dramatic.�

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NEW YORK

NEW COLLECTION

THIS PAGE BASILE MIRROR 105x7x139cmH £695 DOVER WALL LAMP - ANTIQUE BRASS 7x16x33cmH £175 (seen with SQUARE COTTON LAMPSHADE - BLACK 23cmSqx15cmH £30) SET OF SIX LUXURY CRACKERS £95 STAFFORD CHAIR - ALCHEMILLA VELVET 45x59x92cmH £325 DECORATIVE ROBIN £12 SET OF FIVE MAPLE LEAF DECORATIONS £45 OPPOSITE PAGE FAUX TORTOISESHELL 28-PIECE CUTLERY SET £175 SET OF FOUR PÉROUGES LINEN NAPKINS £55 SET OF FOUR ARLECCHINO GLASSES £75 ZEPHYR HURRICANE LAMP £175 EURYALE TABLEWARE From £50 PILLAR LED CANDLE From £12

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36 | view the entire collection at oka.com

NEW YORK

It was essential to ensure the dark walls didn’t engulf the whole scheme, so mirrors and metal were used to bring flashes of light to the apartment. The living area was split in two using tall mirrored bookshelves, effectively giving the illusion of a much larger space, along with a sense of depth.

GAZING LIZARD BOOKENDS £55 VERSAILLES ASHMOLEAN SHELVES Narrow 55x28x220cmH £1,195 Tall 89x28x218cmH £1,695 APSE ROUND DINING TABLE 140cmDiax77cmH £2,350 TRIOMPHE SIDE TABLE 60x40x62cmH £535 LARGE FAUX FIDDLE PLANT £195 MARWICK 2-SEATER SOFA AGED TRUFFLE 164x90x75cmH £1,950 CORLO TABLE LAMP 24cmDiax37cmH £375

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NEW YORK

Deep plum and red wine hues work so well at Christmas, so the walls were painted a rich aubergine then alchemilla accents were introduced, as these two colours are often found together in nature. A variety of textures were also included - velvet, aged leather, faux fur - to soften the metal, mirrored and dark wooden furniture. Mixing different metals used to be considered a huge faux pas, but the combination of traditional brass and contemporary chrome provides a beautiful balance.

NEW COLLECTION

THIS PAGE MARWICK 3-SEATER SOFA - AGED TRUFFLE LEATHER 217x90x69cmH

£2,495

OSIRIS COFFEE TABLE 150x75x49cmH £2,150 SMALL CULLINAN RUG 180x240cm £1,895 COSTELLINI VELVET OTTOMAN Charcoal | Rioja 47cmDiax45cmH £225 OPPOSITE PAGE 1. BUDLE LAMP 40x12x44cmH £325 (seen with MADURA PLEATED SHADE - AUBERGINE 45cmDiax31cmH £130) PLAIN VELVET CUSHION COVER Rioja | Alchemilla 51cmSq £55 NASSAU CUSHION COVER - CHARCOAL 51cmSq £55 TRIOMPHE SIDE TABLE 60x40x62cmH £535 2. BELLANO LAMP 14cmSqx37cmH £235 (seen with EMPIRE LINEN SHADE - NATURAL 36cmDiax20cmH £45) SAGOMA ARMCHAIR 60x63x89cmH £695

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K AISHU A dramatic extendable dining table with curvaceous legs that resemble Chinese calligraphy.

Crafted from solid oak with blackened oak veneer, the Kaishu extends using a butterfly leaf hidden in the table top. It comfortably seats eight people when closed and 10 when extended.

250x100x78cmH (closed); 300x100x78cmH (extended)

£3,250

Available in: Black | Watered Grey (not shown)

TA L K I NG TA BL E S

It’s not elves you have to listen out for over Christmas, it’s your tables. If you’re very, very quiet you might be able to hear them gossiping. “I can seat eight people for Christmas lunch!” one exclaims. “Well, I look even more beautiful adorned with festive foliage,” murmurs another.

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DINING TABLES

PETWORTH Turned legs and a ‘weathered’ oak finish make our Petworth the traditionalist’s choice. Don’t be fooled by its classic appearance however; this dining table has the ability to transform into an oval-shaped behemoth that can seat the whole village. Seats up to 18 people when extended.

350x135x79cmH (fully extended);110x135x79cmH (no leaves) ‘Weathered’ Oak £3,595 | ‘French Walnut’ (not shown) £2,495

WINGLEFIELD Crafted from white pine, with a hand-painted, rubbed black top and legs, the huge Winglefield is a larger-than-life character. In its smaller capacity, this dining table can host a crowd of 10, however when extended it becomes one of our longest tables, seating 18.

475x90x75cmH (open); 237x90x77cmH (closed) Blackened Pine £2,585 | Grey (not shown) £2,595

CHARLOT TE Perfect for a period setting, Charlotte features traditional proportions and smart turned legs - not to mention an Alice in Wonderland-like ability to grow or shrink when desired, giving it the edge over any antique. Seats up to 14 people when extended.

310x110x75cmH (fully extended); 110cmSqx75cmH (no leaves) ‘French Walnut’ £1,895 | ‘Weathered’ Oak (not shown) £2,895

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“Nothing excites me more than a beautifully laid table.”

Fiona Leahy 42

THE ART OF THE TABLE

with fiona leahy The tablescaper for the Royals discusses tables, dinner parties and Dita Von Teese.

How do you go from growing up in a small hotel in Ireland to becoming the tablescaper for royalty and the stars? “By putting yourself in as many energetically aligned situations as you can, even if you have to work for free,” Fiona Leahy says.

Fiona’s career began at Garrard Jewellers, where she was the Assistant Creative Director. She would help out with all creative projects and soon she was working on the instore events; it was then that she found her real passion. For one event, Fiona

hired Dita Von Teese, who became a life-long friend. “When she asked me to plan her wedding, my whole life changed.

A piece was written about me in the Sunday Times Style and a day or two later I had the Queen of Qatar on the phone.”

Suddenly, Fiona found herself in the Middle East doing a string of royal weddings.

“I think the real trick to your career is to work out what really makes you truly happy. Follow your joy and what gives you passion, and success will come.”

THIS PAGE PAIR OF SMALL TORTOISESHELL GLASS CANDLE HOLDERS £20 XIN SIDE TABLE 45x37x80cmH

£425 LARGE GLASS TORTOISESHELL DECORATIVE BALL £60 £1,595

OPPOSITE PAGE PAGODA CABINET 125x46x170cmH

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SET THE SCENE

LARGE GLASS TORTOISESHELL DECORATIVE BALL £60 PINE AND CONE GARLAND £145 TORTOISESHELL GLASS LAMP 23cmSqx30cmH £175 FAUX TORTOISESHELL 28-PIECE CUTLERY SET (teaspoon not shown) £175

Some of Fiona’s favourite pieces from her look.

