OKA Magazine: Spring 2022 (UK Edition)

S P R I N G

2 0 2 2 I nt er ior s I n s pi r at ion Jou r ne y w it h u s t o a ref i ne d B at h t ow n hou s e a nd a h i s t or ic

London la ndmark Collection Highlights Striking seating, persona lit y-packed desks a nd eye-catching cera mics I n sider I n sig ht Interior design demystified, Greece’s hidden gems and much more.

Our collection of unbelievably lifelike faux f lower stems and ready-styled bunches add the perfect finishing touch to every home. oka.com/bunched

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A

s the natural world slowly sidles towards spring, we too come out of hibernation and start to think about the year ahead; making plans for ourselves and our homes starts to feel rather exciting again.

If, like me, the approach of a new season has you plotting how you can best transform your interiors, the highlights of our latest collection are sure to get the cogs whirring. Comprising everything from fresh pieces to OKA favourites reimagined, we’ve styled the range in some truly beautiful historic locations across England.

If you are after a little more help with decorating, our Interior Design team lends its expertise and puts some worries to bed on page 78. Alongside all this, you’ll discover globally inspired recipes that are perfect for spicing up dinners with friends (p.84) as well as places to travel in 2022 that are off the beaten track (p.92).

Whatever your plans, we hope you find some new ideas to try out at home within the pages of this issue.

Wishing you all the best for the year ahead,

Sue Jones Co-Founder and Creative Director of OKA

stores nationwide | oka.com | 3

Contents 11 At Home with Our Icons Discover the Pulcinella glassware range – it’s a classic for a reason.

14 Sue Jones' Guide to: Making Wall Art Work for You For our co-founder, there’s much more to a display than prints and pictures.

24 Law of Attraction Past and present unite at storied London landmark, Old Sessions House.

38 Desk Mates Meet your new colleagues.

Luckily, they’re all real characters.

46 The Comfiest Place to Be

78 A Design for Your Life Our Interior Design team shed some light on how the practice really works.

82 Breaking the Mould Chef Selin Kiazim gives us a taster of her new book and shares some delicious recipes.

92 Hidden Gems Plan an escape to some lesser-known Greek destinations.

98 Power Desking: Alice Edwards The founder of bespoke stationery company Memo Press on how she gets things done.

Winnie-the-Pooh himself would be delighted to be “Doing Nothing” in this Sussex cottage.

64 A View to Elegance In Bath, calming colour meets tactile texture for a new take on sophistication.

Tarma 2-Seater Sofa Sheki Olive 137x95x88cmH £2,395

Elemeri Cushion Cover Indigo 51cmSq £75 |

Grey Green 51cmSq £75 Zacke Cushion Cover Loganberry 51cmSq £75 |

Ash Grey £75

Dahan Cushion

Cover Air Force Blue 51cmSq £75 Ultimate Paisley Throw £350 Delosi Floor Lamp 31cmDiax164cmH £575 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Shade Indigo 45cmDiax31cmH £125)

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O K A .C OM

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

STOR ES NAT ION W I DE

Browse the entire OKA collection online.

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

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

We have 13 stores situated around the UK. See p.97 to find your nearest.

T H E L AT EST NEW

SEASON

FURNITURE

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TEXTILES

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LIGHTING

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ACCESSORIES

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I N S P I R AT I O N

C abi net of Cu r iosit ies Our Katsura Cabinet is an intriguing fellow. His maze-like mirrored surface marks him out as a master of modern elegance, but throw open his doors and you’ll find an altogether more flamboyant and fiery character inside.

No one saw that coming, but then, in the words of our co-founder Sue Jones, “the best designs are always surprising”.

Katsura Cabinet Rubbed Black 91x45x180cmH £1,795 (also available in Natural, see p.69) 4x Kintaro Mugs Cochineal £60

stores nationwide | oka.com | 5

T H E L AT E S T

Sweet ness a nd Si l k For statement-making interiors at the flick of a switch, look no further than our new collection of patterned silk lampshades. Designed with versatility in mind, they look good paired with all manner of bases and are guaranteed to add personality to any space. And, if it’s colourful cohesion you’re after, you can pair the Rinca and Haruku with their cushion counterparts, too.

Fu l l Ci rcle Our new fine bone china collection takes its eye-catching blue design from our popular Tarsia Cushion Cover, which was originally inspired by decorative medieval stonemasonry.

Returning the pattern to a hard surface, our design team played with scale to find the perfect distinctive sizing. Go all out with a full set, or layer with our minimalist Sorano China for a more understated tablescape – the choice is yours.

Serigraph Shade 45cmDiax31cmH £175 | 35cmDiax23cmH £125 Rinca Shade 35cmDiax23cmH £125 | 45cmDiax31cmH £175 Roa Shade 45cmDiax31cmH £175 | 35cmDiax23cmH £125 Haruku Shade 45cmDiax31cmH £175 | 35cmDiax23cmH £125 Naoshima Table Lamp Chinese Green £395 TOP TO BOTTOM

A head of t he Cu r ve With an unusual combination of cool stone and warm oak, a helix-shaped strut and striking column detailing, what’s not to love about the latest addition to the Flavian family?

Whether you're planning to unite this coffee table with its side and console table siblings, or are simply searching for a stand-alone sitting room centrepiece, it will do the trick.

Flavian Coffee Table 100cmDiax46cmH £1,595

6 | view the entire collection at oka.com

Tarsia China 4x Dinner Plates £120 | 4x Side Plates £100 | 4x Dessert Plates £80 | 4x Bowls £90

Instant Update A change in season calls for a colour palette switch-up, so as nature starts to unveil brighter tones with the approach of spring, let your home follow suit. A fresh cushion arrangement is one of the easiest ways to breathe new life into your look; some of our much-loved linen and silk designs, reimagined in warm Terracotta and Blood Orange or zingy Putting Green, are perfect for the job, offering a bold contrast when displayed together.

Areca Cushion Cover Blood Orange 56cmSq £65 Cushion Cover Putting Green 51cmSq £75 Putting Green 51cmSq £75

Dahan

Zacke Cushion Cover

Longshan Cushion Cover Blood Orange

60x35cm £70 Plain Linen Cushion Cover Terra 51cmSq £55

Su n ny Del ig ht s Whether exhibited as objets in their own right or giving posies of faux blooms a new place to live, there’s no doubt that the Hongwu and Liaodong Pots offer a talking point.

