OKA Magazine: Spring 2021 (UK Edition)

2 0 2 1 I nt e r io r s i n s p i r a t i o n A tow n house f u l l of cont ra st , a roma nt ic count r y ma nor a nd a su n-f i l led idyl l Col lec t ion h igh l ights Sig nat ure scent s for your space, consoles w it h cha racter a nd pat ter ns to t he ma x A l i t t le e s c a p i s m O pt i m i s t ic t r av e l id e a s , d i n i n g w it h Jo s ĂŠ P i z a r r o, a nd s o m uc h m o r e .

S P R I N G

THIS PAGE Pula Vase £20 Papavera Vase Shown in: Small £95 | Medium £150 | Large £250 Hadrian Decorative Jug £25 Ursa Vase Shown in: Small £60 | Large £80 (seen with Faux Hydrangea Stem £15) Loutro Vase Small £40 (seen with Faux Garden Rose Stem Flushed Cream £18) Aptera Jug £55 OPPOSITE PAGE Giant Glass Paperweight/Doorstop £75 Gonglin Memory Box £195

Photograph: Debi Treloar

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fter a topsy-turvy 2020, and a less than ideal start to the year, we’re focusing on looking forward, and we’re doing so with optimism – what better way to blow away the cobwebs than with a fresh new collection?

This season we have dusted off a 13th-century farmhouse and filled it with many of my favourite OKA pieces, added some sleek contrast to a smart townhouse, and taken a (virtual) trip to the Greek islands by way of a reimagined airy white space in the heart of London, to help inspire your next interior makeover.

We are also welcoming an exciting new collaboration with acclaimed Parisian designer Vincent Darré. He has lent his eye for drama and love of Surrealism to a capsule collection, comprising four flamboyant pieces that are certain to be the centre of attention in any room.

Elsewhere, we’ve profiled seven characterful console tables to help you find your perfect match, and piled on the patterns to prove that sometimes more is more. All this plus an optimistic travel guide full of ideas to explore nearby shores as soon as escape is back on the menu.

Whatever your plans, we hope you find something new to try in this issue and wish you all the best for the year ahead.

Sue Jones Co-Founder & Creative Director of OKA

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CON T E N T S 14 Note Perfect Find your signature home fragrance in The Chronicle Collection.

24 Nomad’s Land

Decimus Bone Box With Lid £295 Kellingin Table Lamp 16cmSqx63cmH £250 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 40cmDiax23cmH £50)

Sit back and relax in this light and airy Grecian-inspired space.

Set of Two Rosalind Decorative Bowls £75

40 Role Models Characterful consoles that demand centre stage.

48 Romance, Restored Historical features meet OKA favourites in an old manor house.

58 Handsome Prints Discover the art of mixing and matching pattern.

66 Better Together Opposites attract in this London townhouse.

78 Shared Passions Chef José Pizarro discusses the joys of simple food, with recipes to match.

86 Close Quarters Where to escape to this year, without straying too far from home.

82 Truly, Madly, Deeply Meet Vincent Darré, the flamboyant designer behind our latest collaboration.

OU R S O C I A L C I RC L E

STOR ES NAT ION W I DE

OK A .C OM

For plenty of design ideas and inspiration, make sure to follow OKA on all these platforms.

We have 14 stores situated around the UK. See P.97 to find your nearest.

Browse the entire OKA collection online.

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

4 | view the entire collection at oka.com

THE LATEST N E W S E A S O N F U R N I T U R E | T E X T I L E S | L I G H T I N G | A C C E S S O R I E S | I N S P I R AT I O N

GONGLIN CABINET Introducing the latest addition to our ever-popular Chinoiserie Collection, the Gonglin Cabinet. Its petrol blue hue brings a contemporary twist to a traditional Chinese landscape-inspired design, which is painted by hand.

Gonglin Cabinet 61x41x84cmH ÂŁ650 Set of Four Elne Champagne Flutes Shown in: Tall | Small ÂŁ50

Photographs: Jake Curtis Styling: Despina Curtis | 5

T H E L AT E S T

WFH HERO There are two things that make working from home that much easier: designated space and storage. With clever hidden panels that allow you to extend its surface, not to mention smart brass knobs and detailing, our brand-new Maplehurst Desk is here to assist in style.

Maplehurst Desk 120x60x80cmH £1,895 Bricini Vase Small £25 Grisewood Lamp & Shade Grey 31x20x42cmH £195

CHAMPAGNE TASTE Staying in is the new going out, so we’re embracing the little things that elevate the everyday. Our beautiful new champagne-hued cutlery is just the ticket; the stainless-steel Silenus Set brings understated glamour to the table.

Silenus 24-Piece Cutlery Set £295

Inside Story “Early civilisations are simply fascinating; they always offer me so much inspiration. It was Ancient Roman shields, their rectangular profiles and circular centrepieces, that first got me thinking about playing with shape here. The Istina is such a statement piece, thanks to its size, but also the contrast of contours and colours – black and gold is such a timeless combination.”

Sue Jones, Co-Founder & Creative Director of OKA Istina Lamp & Shade 56x18x60cmH £325

6 | Photographs: Gareth Hacker

Instant Update Spring calls for a fresh injection of colour and there’s no easier way to grant this wish than with new cushions. It’s the perfect time to introduce lighter natural materials to your arrangement; our new Zacke and Rinca Cushion Covers are hand-woven from silk and cotton, and feature vibrant ikat designs, which pop against complementary block colours like burnt orange and hot pink.

Flamboyance Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 Zacke Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 Rinca Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Shown in: Burnt Orange | Blood Orange 51cmSq £60

ALL THE R IGHT ANGLES This season, we’ve given our best-selling Marylebone a contemporary update: a sleek ebonised finish. Like the original, it is crafted from oak, with grand proportions softened by a glass top and lower surface. Short on space? We’ve got your displaying and resting needs covered with a smaller version (see P.66).

Marylebone Coffee Table Ebonised Oak | Large 160x140x40cmH (not shown) 140x80x40cmH

£2,295 | Small £1,395

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COLLECTOR’S ITEMS Add a finishing touch to your bookshelves, sideboard or console table with one of these striking decorative ornaments.

RISE TO THE OCCASION A bench is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture, so we’re always glad to welcome more to our collection.

Eugenia – upholstered in natural herringbone linen with a border of antique brass-coloured studs – is just as happy offering extra seats at supper as it is a place to perch at a dressing table. And she does so with major mid-century modern charm.

Eugenia Bench 117x64x84cmH Contorno Cushion Cover

£1,095

Dirty Orange 60x35cm £50

Set of Three Desir Horn Sculptures £250

Toji Decorative Pagoda £350

IN PERFECT BALANCE Known for keeping hot and cold drinks at just the right temperature, copper has been sought after for at least 8,000 years, and there’s no other material that can quite match its beautiful colour. Our new Andina pieces will certainly upgrade your tablescape – or picnic.

Sesorthos Block Cross Decoration £55

Vorto On Stand £195

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Andina Collection Flask £25 | Jug & Tumbler Set £195

I D E A S T O F I R E U P YO U R I M AG I N AT I O N

DE SIGN DI A RY

FAIR

Collectible The collectible contemporary design market has been boosted as much by independent dealers showing at fairs – such as PAD and Design Miami – as it has by traditional auction houses. More recent arrivals include Collectible, which returns to Brussels’ modernist Vanderborght building for its fourth edition in May. Co-founded by Clélie Debehault and Liv Vaisberg, Collectible showcases the work of cutting-edge designers and artists presented by gallerists from around the world. Head here to find one-off, beautifully crafted furniture, aka design art, in noble and experimental materials; think a resin and onyx table by Sabine Marcelis, an oak, resin and beeswax stool by Nikolay Lavdansky, or colourful mouthblown Finnish glass vessels by Saara Renvall. And if travel is still off the menu in May, you can browse the fair online.

27-30th May 2021 collectible.design

The Connaught Patisserie This bijou new patisserie is a delectable, dusky pink confection conceived by Ab Rogers Design. It positively glows with its Rosa Tea marble floor, blush-hued polished plaster walls and translucent pink crystal and bronze pendant lights

by Nulty. Seasonal pastries, éclairs and gateaux, crafted by executive pastry chef Nicolas Rouzaud, are presented like jewels on a white Bianco Fantastico marble counter. Meanwhile, a silver aluminium wall clock announces to customers what’s available through the day – croissants, madeleines, tartes and gateaux. The signature chocolate hazelnut cake – a sleek Connaught hound in miniature edible form – is already our pet favourite. the-connaught.co.uk EXHIBITION

Charlotte Perriand: The Modern Life Originally staged by the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, this blockbuster documents the late pioneering modernist’s 70-year career via 200 sketches, photographs, furniture and installations.

Taking you from her apprenticeship with Le Corbusier to her spell in Japan, followed by her long-standing partnership with Jean Prouvé, it proves she was as talented at crafting hunks of driftwood as she was working with tubular steel. Co-curated by her daughter and long-time assistant, this exhibition finally gives the architect and designer the recognition she deserves.

Opens Saturday 19th June 2021 designmuseum.org

Words: Bethan Ryder

BOOK

Accidentally Wes Anderson The uplifting hardback photography tome Accidentally Wes Anderson is a coffee table compilation of a cult Instagram account of the same name, which was started as “a daily dose of inspiration” in 2017 by Brooklynbased couple Wally and Amanda Koval. They collaborated with over 180 photographers to print this pop-pastel rollercoaster ride through 200 global locations. The places may vary, but all embody the distinctive, idiosyncratic aesthetic of the US film director, who kindly provided a foreword for the book.