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SORANO DINNER PLATE £16 RATTAN UNDERPLATE £16 TALL TORTOISESHELL GLASS VASE £95 TORTOISESHELL GLASS DECANTER £45 SET OF FOUR LAVAUX GLASS GOBLETS - TORTOISESHELL £45 PAGODA CHINOISERIE CABINET 125x46x170cmH £1,595

CHRISTMAS AT ST. GILES St. Giles House was originally built in the 1650s, but following the Second World War, the house fell into disrepair. In 2010, the decision was made to bring this family home back to life - this developed into a full on restoration project that is still ongoing.

The first Earl of Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, was the man to build the nucleus of this house as we know it today. As the Earl was born in the area, and the property’s architecture is so complex, it’s likely that he was expanding on an existing structure – as so many generations have done after him.

A wing of the house was used as a hospital during the Second World War, and it was home to plenty more earls, many of whom shaped the surrounding area and history in unique ways - before societal changes started to take their toll on the rural aristocracy, and the upkeep of a large house such as this was simply too much.

Some of the original features of St. Giles still remain however, such as some red brickwork, Renaissance characteristics, and the seven bays on the east-facing side.

Today, however, the grounds are beautifully maintained, full of unique places to stay and explore the Dorset countryside - making it a fitting choice for an OKA shoot.

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ST. GILES

NEW

In a building as steeped in history and as full of striking architectural features as St. Giles House, there is no need to go over the top and create a classically decadent red, green and gold scheme.

For a more low-key festive look, we stuck to a neutral but warm colour palette, and paid homage to the property’s rural location with plenty of nature-inspired accessories, such as the pine cone wreath and simple wildlife decorations.

Sometimes less is more at Christmas.

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OPPOSITE PAGE THE LONELY PIG £175 WASHAKIE CHAIR - SAND HERRINGBONE LINEN 50x59x98cm £320 PINECONE WREATH 61cmDia £105 CHYANGRA GOAT HAIR CUSHION COVER

- CHEETAH 50x30cm £100 THIS PAGE WHIPPET BOOKENDS £60 SET OF FOUR FROSTED CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS (set includes a reindeer, moose, bear and penguin) £18 SET OF SIX TREE LEAF DECORATIONS - ICE WHITE £30 DECORATIVE APPLE £16 SMALL SADDLE LEATHER HEIRLOOM BOX £105 SET OF THREE ARBOREAL PRINT BOX FILES £50 COSTELLINI LEATHER OTTOMAN - AGED TRUFFLE 47cmDiax45cmH £275

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ST. GILES

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Could there be a better addition to a coffee table? In this book you can learn all about the award-winning restoration of St. Giles House, which has brought the property back to life and reimagined it for the 21st century.

STANHOPE ARMCHAIR 69x95x99cmH £855 CHYANGRA GOAT HAIR FLOOR CUSHION - CHEETAH 50cmSqx40cmH £300 FAUX SHAGREEN DRUM TABLE 40cmDiax45cmH £425 CHYANGRA GOAT HAIR CUSHION COVER - CHEETAH £100 LARGE SUMAVA LOG BIN/ PLANTER £525

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CHAIRS

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CHAIR UP, IT’S CHRISTMAS Comfortable dining chairs, served with a side order of style.

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1. TAINO CHAIR 68x52x86cmH £195 2. FIFE CHAIR 46x52x95cmH £235 3. MURCIANA DYED GOAT HAIR ARMCHAIR - CHEETAH 58cmSqx78cmH £625 4. ECHO DINING CHAIR - ‘WEATHERED’ OAK 42x65x100cmH £225 (seen with GUIZHOU LINEN SLIP COVER 42x65x77cmH £125) 5. CAMARGUE CHAIR - ‘BURNT’ OAK 49x54x88cmH £195 6. FEUR CHAIR 47x49x88cmH £195 7. STAFFORD CHAIR - BLOOD ORANGE VELVET 45x59x92cmH £325 8. SAGOMA ARMCHAIR 60x63x89cmH £695

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“You know you have a good chair when the dinner party has been in full flow for hours and everyone looks like they’re happy to sit for more.”

NEW WASHAKIE CHAIR - CORAL LINEN 50x59x98cmH

£320

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IT’S TIME FOR A RESHUFFLE Meet Daisy Knatchbull, Founder of the new London-based tailoring company The Deck, which shares our passion for the finest craftsmanship. We are delighted to have worked with her on the interiors of her studio.

Having caused quite the stir as the first woman to wear a top hat and tails to Royal Ascot, it is fitting that it is Daisy who is now reimagining how we think about women’s suiting.

Realising that there was nowhere which focused on designing suits for women, fitted by a woman, she was inspired to start her own business doing exactly this. “I called it The Deck because there are four suits in a deck of cards, and we have four suits to choose from in terms of style. It’s about reshuffling the deck; allowing women to have the same experience as men,” Daisy tells us.

Describing her personal style as “androgynous, but also timeless,” Daisy has always been a fan of the suit and how it can make you feel - “it’s sexy, feminine, elegant and understated all at once.”

52 | view the entire collection at oka.com

THE DECK

“My clients become the designers and create the suit of their wildest dreams.”

In turn, this is one of the best parts of the job for Daisy, who adores “the joy we bring when people love the suit they’re wearing, and you can just see how it gives them confidence and power.” She is justly “proud to dress beautiful, amazing women, from all walks of life, doing amazing things.”

And what advice does the entrepreneur have for anyone looking to start their own business?

“Believing in yourself is so important, and not worrying about leaving the comfort of a good job or salary to pursue your dreams. Have good mentors around you - people who have done different things with their work who can give you different perspectives.””

Follow @decklondon on Instagram

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COSTELLINI VELVET OTTOMAN - ALCHEMILLA £225 FROND LAMP 25x13x68cmH £210 (seen with RECTANGULAR SHADE - NATURAL LINEN 45x29x24cmH £65) JACK OF HEARTS AND KING OF CLUBS FRAMED COLLAGES 60x90cmH £385

SET THE SCENE

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54 | view the entire collection at oka.com

Daisy’s favourite pieces that adorn The Deck studio.

MERLE COFFEE TABLE 80x60x40cmH £725 1. MOROSINI CUSHION COVER GREY/NATURAL 56cmSq £52 2. GUILLOCHE CUSHION COVER - GREY 51cmSq £46 3. PLAIN VELVET CUSHION COVER - SEA BLUE 60x35cm £48 BOTERO MODULAR SOFA RANGE From

£1,850

FOOD

I Ding Dong Merrily at Home William Sitwell, the Daily Telegraph’s restaurant reviewer and MasterChef critic, tells us to stay at home this Christmas.

t’s a temptation that occasionally rears its ugly head. You never quite managed to corral everyone into joining you on your Christmas trip to Goa or Bali or Kenya and you can’t afford Mustique. So now you’re thinking of booking a restaurant for Christmas Day lunch. After all these years of turkey stuffing, potato peeling, of failed attempts to set the pudding alight and the prospect of all that washing up, you think that the time has to come to outsource the problem.