Allow us to start the conversation: they’re handmade with a reactive glaze that creates a beautiful layered effect, so each one is an utterly unique modern heirloom.

Hongwu Pot Emerald £95 | Sea Blue £95 | Celadon £95 | Dijon £95

Liaodong Pot

Emerald £195 | Celadon £195

stores nationwide | oka.com | 7

ke Wave s a M When it comes to interiors, curls and swirls are as fun as they sound; they add character and energy in an instant, whether applied to furniture or accessories.

Sha ke Up You r Seat i ng Presenting you with the new best spot in the house: the “Sheki” Tarma.

Inspired by our ever-popular rug of the same name, this charming piece is upholstered in a cotton dhurrie, with its floral design part printed, part hand-stitched, for textured appeal. Complete with a green-tasselled fringe, which you can pop on or off depending on your mood, it doesn’t get more playful, or comfortable, than this armchair.

Tarma Armchair Sheki Olive 84x95x87cmH £1,695 Longshan Cushion Cover Heron Blue 60x35cm £70

Shui Stool 34cmDiax46cmH £450

Shyrdak Wood Tray £125

4x Kintaro Mugs Indigo £60

Ref i ned Di n i ng We believe that everyday items should never be dull, so we’ve united two of our favourite things: faux shagreen and interesting tableware.

Blurring the boundaries between contemporary and traditional, this new 24-piece cutlery set brings a subtle pop of pattern to the table.

24-Piece Pompadour Faux Shagreen Cutlery Set £195 Stafford Dining Chair Kawa Linen 45x59x92cmH £395

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DE S IGN DI A RY Ideas to fire up your imagination

FAIR

NOMAD, St. Moritz

Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte and Giorgio Pace

Keen to travel again? Guidelines permitting, how about perusing art and design collectibles, curated by some of the world’s leading contemporary galleries, in a glorious Alpine setting? NOMAD, the exclusive travelling fair, alights in St. Moritz this March for its ninth edition. Co-founded by gallerists Giorgio Pace and Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, this soigné event has inhabited an array of landmark properties in glamorous locations around the world, such as Karl Lagerfeld’s former home La Vigie in Monaco. This year’s edition is hosted in the baroque Chesa Planta mansion, a museum that offers a glimpse of aristocratic Engadin living in the 18th and 19th centuries. If you love PAD and Masterpiece, NOMAD should appeal, with gallery exhibitors including David Gill, Sarah Myerscough and FUMI from London, New York’s Friedman Benda, Milan’s Nilufar and Carwan from Athens, among others.

1st–6th March, nomad-circle.com BOOK

A New Leaf: Curated Houses Where Houseplants Meet Design Many progressive academics argue that to combat climate change and survive as a planet, we need to enter the Planthroposcene – an age where we foster and prioritise the interdependence of plants and people. Whether you agree or not, the sale of house plants has soared recently; millennials and Gen Z adore succulents and aroids, and the increase in footfall to garden centres suggests we’ve all become more green-fingered. If you’re wondering how to live stylishly with ferns, Chlorophytum and Monstera, turn to A New Leaf, a beautiful coffee-table survey of 20 homes across the globe where hanging, trailing, sprouting and jungle-like foliage bring interiors to life.

A New Leaf: Curated Houses Where Houseplants Meet Design by Pip McCormac and Jennifer Haslam (Hardie Grant, £30)

Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens

VISIT

Both true design aficionados and those who can’t resist a peek at a storied country home will relish a trip to Kelmarsh Hall. Nestled in rural Northamptonshire, the Grade I listed house and its Grade II listed gardens date back to the 1730s, living to tell the tales of previous residents. Most notably, Nancy Lancaster, the former owner of famed interior design firm Colefax and Fowler and the “doyenne of English country house style”. From the Italian pink colouring of the Great Hall to her all-white bedroom – an idea unheard of in the decorator's era – Lancaster certainly made her mark.

OKA's Interior Design team recently had the pleasure of reimagining this latter room, blending old with new for a liveable space that the tastemaker could have designed today. Once you’ve had your fill of the sights, head to the charming tearoom, situated in the stable yard.

Open from 15th April, kelmarsh.com

Words: Bethan Ryder

PODCAST

The English Home Revel in all things quintessentially English while pottering at home with The English Home podcast, a spin-off from the magazine of the same name, hosted by editor Samantha Scott-Jeffries.

In episode one, food writer Matthew Fort waxes lyrical about the wonders of growing and picking summer berries, while Farrow & Ball’s colour supremo Joa Studholme shares some brilliant insights on how to use colour as she talks you through her own home. The following episodes feature a roll call of British design greats: Nina Campbell, Tom Raffield and Kit Kemp. The magazine-style format artfully combines these with complementary experts, such as florist Willow Crossley and Jeremy Musson, a leading historian on British country houses. It’s as soothing as Gardeners’ Question Time.

podcast.theenglishhome.co.uk

Looking for more inspiration? Visit oka.com/ideas | 9

T H E L AT E S T 'Odalisque' (1870) Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Make an Impression

Anything can be a source of inspiration, but where better to look than one of Renoir’s most prized paintings? Capture the exotic mood of 'Odalisque' with furnishings featuring vivid colour and intricate detail – elements the artist was so wellknown for – then, most importantly, lie back and languish.

Vellore Mirror 45x3x90cmH £350 Ultimate Paisley Hongwu Pot Emerald £95 Palmerro Throw £350 Haruku Table Lamp 13cmSqx59cmH £225 (seen with Shade 35cmDiax23cmH £125) Sheki Upholstered Ottoman 119x76x41cmH £1,750 Taseti Cushion Cover 56cmSq £70 Nubia Cushion Cover 56cmSq £70 Apadana Armless Chair Air Force Blue Velvet 66x78x84cmH £895 Xin Bedside Cabinet 45x37x80cmH £595 Greca Cushion Cover 51cmSq £75 Ayabaca Cushion Cover 56cmSq £100 Pemberley Cushion Cover 51cmSq £70

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A t hom e wi t h

our icons

TH E PU LCIN ELLA R A NGE Whether it’s a dinner party, cocktail hour or family get-together, our hand-blown and handdecorated Pulcinella glassware brings a touch of fun to every occasion without compromising on elegance.

In each set, you’ll find four different etched patterns that unite the range: zigzags, spots, stripes and diamonds. From champagne flutes to cocktail glasses, tumblers to wine goblets, each quartet is a lesson in how easy it can be to mix and match. Cheers to that.