Inspired armchair escapism. accidentallywesanderson.com (£25, Orion Publishing Co)

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T H E L AT E S T

START WITH A RUG It’s as simple as it sounds. Find a rug you love and draw inspiration for the rest of the room from its shape, pattern, texture and colour palette.

£1,495 Vasa Lounge Chair Truffle Velvet 73x79x83cmH £750 Set of Three Trine Mirrors 27x100cmH £795 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Porridge 60x35cm £55 Dahan Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 Acanthosphere Lidded Pot £45 Carraway Lamp Small 26x6x26cmH £150 (seen with Narrow Rectangular Linen Shade Natural 31x10x24cmH £45) Montfort Shelves Small 97x27x70cmH £995 | Large (not shown) 27x111x69cmH £1,100 Locke Ottoman With Drawers 103cmSqx40cmH £3,995

Ashva Rug 240x305cm

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THE VEGETABLE PATCH Decorative artichokes and botanical-inspired jugs bring fun new meaning to “bringing the outside in”.

Set of Two Porcelain Artichokes Shown Leaf Jug £60 Stoneware Chinese Cabbage Jug £60 (seen with Faux Maple Bud Branch Yellow £15) in: Green | White £65

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T H E L AT E S T

SIDE HUSTLE You’ve found your perfect sofa – and you’ve even chosen your preferred spot – but how to style it? A lamp, cushions and side table are essential. Here are three winning combinations.

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For a minimal approach, choose pieces with slender frames, like our black metal Pompidou Side Table. Then layer an un-fussy floor lamp behind to maximise precious surface space.

Avitus 3-Seater Sofa White Linen (back and side £3,200 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Shown in: Sea Blue 60x35cm £55 | Ocellus Cushion Cover Camel 51cmSq £60 Natural 51cmSq £70 Medanoso Rug 240x305cm £795 Merton Floor Lamp 60x26x160cmH £450 Pompidou Side Table Large 60cmSqx60cmH £375 Acanthosphere Lidded Pot £45 Set of Twelve Traditional Hat Prints 30x3x30cmH £395

cushions not shown) 218x98x90cmH

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Multi-levelled side tables aren’t only practical, they add visual depth to a scheme. Opting for monochrome lamps and accessories means you can go wild with print and pattern on your shades and cushions. Simply pick a colour palette and commit to it.

Longshan Cushion Cover 60x35cm £60 Areca Cushion Cover Air Force Blue 56cmSq £60 Textured Linen Velvet Cushion Cover With Tassels Slate 56cmSq £95 Baricella Side Table 60x40x62cmH £595 Pyaaz Lamp 28cmDiax34cmH £175 (seen with Elemeri Drum Lampshade 50cmDia £195) The Chronicle Collection Candle £75 Decimus Bone Box With Lid £295

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A circular side table in natural wood helps to create a soft, welcoming feel. Here, the low surface is balanced out with a tall, slim lamp to add scale and interest.

Sayulita Cushion Cover 60x35cm £85 Emel Cushion Cover 51cmSq £95 Garasu Side Table 65cmDiax46cmH £475 Morgiana Table Lamp 17cmDiax75cmH £195 (seen with Empire Card Shade Cream 28cmDiax16cmH £60) Hatsumomo Round Vase £50 (seen with Faux Maple Bud Branch Yellow £15)

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From The Silver Screen Greta Garbo

One of the greatest leading ladies of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Greta Garbo set the standard for elegance. Bring a touch of Garbo glamour into your home with clean lines and mirrors for miles.

Lydian Mirror 90x3x135cmH £895 Versailles Wall Lamp 17x11x40cmH £195 Polished Glass Ball Bookends £195 Noboru Cushion Cover Grey-Blue/Onyx 56cmSq £75 Costellini Ottoman Midnight Green Velvet 47cmDiax45cmH £250 Tailored by OKA Handmade To Order Egerton Armchair Stonewashed Linen Fixed £2,650 Vortist Side Table 60x35x59cmH £595 Cover | Dyed Oyster 85x90x80cmH Versailles Table Lamp 16cmDiax50cmH £225 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 50cmDiax29cmH £60) Faux Dancing Lady Orchid Stem £12

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NOTE PERFECT Discover your signature room fragrance with The Chronicle Collection.

Just like perfume, home fragrance is an expression of personality.

Evocative and mood-enhancing, it has the power to trigger senses, conjure memories and inspire emotions, to relax or invigorate.

“Interior scent should be a signature for every home, creating atmosphere and telling stories,” explains Sue Jones. Which is exactly why she wanted to give OKA an olfactory voice.

So, Sue turned to the expertise of the world’s oldest and most acclaimed chandler, Cire Trudon, and sought the artistry of fragrance makers at Robertet in perfume’s capital, Grasse, in the south of France. Together, they created four transporting scents, each of which invites you to take a moment to press pause on busy lives; to be

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seduced by aromas of dusky rose and revitalised by notes of fresh citrus; to feel comforted by warming vanilla and uplifted by amber.

The quartet of fragrances forms the backbone of The Chronicle Collection’s candles and reed diffusers.

The calming ritual of lighting a candle is one that is perfectly matched by the meticulous production techniques employed by Cire Trudon when they make the candles. It is an intricate and careful process based on a traditional recipe, using zero artificial ingredients to ensure a clean, smoke-free burn. By their very nature, candles and diffusers distribute scents differently, so they are used together, ideally, to create a richer, layered fragrance. In both cases their midnight blue-glazed ceramic containers, featuring only an insignia inspired by an antique lock, finish the look and create a beautiful aesthetic in tandem.

The Chronicle Collection Candles & Diffusers £75 each Please note the diffusers are currently only available in stores.

ROSE FUMÉE

HERBES DE MONTAGNE

Notes of sandalwood, rose and smoked birch.

Notes of violet, bergamot and citrus.

An enticing, musky scent, which can’t help but evoke notions of romance.

Fresh and light, this is the perfect accompaniment to dinner as it won’t clash with other aromas.

AMBRE BRÛLÉE

CLAIR DE LUNE

Notes of amber, patchouli and bergamot.

Notes of vanilla, grapefruit and patchouli.

Bring positive vibes with this scent, featuring bergamot to relieve stress and fight infection.

Inviting yet subtle, this fragrance is ideal for shared spaces like the sitting room.

Photographs: Baker & Evans | Styling: Johanne Mills | 15

SHOPPING

16 | Photographs: Jake Curtis | Styling: Despina Curtis

GLOW YOUR O W N WAY Loving these lamps is the right thing to do. They add ambience and character to a room in an instant.

OPPOSITE PAGE Kinzig Lamp 33cmDiax49cmH £195 (seen with Drum Linen Shade Natural 50cmDiax29cmH £75, Kaishu Console Table Black 200x50x85cmH £1,550) THIS PAGE 1. Duffy Lamp 35cmDiax44cmH £175 (seen with Empire Linen Shade White 51cmDiax28cmH £75) 2. Budle Lamp 40x12x44cmH £350 (seen with Rectangular Linen Shade Natural 45x29x24cmH £65) 3. Aberarth Lamp Soot 25cmSqx35cmH £295 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 50cmDiax29cmH £60) 4. Lucine Lamp 18cmDiax45cmH £195 (seen with Empire Linen Shade White 51cmDiax28cmH £75) 5. Parzival Lamp 35cmDiax53cmH £295 (seen with Drum Linen Shade Natural 45cmDiax29cmH £65) 6. Falkor Lamp 17cmDiax35cmH £295 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 50cmDiax29cmH £60) 7. Merdiven Lamp & Shade 13cmDiax42cmH £195 8. Morcent Lamp 24x14x49cmH £225 (seen with Rectangular Linen Shade White 45x29x24cmH £65) 9.

Morgiana Lamp 17cmDiax75cmH £195 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 40cmDiax23cmH £50)

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THE ILLUSIONISTS A well-placed mirror can completely transform a room, making it appear larger and amplifying natural light.

18 | view the entire collection at oka.com

£450 2. Plaited Bone Mirror 75x95cmH £995 3. Tipperary Mirror 61x103cmH £350 4. Sarzay Mirror 63x90cmH £495 5. Sega Mirror 60x200cmH £795 6. Teleri Mirror 61x2x75cmH £350 7. Versailles Mirror Small 23x31cmH £75 8. Pevensie Mirror 68x94cmH £395 OPPOSITE PAGE 9. Sedgwick Mirror Large 119x166cmH £995 Papavera Vase Medium £150 THIS PAGE 1. Juventa Bevelled Mirror 90cmDia

SHOPPING

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SHOPPING

20 | view our entire collection at oka.com

PRACTICAL MAGIC Taking you from desk to dining table, an extremely comfortable chair is fast becoming the most important item in the house.

OPPOSITE PAGE Stafford Dining Chair 45x59x92cmH Shown in: Ash Grey Leather | Smoke Blue Leather

£550 THIS PAGE

1. Claverton Dining Chair 58x62x92cmH £825 2. Taino Chair 68x52x86cmH £225 3. Washakie Chair Stonewashed Eau de Nil Linen 50x59x98cmH £375 4. Beardon Armchair 64x73x93cmH £950 5. Stafford Kawa Dining Chair 45x59x92cmH £365 6. Atherton Dining Chair 55x65x85cmH £725 (seen with Linen Loose Cover Cerulean 55x65x85cmH £295)

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6 1. Listra Rug 240x305cm £1,495 2. Alexey Rug 240x305cm £1,495 3. Mysore Rug 255x314cm £1,995 4. Izmir Rug 240x300cm £2,995 5. Merinid Rug 244x305cm £1,495 6. Carulea Rug 240x305cm £1,995 OPPOSITE PAGE Jamai Rug 240x305cm £2,995 THIS PAGE

GROUNDBREAKING As well as introducing an injection of colour and pattern, a thoughtfully chosen rug can help to designate different areas in your home.