You can imagine turning up at some chi-chi country house hotel, you can hear the gravel crunch as you slide the car onto the parking spot. You can imagine the fire burning in the hall, you can wonder at the idea of perusing the menu before easing yourself and your family into the dining room where you’ll be looked after and for once you won’t have to lift a finger.

But stop right there, lazy bones. For that way lies disaster.

For a start, unless there’s a handy nondrinker in the family, there’s the row about who’s driving. And unless you have a people carrier that holds 12 or so, that means several rows. And before you say, “We’ll get a cab,” I say no. No cabs on Christmas Day and no Ubers neither.

It’s a waste of money just as much as that over-priced lunch.

Don’t think that all the squabbling will be mitigated because you’re somewhere posh.

In fact the tensions are even worse when

in hushed surroundings, as teenagers are castigated for being scruffy, husbands for wearing their favourite shirt rather than the one you gave them.

Half the fun of Christmas is doling out jobs to fractious family members. Think of the bonding between grandchild and grandmother as they peel the sprouts.

Indeed the relief and satisfaction of a team effort that created lunch and the many helping hands in clearing up can justify the greed of it. And if you’re at home you can allow the nippers to escape the table a little early – while the grown-ups pile into the cheese and port – to watch a little telly.

For there could be few sights as hideous as a large family having lunch, with the crackers pulled, party hats on and a few teenagers clustered at one end watching things on their phones.

And what of the poor staff, themselves denied Christmas lunch because you were too lazy to get stuck in yourselves.

Some elements of Christmas Day should be forced on even the most reluctant. For a glass of Champagne at noon tastes so much better if you’ve all dragged yourself to church and back.

So puff up the cushions, fill the drinks table with wine, Champagne, gin, vodka and stickies. Shove logs onto the fire, lay the table, and don’t fret if the turkey is dry or the potatoes aren’t crisp. It’s just one day with a big, happy, argumentative, forgiving and chaotic Sunday lunch.

Three places to try for Christmas (if not on Christmas Day)

SCOTLAND

WARWICKSHIRE

LONDON

The Fife Arms, Mar Rd, Braemar, Aberdeenshire AB35 5YN

The Woodsman, No.4 Chapel Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6HA

Harlequin, 194 Wandsworth Bridge Road, London SW6 2UF

thewoodsmanrestaurant.com

Great value set menu, small neighbourhood restaurant with innovative plates and excellent service.

thefifearms.com Cosy, great for larger parties, with amazing décor to divert the attentions of testing relatives.

A lively bar, gorgeous cocktails, fabulous game, loads of dishes to share and a great place for a winter’s day.

harlequinrestaurant.co.uk

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AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TART Melanie Johnson is a food columnist and loves to cook for friends without spending the whole evening in the kitchen. Mel shows us how to get prepared for Christmas with these quick recipes.

For more ideas, follow @melathomeltd

Pear and Mulled Wine Tarte Tatin Serves 6 100g unsalted butter

1 sheet puff pastry

100g granulated sugar

1 cinnamon stick

150ml mulled wine

2 star anise

6 juicy pears

Double cream to serve

Method Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F. To a 28cm heavy based frying pan, add the butter and sugar. Heat over a medium heat until the butter has melted and the sugar dissolved. Increase the heat and simmer until you have a syrupy consistency - about 5 minutes. Pour in the mulled wine and continue to simmer until you have smooth, thickened, but still runny caramel.

Peel, core and halve the pears. Add them to the caramel and toss to coat. Cook them for a few minutes before placing the cinnamon stick and star anise on the

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bottom and then arranging the pears cut side up.

You may need to gently roll your sheet of puff pastry to fit the frying pan and then use a plate to cut out a circle just larger than the base. Lay the pastry over the pears and fold the edges around.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the base is golden.

Remove the frying pan from the oven.

Wait a few minutes for it to cool slightly, and then, holding a serving plate over the frying pan, invert the tart onto it. Be especially careful not to burn yourself gloves and a tea towel are advisable!

FOOD SET OF FOUR SMALL RANELAGH WINE GOBLETS £42 SET OF 20 PRUGA PAPER NAPKINS £6 KRAAK CROCKERY RANGE From £25

A Trio of Winter Canapés Scallops and Pancetta on Rosemary 12 scallops 12 pancetta slices 12 rosemary sprigs 4 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tbsp wholegrain Dijon mustard

Method Thread the pancetta and scallops onto the rosemary sprigs, this can be done in advance.

When ready to serve, simply add them to a hot griddle pan and sear for about 2 minutes on each side. Serve with a dipping sauce, made by mixing the mayonnaise and mustard together.

Rösti Cups with Smoked Salmon 200g grated potato, excess water squeezed out 50g salted butter, melted 150g smoked salmon 50ml soured cream 1 tbsp salmon caviar

Method Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F. Take a 12-hole mini muffin tray and brush the holes with melted butter. Add the grated potato and shape it to line the holes. Drizzle a little more butter and bake for around 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven, cool slightly, and then carefully place them on a serving plate. Add smoked salmon, a dollop of soured cream, a little caviar and serve.

Fig and Brie Parcels with Truffle Honey 1 packet filo pastry (you won’t need all of it) 50g butter, melted 3 figs 100g Brie 1 tbsp truffle honey

Method Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F. Take a mini muffin tin and brush it with melted butter. Cut squares of filo just larger than the holes and squash them inside so there is an overhang. Brush with butter and add a second square of filo. Brush with butter again and then drop a quarter of a fig and a lump of Brie into each. Bake until golden and melted. Remove from the oven and drizzle with honey. Serve immediately.

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Prepare your spare bedroom for guests this Christmas with a little help from our Interior Design Service.

Ah, the spare room. Often forgetten and usually filled with clutter, it’s now required to host the presence of your (very pernickety) Great Aunt Muriel during the holidays. But Christmas is only a few weeks away - surely there’s no time to get the bedroom ready and up to her standards?

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If the thought of guests visiting fills you with dread, it’s time to talk to our talented Interior Design team. Not only are they full of exciting ideas, they can also take a project from concept to completion in just three weeks, leaving you plenty of time to tick off the rest of your Christmas list.

To book your free instore design consultation, email designservice@oka.com or visit oka.com/designservice

“Not only were you incredible with your ideas, you also took the time to make sure you knew exactly what I was looking for. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Client Testimonial

“A rarely used spare room can be brought to life with a faux plant or two.”

OUR BEST BEDSIDE TABLES

TOWER ABOVE Turn this turret-shaped side table upside down to use it on the opposite side of the bed.