“There’s often a mix of age groups in my house so I love that with the Pulcinellas you can lay the table for everyone, and it looks cohesive.

Plus, the different designs mean that people's glasses don’t get mixed up too easily.”

Sue Jones, OKA Co-Founder and Creative Director

Pulcinella Glassware 4x Wine Glasses Small £80 | 4x Cocktail Glasses £95 | 4x Champagne Glasses £95 | 4x Round Tumblers £80 | 4x Tall Tumblers £85 | 4x Short Tumblers £75 | 4x Wine Glasses Large £85

Bamboo Tray £275

Photography Damian Russell | 11

T H E L AT E S T

T he Museu m Whether you believe in the healing powers of crystals or not, there’s no doubt a mirrored glass surface makes the perfect stage to exhibit treasures. To meld prettiness with practicality, arrange most of your collection on the bottom shelf and keep plenty of surface space free on the top.

THREE WAY S TO S T Y L E Make a feature of your coffee table; choose from three curated displays guaranteed to impress the most discerning culture vulture

TOP LEFT Merle Coffee Table 80x60x40cmH £895 Costellini Ottoman Sea Moss Velvet 47cmDiax45cmH £275 Bricini Vase Small £35 Faux Shagreen

Tray £110 Nest of Six Lama Offering Bowls £195 Giant Glass Paperweight £85 Safi Rug 240x305cm £1,595 TOP RIGHT Tarma 2-Seater Sofa Crusoe Soft Charcoal 137x95x88cmH £2,395 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Camel 60x35cm £60

Marylebone Coffee Table Small Weathered Oak 140x80x40cmH £1,595 Gonglin Tray £175 4x Ranelagh Tumblers £45 The Chronicle Collection Candle (choose from four scents) £80 Ely Rug Rosy Brown 244x305cm £2,995 BOTTOM RIGHT

George Club Chair Cheetah 61x72x71cmH £3,295 Braemar Upholstered Trunk Multi 152x50x54cmH £1,750 Sulamani Coffee Table 156x100x46cmH £2,595 Zetian

Lidded Jar £395 Kolokythi Wide Decorative Bowl Aruba Blue £30 Set of Three Rattan Nested Trays £325 Anozoria Paperweight £40 Rattan Gift Set £95 Set of Two Deciduous Leaf Dishes £50 Porcelain Artichoke Candle Holder White £35

Hongwu Pot Dijon £95 Medanoso Rug 240x305cm £995

12 | Photography Mark Sanders

T he Libr ar y As all avid readers will know, much-loved novels deserve to take pride of place at home. For maximum visibility, there’s no better choice than a dual-layered glass coffee table , such as the Marylebone – you can admire your favourite reads from all angles.

T he Ga l ler y For an eclectic arrangement, set the scene with a patterned, colourful piece such as our sunset-hued, fabric-topped Sulamani.

Then, it’s an exercise in gathering treasured and everyday items that best express your personality. Nothing is too off-the-wall – just keep playing around until you find the ideal mix.

w i t h a Ru t r a g St 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.

Hegaldia Rug 244x305cm £2,995 Wen Emperor Vase £425 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Perfect Navy 60x35cm £60 Gustavian Sofa Side Table Petrol 48x25x59cmH £275 Coleridge 2-Seater Sofa Pure Navy 127x92x82cmH £1,895 Fyra Cabinet 120x45x165cmH £1,850 Grenadilla Table Lamp Peacock 20cmDiax51cmH £195 (seen with Pleated Linen Shade Ecru 45cmDiax31cmH £125)

Okean Mirror 76x4x103cmH £595

stores nationwide | oka.com | 13

I’ve been known to hang beautiful rugs up just because I love them”

Sue’s Guide to: “ Making Wall Art W Work For You Nothing makes a house a home quite like the art you choose to hang on your walls; OKA Co-Founder and Creative Director Sue Jones sheds some light on how to get it just right.

14 | Photography Alicia Waite

all art can mean such different things to different people and so, by default, their homes. For me, art (and books) are how I add colour to a room, for others, it can be the starting point of a whole scheme – it’s very personal. In my opinion, anything can go on the wall; I’ve been known to hang beautiful rugs up, just because I love them, and why not? Really feeling drawn to a piece is key, but do try to keep an open mind.

I'm generally more attracted to watercolours and oil paintings and less of a fan of abstract art, but have been taken by surprise by pieces that I didn't think would work, but did.

Framing is incredibly important – it can make or break a picture. If you love a piece and it’s not looking how you hoped, try getting it reframed.

An expert framer is your best friend and can offer lots of advice for finding the perfect match. How wall art is lit can make a huge difference, too.

To avoid a glare from the glass of a framed picture, which completely ruins it, directional lighting is best – we often use recessed ceiling lights.

The best things don’t necessarily have to be in ‘prime’ position”

It’s not just about the piece itself, it’s also where you choose to put it.

We have lots of texture in our house – exposed stone, wood and plaster – and the different background surfaces change how items look. The best things don't necessarily have to be in prime position. There's something wonderful about throwing things on their head a little, like the surprise of finding a really beautiful picture in the downstairs loo. I had a portrait of me painted years ago and I’d rather fly to the moon than hang it right over the fireplace. But wherever you choose to hang something, a spirit level is essential. As are good quality pins and wire, and, sometimes, a trusty bit of Blu Tack!”

Sue's Favourites Bring artistic appeal to all areas of your home with Sue's top picks from our Spring Collection

“I love this Anatolian-inspired pattern, it livens up a space in an instant.”

Holda Rug 244x305cm £2,595

“The vibrant pop of red gives this desk a modern energy.”

Yishu Desk 75x43x81cmH £650

Start by deciding what you want to achieve. Have you got a huge blank space that you simply want to cover or are you trying to set a mood? While a single large work can add real impact, you can spend a fortune on – and a lifetime searching for – one perfect piece to fill a wall. So if you can’t find ‘the one’, it’s always worth considering a set instead. Besides offering plenty of bang for your buck, a set of prints is an easy way to add colour and interest in a cohesive way. Alternatively, you could hang a collection of plates.

“This cushion is so versatile; the colour and design work just about anywhere.”

Lisbon Cushion Cover Grey Green 56cmSq £85

Pro tip: charity and antique shops often have some great finds. If you're not so keen on a 'scheme', a selection of other treasures you've gathered over the years can be just the ticket; photographs, postcards, artefacts, mirrors… you’ll be amazed what you can find around your home.