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SHOPPING

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Nomad’s Land PHOTOGRAPHS

Damian Russell STYLING

Anders Olsson

City life and Grecian design are an unusual pairing, but one that works like a charm in this incredibly bright and airy London dwelling.

The Cycladic lifestyle is one of beauty and simplicity.

A relaxed mood, rustic charm and warmth, in myriad forms, underpin the aesthetic, which Anders Olsson, OKA’s head stylist, chose to emulate.

“There’s something about the evening light when you’re abroad,” says Anders. “That glowy setting sun; it evokes such a laidback feeling. I wanted to try and capture that here.”

The open-plan space, with its whitewashed wood-panelled floors and ceilings, white walls and large shuttered windows, provides a beautiful blank canvas – the perfect starting point for a minimal yet soft look, which is so typical of the Greek islands.

From hand-woven banana-fibre baskets and seagrass rugs to rattan-detailed chairs and a dining table fashioned from weathered wooden railway sleepers, an abundance of earthy tones and raw textures add contrast to the simple backdrop.

The natural theme continues throughout with bare branches, giant pampas grass and dried palm leaves adding the finishing touches. “They’re understated and effortless, but bring that essential drama,” Anders explains. Accessories are kept to a minimum, so form is particularly important: curved, classical vases echo the indents in the wall in the bathroom while large urns bring that Grecian element, complemented by more organically shaped pieces.

Most importantly, it’s comfortable and sociable; you’re invited to sink into the linen sofas or grab a cushion and pull up a seat at the table.

Magnante Console Table 160x32x82cmH £1,695 Kamari Decorative Jug £85 Bricini Vase Small £25 Capiz Neckpiece On Stand £125 Daintree Decorative Vase £60 Asimina Planter Small £325

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Thalassia Collection Planter £250 | Basket Vase £150 Faiyum Basket Vase £150 Kinzig Table Lamp 33cmDiax49cmH £195 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Off-White 56cmDiax33cmH £75) Sydra Side Table Bark 41cmDiax46cmH £175 Lamorna Left-Hand Corner Sofa 223x307x95cmH £4,245 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Camel Shown in: 51cmSq £60 | 60x35cm £55 Morbihan Cushion Cover Natural 56cmSq £65 Dahan Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover With Fringing Off-White 51cmSq £70 Medanoso Rug 240x305cm £795 Apolonia Coffee Table 120cmSqx50cmH £2,795 Merisiili In Acrylic £175 Ursa Vase Large £80 Bricini Vase Medium £40 Tailored by OKA Handmade To Order Egerton 2-Seater Sofa Laundered Linen Loose Cover | Ochre 165x95x80cmH £3,650 Zostera Cushion Cover Chalk 51cmSq £65 Orzola Lounge Chair Natural 55x57x86cmH £695 Faux Potted Olive Tree Large £350

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NOMAD'S LAND

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NOMAD'S LAND

OPPOSITE PAGE Asimina Planter Shown in: Medium £325 | Large £450 Tailored by OKA Handmade To Order Egerton 2-Seater Sofa Laundered Linen Loose Cover | Ochre 165x95x80cmH £3,650 Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover With Fringing Off-White 51cmSq £70 Labirinto Cushion Cover Dark Ecru 51cmSq £70 Tortoiseshell Vase Tall £95 Medanoso Rug 240x305cm £795 Morbihan Cushion Cover Natural 56cmSq £65 Ely Floor Cushion Granite/Lead White 69cmSqx30cmH £395 THIS PAGE Thalassia Collection Planter £250 | Basket Vase £150 Faiyum Basket Vase £150

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Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Camel Camborne Dining Table (pictured £3,995 Glass Hurricane Lamp/ without its glass top) 240x100x76cmH Vase Shown in: Small £30 | Medium £40 | Large £50 Set of Four Soraya Napkins £85 Set of Four Lavaux Glass Goblets Tortoiseshell £55 Asimina Planter Small £325 Gullion Bench 220x42x48cmH £1,950 Feur Chair 47x49x88cmH

£195

Shown in: 51cmSq £60 | 60x35cm £55

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NOMAD'S LAND

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THIS PAGE Camborne Dining Table (pictured without its glass top) 240x100x76cmH £3,995 Sillben Collection Set of Four Side Plates £50 | Set of Four Dinner Plates £80 Laucala Wooden Beaded Collection Set of Four Coasters £30 | Set of Four Placemats £175 | Set of Four Napkin Rings £30 Set of Four Soraya Napkins £85 Set of Four Twisted Tumblers Short £25 Set of Four Lavaux Glass Goblets Tortoiseshell £55 Silenus 24-Piece Cutlery Set £295 Feur Chair 47x49x88cmH £195 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Camel 51cmSq £60 OPPOSITE PAGE Washakie Chair Sand Wide Herringbone Linen 50x59x98cmH

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£375

NOMAD'S LAND

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Taino Chair 68x52x86cmH £225 Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover With Fringing Off-White 51cmSq £70 Morbihan Cushion Cover 56cmSq £65 Flavian Side Table 80cmDiax77cmH £1,295 Hadrian Jug £25 Perisphere Table Lamp 17cmSqx54cmH £175 (seen with Drum Linen Lampshade Natural 40cmDiax25cmH £55) King Size Divan Bed With Drawers & Mattress Mattress 153x198x23cmH Base 38cmH inc. castors

£1,645

Classic High Rise King Headboard 153x10x150cmH £775 (seen with Loose Cover For Classic High Rise King Headboard Natural 153x10x150cmH £245) Cotton King Bed Valance Natural 153x200x38cmH £195 Rhossili Cushion Cover Natural 51cmSq £70 Labirinto Cushion Cover Dark Ecru 51cmSq £70 Cria Throw Amber 130x200cm £325 Nott Bench Sand Wide Herringbone Linen 164x45x47cmH £595 Ursa Vase Large £80

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NOMAD'S LAND

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NOMAD'S LAND

THIS PAGE

Nott Bench

Sand Wide Herringbone Linen 164x45x47cmH £595 Cria Throw Natural 200x130cm £325 Bayuban Cabinet Natural 117x60x213cmH £2,695 Papavera Vase Medium £150 Taino Bench 137x50x84cmH £595 Zostera Cushion Cover Chalk 51cmSq £65 Rhossili Cushion Cover Natural 51cmSq £70 Stonewashed Linen

Cushion Cover With Fringing Off-White 51cmSq £70

Medanoso Rug 240x305cm £795 OPPOSITE PAGE Quinby Side Table 55cmDiax46cmH £695 Morbihan Cushion Cover 56cmSq £65 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Camel 51cmSq £60

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THIS PAGE Avitus Armchair White Linen 126x98x90cmH £2,395 Pattani Eclipse Cushion Cover Mustard 51cmSq £50 Thalassia Planter £250 OPPOSITE PAGE Hadrian Jug £25 Aptera Decorative Jug £55 Fengari Throw 120x200cm £150 Apadana Armless Chair Herringbone Linen 71x61x85cmH £850 Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover With Fringing Off-White 51cmSq £70

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They’ll happily sit on the sidelines, but don’t be fooled, these console tables are packed with personality.

Photographs: Damian Russell Styling: Ruth Sleightholme

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MoDEL S

THE JEWELLER She has travelled the world, but Helenium is an artistic soul who draws most inspiration from warm golden Mediterranean sunsets.

Helenium Console Table 133x38x80cmH

£995

Faux Miniature Olive Tree £85 Decorative Pear £16 Set of Four Decorative Feather Name Card Holders £40 Ashva Rug 240x305cm

£1,495

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THE SCULPTOR Tall, dark and handsome, with a f lamboyant side, Anio is quite the charmer.

His impeccable taste only serves to earn him extra points with his suitors.

Anio Console Table 140x36x80cmH

£1,495

Sesorthos Collection Decorative Pyramid £55 | Block Cross Decoration £55

Decorative Pied Ornament £55 Herodotus Table Lamp 13cmSqx46cmH £150 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 40cmDiax23cmH £50) Pair of Eferi Framed Prints 70x5x100cmH £350 Papavera Vase Large £250 Jamai Rug 240x305cm £2,995

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THE ENIGM A Katsura might seem puzzling at first, but she is fairly straightforward when you get to know her. She likes things just so: go wild with pattern but keep your colour palette simple.

Katsura Console Table Natural 94x33x83cmH

£695

Zabiya Decorative Vase Shown in: Large £35 | Medium £30 Kraak Breakfast Cup & Saucer £50 Berber Lamp 23cmDiax37cmH £195 (seen with Montjoi Cotton Lampshade Indigo 35cmDia £70) Set of Six Fern Framed Prints 55x72cmH

£495

Set of Twelve Traditional Coat Prints 30x3x40cmH

£395

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THE BAKER & CA NDLESTICK M A KER Amarolo keeps many plates spinning all by herself. One minute, she’s whipping up her famous Victoria sponge, the next, turning her hand to another crafty side project.

Amarolo Console Table 152x25x75cmH £750 Emborio Bowl £95 Set of Two Porcelain Artichokes Shown in: Green | White £65 Artichoke Serving Bowl £75 Set of Three Cotteret Mini Vases £65 (seen with Faux Sedum Stem £20) Sorano China Collection Dinner Plate £20 | Side Plate £10

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CONSOLE TABLES

THE NAT U R A L IST After years spent poring over textbooks, Flavian can tell his gardenias from his roses and his sea anemones from his coral. But he’s at his happiest simply taking in the natural beauty of the countryside.