DORIC SIDE TABLE 45cmDiax70cmH £850

SMALL FAUX PLANTED PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID Plant 56x44x60cmH; Base 14cmDia £55 RUHENG TABLE LAMP 23cmDiax26cmH £175 (seen with WARNA PLEATED SILK LAMPSHADE - BLUE 35cmDiax23cmH £105) FAUX SHAGREEN LOCKABLE WATCH BOX 18x12x9cmH £350

BACK STORY The impressive carved back also prevents things from falling off the table top.

SARRUKIN TABLE 58x40x95cmH £495

HENGSHA LUGGAGE RACK 60x40x60cmH £500

HOW IT WORKS

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Free initial consultation

A discussion to understand your requirements with one of our dedicated interior design consultants instore.

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The design process

Following an on-site visit, we will draw up a spatial plan, visual presentation and put together a virtual shopping list.

3

Delivery & installation

Our ‘white glove’ delivery service ensures all items are unpacked and placed with the utmost care. For larger projects, your designer will be on-site to oversee the installation.

BLACK MAGIC Go to the dark (bed)side with this striking table, crafted from wrought iron.

SALTAIRE SIDE TABLE 48x40x81cmH £650

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ANOTHER BLOOMING CHRISTMAS Don’t let the season deny you your favourite flowers; with our super-realistic fauxs you can have hydrangeas in January or hellebores in June, or you can go seasonal with these beautiful blooms.

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BUNCHES

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THIS PAGE 1. SMALL FAUX PLANTED PHALAENOPSIS GIGANTEA ORCHID £55 (seen with SMALL DECARDI RIBBED VASE £55) 2. ’DOGWOOD’ BERRIES STEM £12 each ‘WILD BERRY’ STEM £18 each (seen with LVLIANG JAR £210) 3. ‘PUSSY WILLOW’ BRANCH £12 each 4. ‘CYMBIDIUM ORCHIDS’ WITH VASE £180 OPPOSITE PAGE ‘BERRY, MAGNOLIA & EUCALYPTUS’ BUNCH £165 (seen with MEDIUM FYLI VASE £55)

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Lucinda Waterhouse, one of our Co-Founders, creates a nature-inspired home around the corner from Kew Gardens in London.

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A

s a plant lover, Lucinda Waterhouse has always adored visiting the renowned Kew Gardens in London. When creating a home right around the corner, she thought it was essential to integrate a dash of nature and even more so at Christmas.

“I wanted the house to be cosy and welcoming, but nature to be woven in throughout. I added leaf prints, faux trees, flowers and plants, as well as the animal print upholstery. This is a traditionally English home, with a bit of a wild twist.”

THIS PAGE SEDGWICK MIRROR

120cmSq £575 VASA LINEN LOUNGE CHAIR 73x79x83cmH £695 CHYANGRA GOAT HAIR CUSHION COVER - CHEETAH 50x35cm £100

OPPOSITE PAGE

From left to right: MALATI REVERSIBLE CUSHION COVER - MARINE BLUE/WHITE 51cmSq £65 SAIGUN CUSHION COVER - VENETIAN RED 51cmSq £65 ATASI CUSHION COVER DIRTY ORANGE/BLUE 51cmSq £60 TALL PILLAR LED CANDLE £16 SET OF FIVE HANGING ACORNS £30

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“I tend to stick to traditional winter plants and flowers for my Christmas decorations,” Lucinda says, “and in this nature-inspired home, they all blended in effortlessly. I draped pine cone garlands and ivy (all faux, of course) on the mantelpiece and across the dining table, then fashioned a wreath from faux magnolia stems, which I hung on the mirror for impact. I like to use decorations in other places aside from the tree; these golden acorn ones look great above the fireplace.”

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SET OF TWO NESTED ANGUILLA WOVEN BASKETS £125 SET OF NINE CHINESE VILLAGER FRAMED PRINTS 34x45cmH £850 FALKOR LAMP 17cmDiax35cmH £295 (seen with PLEATED LINEN LAMPSHADE 45cmDia £100) MEDELLIN RUG 244x305cm £1,595 SMALL MATTABAN RATTAN DOG BED £285 OBSIDIAN CONSOLE TABLE 128x35x81cmH £1,100 APSE DINING TABLE 140cmDiax77cmH £2,350 WASHAKIE CHAIR 50x59x98cmH shown in: Air Force Blue Velvet £325 | Coral Linen £320

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LONDON

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LONDON

The dining room was dressed for Christmas using more faux foliage, glass tortoiseshell accessories and lots of LED candles.

“The trick to hosting an excellent dinner party is comfortable chairs, the right lighting and a great crowd,” Lucinda explains.

“Candlelight is essential for setting the mood at Christmas, and LED candles allow you to be more creative than real ones do.”

Animal decorations were placed at each setting as a fun nod to the nature theme. “Guests appreciate a little present to take home,” Lucinda says.

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THIS PAGE RATTAN UNDERPLATE £16 FAUX TORTOISESHELL 28-PIECE CUTLERY

SET £175 SET OF FOUR LAVAUX GLASS GOBLETS - TORTOISESHELL £45 SET OF FOUR SQUARE-BASED CRYSTAL GOBLETS £185 LORD DASHING DECORATION £8 SET OF FOUR PÉROUGES LINEN NAPKINS £55 SET OF FOUR FEATHER BUTTERFLY DECORATIONS £12 FAUX FIR BRANCH £22 RASTRO MIRROR 110x132cmH £695 OPPOSITE PAGE HANGING HUMMINGBIRD DECORATIONS £10 TORTOISESHELL GLASS DECANTER £45 STAFFORD DINING CHAIR 45x59x92cmH shown in: Aged Truffle Leather £375 Natural Linen £295 TJIKKO DINING TABLE 281x100x77cmH £2,200 YOGI DOGA DECORATION £10 LOTUS CANDLE HOLDER From £55 PILLAR LED CANDLE From £6

To shop the look, visit us online at

oka.com/jointhekew

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NEW OBSIDIAN CONSOLE TABLE 128x35x81cmH £1,100

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CONSOLES

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LIFE & CONSOLE O F T H E PA R T Y

Usually a stage for displaying your favourite accessories, it’s time to let the console table itself become the star of your hallway.

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5 1. SMALL CRICOVA WINE RACK 93x46x89cmH £1,375 2. AMAROLO CONSOLE TABLE 152x25x75cmH £695 3. KAISHU CONSOLE TABLE 200x50x85cmH £1,395 4. VERSAILLES NESTED CONSOLE TABLES Large 130x34x81cmH; Small 110x28x70cmH £1,185 5. PISCES CONSOLE TABLE 166x40x83cmH £1,585 6. OSIRIS CONSOLE TABLE 150x35x81cmH £1,695

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FULLY BOOKED

In her London home, Creative Director, Sue Jones shares the inspiration behind our Ashmolean Shelves.