Getting the arrangement right can be tricky, so I always lay everything out on the floor in front of the wall first before starting to hang.

OPPOSITE PAGE

Set of Nine Shoreline

Seashell Prints £325 THIS PAGE, TOP Set of Twelve Traditional Hat Prints £425 ABOVE Shokki Framed Textile 120x8x60cmH £995 Pula Vase £25 Bricini Vase Small £30 | Large £45

“I'd use these to add texture to your walls; they're hand-carved.”

Set of Three Espoir Wall Art Panels 120x4x120cmH £995

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BRIGHT NEW THINGS T he days may b e get ting longer and lighter, but b e dside s and reading no ok s c ould s till do with a lit tle ex tra illumination .

T he se b old and brilliant lamps are on hand to he lp.

16 | Photographs Gaston Torres

OPPOSITE PAGE

Housenka Lamp 22cmDiax47cmH £295 (seen with

Serigraph Shade 45cmDiax31cmH £175) THIS PAGE Top from left to right:

Tamri Table Lamp 16cmDiax38cmH £160 (seen with Warna Silk Pleated Shade Red 25cmDiax17cmH £85) Egret Lamp 12cmSqx56cmH £125 (seen with Empire Linen Shade Natural 41cmDiax23cmH £55) Oromo Lamp 38x12x54cmH £595 (seen with Iro Pleated Linen Shade Alchemilla 45cmDiax30cmH £125) Middle from left to right: Hooper Table Lamp Antique Brass 19cmDiax64cmH £325 (seen with Full Rectangular Card Shade Black/Gold 36x15cmx20cmH £130)

Grenadilla Table Lamp Saffron 20cmDiax51cmH £195 (seen with

Roa Shade 45cmDiax31cmH £175) Chetak Table Lamp Natural 40x12x37cmH £275

(seen with Narrow Rectangular Cotton Shade Black 31x10x24cmH £50) Bottom from left to right: Duffy Table Lamp 51cmDiax64cmH £225 (seen with

Pleated Linen Shade Natural 30cmDiax20cmH £55) Grisewood Lamp and Shade Petrol 31x20x41cmH £225 Lucine Table Lamp 24cmDiax61cmH £250 (seen with Leptoria Drum Shade White/Blue 45cmDiax32cmH £125)

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THIS PAGE Top from left to right:

Vasa Linen Dining Chair Pure Navy 49x65x93cmH £595 Washakie Chair Truffle Velvet 50x59x98cmH £425

Hinako Dining Chair 57x63x90cmH £595 Middle from left to right: Claverton Dining Chair Sage 58x64x92cmH £895

Stafford Dining Chair with Arms

Aged Tobacco Leather 64x61x93cmH £695 Elder Dining Chair 55x56x86cmH £495 Bottom from left to right: Camaret Dining Chair 48x56x99cmH £550 Feur Chair 47x49x88cmH £250 Stafford Chair Air Force Blue Velvet 45x59x92cmH £395 OPPOSITE PAGE

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Claverton Dining Chair Mushroom Grey 58x64x92cmH £895

WORK-LIFE BAL ANCE Looking just as good pulled up at your desk as at your dining table, these comfor table chairs go the ex tra mile.

stores nationwide | oka.com | 19

ON YO U R SIDE Searching for a small but mi ght y s i d e k i c k fo r yo ur s of a?

Yo u c a n c o u n t o n t h e s e p e t i t e pieces to rest drinks , books and other essentials.

20 | view the entire collection at oka.com

OPPOSITE PAGE

Pitcombe Side Table Large 30cmDiax56cmH £895 4x Lavaux Goblets Aubergine £60 THIS PAGE Top from left to right: Amarolo Side Table

63x34x60cmH £550 Fontana Side Table 45cmDiax60cmH £895 Triomphe Side Table 60x40x62cmH £650 Middle from left to right: Silver Birch 48x25x59cmH £275 Hester Side Table 65x45x64cmH £695

Gustavian Sofa Side Table

Florac Side Table 80cmDiax71cmH £850 Bottom from left to right: Rander Ceramic Stool

Red/White 30cmDiax47cmH £225 Avignon Side Table 60x40x60cmH £550 Kaishu Side Table Black 66cmDiax69cmH £1,095

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THIS PAGE Top from left to right:

Konsentris Mirror Square 90cmSqx7cm £795

Middle from left to right: Ballygannon Mirror 62x3x102cmH £550

Seamair Mirror 91x8x121cmH £895 Bamarre Mirror 80x5x108cmH £750

Irian Mirror 100x3x150cmH £995

Bottom from left to right: Eydis Mirror 102x3x78cmH £850 Airi Mirror 71x2x100cmH £550 OPPOSITE PAGE

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Versailles Standing Mirror 64x10x180cmH £595 Hark Standing Mirror 40cmDiax180cmH £1,495

ART OF GL A S S Shape your space and reflect your st yle, as well as all available light, with a favourite tool of interior designers – the s t a t e m e n t m i r r o r.

stores nationwide | oka.com | 23

L aw o f At t r a c t i o n

Past and present unite at a storied London landmark with more than 240 years of history in its walls PHOTOGRAPHS Debi Treloar ST YLING Glen Proebstel

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Bambu Swivel Floor Lamp 44x28x139cmH £395 (seen with Drum Shade Cotton Natural 56cmDiax33cmH £80)

Takayna Decorative

Tailored by OKA Handmade to Order Highmore 3-Seater Sofa Celadon "Clever" Velvet 210x100x75cmH £3,750 Plain Velvet Cushion Cover Rioja

Pine Cone Tall £60 | Small £50 Tortoiseshell Candle Holder Large £35

51cmSq £65

Tortoiseshell Vase Short £55 Hatsumomo Round Vase £60

Areca Cushion Cover Sea Foam 51cmSq £65 Costellini Ottoman Rioja

Wenchang Decorative Coconut Leaf £65 Bricini Vase Small £30 | Medium £45 | Large £55 Ursa Vase Small £65 | Large £85

Pot £295 Pula Vase £25 (seen with

Octavian

Vitruvius Table Lamp 19cmDiax46cmH £195

Serigraph Shade 35cmDiax23cmH £125)

Astreopora Lidded Pot £75 Toji Decorative Pagoda £395 Phaethon Mirrored Wall Art Panels 71x4x145cmH £2,995 Helenium Console Table 133x38x80cmH £1,095

Dahan Cushion Cover Air Force Blue 51cmSq £75

Velvet 47cmDiax45cmH £275 Set of Two Berenson Leather Fire Fenders Ash Grey 61cmSqx55cmH £1,495 Marylebone Coffee Table Large Ebonised Oak 160x140x40cmH £2,595 Faux Shagreen Tray Large Onyx £195 Pillar LED Candle Short £20 | Tall £25

Rhombi Rug 240x305cm

£3,995 Tarma Armchair Crusoe Soft Charcoal 84x95x87cmH £1,695

Acanthosphere Lamp 21cmDiax34cmH £125 (seen with Empire Linen Shade Natural 51cmDiax28cmH £75)

stores nationwide | oka.com | 25

T

here could be no better location to inspire an aesthetic that delicately toes the line between romance and drama than Clerkenwell’s Old Sessions House. Dating back to 1779, the grand Grade II listed former courthouse has played host to many of London’s most notorious ne’er-do-wells, both real and fictional – Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist appeared in its docks having been caught stealing a pocket watch.