Flavian Console Table 160x44x78cmH £1,795 Bricini Vase Shown in: Large £50 | Medium £40 Aptera Decorative Jug £55 (seen with Faux Maple Bud Branch Shown in: Yellow | Green £15 Faux Sedum Stem £20 Faux Single Eucalyptus Stem £12) Pula Vase £20 Set of Four Elne Champagne Flutes Small £50 Set of Eight Coral & Seaweed Prints 44x55cmH £495 Costellini Ottoman Alchemilla Velvet 47cmDiax45cmH £250

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THE SUPER MODEL Looking like she just stepped off the Paris catwalk, Versailles is perfection from every angle thanks to her innate style and mirrored detailing.

Versailles Console Table Small 127x46x76cmH

£695 Falkor Lamp 17cmDiax35cmH

£295 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 50cmDiax29cmH £60) Faux Potted Fern £75

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Faux Tortoiseshell Tray £65 Tortoiseshell Glass Jug £50 Legless Nutcracker & Bar Kit £85 Set of Five Pentangle Mirrored Wall Art Panels 165x6x89cmH (all five panels) £895 Melaka Rug 240x305cm £1,995 Ayabaca Cushion Cover 56cmSq £95

CONSOLE TABLES

THE HOPELESS ROM A N T IC Lyric feels most at home wandering long-lost paths through the woods, looking for treasures for her one true love, with only melancholy thoughts of Greek tragedies for company.

Vincent Darré X OKA Lyric Console Table 120x50x100cmH £3,495 Bone Temple Box £175 Archytas Half Head Sculpture £65 Set of Four Lavaux Goblets Crème De Menthe £55

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R O M A N C E, R E S T O R E D 48

Photographs: Damian Russell Styling: Sue Jones

W hen OK A's co -fou nder st yled a Gr a de I I -l i sted m a nor hou se i n Por t i s hea d , s he h a d one t h i ng i n m i nd : to a l low t he feat u res of t he proper t y to s i ng.

Fontana Side Table 45cmDiax60cmH £750 Hadrian Decorative Jug £25 Pula Vase £20 Avitus 3-Seater Sofa Flax Narrow Herringbone £3,200 Tailored by OKA Handmade To Order Radcliffe 3-Seater Sofa Stonewashed Linen Loose Cover | Dyed Oyster 230x110x82cmH £5,850 Crusoe Upholstered Ottoman 122x78x42cmH £1,550 Carulea Rug 240x305cm £1,995 Pompidou Side Table Small 40cmSqx60cmH £295 Gela Table Lamp Marine Blue 16cmDiax40cmH £175 (seen with Pleated Linen Shade Natural 40cmDiax27cmH £95) Ocellus Cushion Cover Petrol 51cmSq £70 Portloe Cushion Collection Rioja | Plain 56cmSq £75 | Stripes 56cmSq £85 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Rioja 51cmSq £60 Avignon Side Table 60x40x60cmH £475 Curlew on Stand £225 Pacaya Decorative Vase £295 (seen with Faux Peony Leaves £12, Faux Cosmos Stem £15, Faux Sycamore Leaves £10, Faux Rose Stem Deep Purple £18, Faux Dancing Lady Orchid Stem £12, Faux Phalaenopsis Orchid £12) Set of Four Lavaux Goblets Aubergine £55 Set of Twelve Traditional Hat Prints 30x3x30cmH £395 Versailles Mirror Large 90x140cmH £595 Apadana Armless Chair Herringbone Linen 218x98x90cmH

71x61x85cmH

£850 See next page for dining room items

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ROMANCE, RESTORED

Court House Farm has a certain magic about it.

Dating back to the medieval period, its buildings have been carefully restored over the years, but its character remains quite the same. Stepping inside is like stepping into a moment frozen in time.

“I wanted to let the house talk,” says OKA co-founder and creative director, Sue Jones.

“There are so many fascinating historical elements: the raw plaster walls, old brick fireplaces, weathered wooden floors and huge beams.” Rather than play to the traditional to showcase these details, she chose to create a setting full of contrast. Modern, clean-lined furniture, plenty of patterned textiles, and an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary accessories look, surprisingly, right at home here amid all the history and authentic paintings.

“I chose to include lots of the pieces simply because I love them; they’re so versatile. They just work,” explains Sue. The space is light, airy and unique. The soft cream and dusty pink-hued walls, in tandem with the beautiful architectural details, can’t help but lend a sense of romance. If you let your mind wander, you can easily imagine great literary heroines poring over letters in one of the many inviting spots to sit. Comfort was particularly important to Sue, which is evident everywhere from the relaxed dining area to the tranquil bedroom. “It’s easy for a big house like this to feel cold, so I used lots of warm tones, without limiting myself to a colour palette,” she says.

The result? It’s a seamless look that is simultaneously smart and welcoming, without overstatement.

OPPOSITE PAGE Drummond Cabinet 130x78x233cmH

£2,495 Maniglia Vase £40 Sorano Collection Large Merinid Rug 244x305cm Plate £25 | Dinner Plate £20 £1,495 Atherton Dining Chair 55x65x85cmH £725

Loose Cover For Atherton Dining Chair Antrim Dining Table 160cmDiax76cmH Porcelain Artichoke Candle Holder Shown in: Green | White £30 Kaikoura Carafe £195 Kamari Decorative Jug £85 (seen with Faux Burgundy Lily Stem £20, Faux Dancing Lady Orchid Stem £12, Faux Birch Leaves £10, Faux Peony Leaves £12) THIS PAGE Giant Glass Paperweight/ Doorstop £75 Gonglin Memory Box £195 Faux Bone Handled Cutlery Set of Sixteen £95 Set of Four Ranelagh Wine Goblets Small £50 Set of Four Lavaux Goblets Aubergine £55 Adam Lippes X OKA Chaillot Collection Set of Four Placemats £80 | Set of Four Napkins £80 Faux Pussy Willow Stem £10 Isphahan Collection (seen with

Cerulean £295) £1,895

Small Deep Bowl £95 | Set of Four Small Dinner Plates £275 | Set of Four Large Dinner Plates £450

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Brummundal Floor Lamp 24cmDiax137cmH £450 (seen with Empire Linen Shade Natural 46cmDiax28cmH £65) Aptera Decorative Jug £55 Hadrian Decorative Jug £25 Pula Vase £20 Kamari Decorative Jug £85 Tarma 2-Seater Sofa 137x89x88cmH £2,095 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Blood Orange 51cmSq £60 Marcine Cushion Cover 51cmSq £70 Nostell Dashes Cushion Cover Red Madder 51cmSq £50 Zostera Cushion Cover Blood Orange 51cmSq £65 Rander Ceramic Stool Charcoal 33cmDiax46cmH £175

52 | view the entire collection at oka.com

The Grey Area Oil Painting £595 Grisewood Lamp & Shade Grey 31x20x42cmH £195 Giant Glass Paperweight/ Doorstop £75 Alvsborg Desk 102x4x152cmH

134x52x76cmH

£2,750

Claverton Dining Chair 58x62x92cmH £825 Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover With Fringing Aqua 51cmSq £70 Beccles Rug 240x305cm £2,995 Set of Three Ottoman Print Box Files £55

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ROMANCE, RESTORED

Trifolium Mirror 80x5x80cmH £495 Barrington Hurricane Lamp £125 (seen with Pillar Candle Gela Table Lamp Natural 16cmDiax40cmH £175 (seen with Elemeri Drum Lampshade 35cmDia £115) Aquila Bedside Table 50x40x75cmH £495 Faux Rose, Ivy & Allium Bunch White £125 Astrid Headboard King 159x123cmH £950 Divan Bed With Drawers & Mattress King Mattress 153x198x23cmH Base 38cmH inc. castors £1,645 Valance King | Oatmeal 153x200x38cmH £195 Nerissa Cushion Cover 51cmSq £70 Areca Cushion Cover Air Force Blue 56cmSq £60 Nassau Quilt Blue 240x210cm £250 Nott Bench Sand Wide Herringbone Linen 164x45x47cmH £595 Regulus Rug 244x305cm £2,595 THIS PAGE Chantal Armchair Flax Linen 77x86x95cmH £1,250 Ocellus Cushion Cover Seagreen 51cmSq £70 Beccles Rug 240x305cm £2,995 Leaf Jug £60 (seen with Faux Pussy Willow Stem £10, Faux Viburnum Branch £8, Faux Single Eucalyptus Stem £12) Alvsborg Desk 134x52x76cmH £2,750 Bonington Table Lamp 24cmDiax36cmH £395 (seen with Drum Linen Shade Natural 45cmDiax29cmH £65) OPPOSITE PAGE

Large £20)

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ROMANCE, RESTORED

Trifolium Mirror 80x5x80cmH £495 Kenmure Chest of Drawers 112x53x88cmH Lirio Vase £60 OPPOSITE PAGE Taya Mirror 122x4x238cmH £2,595 Regulus Collection Rug 244x305cm £2,595 | Floor Cushion 70cmSqx40cmH £395

THIS PAGE

£1,495

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Handsome Pr int s Why be a wallflower? Layering a riot of colourful patterns makes for a comfortable space packed with personality.

PHOTOGRAPHS STYLING

Mel Yates

Belinda White

Listra Rug 240x305cm £1,495 Crusoe Upholstered Ottoman £1,550 Zacke Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 Atet Cushion Cover 51cmSq £55 Viscacha Cushion Cover Grenache 51cmSq £70 Magicus Console Table 100x30x80cmH £895 Vincent Darré X OKA Gemini Vase £495 Bramante Floor Lamp 25cmDiax127cmH £450 (seen with Warna Silk Pleated Lampshade Lime 45cmDiax31cmH £150) Rander Ceramic Stool

122x78x42cmH

Charcoal 33cmDiax46cmH

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£175

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Tilda Table Lamp 25cmDiax55cmH

£550 (seen

with Palau Silk Lampshade Red 45cmDiax31cmH £135)

Baricella Side Table With Shelves 50x28x61cmH £595 Set of Three Very Useful Cosmati & Ocellus Trays £45 Anozoria Paperweight £35 George Club Chair Cheetah 61x72x71cmH £2,995 Contorno Cushion Cover Alchemilla 56cmSq £60

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Bold blues, in everything from ikat to stripes, reign supreme here. Sticking to one colour allows the complementary rich red to really pop on the cushion.