I

was searching for elegant shelves that were sturdy enough to hold my vast library of books, but I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for.

I live in a period property, so I wanted bookshelves that blended in with the house’s architecture, but that also had the simplicity of contemporary design.”

Inspired by classic architectural lines, Sue designed what was to become one of our best sellers, the Ashmolean Shelves. The range has a unique ability to fit into both modern and traditional schemes.

“The Ashmolean is so popular because it’s adaptable.”

What does Sue attribute to their success?

“Storage is a tricky subject, whatever size your home. The Ashmolean is so popular because it’s adaptable. We have different sizes and colours available, so whether you need wall-to-wall storage or have an awkward corner to fill, these shelves will always work. And you can also take them with you when you move house.”

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1. LOW ASHMOLEAN SHELVES - FLAX 90x28x83cmH £650 2. TALL/NARROW ASHMOLEAN SHELVES - SILVER BIRCH 55x28x219cmH £895 3. TALL ASHMOLEAN SHELVES - OAK 89x28x219cmH £1,100

BOOKSHELVES

REMINGTON Rustic meets contemporary in these striking shelves. Made from stainless steel and recycled elm.

84x45x210cmH

£2,495

BOURGES Its bold silhouette is balanced by its pale frame, making it a true statement piece.

There’s space for all of your best-loved novels, as well as room to display flowers.

55x40x173cmH

£895

VERSAILLES ASHMOLEAN OLETA

A modern masterpiece, the Oleta features clear, toughened glass inset shelves, beautifully finished off with sleek stainless steel corners.

63x46x184cmH

£2,495

This show-stopper combines the usefulness of our Ashmolean Shelves with the opulence of our mirrored Versailles Range.

TALL 89x28x218cmH

£1,695

TALL/NARROW 55x28x220cmH

£1,195

LOW 90x28x84cmH

£695

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It was a cold, dark, snowy day when the five wise bears received their first ever OKA magazine.

“Oh how pretty it is, I can’t wait to get my claws on these beautiful things,” said Mummy Bear. “It’s cold and dark outside, we should stay in for winter. Let’s order online,” said Daddy Bear, and with that he whipped out the newest edition of the BearPad and started shopping online. He bought a huge selection of Cria Throws; the whole family were thrilled when they arrived. When they were all wrapped up warm, Mummy Bear said, “now we are ready to visit the OKA store.”

Without further ado, the family set off from their igloo and travelled all the way to an OKA store. It was a treacherous journey, cold and miserable, but luckily the bears had their Cria Throws (which happen to work perfectly on beds and chairs too).

Eventually, they made it to the delightful, warm store and they were greeted by the effervescent OKA team. The team were so welcoming, which was not the type of treatment the bears were used to in the North Pole, where characters are a little more frosty - it could be said it is every bear for themselves.

Each bear scurried around the store, picking up every beautiful thing. “Be careful,” said Mummy Bear, when Baby Bear picked up a lamp that was bigger than him. Before long, each bear had found everything they could ever have dreamed of. They loaded up their sleigh and headed back to the North Pole, where they soon had the most stunning igloo any creature had ever seen and presents for all their friends and family.

CRIA THROW Flame | Basalt | Amber | Amazonite | Aurora | Lava | Flint Burgundy | Natural | Loch 200x130cm £285 STAFFORD DINING CHAIR - NATURAL LINEN 45x59x92cmH

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NEW COLLECTION

TOP LEFT GOLDEN NUGGET £35 DECORATIVE APPLE £16 DECORATIVE PEAR £16 DECORATIVE ROBIN £12 SET OF FOUR DECORATIVE FEATHER NAME CARD HOLDERS £35 DECORATIVE GOLDEN HEDGEHOG £12 NATURAL TEAK CHOPPING BOARD £45

TOP RIGHT SET OF THREE NOTEBOOKS - RED/CHARCOAL £15 SHAGREEN PRINT PENCIL POT & PENCIL SET - GREY £30 BOTTOM LEFT HERRINKO RANGE Set of Four Espresso Mugs £25 Teapot 1.1 litre £30 Milk Jug & Sugar Bowl Set £25 BRASS BAMBOO TRAY £225 BOTTOM RIGHT BUKVA GLASS TEALIGHT HOLDER Pink | White £25 DAPPLED GLASS TEALIGHT HOLDER £25

74 | view the entire collection at oka.com

THIS PAGE UMBRELLA WITH BAMBOO HANDLE - JADE SHAGREEN

£45 CALABASH TABLE LAMP - SAFFRON 28cmDiax42cmH £175 (seen with DOGE EMPIRE CARD SHADE - CHARCOAL 46cmDiax26cmH £105) FAUX FUR THROW - GRIZZLY BEAR 150x200cm £250 GEORGE CLUB CHAIR 61x72x71cmH £1,550 SMALL ITHACA RUG 170x240cm £650 FROND TABLE LAMP 25x13x68cmH £210 MAJOR D. GOON £10 LORD DASHING £8 TANTALLON FLOOR CUSHION - BLUE 62cmSqx55cmH £265 DECORATIVE OAK LEAF DISH £35 SADDLE LEATHER MAXI BAR 44x36x40cmH £1,095 SET OF FOUR LARGE PULCINELLA WINE GLASSES 9cmDiax13cmH £65 GOLDEN NUGGET £35

NEW COLLECTION

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GUIDED BY THE PERFECT LIGHT Expertly crafted and incredibly beautiful, our lamps could be considered an act of divine intervention, swooping in to save that forgotten corner from its dark fate or enlightening your bedside table.

NEW

From left to right: FROND TABLE LAMP 25x13x68cmH £210 (seen with RECTANGULAR LINEN SHADE - NATURAL 45x29x24cmH £65) ELEPHANT LAMP 24x10x20cmH £220 (seen with SQUARE CARD LAMPSHADE - CREAM 23cmSqx15cmH £60) FOXTAIL LAMP 30x15x62cmH £225 (seen with EMPIRE LINEN SHADE - WHITE 46cmDia £60)

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From left to right: HULU LAMP - CHALK 23cmDiax52cmH £195 (seen with DOGE EMPIRE CARD SHADE - BURGUNDY 46cmDiax26cmH £105) GRENADILLA LAMP - ARUBA BLUE 20cmDiax39cmH £135 (seen with BABUR EMPIRE CARD SHADE - CHARCOAL 46cmDiax26cmH £105) HULU LAMP - CELADON 23cmDiax52cmH £195 (seen with PLEATED EMPIRE LAMPSHADE - OFF-WHITE 40cmDia £90)

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‘MARENGO’ £30 SET OF SIX LEAF TREE DECORATIONS £30

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PRESENTS

THAT’S A WRAP Make their presents look the part with our complimentary gift wrapping service.