The building has been carefully renovated, leaving the patina of its colourful history etched into the plaster and stonework, alongside the original wood floors of its myriad chambers.

Soft silhouettes, in delicately hued upholstery that echoes the weathered colour palette of the walls, work in tandem with natural elements, carefully placed throughout – from wild foliage to accessories inspired by flora and fauna – to create a dreamlike setting. Sleek black accents and clean lines ground this, adding an all-important edge. All this is reflected, room to room, by mirrors (and mirrored detailing) whose arched designs mimic the huge dome-shaped windows and further draw upon the building's character.

The result is a timeless scheme with a subtle modern twist; perfectly in keeping with the integrity of the reimagined historical masterpiece that houses it.

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OPPOSITE PAGE

Rhombi Rug 240x305cm £3,995 Beardon Armchair 73x90x100cmH £1,095

Maplehurst Desk Ebonised

Oak 120x60x82cmH (closed); 172x60x82cmH (extended) £2,095 4x Lavaux Goblets Aubergine £60 Altena Candle Holder £45 Tyndrum

Lamp and Shade £395

Takayna Pine Cone Bookends £75 Cabanes Mirror 63x5x160cmH £750 Costellini Ottoman Charcoal Velvet

47cmDiax45cmH £275 Fengari Throw £175 Senada Rug 240x305cm £1,595 THIS PAGE £2,995

Riet Side Table Ebonised Oak 50x50x51cmH £750

Phaethon Mirrored Wall Art Panels 71x4x145cmH

Acanthosphere Lamp 21cmDiax34cmH £125 (seen with Empire Linen Shade

Natural 46cmDiax28cmH £65) Brantwood Armchair 87x74x82cmH £1,395 Pattani Eclipse Cushion Cover Indigo 51cmSq £60

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THIS PAGE Helenium Console Table 133x38x80cmH £1,095

Holder Large £35

Octavian Pot £295 Tortoiseshell Glass Vase Short £55 Tortoiseshell Glass Candle

Vitruvius Table Lamp 19cmDiax46cmH £195 (seen with Serigraph Shade 35cmDiax23cmH £125) Pula Vase £25 Toji Decorative

Pagoda £395 OPPOSITE PAGE Costellini Ottoman Charcoal Velvet 47cmDiax45cmH £275 Hooper Floor Lamp Brass 25cmDiax166cmH £595 (seen with Full Rectangular Card Shade Black/Gold 30x19x17cmH £130)

Ellary Armchair 78x80x86xmH £1,150 Fengari Throw £175 Nostell Dots

Cushion Cover Onyx 51cmSq £60 Anio Console Table 140x36x88cmH £1,595 Tortoiseshell Glass Candle Holder Large £35 Tortoiseshell Glass Vase Short £55 | Tall £95 Cabanes Mirror 63x5x160cmH £750

Pitcombe Side Table Small 30cmDiax46cmH £750 | Large 30cmDiax56cmH £895

Hatsumomo Round Vase £60

28

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30

L AW O F AT T R A C T I O N

OPPOSITE PAGE Tarma Armchair Crusoe Soft Charcoal 84x95x87cmH £1,695 Nostell Dashes Cushion Cover Onyx 51cmSq £60

Rima Cushion Cover 51cmSq £85

Sumba Cushion Cover 51cmSq £75 Stonewashed Linen

Cushion Cover with Fringing Natural 51cmSq £80 THIS PAGE Anio Console Table 140x36x88cmH £1,595 Galahad Table Lamp 21cmDiax52cmH £375 (seen with Drum Linen Shade Natural 40cmDiax25cmH £55) Coconut Leaf £65

Astreopora Lidded Pot £75

Octavian Pot £295

Wenchang Decorative

Decorative Bodhi Dish £55

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Briolette Sideboard 208x56x78cmH £2,395 Celestial Table Lamp 21cmDiax50cmH £325 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Shade Onyx 45cmDiax31cmH £125) The Grey Area Oil Painting 152x4x103cmH £650 Acanthosphere Lidded Pot Grey £55 Bricini Vase Medium £45 | Large £55 Black 91x45x180cmH £1,795

Katsura Cabinet Rubbed

Konsentris Mirror Rectangular 90x6x140cmH £595 Coleridge 2-Seater

Sofa Natural 127x92x82cmH £1,895 Nostell Leaves Cushion Cover Charcoal 51cmSq £75

Pitcombe

Side Table Large 30cmDiax56cmH £895 Avirai Rug Venetian Red 240x305cm £1,495 Stafford Chair Rioja Velvet 45x59x92cmH £395 Stafford Dining Chair with Arms Sand Herringbone 64x61x93cmH £595

Alfred Extendable Dining Table Ebonised Oak 110x100x79cmH (closed); 290x100x79cmH (fully extended) £3,995 Tortoiseshell Glass Candle Holder Large £35 Nest of Six Lama Offering Bowls £195

32

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34

L AW O F AT T R A C T I O N

OPPOSITE PAGE Stafford Dining Chair with Arms Sand Herringbone 64x61x93cmH £595

Katsura Cabinet Rubbed Black 91x45x180cmH £1,795 THIS PAGE 4x Twisted Wine Glasses Small £30 Tortoiseshell Glass Candle Holder Large £35 Tortoiseshell Glass Vase Short £55

Nest of Six Lama Offering Bowls £195 16-Piece Cutlery Set Ivory £95 Sorano China Dinner Plate Large £30 | Dinner Plate £25 | Soup Bowl £18 4x Machame Napkins £70

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Bayuban Chest of Drawers Small 55x40x73cmH £750

Celestine Lamp £495 (seen with

Serigraph Shade

45cmDiax31cmH £175) Sheringham King Velvet Headboard Charcoal 153x6x141cmH £995 Valance Cover King Off-White 153x200x38cmH £325

Elemeri Cushion Cover Grey Green 51cmSq £75

Nesbitt Throw Moss £195 Nott Bench

String Wide Herringbone 161x41x52cmH £795 Ultimate Paisley Throw £350 Senada Rug 240x305cm £1,595 Pompidou

Side Table Small Black 40cmSqx60cmH £395 Cover 51cmSq £75

36

Tarma 2-Seater Sofa Sheki Olive 137x95x88cmH £2,395 Rinca Cushion

Longshan Cushion Cover Grey Green 60x35cm £70

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Say hello to your new colleagues. Hard-working and packed with personality, these characters will inspire productivity.