Set of Four Skeleton Coral Prints 50x70cmH £350 Egon Table Lamp 25cmDiax56cmH £395 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Lampshade Indigo 45cmDiax31cmH £110) Gustaf Sideboard Small 110x51x91cmH £2,195 Kraak Collection Dinner Plate £55 | Large Deep Bowl £125 | Giant Charger Plate £225 Nesbitt Rug Blue 230x315cm £595 Polperro Armchair 74x76x92cmH £1,225 Haruku Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 Merinid Floor Cushion 70cmSqx30cmH £395

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It’s daring, but starting by adding pattern to the wall makes styling the rest of the room easy; it sets the tone and colour palette.

62 | view the entire collection at oka.com

Sulamani Throw 120x200cm £150 (used as a wall hanging) Claverton Dining Chair 58x62x92cmH £825 Zostera Cushion Cover Blood Orange 51cmSq £65 Guadua Tripod Floor Lamp 54x46x137cmH £325 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Lampshade Mustard 45cmDiax31cmH £110) Magnante Console Table 160x32x82cmH £1,695 Costellini Ottoman Blood Orange Velvet 47cmDiax45cmH £250

Lazaret Rug (used as a wall hanging) 244x305cm £2,595 Loriini Side Table 78cmDiax41cmH £1,495 Kraakware Lamp 25cmDiax24cmH £250 (seen with Pleated Daun Cotton Lampshade Indigo 35cmDia £70) Set of Three Very Useful Cosmati & Ocellus Trays £45 Kraak Tableware Large Soup/Cereal Bowl £50 | Side Plate £30

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Don’t be afraid to combine classic and contemporary prints – the more eclectic, the more effective.

From top to bottom: Locksley Cushion Cover 60x35cm

£60 Nostell Diamonds Cushion Cover Red Madder 51cmSq £50

Areca Cushion Cover Putting Green

56cmSq £60 Xin Side Table 45x37x80cmH

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£475

Amarolo Side Table 63x34x60cmH £495 Set of Four Lavaux Goblets Crème De Set of Three Very Useful Elibris Trays £45 Bonington Table Lamp £395 (seen with Daun Pleated Cotton Lampshade Watermelon 45cmDiax31cmH 24cmDiax36cmH £95) Apadana Armless Chair Air Force Blue 61x71x85cmH £795 Rinca Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 Merinid Rug 244x305cm £1,495 Iznik Lidded Jar £495

Menthe £55

65

Coleridge Collection Pure Navy 3-Seater Sofa 187x92x82cmH £2,300 | Large Armchair 105x190x88cmH £1,495 | Footstool 86x50x33cmH £600 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Shown in: Gainsborough Grey | Charcoal 51cmSq £60 Thomasin Collection Floor Lamp 24cmDiax125cmH £295 | Table Lamp 17cmDiax70cmH £175 (both seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 26cmDiax15cmH £25) Pompidou Side Table Small 40cmSqx60cmH £295 Matt Glass Cylinder Vase Short £55 Set of Three Cotteret Mini Vases £65 Fyli Vase Small £25 Oban Mirror Extra Large 89cmDia £395 Marylebone Coffee Table Small | £1,395 Katsura Console Table Rubbed Black Ebonised Oak 140x80x40cmH 94x33x83cmH £695

Better Together Opposites attract, as the saying goes, so what finer way to show off the more dramatic elements of our Spring Collection than in lightfilled, white-painted rooms.

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PHOTOGRAPHS

Ben Anders |

STYLING

Belinda White & Anders Olsson

BETTER TOGETHER

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BETTER TOGETHER

Set of Twelve Framed Flower Botanical Prints 30x3x40cmH £395 Fyli Vase Shown in: Small £25 | Medium £65 | Large £95 Sorin Collection Short Lidded Jar £45 Alfred Extendable Dining Table | Decorative Pot £50 THIS PAGE

290x100x76cmH (fully extended); 110x100x76cmH (six leaves removed)

£3,695 Beardon Armchair 64x73x93cmH

£950 OPPOSITE PAGE Pair of Eferi Framed Prints 70x5x100cmH £350 Ursa Vase Shown in: Large £80 | Small £60 Sutcliff Armchair 69x77x88cmH £695 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Charcoal 51cmSq £60 Vincent Darré X OKA Spiral Lamp & Shade 35cmDiax140cmH £1,125

68 | view the entire collection at oka.com

“The greater the contrast, the greater the potential,” wrote Carl Jung – a statement that is as true for great design as it is in life.

Sometimes the tension between opposites makes for a classic pairing: sweet and salty, spots and stripes, black and white…

With this in mind, we set about finding a space flooded with natural light to show off the darker side of our Spring Collection – a striking mix of inky upholstery, sleek black furniture and sharp silhouettes; a space where the bright white walls and floor-to-ceiling windows offset the dark-stained wood floors to provide minimalist drama in abundance.

Against this unassuming backdrop, the gaze can’t help but be drawn to our new navy

Coleridge Sofa, Armchair and Footstool, or the commanding Bayuban Cabinet, whilst the new Alfred Extendable Dining Table and natural linen Beardon Dining Chairs team up in sweet harmony. And to make sure things aren’t oversimplified, brass accents lend just a dash of embellishment, showing up as geometric knobs and legs on our new Vortist Chest of Drawers and Side Table – or perhaps that should be telephone table? – and complement the Art Deco-esque design of the new Aberarth Lamp.

Dark and light – not exactly a ground-breaking combination but, just as night follows day, a timeless one.

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BETTER TOGETHER OPPOSITE PAGE Heron Floor Lamp Black 20cmSqx129cmH

£295 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 40cmDiax23cmH £50) Apadana Armless Chair Midnight Green Velvet £795 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Charcoal 51cmSq £60 Nalzen Side Table 51x46x52cmH £395 Tohono Rug 240x300cm £1,495 THIS PAGE Set 61x71x85cmH

of Twelve Framed Flower Botanical Prints 30x3x40cmH £395 Vaquero Stool 55x41x20cmH £595 Coleridge Armchair Large | Pure Navy 105x190x88cmH

£1,495

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Acanthosphere Lidded Pot £45 Set of Three Cotteret Mini Vases £65 Merdiven Lamp & Shade 13cmDiax42cmH £195 Vortist Chest of Drawers 91x50x88cmH £1,095 OPPOSITE PAGE Maplehurst Desk 120x60x80cmH £1,895 Sorrel Mirror 90x120cmH £795 Aberarth Table Lamp Soot 25cmSqx35cmH £295 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 40cmDiax23cmH £50) Stafford Dining Chair Charcoal Velvet 45x59x92cmH £365 THIS PAGE

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BETTER TOGETHER

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BETTER TOGETHER

74 | view the entire collection at oka.com

OPPOSITE PAGE Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Shown in: Charcoal | Gainsborough Grey 51cmSq £60 Rhossili Cushion Cover Natural 51cmSq £70 Dahan Cushion Cover 51cmSq £65 THIS PAGE Bayuban Cabinet Ebony 117x60x213cmH £2,695 Ursa Vase Shown in: Large £80 | Small £60 Delta Rattan Box Small | High 40x25x30cmH £150 Heron Floor Lamp

Black 20cmSqx129cmH

£295 (seen with

Drum Cotton Shade Black 26cmDiax15cmH £25) Matt Glass Cylinder Vase Shown in: Tall £75 | Short £55 Coleridge Armchair Large | Pure Navy 105x190x88cmH

£1,495

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THIS PAGE Decimus Bone Box With Lid £295 Kellingin Table Lamp 16cmSqx63cmH £250 (seen with

Drum Cotton Shade Black 50cmDiax29cmH £60) Set of Two Rosalind Decorative Bowls £75 OPPOSITE PAGE Costellini Ottoman Sand Wide Herringbone Linen 47cmDiax45cmH £250

Vortist Side Table 60x35x60cmH

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£595

BETTER TOGETHER

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Shared Passions Chef José Pizarro on the simple pleasures of a good meal with family and friends Words: Clare Finney The marriage between José Pizarro and Spain’s beautiful Basque region seems, at first glance, slightly unlikely. The Basque Country is in northern Spain and best known – in culinary terms – for having the highest per capita concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. José is a Spanish chef from Extremadura in the south west, a region celebrated at his beloved Bermondsey Street tapas bar (he’s launched several other excellent restaurants since, but José is his first and most famous) and in his five-strong stable of books offering fun, flavourful, yet highly accessible immersions into Spanish dining.

I have been to the Basque Country, sampling dishes like truffled meringue courtesy of Eneko Atxa and red space egg created by Elena Arzak. How could such rarefied food translate into José’s characteristically friendly style – the ebullient, jovial way in which he recounts his experiences and recipes? Then you open the book and realise José’s love affair with Basque cooking is born of its simpler pleasures: “Sharing big plates of food around the table, celebrating happy occasions,” he writes in the introduction. “As much as I love visiting my friends in their Michelin kitchens, where I’m always bowled over by their creativity, what I love is… good ingredients, sourced locally wherever possible, cooked with little fuss.”

And so he wrote Basque: Spanish recipes from San Sebastián and beyond.