Available in all OKA stores from 28th October.

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LEATHER HANDLE SCISSORS AND TAPE DISPENSER SET £65 CANVAS TRAVEL ICE BUCKET £150 Shown in: Oatmeal | Navy SET OF TWO RHIGOS TRAYS £350 LEATHER EYE WEIGHT £30 PETIT PINCE NEZ £10 PLAITED LEATHER KEYRING - TAN £20 FAUX TORTOISESHELL 28-PIECE CUTLERY SET (includes four place settings with seven pieces) £175 SET OF FOUR LAVAUX GLASS GOBLETS - TORTOISESHELL £45 TORTOISESHELL GLASS DECANTER £45 FAUX TORTOISESHELL TISSUE BOX COVER £65 GOAT HAIR DALMATIAN COIN POUCH £95 ZEBRA GOAT HAIR PHOTO FRAME Small 20x26cmH (picture size 13x18cm/5x7”) £75 Large 28x34cmH (picture size 20x25cm/8x10”) £95 HADZA RANGE Set of Six Coasters £95 Set of Four Placemats £75

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PRESENTS LARGE ZAGORA RUG 300x340cm £3,150 NEST OF SIX LAMA OFFERING BOWLS £145 FAUX SHAGREEN BACKGAMMON SET 55x34x8cmH £1,450 FAUX SHAGREEN ICE BUCKET 17cmDiax19cmH £325

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SET OF THREE VERY USEFUL IKAT TRAYS - DAMSON £40 QUILTED VELVET GIFT SET - FUCHSIA/RUST (set includes two hangers with contrasting piped detail, two different sized cosmetics bags and an eye mask) £75 SET OF THREE BARATHEA BOX FILES - GREY £50 WASTEPAPER BIN, POT AND TRAY SET - BLUE (pot and tray pictured) £50

84 | view our full gift collection at oka.com

PRESENTS

PICK A PRESENT If you have plenty of hard-to-buy-for friends; a partner who has everything; an aunt who likes nothing; and an anonymous Secret Santa present to purchase this Christmas, let our handy gift guide inspire you.

“Have you ever received anything more delightful?”

DECORATIVE GOLDEN HEDGEHOG £12

PLAITED LEATHER KEYRING - NAVY £20

TORTOISESHELL PENCIL POT AND PENCIL SET £30

SET OF THREE CIRCLE AND DIAMOND BOX FILES £50 URCHIN JUG 2.5 litres £35

“This is something you can keep forever.”

SMALL FAUX SHAGREEN LOCKABLE JEWELLERY BOX PALE CELADON £425

REEDED BONE ICE BUCKET £185

O BJE CT OF D ESI RE If there is someone in your life who is forever rummaging in coat pockets and drawers for that change they knew they had “somewhere”, this is the perfect present. Simply pop pennies and pounds into the funnel, and they’ll collect at the bottom in the goat hair coin pouch.

GOAT HAIR DALMATIAN COIN POUCH £95

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A Day In The Life Of An Orchid Whether you’re a small, medium or large OKA orchid, you have quite a nice existence. You have been beautifully crafted, allowing just the slightest hint of vanity, and never go hungry or thirsty, as you are indeed faux. Every so often, you are lucky enough to receive a gentle dusting, which you adore.

1. MEDIUM FAUX PLANTED PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID £135 2. SMALL FAUX PLANTED PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID £55 3. LARGE FAUX PLANTED PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID £225 4. MEDIUM DAQING PLANTER £175 5. SMALL OSSIS PLANTER £125 6. BARRINGTON HURRICANE LAMP £100 7. MEDIUM OSSIS PLANTER £220 8. CHINOISERIE PLANTER £145

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We are delighted to be collaborating with Edward Bulmer, one of England’s leading interior designers and creator of a unique range of all-natural paints.

“It’s about now that we start planning our Christmas decorating - in the Bulmer household, this means a few coats of paint! A tumble of ivy, holly and mistletoe will hit the mantles just before Christmas Eve, but in the run up it is out with the dust sheets and on with the natural emulsion.

Thanks to David Attenborough and the Blue Planet team, we are all beginning to understand the damage our love affair with plastic is having on our oceans and rivers.

only use environmentally friendly materials. I started to think about the paint… “what is paint made of?”

I asked. I could not find the answer, paint was a ‘cover up’, in more ways than one!

After much digging I found out that most modern paint, like all plastic, is made from the residue of crude oil refining. I turned my back on all plastic paints at this point. Thus began my campaign to develop a new generation of paints, that are natural, yet perform as well as modern, plastic paints - safe and healthy for people, buildings and the planet.

What does this have to do with interior design and paint you may wonder? edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk What I have learnt in over 30 years as an interior designer is that the materials Since I created my first 25 historic we use to create the desired aesthetic have as much colours produced in an oil bound distemper, it has bearing on the ‘look’ we are creating as the design been a long journey – one of consumer education, itself. I understand that cost will inform our choices design inspiration and constant product innovation to but soon the cost of ‘cheap’ must be put on the arrive at our current range of over 100 colours offered commercial agenda, so we can clean up our oceans, in the most breathable paints now on the market. protect their species and even save the planet.

Plastic has its place in the modern world – but why use I work in historic buildings and about 10 years ago I was approached by a new client to work on a project and they stipulated that I did not bring ANY chemicals into the house that might affect their children and to

it to smother the walls and woodwork of our homes?

So, a cheer from us for a future when we adopt the appropriate use of plastic and then paint can become paint again, naturally!”

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EDWARD BULMER

“A versatile space to read, work or relax in.”

Edward Bulmer

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A warm, earthy paint can work very well in a room that you want to feel welcoming; here, Edward used his rich new shade of ‘Trumpington’, named after the famous baroness.

In keeping with his natural ethos, Edward chose a large set of feather prints to create a focal point in his sitting room - the colours of which tie in beautifully with the walls, textiles and accesssories used throughout the space.

Elegant and open, the sitting room was designed with a multitude of purposes in mind - the luxurious sofa range ensures entertaining is always easy, and the desk allows for reading or working.

1. BELLANO LAMP 14cmSqx37cmH £235 (seen with TONGLI HEXAGONAL CARD LAMPSHADE £105) 2. ANOZORIA PAPERWEIGHT £30 3. TRIBUS ROUND TABLE 50cmDiax71cmH £375 4. KAWA KALEIDOSCOPE CUSHION COVER - LOGANBERRY 56cmSq £95 5. TEXTURED LINEN VELVET CUSHION COVER WITH TASSELS - BURNT CINNAMON 56cmSq £80 6. KAWA MAZE CUSHION COVER - JET 56cmSq £95 7-9. PLAIN VELVET CUSHION COVER 7. Sea Blue 60x35cm £48 8. Sea Moss 9. Putting Green 51cmSq £55 10-11. BOTERO MODULAR SOFA RANGE 10. Armless Sofa Chair 96cmSqx66cmH £1,850 11. Corner Piece/ End Unit 96cmSqx66cmH £2,100 12. COSTELLINI VELVET OTTOMAN ALCHEMILLA 47cmDiax45cmH £225 13. POTTED ‘ALOE VERA’ PLANT £75 14. MERTON TABLE LAMP 26x47x75cmH £375 15. HONSHU DESK/DRESSING TABLE 110x53x77cmH £1,395

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SET THE SCENE Some of our favourite pieces from Edward’s scheme.