PHOTOGRAPHS Damian Russell | ST YLING Hannah Franklin

38 | view the entire collection at oka.com

The Florist Cythera is no shrinking violet – her pretty scalloped details are testament to that.

Yet, every time you think you have her figured out, another surface unfurls revealing a fresh transformation.

OPPOSITE PAGE Campaign Desk 75x43x81cmH £650 Fyli Vase Large £125 Colworth Rug Small 170x240cm £2,295

Coconut Leaf £65 Hadrian Decorative Jug Charcoal £30 Camargue Chair 50x54x89cmH £250 THIS PAGE Table 186x80x77cmH (fully extended); 140x80x77cmH (closed) £1,495 Nott Bench String Wide Herringbone 161x41x52cmH £795 Faux Maple Bud Branch Green £18

Wenchang Decorative

Cythera Extendable Dining

Takanya Range Decorative Pine Cone Tall £60 | Small £50 | Bookends £75

Maple Leaf Dish £65

Talauma Single Candle Holder £45

Amaryllis Seed Pod Dish £75

Hongwu Pot Emerald £95

Bonington Vase £250

Claverton Dining Chair

Mushroom Grey £895 Safi Rug 240x305cm £1,595

39

The Artist Briolette may have her head in the clouds, but her feet are firmly on the ground. She’s always stowing away ideas for future projects; get her to open up and you’ll discover a world of imagination behind her dreamy exterior.

Briolette Bureau 103x50x121cmH (closed); 103x86x121cmH (open) £4,595 Landscape Oil Painting 104x4x104cmH £450

Acanthosphere Lamp 21cmDiax34cmH £125 (seen with

Serigraph Shade 35cmDiax23cmH £125)

Sea Blue £95 Ormoy Armless Dining Chair 47x57x90cmH £750

40

Octavian Pot £295 Modern Impasto

Whorl Decorative Sea Shell £175 Codrus Head Sculpture £75 Lapis Rug 244x305cm £2,995

Hongwu Pot

D E S K M AT E S

The Stylist You won’t find Versailles following trends; he knows the best looks are those that stand the test of time. Go to him for classic tips that never go out of fashion, plus, all the best gossip.

Versailles Dressing Table/Desk 152x66x79cmH £1,195 Fyli Vase Medium £80 Pair of Eferi Framed Prints Black/White 70x5x100cmH £450 Faux Shagreen Heirloom Box Large £250 Giant Glass Paperweight £85 Rolieau Table Lamp 30x15x49cmH £275 (seen with Empire Linen Shade White 41cmDiax23cmH £55) Washakie Chair Lake Green Velvet 50x59x98cmH £425

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The Architect As intelligent as she is artistic, Honshu would be intimidating were it not for her playful streak. Don’t be fooled by her suave style – she’s always up for having fun.

Honshu Faux Shagreen Desk £1,795 Fyra Cabinet 120x45x165cmH £1,850 Sesorthos Decorative Pyramid £60 Prints Ochre 50x3x70cmH £295 Anozoria Paperweight £40

Pair of Eferi

Hongwu Pot Dijon £95 Faux Poppy Stem Scarlet £12 Polished Emerald Glass Ball Bookends £195 Housenka Lamp 22cmDiax47cmH £295 (seen with

Rinca Shade 35cmDiax23cmH £125)

Stafford Dining Chair with Arms Smoke Blue Leather 64x61x93cmH £995 Alexey Rug 240x305cm £1,595

42 | view the entire collection at oka.com

D E S K M AT E S

The Explorer There’s a wild side to Chinon that’s at odds with her gentle nature. Never far from her next adventure, she's perfectly organised, keeping things simple to allow space for spontaneity.

Chinon Desk 125x64x79cmH £1,550 Feur Chair 47x49x88cmH £250 Minerva Lamp 24cmDiax55cmH £275 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Shade Onyx 45cmDiax31cmH £125) Hatsumomo Round Vase £60 Lakadema Leopard Bookends £80 Sorin Lidded Jar Short £55 Peking TV Cabinet 90x45x160cmH £1,795 Capiz Neckpiece on Stand 42x7x60cmH £150

Hegaldia Rug 244x305cm £2,995

43

The Editor The next best seller could be just a page-turn away – Maplehurst just needs to find it. Sturdy and dependable, you can always count on this committed type to get the job done.

Maplehurst Desk Ebonised Oak 120x60x80cmH (closed) | 172x60x82cmH (extended) £2,095 Bayuban Wardrobe 127x60x213cmH £2,995 Piquet Table Lamp and Shade 31cmDiax53cmH £325 Set of Three Cosmati and Ocellus Box Files £65

Kintaro China Cochineal Jug £40 | 4x Mugs £60 Grisewood Lamp and Shade Loganberry 31x20x41cmH £225 Stafford Dining Chair Ash Grey Leather 45x59x92cmH £695 Gonglin Wastepaper Bin 22x23x28cmH £150 Rander Ceramic Stool Red/ White 30cmDiax47cmH £225 Melaka Rug 240x305cm £2,295

44

D E S K M AT E S

The Gardener Edward’s weathered appearance hints at a lifetime spent outdoors. When he’s not tending to his beloved perennials, you’ll find him putting down roots that will endure for generations.