Comprising pintxos, grilled meat and fish, densely fruited almond cakes, and beautifully unvarnished photography, it is a vivid testimony to his love of the city that has become something of a spiritual home.

We meet in his second Bermondsey restaurant, Pizarro, in November, shortly before the announcement of the second lockdown. Like all restaurateurs, José is anxious about the future, but quietly confident – reassured by his staff, and the locals who rushed to support him when the pandemic hit.

Barely a guest leaves the restaurant before coming to say hello, and thanking him for the meal they’ve had. His desire to hug them is palpable, but he makes do with an elbow bump. “It has been tough – so tough,” he says, “but I think there have been good things.

When lockdown hit, and we set up the shop and the takeaway, we really felt the community here; and when we opened the restaurant again, people were so thankful. Eating together with our family and friends and neighbours – we all appreciate it more.” And at its heart, that is what Basque cuisine is all about.

Where do you start trying to find recipes to represent a region as rich in, and as obsessed with, food?

I love the Basque Country. I must have visited hundreds of times. But researching a recipe book is very different to holidaying there. When they hear you are interested in the food of their country, people open their hearts and their homes. But the recipes they were so generous to give me – I couldn’t include them in my book, because they were so difficult. My favourite thing is to get lost in the pintxos bars of San Sebastián, to have some boquerones here and some gambas there, and to wander around speaking to people I meet on the beach, in the cafes, at the harbour or market. Meeting new people is essential for research.

Previously when I was researching recipes, I would go to a place with an idea of what I wanted to find out. But with Basque, and my subsequent books, I have gone with a clear mind, telling myself I know nothing. I go to discover it again.

How has the climate and culture of the Basque Country shaped its food?

Spain is 17 countries in one – and the variations make a big difference.

In the north, the winters are longer and darker. It is rainier and colder, and people spend more time in their houses. The accent is different. I understand Catalan and Andalusian. But Basque? It’s like Welsh. This, combined with the problems they experienced under Franco and with the separatist movement, has made them very close-knit. Then there are

78 | Photographs: Matt Russell | Food Styling: Aya Nishimura | Prop Styling: Jennifer Kay

Conisbrough Dining Table 260x100x75cmH £2,895 Washakie Chair From £375 Set of Four Ranelagh Wine Goblets Large £55 Kintaro Collection Shown in: Indigo | Cochineal Set of Four Side Plates £60 I Set

of Four Dinner Plates £90 I Set of Four Bowls £65 Bukva Glass Tealight Holder £25 Sorano China Collection Soup Bowl £15 | Dinner Plate £20 | Large Plate £20 Esio Cutlery 28-Piece Set £295 | Pair of Serving Spoons £45 Set of Four Soraya Napkins £85 Pair of Jigsaw Puzzle Chopping Boards £110 Set of Four Twisted Tumblers Tall £30 Gromwell Jug £50

the txokos, the private men’s cooking clubs, where you can go and cook with friends, or even just by yourself – the kitchen is always stocked up.

You just write down what you have used. I would love to have something like that here; it’s a real community centre. All this has shaped the culture and food.

Basque cuisine hinges on the exceptional quality of its ingredients. What are the most notable – and how easy is it to access them here?

All my recipes hang on the quality of ingredients. In Britain, we are very lucky. The ingredients we can get here are amazing if you are able and prepared to spend a bit more. The Basque Country is all about fish.

It is on the Cantabrian Sea in the Bay of Biscay, and the fish is absolutely incredible. The Cantabrian anchovies, the bonito del norte (tuna from the Bay of Biscay) and the hake – it is all unbelievable. But you can get these here. Even the famous Basque beef you can get here now. There are British farmers rearing ex-dairy cows to old age here, which make beautiful txuleta. You just need to look.

How was the first lockdown for you?

The first three weeks of lockdown with my partner Peter were lovely. We ate very well, we drank very well, we made a lot of pasta – but eventually

I was struggling. I need people. I said, “Let’s set up a takeaway, before the knives come out.”

Are you the main cook at home?

Peter bakes, I cook. People say, “How come you’re a chef and you cook at home as well?” But it’s a very different sort of cooking, looking at the fridge and putting different things together and seeing what will happen.

How do you like to serve your food?

My food is simple, so presentation is important. In my home, like in the Basque Country, I like to serve food on platters in the centre of the table for everyone to dig in and share. I love feeling the quality of a good wine glass in my hand, but I cannot afford to have the very best quality glasses because I’m so clumsy. I break more glasses at home than we do in the restaurants.

Basque: Spanish recipes from San Sebastián and beyond by José Pizarro (Hardie Grant, £25)

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Kintaro Collection Indigo Set of Four Bowls £65 | Set of Four Dinner Plates £90 | Set of Four Side Plates £60 Set of Four Soraya Napkins £85 Sorano China Collection Soup Bowl £15 | Side Plate £10 | Large Plate £25 Set of Four Round-Based Crystal Wine Glasses Small £125 Pair of Esio Faux Tortoiseshell Serving Spoons £45

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Spinach & Goat’s Cheese Croquetas Croquetas, croquetas, croquetas. Many people tell me that they make a beeline to Spanish restaurants for the croquetas and the tortilla, and we are very proud of ours. This is one of the most popular dishes at the restaurant; they are so creamy and moreish. You can freeze them ahead of time, and then just defrost before frying.

Method: Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and add the spinach with a tiny splash of water. Cook for 3–4 minutes, or until completely wilted, then run under cold water.

Once cold, squeeze out all the water. Chop finely and set aside.

In a saucepan, heat the milk and the stock together. In another saucepan, melt the butter over a medium heat, then add the flour and cook for 2–3 minutes. When the mixture starts to turn brown, begin adding the milk and stock very slowly until you get a really silky-smooth consistency. This will take approximately 10 minutes.

Add the cheese to the mixture slowly, then add the spinach and stir constantly until it is well combined. Season with salt, pepper and a grating of nutmeg.

Spread the mixture onto a shallow tray and press a sheet of cling film over the top. Cool down in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours.

Put some oil in the palm of your hand and roll the mixture into 30g balls. If they are a little soft, pop them on a tray in the freezer to firm up for 30 minutes.

Place the beaten egg and the breadcrumbs into two separate bowls. Dip the croquetas first into the beaten egg and then into the breadcrumbs.

Heat the oil to 180°C and fry the croquetas for around 2 minutes or until golden. Drain on paper towels, then eat straight away.

MAKES 32–34 CROQUETAS 500g baby leaf spinach 400ml whole milk 100ml strong fresh vegetable stock 80g butter 125g plain flour 80g goat’s cheese, crumbled Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Freshly grated nutmeg 2 large free-range eggs, beaten 125g dry breadcrumbs Olive oil for deep-frying

Tomato Salad With Olive Oil For me, there was nothing better than going to my dad’s vegetable garden, which is now my brother’s, on a hot summer’s day to pick tomatoes straight from the plants.

The smell of the tomatoes would always hit me first, then we would wash them in pure spring water and eat them.

That’s what I call a perfect start to the day.

This is another great recipe where the two main ingredients make a fantastic simple pintxo – or side dish – for grilled fish or meat. Tomatoes and olive oil are two of my favourite ingredients.

I always go to the restaurant Bodegón Donostiarra for their tomato salad. I like to use Manzanilla Cacereña olive oil in this recipe, but any that you have will work just as well.

If you want, you can peel the tomatoes first – this will give a different, softer texture. Simply bring a pan of water to the boil and have a bowl of cold water to one side. Make a small, very shallow cross in the base of the tomatoes with a sharp knife, then drop them into the boiling water for 5–10 seconds. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and put in the cold water. The skins will start to curl away from the flesh, making them easy to peel off.

SERVES 2 6 beautiful tomatoes 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Sea salt Cut the tomatoes into roughly 2cm pieces. Place in a bowl, keeping all the juices.

Add the olive oil and salt. The salad is now ready to enjoy – it’s as easy as that!

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Grilled Green & White Asparagus With Idiazábal Smoked Cheese SERVES 4 12 white asparagus spears 12 green asparagus spears 3 tbsp olive oil 100g Idiazábal smoked cheese, sliced Extra virgin olive oil Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

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We’re so lucky in Britain with the amazing array of produce that we can find on our doorstep – British asparagus is one of my favourites and the season never comes soon enough for me. I always feel inspired when I first see asparagus on the shelves, but nothing frustrates me more than to see asparagus on the menu in winter. It doesn’t make sense!

I love to combine the best British products with classic Spanish ingredients, and this cheese from the Basque Country complements the asparagus perfectly.

Blanch the white asparagus in a pan of boiling salted water for 3–4 minutes, then drain. Put both the white and green asparagus in a large dish with the oil and mix together well. Heat a griddle pan over a high heat. Turn the heat down to medium, place half of the asparagus in the pan and grill for a couple of minutes, then turn over. When the first half of the asparagus is ready, keep the spears warm and cook the rest.

Divide the asparagus among four warm plates and add the cheese, drizzle over some more olive oil and season with sea salt and fresh black pepper.

SERVES 4 500ml olive oil 300g aubergines, sliced 200g waxy potatoes, sliced 8 free-range eggs Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Aubergine, Honey & Blue Cheese Omelette This is proof of how versatile an omelette can be. We cooked this at my little tapas bar, José, and now everyone asks us when it’s coming back. Serve hot or cold, it really doesn’t matter. It’s delicious.

75g blue cheese 2–4 tbsp honey Heat the oil in a large pan and very gently fry the aubergine and potatoes for 25–30 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Drain well (reserve the oil to use later). Break up the potatoes into smaller pieces with a spoon.