Trumpington

FLUTUAR FLOOR LAMP 36cmDiax134cmH £650 (seen with WARNA SILK PLEATED LAMPSHADE - RED 50cmDiax33cmH £195) TILACANCHA RUG £1,595 SET OF THREE PAPIGA FRAMED PRINTS 46x150cmH £795 AVIGNON COFFEE TABLE 112x58x46cmH £575 BOTERO MODULAR SOFA RANGE Armless Sofa Chair 96cmSqx70cmH £1,850 Corner Piece/ End Unit 96cmSqx70cmH £2,100

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“Velvet is so luxuriously tactile, who could resist it?”

From left to right: PLAIN VELVET CUSHION COVER PUTTING GREEN 51cmSq £55 TEXTURED LINEN VELVET CUSHION COVER WITH TASSELS - BURNT CINNAMON 56cmSq £80 PLAIN VELVET CUSHION COVER SEA BLUE 60x35cm £48

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TRAVEL

Hot Destinations for 2020 Tom Barber, Co-Founder of award-winning travel company Original Travel and Travel Editor of Esquire Magazine, tells us where we should be heading in the New Year.

W

e might not like to admit it but I suspect everyone takes a certain pleasure from getting one up on friends and family. There’s probably a multi-syllabled German word for exactly this, but without reaching for the English-German dictionary, we’ll just call it ‘braggability’, and in the world of travel it’s most definitely a factor for people when they consider their next destination. So, with braggability in mind, here are Original Travel’s hot destinations for 2020 so you can stay one step ahead of the Joneses.

THE AZORES

NICARAGUA

It’s not necessarily a surprise that the Azores have flown under the radar until now; after all, these Portuguese islands are marooned some 900 miles off the mainland in the middle of the Atlantic. And yet, we predict they are going to be the next big destination in Europe.

Why? One reason is that the Azores have been compared to another famously geologically active (read: volcanic) place that’s become hugely popular, earning them the nickname: ‘the warm Iceland’. Indeed, the archipelago is characterised by a similarly dramatic volcanic landscape and as such is a haven for adrenaline junkies who flock in increasing numbers to the nine islands to hike, bike, canoe and canyon their way around some pretty jaw-dropping scenery.

The volcanic schtick even stretches to the islands’ cooking, with local speciality cozido das furnas, a casserole of sorts cooked in a volcanic steam chamber. Offshore there’s whale watching and the chance to swim with wild dolphins, but the cherry on the Azorean cake is the diving, which is without doubt the best in Europe (if it’s not a technicality to call this Europe). The near shore dive sites are decent, but it’s the marine life at the offshore sites that take the plaudits. Given the currents, these sites are best left for advanced PADI divers, but suitably qualified divers are virtually guaranteed manta rays and blue shark sightings and occasional encounters with super-elusive mako sharks as well.

Nicaragua was tipped for the big time before 2018’s unrest put paid to that. Now, more than a year on (and at time of going to press) the country is back on an even keel and will, we believe, hopefully take its rightful place as one of the finest destinations in Central America, in fact, one of the loveliest places on the planet. A firm favourite with the Original Travel team, Nicaragua has everything that we love so much about Costa Rica, but with far fewer tourists and (as it’s the largest country in Central America) far more space to get off the beaten track. Zip-lining? Tick. Volcanoes? Tick.

Turtles? Tick. Surf breaks and laidback boho vibes? Tick. Lovely Spanish colonial era cities?

Tick. You get the point, and on top of all this, Nicaragua (like Costa Rica) is a major player in the ever burgeoning and thoroughly admirable ecotourism trend, home to huge biodiversity and 20% of the country is set aside as national parks. Spend time on the beaches lining both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts then in lovely Granada, arguably the most appealing of the colonial cities in the region. Set on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, the city is filled with pastelcoloured baroque buildings and cobbled streets set beneath a towering volcano. The lake itself is best explored by kayak, with visits to one or two of the 360 islands, many of which are home to small fishing communities.

TURKEY With the Turkish Lira offering one of the very few favourable exchange rates for the British Pound, we suspect that travel-savvy Brits will suddenly rediscover Turkey, and boy, will they be in for a treat. Sitting at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, it’s a fascinating melting pot of cultures and history and its ancient sites rival those of Greece – indeed, Western Turkey is home to the lost city of Troy, which will be the subject of the British Museum’s next blockbuster exhibition, Troy, Myth & Reality, running from 21st November 2019 – 8th March 2020. Istanbul remains one of the greatest of all city break destinations while Cappadocia - home to a bizarre ‘fairy chimney’ stalagmite dotted landscape - is a remarkable place to explore by mountain bike, with the added Instagrammable attraction of being able to stay in a cave hotel, dug directly into the soft rock face. We’re also huge fans of holidaying along the beautiful Aegean coastline aboard a wide-hulled gulet yacht, stopping in deserted coves to snorkel, cliff jump and eat in charming tavernas. For landlubbers, the Aegean Coast is also now home to a slew of seriously luxurious resorts, with the Mandarin Oriental, Amanruya and Six Senses Kaplankaya particularly lovely. For a more leftfield option, head to Eastern Turkey. Recently off-limits because of the situation in Syria, the region is now back in play, and home to fascinating early Christian sites, stunning landscapes such as Lake Van, and finally the extraordinary Gobekli Tepe, at a mere 11,000 years old, the world’s oldest religious complex, predating Stonehenge by some 5,000 years.

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KYRGYZSTAN Now that Uzbekistan in Central Asia is a firm fixture on the travel map, it’s time to introduce another of the ‘Stans’: Kyrgyzstan. Where Uzbekistan is (in the main) all about desert plains and stunning Silk Road cities, Kyrgyzstan - short on vowels but long on beauty - is 95% mountains and a prime location for walking as a result. Like Mongolia, the Kyrgyz way of life is often nomadic and there are plenty of opportunities to meet the locals and even homestay in yurts to experience their way of life. Some of the best hiking is in the stunning Chon Kemin Park. In the company of an English-speaking guide, spend days exploring the spectacular and varied landscapes of the park - lush valleys, deep gorges, forests and meadows in altitudes ranging from 4600ft to 9200ft.