Edward Desk 180x80x75cmH £3,795

Corylus Decorative Hazel Leaf Dish £45

26cmDiax48cmH £195 (seen with Empire Linen Shade White 46cmDiax28cmH £65)

Kraak China Teapot £100 | Breakfast Cup and Saucer £55

Lunitidal Lamp Hongwu Pot Celadon £95

Liaodong Pot Celadon £195 Atherton Dining Chair

Cerulean 55x65x85cmH £795 Lazaret Rug 244x305cm £2,995

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The

COMFIEST PLACE TO BE

PHOTOGRAPHS Damian Russell

STYLING Anders Olsson

Light and airy meets inviting and cosy in this charming cottage, which has all the makings of the perfect off-grid escape, fit for a particularly thoughtful bear…

46

Tarma Armchair Lazaret Blue 84x95x87cmH £1,695 Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover with Fringing Petrol 51xcmSq £80 Gustavian Sofa Side Table Washed Grey 48x25x59cmH £275 Campaign Desk 75x43x81cmH £650 Flaubert Bone Letter Rack £195 Concha in Acrylic £175 Wooden Column Lamp Cream 12cmDia50cmH £125 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Shade Mustard 35cmDiax23cmH £85) La Brume Wall Art 107x4x158cmH £795 Minshan Console Table 127x35x86cmH £1,995 Whorl Decorative Sea Shell £175 Jaqueta Table Lamp Duck Egg Blue 35cmDiax58cmH £475 (seen with Elemeri Pleated Silk Shade Heron Daintree Decorative Vase White £65 Set of Two Zion Lidded Urns Distressed White £85 Set of Nine Shoreline Seashell Prints Blue 35cmDiax23cmH £125) £325 Pair of Eferi Prints Ochre 50x3x70cmH £295 Set of Four Skeleton Coral Prints 50x2x70cmH £395 Holstocke Mirror Small £150 Avitus 3-Seater Sofa Flax Zacke Cushion Cover Ash Grey 51cmSq £75 Maya Cushion Cover 56cmSq £95 Bela Appliqué Cushion Cover Narrow Herringbone 218x98x90cmH £3,495 Blue/Natural 56cmSq £75 Shui Stool 34cmDiax46cmH £450 Ely Floor Cushion Rosy Brown 70cmSqx40cmH £425 Medanoso Rug Natural 240x305cm £995 Glin Hongwu Pot Sea Blue £95 Liaodong Pot Dijon £195 Herringbone Linen Ottoman Wide Herringbone 138x92x47cmH £1,195 Gonglin Tray £175

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Egon Table Lamp 23cmSqx62cmH £395 (seen with Drum Linen Shade Natural 40cmDiax25cmH £55) Coleridge 2-Seater Sofa Ice Blue 127x92x82cmH £1,895 Plain

Linen Cushion Cover Dijon 60x35cm £50 Contorno Cushion Cover Air Force Blue 56cmSq £65 Rander Ceramic Stool Charcoal/White 30cmDiax47cmH £225 Decardi

Ribbed Vase Large 33cmDiax31cmH £125 Coleridge Footstool Natural 83x48x47cmH £695

48

Corylus Decorative Hazel Leaf Dish £45

T

here’s nothing quite as nice as a weekend spent tucked away in the English countryside.

This East Sussex home, however, has a little extra magic, residing as it does in the heart of the Ashdown Forest – famously the inspiration for some of A.A. Milne's most iconic literary locations, such as Pooh Bridge and the Hundred Acre Wood. In homage to this fabled landscape, we set about bringing the outside in, to create an inviting space that’s wholly at one with nature.

Crisp, white-painted panelled walls and an abundance of natural light – thanks to the huge windows surrounding the living space – lend this wooden cottage a bright and breezy air. To complement its setting, plenty of natural textures and nature-led accessories were a must, from the reclaimed wood dining table and rattan-detailed storage to leaf-shaped dishes and botanical-style prints. Shades of vibrant yellow and blue, with dashes of rich red, weave the space together, adding warmth and character that invite you to switch off and stay a while; as Winniethe-Pooh says, “Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

ABOVE Crusoe Upholstered Trunk

Charcoal 152x50x54cmH £1,750

Morbihan Cushion Cover Natural 56cmSq £75

Zacke Cushion Cover

Putting Green 51cmSq £75

Dahan

Cushion Cover Putting Green 51cmSq £75 RIGHT Gourami Table Lamp Ink Blue 26cmDiax56cmH £325 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Shade Indigo 45cmDiax31cmH £125) Set of Twelve

Feather Prints 24x3x31cmH £425 Hongwu Pot Dijon £95 Set of Four Seaweed Framed Prints 61x0x83cmH £395

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THIS PAGE

Tarma Armchair Lazaret Blue 84x95x87cmH £1,695

Cushion Cover with Fringing Petrol 51cmSq £80

Stonewashed Linen

Minshan Console Table 127x35x86cmH

£1,995 Jaqueta Table Lamp Duck Egg Blue 35cmDiax58cmH £475 (seen with Elemeri Pleated Silk

Shade Heron Blue 50cmDiax33cmH £225) Vase White £65

Hongwu Pot Dijon £95

Daintree Decorative

Whorl Decorative Sea Shell £175 Merisiili In Acrylic £175 Kraak Starter/

Dessert Plate £40 Set of Two Zion Lidded Urns Distressed White £85 OPPOSITE PAGE Tofinho Garden Chair 63x64x90cmH £350 Rander Ceramic Stool Black/White 30cmDiax47cmH £225 Gromwell Glassware Jug £55 | 4x Tumblers £65

50

Nesbitt Throw Blue £195

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Gourami Table Lamp Ink Blue 26cmDiax56cmH £325 (seen with Pattani Eclipse Shade Indigo 45cmDiax31cmH £125)

Hongwu Pot Dijon £95 Set of Twelve Feather Prints 24x3x31cmH £425 Set of Four Seaweed Framed Prints 61x0x83cmH £395 Safi Rug 240x305cm £1,595

Vasa Dining Chair Natural

Linen 49x65x93cmH £595 Contorno Cushion Cover Alchemilla 60x35cm £55 | 56cmSq £65 Camborne Dining Table 245x105x79cmH £4,295

Kintaro China Indigo Serving Bowl £75 | Jug £40 | Giant

Charger £70 Leptoria Drum Shade Marine Blue 35cmDiax23cmH £85 Holstocke Mirror Medium £175

52

THE COMFIEST PL ACE TO BE

Kintaro China Indigo 4x Side Plates £65 |

Serving Bowl £75 |

Jug £40 |

Giant Charger £70 |

4x Mugs £60 16-Piece Cutlery Set Ivory £95 Camborne Dining Table 245x105x79cmH £4,295