Beat the eggs with plenty of seasoning in a large bowl. Add the cheese and honey to the vegetables and mix well. Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of beaten egg and gently mix. Heat 3 tablespoons of the reserved oil in a 23cm non-stick frying pan. When the oil is hot, pour in the omelette mixture. Swirl the pan over a high heat until the mixture starts to set around the edges, then reduce the heat and cook for 4–5 minutes until it just starts to set, and the bottom and sides are golden, but it is still quite loose in the middle.

Cover the pan with a flat lid or board and turn the tortilla carefully onto it. Don’t worry that it is still quite runny – it will all come back together when you continue to cook it.

Slide the tortilla back into the pan, then put the pan back on a low heat.

Use a spatula to tuck the edges of the tortilla under to give it its characteristic curved look. Cook for a couple of minutes, then turn onto a board and serve. It should still be lovely and juicy in the middle when you cut into it.

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600g fresh squid, cleaned 1 red chilli, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 50–75g dry breadcrumbs A handful of coriander, finely chopped 1 free-range egg Sea salt and white pepper Plain flour, for dusting Olive oil, for frying Chopped parsley to garnish the sauce 2 tbsp olive oil 1 banana shallot, finely chopped 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 5–6 ripe tomatoes, skins and seeds removed 750ml fresh fish stock A good pinch of saffron 50g ground almonds Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Squid Meatballs With Saffron & Almond Sauce I took inspiration for this recipe from the traditional albóndigas that you’ll always see in tapas bars and from the Ibérico pork meatballs that we serve with a cuttlefish sauce at my restaurants – but I have made the squid the star here.

The most important thing to remember when serving squid or cuttlefish is to cook it either very quickly or very slowly, otherwise it becomes tough and chewy. For this recipe, I’ve cooked it quickly, to ensure it’s really tender.

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Finely chop the squid and mix with the chilli, garlic, breadcrumbs, coriander and egg. Season well with the sea salt and white pepper. Lightly oil your hands and roll the mixture into small balls, about 30g each. Chill in the fridge while you make the sauce.

Heat the oil in a pan and gently fry the shallot and onion for 10 minutes until lovely and soft. Add the garlic and cook for a minute more, then add the tomatoes and stock and simmer for 20 minutes to reduce to a thick sauce.

Soak the saffron in 2 tablespoons of hot water for a few minutes, then mix with the ground almonds to form a paste and add to the pan with plenty of seasoning.

Simmer for 5 minutes to thicken, then set aside.

Dust the squid meatballs in flour. Heat a good amount of oil in a nonstick pan and fry them for 2–3 minutes, turning until golden brown, then drain on paper towels.

Add the squid meatballs to the sauce and heat through gently, then scatter with parsley and serve.

SERVES 6 200g caster sugar 50g unsalted butter A few sprigs of lemon thyme 5–6 dessert apples, peeled, cored and halved 500g all-butter puff pastry Plain flour to dust FOR THE ICE CREAM 600ml whole milk 50g caster sugar 190g runny honey 6 free-range egg yolks 1 tsp flaky sea salt 500ml double cream

Apple Tatin With Salted Honey Ice Cream You may ask why a famous French dessert is in a book about Basque cuisine. Well, there are two main reasons for this. Firstly, the Basque region has an abundance of delicious apples and secondly, I just love this recipe. What more can I say?

To make the ice cream, heat the milk with the sugar until almost boiling. Beat the honey, egg yolks and salt together in a bowl until light and fluffy. Pour the hot milk over the egg mixture, stirring until smooth.

Pour the mixture back into a clean pan and put over a medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until you have a thick, smooth custard. Pour into a bowl and, when cold, stir in the cream. Pour into an ice cream maker and churn until set, then scoop into a container and freeze until ready to serve.

For the tatin, pour the sugar into a heavy-based ovenproof frying pan with a 20cm diameter base and add a couple of tablespoons of water. Stir to mix, then place over a low heat and cook very gently, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.

Stop stirring. Increase the heat to high and bubble until you have a dark golden caramel. Add the butter, stirring quickly until smooth, then put the apples, cut side up, into the pan with the thyme. Return to a low heat and cook for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool completely.

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface. Place the pan on top and cut around it so the pastry is a bit bigger than the pan. Tuck the pastry over the top of the apples so it sits snuggly around the side of the pan.

Bake for 25–30 minutes until the pastry is golden. Leave to stand for 10 minutes before turning out onto a plate and serving with the salted honey ice cream.

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TRAVEL

Close Quarters An optimistic travel forecast for 2021 Words: Kate Lough 2020 was the year no-one expected, especially when it came to travel plans. We can only approach 2021 with hope and optimism – and perhaps keep our sights set not too far from home. Starting in London, our voyage takes us from bijou new hotels that are ideal for an indulgent staycation to food experiences immersed in nature, including a vineyard with rooms near the south coast and a slew of creative retreats across Italy, Greece and the Balearics that will boost mind, body and heart.

The Mitre

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

New UK hotel gems Across the country, beautiful new hotels have begun welcoming guests and more are poised to launch this year, from boutique finds in London to eccentric boltholes near Bristol.

First up is The Mitre, which recently opened its doors on the banks of the Thames, a javelin’s throw from Hampton Court. Formerly used for Charles II’s courtiers, this 17th-century, Grade II-listed beauty has been given a facelift by interior designer Nicola Harding, who also applied her creative talents to Beaverbrook and the more diminutive The Rose in Deal. You will be well fed and watered at The Mitre, either at the elegant riverside brasserie, 1665, or the more relaxed Coppernose café. Go all out and book the King Henry VIII Suite, which is suitably decadent, complete with four-poster bed and copper roll-top bath.

Heading into central London, Belgravia received a dose of countryside cosiness at the Lime Tree Hotel last October. Two Georgian townhouses have been transformed with a warm colour palette, pretty wallpapers, a secret garden and The Buttery, which serves all-day brunch dishes, including a naughty Nutella French Toast.

The Mitre

Our final stop is Bristol, where Charlie and Justin Salisbury, founders of the Artist Residence collection, are opening their fifth outpost. An old boot factory that the husband-and-wife duo stumbled upon in the creative Stokes Croft area, it has been reimagined into a 23-bedroom hotel and hangout for the local community, complete with coffee shop, bar and kitchen; plus, of course, the usual impressive art collection – many of the pieces in the Bristol hotel are by local artists.

Mitrehamptoncourt.com Limetreehotel.co.uk Artistresidence.co.uk

The Mitre

Lime Tree Hotel

Artist Residence

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The Ethicurean

Epicurean experiences immersed in nature Adventurous foodies will be more than satisfied in the coming months. Wild food pioneers Native have set up camp on stylish (and private) Osea Island, launching a small beachside restaurant which serves up the bounty of the surrounding Essex coastline and where dining times are dictated by the tide. It’s accessed via a Roman causeway or by boat, with an optional helicopter picking up guests in Battersea. Expect Blackwater oysters smoked over fire and line-caught wild bass with fennel and lavender.

Down in Somerset, The Ethicurean has launched a seductive new evening experience that hopes to help its guests slow down and connect with the natural landscape. Starting with a walk through the restaurant's beautiful Victorian walled garden, a set menu dinner is served in the cosy restaurant and accompanied by biodynamic wine flights, or wild cordials and non-alcoholic cocktails and shrubs infused with their hyperlocal foragings.

The evening finishes up with 88

treats by the fire in the garden, overlooking the undulating Mendip Hills. Located just outside Bristol, it’s the ideal pitstop on your way down to Devon or Cornwall, where food-lovers could continue their pilgrimage to the newest The Pig hotel, overlooking Harlyn Bay on the north Cornish coast near foodie favourite Padstow.

Wine enthusiasts should make their way down to Tillingham, a new-wave vineyard with rooms in East Sussex, whose punchy, colourful labels you might recognise. The team added 11 bedrooms in an old hop barn in late 2019 and offer everything from pizza nights to sourdough-making workshops and yoga sessions.

Book into the restaurant or bar/bottle shop at weekends and, come springtime, ask for a glass of their first ever Tillingham natural wine. It’s perfectly positioned for a scamper around pretty Rye and a blustery walk on Winchelsea (think Camber Sands, but quieter) beach, too. @eatnative Theethicurean.com Tillingham.com

Osea Island

Tillingham Vineyard

TRAVEL

Creative retreats in Europe Further afield in Europe, creative and wellbeing retreats are springing up like wildflowers in a meadow, offering their guests a chance to learn a new skill, forge lifelong friendships and explore the area like a local. We start our journey on the lush, mountainous Greek island of Andros. On the western coast you will find Melisses, the prettiest B&B, run by a gorgeous young Italian woman, Allegra Pomilio. A treasure trove of fleamarket finds, with killer views across to Syros, Melisses also hosts workshops throughout the year, including wine-making in August and food styling in September, featuring Letitia Ann Clark, author of Sardinian cookbook Bitter Honey.

London-based photographer Charlotte Bland is behind Bland Badger retreats on the border of Umbria and Tuscany.

Stationed at the spell-binding Villa Pia, they combine yoga and meditation sessions, cooking classes with the in-villa

chefs and creative workshops which include floristry, calligraphy, book binding and photography. There are also visits to food and flea markets in nearby Arezzo as well as lots of lounging by the wonderfully picturesque pool.

Bland Badger

Over in the Balearic Islands, she she retreats are luring those in need of a wellness boost to Mallorca. Set near the magnetic village of Deià in the Tramuntana Mountains, these design-conscious and highly curated retreats are for women, by women. There will be yoga, art workshops, hikes to the beach, dancing at sunset under olive groves and immunesystem-boosting food from the in-house private chef. Founder Albertine van Iterson also hosts retreats on the island of Rügen, in her native Germany.