Lift your eyes from the scenery and you’ll see golden eagles, bearded vultures, black storks and Tibetan ibis, while back on the ground, brown bears, lynx and - in the more remote parts - snow leopards prowl.

For more details please visit originaltravel.co.uk or contact the Original Travel team of experts on 0207 978 7333

NEW FRAMED SKATEBOARDING JASPER HOUND COLLAGE 65cmSq

COLONEL SIR ARCHIBALD HOUND AND LADY HOUND DOG COLLAGES 72x90cmH

£450

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£195

TISSER RATTAN DOG BED Medium 75x60x28cmH

£225

Small 63x49x29cmH

£195

TUTUILA PET CUSHION COVER Medium 80x60cm £40 Small 55x50cm £25

IT’S A DOG’S LIFE If you own more bones and balls than you can wag your tail at, why not leave these pages open where your owners will easily stumble upon them?

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n their bed? Near the letterbox?

Or by their slippers (which may have been gnawed to pieces following an eventful evening at The Spotted Dog). You can’t teach an old human new tricks, but there’s no harm in dropping a few not-so-subtle hints here and there. If you suspect that the canine equivalent of socks may be on the horizon, why not pick up a few preemptive gifts for yourself, your friends and family?

You’ll be on all of their nice lists for years to come should you decide to treat them to a luxurious bed, basket or cushion of their very own; who wouldn’t feel ecstatic at the prospect of no longer having to bunk in with the cat? If you’re shopping for an art connoisseur, our framed prints and collages are sure to win best in show.

MATTABAN RATTAN DOG BED Small 66x56x37cmH £285 Medium 80x60x42cmH £325 Large 107x75x42cmH £395

NEW FAUX FUR PET CUSHION COVER - LOGANBERRY Large 100x70cm £65 Medium 80x60cm £55 Small 55x50cm £40 HAUGHTY WHIPPET 18x17x54cmH £65

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THE R ED HOM E D R E I N DE E R Although Rudolph isn’t a fan of his bright red nose, he does love to come inside on a cold winter’s night and turn on his beautiful red lamp, let his hooves strut over his tasselled rouge rug and sit back in his sumptuous red velvet armchair.

NAOSHIMA TABLE LAMP - BLOOD ORANGE 18cmSqx30cmH £280 (seen with WARNA SILK PLEATED LAMPSHADE 35cmDiax23cmH £105) FAUTEUIL CHAIR 76x92x92cmH £895 SMALL ITHACA RUG 170x240cm £650 GEHRIG LEATHER BAR CHAIR 66x62x92cmH £895 FRACTAL MESH CUSHION COVER - GRENACHE 60x35cm £55 TEXTURED LINEN VELVET CUSHION COVER WITH TASSELS - RUBELLITE 56cmSq £80 TURRET SIDE TABLE 49x48x63cmH £350

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Our Stores For full details, including opening times (plus Christmas and Bank Holiday opening hours), call our Customer Services team on 03330 042 042 or visit oka.com/stores Abingdon, Oxfordshire Store & Outlet

153B Brook Drive, Milton Park OX14 4SD Tel: 01235 820320

Bath, Somerset

26-27 Milsom Street BA1 1DG Tel: 01225 443074

Broadway, Worcestershire

46 High Street WR12 7DT Tel: 01386 859631

Chelsea Flagship Store 155-167 Fulham Road SW3 6SN Tel: 020 7581 2574

Edgbaston, Birmingham

20-22 Harborne Road B15 3AA (Parking Postcode: B15 1TP) Tel: 0121 454 4912

Froxfield, Marlborough The Forge, Bath Road SN8 3LD Tel: 01488 684250

Guildford, Surrey

Tunsgate Quarter GU1 3QU Tel: 01483 906287

Harrogate, N.Yorkshire

9 West Park HG1 1BL Tel: 01423 701161

Knutsford, Cheshire

Manchester Road WA16 0LT Tel: 01565 220020

Marlow, Buckinghamshire

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

Parsons Green

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

South Godstone, Surrey - Outlet

Eastbourne Road RH9 8JB Tel: 01342 893868

Sunninghill, Berkshire

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

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

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

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

CHRISTMAS DELIVERY Final order dates for delivery before Christmas.

Overseas Orders - 2nd December 2019 Heavy & Fragile Delivery Outside the M25 - 8th December 2019

Within the M25 - 15th December 2019 Standard Delivery - 20th December 2019 PRODUCT INFORMATION We do our best to ensure that all items you see in the catalogue 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 We’re happy to offer you 30 days to make up your mind. For our full returns policy, see oka.com/returns PRICING The pricing and other details in this catalogue are valid until 31st January 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 & 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, 170 Brook Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4SD

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GUEST PICKS

My Favourite Things Elizabeth Hurley is currently starring in Marvel’s The Runaways. She is in her 24th year of a beauty contract with the Estée Lauder Companies, where she is also the Global Ambassador for their Breast Cancer Campaign. She owns and runs her own eponymous beachwear brand, Elizabeth Hurley Beach. Elizabeth lives between Herefordshire and London.

What did you aspire to be when you were a child?

A spy. I still do really.

Do you have a favourite room at home?

I converted my son’s playroom into a bar and virtually live in it. It’s a heavenly hot pink and faces east, so it’s very nice for breakfast too.

What makes a house a home?

Family, friends and dogs.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself?

I’m extremely good with a chainsaw.

Do you have any fun family Christmas traditions?

We have a dressing up room, so we torture our guests most evenings by having themes. The Wizard of Oz was a good one; I made my hulking brother be Dorothy.

What advice would you give to young women who are beginning their careers?

If you feel you’re on the wrong career path, have the courage to change it. Even if it means going back a step. There is definitely something out there you’ll love getting your teeth into.

What is your best fashion tip?

Learn what suits you, from colours to styles, and look after yourself: your health, your body, your skin and your hair. The healthier you look, the better the clothes will look.

What inspires your swimwear collection?

I’m inspired by watching women on holiday and seeing what they wear. Many women feel a bit nervous about beachwear but there are many tricks to looking good you have to ruthlessly try on a lot of things and really find what suits you.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

My grandmother said to always sleep with the window open. I go demented in hotels with sealed windows and always wake up looking peaky.

STAFFORD VELVET CHAIR - BLOOD ORANGE 45x59x92cmH £325 COSTELLINI VELVET OTTOMAN - BLOOD ORANGE 47cmDiax45cmH £225 SMALL OCTAGON SIDE TABLE 49cmDiax60cmH £375 SMALL FAUX PLANTED PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID £55 (seen with SMALL PINGLIANG PLANTER £50) CHYANGRA GOAT HAIR THROW £750

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DURBAR CHEST OF DRAWERS 121x48x88cmH £1,750

Make your space your own #NoHouseRules

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