The British are Coming

Luxe decor brand OKA’s first East Coast location overflows with design inspiration.

BY LYNDA SIMONTON

British-influenced style, with its roots firmly planted in tradition, is having a moment. Lucky for us, OKA, the famed English home retailer, launched a shop on Main Street in Westport earlier this year, just in time to satisfy our desire for all things Brit.

Established online in 1999 by three design-loving friends, Lady Annabel Astor, Sue Jones, and Lucinda Waterhouse, OKA’s first showroom opened in London in 2000. “Color and comfort are the first words that come to mind when I think of our brand,” says Jones,

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walpoleoutdoors.com | 866.863.2983 who was on hand to launch OKA’s U.S. flagship location (there are also showrooms in Dallas and Houston, Texas). “Our collections really are the epitome of British style. By that I mean there’s an eclectic mix of designs, global influences, patterns, and textures, which all sit together harmoniously— even though you might not think they would. Just as these elements do in a quintessentially English home.”

More than 14,000 square feet of retail space spread out over two floors in Westport showcases the brand’s breadth of furnishings and accessories. A series of artfully styled vignettes keeps the expansive shop from feeling overwhelming. The rooms transport visitors to a Regency-style London townhouse, a country home in North Wales, and a Cotswold cottage. Shoppers can see how various furnishings, finishes, and scales work together to create a personalized look.

ABOVE: Pick a bouquet from a collection of faux blooms, and you don’t ever have to worry about replacing the water in the vase. LEFT: A vignette is ready for a cocktail and a game of bridge.

A dramatic table set for a festive party and an Instagram-worthy fauxflower display that tempts you to grab an armful for a quick home refresh welcome you when you walk through the door. Head upstairs past the vignettes, and a room full of home accessories awaits. From pretty rubbish bins for a powder room to porcelain tableware sourced from around the globe, it is all there.

Encouraging creativity is what OKA is all about. “My favorite thing is learning what people do with OKA in their own homes,” shares Jones. “Our cheetah-print armchair, the George, is proving particularly popular. Things like that tell me our American friends are embracing the quirks of British style and really having fun with it, which I am thrilled about.” OKA, Westport, oka.com

ABOVE: What are the rules for mixing and matching pillows? There are no rules! Piles of pillows allow you to experiment with various textures, patterns, and colors to get that coveted, cozy British look.

BELOW: You’ll find space dedicated to blue and white classics, including OKA’s exclusive Kraak ware, on the second floor.

Renowned London-based interior designer Nina Campbell has designed beautiful homes around the world—from China to Connecticut. She’s even created residences for members of the British royal family. In March, a 240-page book debuted from the Rizzoli publishing house that captures a years-long project that Campbell worked on in New England’s northernmost state. A House in Maine showcases one family’s multigenerational compound and storied retreat in vivid detail.

“The owners wanted a house where nobody ever wants