Come with an open mind and be ready for transformation.

Retreats are monthly and are updated via she she’s Instagram.

Melissesandros.com Blandbadger.com sheshe-retreats.com she she retreats

Melisses

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A LOVE LETTER TO: KYOTO Travel editor Louis Sheridan shares his highlights from the city of contrasts.

As told to Kate Lough

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A lot of what I had read in advance painted Kyoto as the more rural, less refined relative of Tokyo. Many of the comparisons pitted them against each other in unfair battles, only for Kyoto to come off sounding touristy, lethargic and left behind.

I could not have found this less true. It’s like comparing London and Paris, apples and oranges.

I was in Kyoto last year as part of a larger trip – and my first – to Japan, with my better half, Harriet. It’s a city that’s rooted in history, where facts tangle with myths until even the most prosaic tales start to fizzle and where every conversation has the opportunity to stray into the deeply philosophical. There’s an inherent respect for the past, yet no reluctance to let life continue. New

buildings, new brands and new ideas all spring up daily.

I love cities, but I grew up surrounded by nature and find it more magnetic than any metropolis.

This is a sentiment seemingly shared by Kyoto, where gardens dot the map and forest-flanked mountains hem it all in. It’s a lowrise city where houses are the rule rather than the exception, giving the place a historic feel. There’s a tangible change between districts: some have wooden facades and are traditional in style, others have gone wild with contemporary Japanese architecture that’s all angular concrete and gravity-defying glass.

It’s an interesting balance of the very old and the very new, with very little middle ground.

Kyoto Side Table 45x35x69cmH £250 Naoshima Table Lamp Blood Orange 18cmSqx30cmH £295 (seen with Drum Cotton Shade Black 50cmDiax29cmH £60) Hatsumomo Round Vase £50

TRAVEL

We stayed at the Aman Kyoto in the north, slightly out of the city. The hotel is set in a sprawling ancient garden and forest, its dark structures characterised by windows that frame the forest views. The interiors are a contemporary take on Japanese minimalism with blonde wood and tatami matting – and the furniture is low, naturally. There is an onsen (hot spring) and hiking paths through the forests that cut past age-old water features and stone formations. The overarching feeling is tranquillity, like in the city itself.

around for centuries and are still in the same families.

Ceramics play a huge part in Kyoto’s history. We spent time at a small studio in the east of the city, throwing our own pots and plates – thankfully a lack of symmetry is seen as… characterful? Some of Kyoto’s ceramics studios have been

I would love to return to Kyoto and take my father, who has long professed his love of all things Japanese in design and culture. It was his library of Japanese ceramics, gardens and history that first sparked my interest.

Another standout was heading to Ichiwa for aburi-mochi (a rice cake served on a skewer). We rode bikes through the hills around the Aman before dropping down into the suburb where it stands. It’s a tea house which has been open for more than 1,000 years and the street it’s on has barely changed. For me, it was the best taste of ancient architecture in the city and one of the quieter spots to take it in.

Louis Sheridan is co-founder of Discover & Escape and creative editor of Mr & Mrs Smith.

Follow Louis on Instagram @louisaws

Louis Sheridan

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T r u l y, M a d l y, D e e p ly A love of outlandish design that celebrates the surreal has made Vincent Darré a global name in interiors. Now he has collaborated with OKA on a characterful collection of furniture and accessories.

He is famed in the world’s most stylish circles as much for his high-voltage, unapologetically eccentric and opulent designs – which grace the most enviable addresses – as his flamboyant and dandyish personal style.

For any design genealogists curious to track the origins of the brilliantly madcap Vincent Darré “look”, perhaps it will come as no surprise to learn that it all began on the dancefloor of seminal 1980s nightclub Le Palace. An underage Darré would sneak into the club – known as Europe’s answer to Studio 54 and described by Vogue as “the ne plus ultra of discotheques” – to soak up the glamour and ready himself for the first act of his life story: a dizzyingly impressive fashion career spanning two decades.

It is perhaps easier to list the storied houses that didn’t employ Darré’s creativity during that era than those that did. Stints at Yves Saint Laurent, Claude Montana, Prada, Chloé and Fendi (where he worked alongside Karl Lagerfeld) preceded his 2001 appointment as head designer at Moschino, where his signature tongue-in-cheek style found a natural home.

But it was a visit to a Centre Pompidou exhibition on the Dada movement that reignited his childhood interest in decoration and prompted Vincent Darré a move into interiors.

“I have been fascinated since childhood by Surrealism and Dadaism, by freedom of thought.”

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VINCENT DARRÉ

The influence of Dadaism and Surrealism are as evident today in his body of work for his design studio Maison Darré as ever, both in its overall mood and in the specific details of the rooms he designs. His bold and colourful furniture collections have drawn inspiration from skeletons, Cubism, the paintings of Dalí, and the Surrealist parlour game “Exquisite Corpse”, to name but a few off-the-wall reference points. He describes the spaces he creates as “laboratories of extravagant creativity”, and a celebration of the decorative arts and crafts. One thing is certain: once seen, they are firmly committed to memory.

Along the way, Darré has attracted a multitude of admirers, among them OKA co-founder and creative director, Sue Jones, who describes him as “a truly creative soul”. “Everything he touches has a sense of drama and beauty, and he is a master at mixing styles,” says Sue. It’s this shared appreciation that led to the pair collaborating on a four-piece collection of furniture and accessories for OKA that brings a touch of Parisian magic to our Spring Collection. We caught up with Darré to find out more…

Why did you transition from fashion design to interiors?

At the outset, I wanted to express a dialogue between clothing and design, but eventually I realised that fashion no longer interested me. On the other hand, when setting up Maison Darré I saw that in design and decoration, I was full of ideas.

1. Item Description

88x88x88cmH £888

Tell us about your flamboyant, elegant and colourful style, which you’re well known for.

I realise my dreams and follow a certain idea of decoration by paying tribute to the decorative arts – a very cinematic vision that I apply in my clothes, projects and in my life, like a film.

Describe your work in three words?

Theatrical, cultivated and poetic.

When you’re designing, where do you start?

For me, a new adventure begins at the start of a project. I work like a director – I imagine a scenario, a story to tell.

XIV Mirror 120x10x165cmH

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Where do you find inspiration?

I have been fascinated since childhood by Surrealism and Dadaism, by freedom of thought – something that I apply in my work. I work like the Surrealists. My mind is full of ideas, references and memories, and then I start drawing on a blank white sheet of paper.

You’ve had a very broad career; what has brought you the most happiness?

All the moments are strong for me because I am never tired and always enthusiastic about the present and the future. But if I had to pick one thing, I would say my book, Vincent Darré: Surreal Interiors of Paris, because it is a reflection of my whole life!

Tell us more about how your collaboration with OKA came about.

I really like OKA’s use of colour and patterns. It reminds me of the eccentric aristocratic style I love, captured by the legendary photographer Cecil Beaton. It drives me crazy! I am particularly fond of the lamps that have detailed, carved bases.

It is very difficult to make lamps and OKA has a huge choice.

94 | view the entire collection at oka.com

Spiral Lamp & Shade 35cmDiax140cmH

£1,125

Gemini Vase £495

What inspired your OKA pieces?

The Neoclassical era and the ruins of romantic 18thcentury gardens. I envisioned archaeological finds designed in a more contemporary, dreamlike way.

How have you married your design ethos with OKA’s for the collection?

For me, OKA represents the somewhat bohemian English style, in the tradition of the Bloomsbury Group. I designed my pieces with this in mind – they’re the kind of thing that could be found in an English country garden.

“I envisioned archaeological finds designed in a more contemporary, dreamlike way.”

Do you have a favourite piece in the collection?

I like them all but I have a crush on the Gemini Vase.

Vincent Darré

The Vincent Darré X OKA collection will be available to buy in our Chelsea and Guildford stores and online at oka.com

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POWER DESKING SHEHERAZADE GOLDSMITH The founder of luxury jewellery brand Loquet, and long-term environmental advocate, tells us how she gets things done.

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

Do one thing and do it really well, make it original and the very best it can be so that it stands out from the rest.

What inspired Loquet?

My son bought me a pendant with dried flowers when he was six years old. It was nothing special, but special to me and I wore it all the time, but I thought it would be so nice to be able to open and close it and personalise it myself. Many conversations later, the idea of having a locket that can be customised with collectable handmade charms and birthstones was born.

How have you found working from home this past year?

It was very difficult to balance my work and home life. Suddenly, women who normally work from an office were expected to juggle a full day’s work, with cooking three meals a day and looking after the housework. When my 20-year-old complained that there was no milk in the fridge, I realised that I was doing way too much and they were perfectly capable of pitching in. Sharing the cooking became fun and in the process, my girls became excellent cooks.

Workwise it has been one of the most productive and creative times.

We needed all hands on deck, so I worked across everything. It was amazing being so close to the product, it made me relook at the business as a whole.

What are your top tips on being more productive at work?

I use a diary; everything is written out in my trusted Smythson and I create a mood board at the beginning of each month, filled with ideas, feelings and emotions.

If you hadn’t ended up on your career path, what else would you like to have done?

I was a journalist and I’ve always been a voracious reader; I would have loved to have become a novelist. Loquet gives me the chance to tell people’s stories, as each one takes you on a journey. The best books are filled with real human emotion, like our lockets.

What is your personal mantra?

We’ve just collaborated with Charlie Mackesy and he sent me an illustration which said: “one of your greatest freedoms is how you react to things.”

What would you say to your younger self?

Take a deep breath, it’s a big journey.

Loquetlondon.com

To see more of Sheherazade’s world, visit our Instagram page @oka.

98 | Photographs: Liz Seabrook

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