Contorno Cushion Cover Alchemilla 56cmSq £65

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ABOVE

Whorl Decorative Sea Shell £175

Corylus Decorative Hazel Leaf Dish £45 RIGHT Avitus 3-Seater Sofa Flax Narrow Herringbone 218x98x90cmH £3,495

Stonewashed Linen Cushion Cover with Fringing Petrol 51cmSq £80

Areca

Cushion Cover Blood Orange 56cmSq £65 Hongwu Pot Sea Blue £95 Liaodong Pot Dijon £195

54 | view the entire collection at oka.com

Bedarra Bistro Range Chair 57x63x95cmH £325 | Table 70cmDiax75cmH £395 Contorno Outdoor Cushion Cover Air Force Blue 56cmSq £95 Pandanus Insulated Jug £95 Faux Potted Mini Orchid £35 Kraak China Sugar Bowl £35 | Breakfast Cup and Saucer £55 | Side Plate £35

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56

THE COMFIEST PL ACE TO BE

Abaneri Side Table 50cmDiax60cmH £895

Housenka Lamp 22cmDiax47cmH £295 (seen

with Pleated Linen Shade Natural 45cmDiax31cmH £90) 218x98x90cmH £3,495

Cover Ecru 56cmSq £75 Decorative Jug £30 Large £45

Avitus 3-Seater Sofa Pure Navy

Areca Cushion Cover Sea Foam 56cmSq £65 Nartelle Cushion Minshan Bookcase 76x36x165cmH £1,495 Pula Vase £25 Hadrian Liaodong Pot Celadon £195 Zabiya Decorative Vase Medium £40 |

Avitus Armchair Pure Navy 126x98x90cmH £2,595

Dahan Cushion Cover

Blood Orange 51cmSq £75 Brummundal Floor Lamp 28cmDiax138cmH £495 (seen with

Roa Shade 45cmDiax31cmH £175) Rander Ceramic Stool Charcoal/White 30cmDiax47cmH £225 4x Kintaro Mugs Cochineal £60 Merinid Floor Cushion 70cmSqx30cmH £425 Senada Rug 240x305cm £1,595 Barrington Hurricane Lamp £175 Set of Two Zion Lidded Urns Distressed White £85

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58

THE COMFIEST PL ACE TO BE

OPPOSITE PAGE

Elder Bar Stool 54cmSqx111cmH £495 Contorno Cushion Cover Alchemilla

60x35cm £55 Kraak China Dinner Plate £60 | Bowl £55 4x Twisted Glass Tumblers Tall £35 THIS PAGE, LEFT

Gustavian Sofa Side Table Washed Grey 48x25x59cmH £275 Kraak

Breakfast Cup and Saucer £55 ABOVE Safi Rug 240x305cm £1,595 Polperro Armchair 74x76x92cmH £1,395 Plain Linen Cushion Cover Dijon 60x35cm £50 Holstocke Mirror Small £150

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60

OPPOSITE PAGE Apadana Armless Chair Blood Orange Velvet 66x78x84cmH £895

Senadak Rug 240x305cm £1,595 Balabac Chest of Drawers Large 91x44x89cmH £995 Kolokythi Wide Decorative Bowl Distressed White £30 Faux Potted Mini Orchid £35 Set of Twelve Anatomical Fruit Framed Prints 38x50cmH £425

Housenka Lamp

22cmDiax47cmH £295 (seen with Empire Linen Shade Natural 41cmDiax23cmH £55) THIS PAGE Calabash Rattan Table Lamp 29cmDiax58cmH £325 (seen with

Roa Shade

45cmDiax31cmH £175) Standard Divan Bed Base without Drawers King 153x198x38cmH £700 Classic High Rise Headboard King 153x10x150cmH £850 (seen with Classic High Rise

Headboard Loose Cover King Natural £275) Valance Cover King Natural £325 Pattani Eclipse Cushion Cover Mustard 51cmSq £60

Areca Cushion Cover

Blood Orange 56cmSq £65 Karaikal Quilt Natural £295 Radnor Side Table Linen Grey 40cmSqx65cmH £395 Pula Vase £25 Saule Rug Natural 244x305cm £1,595

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Asimina Planter Large £475 | Small £350 Terrazzin Modular Outdoor Sofa Armless Chair 84x87x86cmH £1,695 | Corner/End Piece 90x87x86cmH £1,895

Huaca Outdoor Reversible Cushion Cover 51cmSq £95 Outdoor Cushion Cover Dirty Orange 56cmSq £95

62 | view the entire collection at oka.com

Contorno

63

Set of Five Pentangle Mirrored Wall Art Panels 33x6x89cmH £995 Nell 2.5-Seater Sofa 192x80x69cmH £2,695 Dahan Cushion Cover Brown 51cmSq £75 |

Air Force Blue 51cmSq £75

Cushion Cover Indigo 51cmSq £75

Elemeri

Zacke Cushion Cover Ash

Grey 51cmSq £75 Lirio Vase £65 Versailles Ashmolean Bookshelves 90x28x218cmH £1,850 Faux Shagreen Heirloom Box £250

Acanthosphere Lidded Pot £45 Round Bone Box with Lid £295 Bricini Vase Small £30 Versailles Nested Consoles 130x34x81cmH £1,395 Fusang Decorative Cauldron £495 Alastor Horse On Stand £225 Morcent Table Lamp 24x14x49cmH £275 (seen with Pleated

Linen Shade Natural 40cmDiax27cmH £80) Carulea Rug Graphite Fog 240x305cm £2,295 Locke Ottoman with Drawers 103cmSqx45cmH £4,395 Pholos Horn Decorative Brush £325 Gonglin Tray £175

Costellini Ottoman Ash Grey Leather 47cmDiax45cmH £450

64

A VIEW TO ELEGANCE

A calming palette and an abundance of texture make for a new take on sophistication PHOTOGRAPHS Ben Anders ST YLING Belinda White

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T

o those well-versed in English architecture, the distinctive façade of this townhouse speaks to one location: Bath. Quite literally the building block of the city, the warm, honeycoloured stone has become something of an iconic local feature – it’s been used for centuries to hew everything from homes to landmarks, and even acted as a backdrop for some of Jane Austen’s novels. While the exterior of this house is markedly Georgian, the interior fuses design elements from the building’s historic past – intricate mouldings and grand fireplaces – with sleek contemporary details, such as polished ebony-toned floorboards, to achieve an elegant aesthetic.

Paired with a view of lush greenery and rolling hills that lead down to the River Avon, the house’s soft palette of greys, blues and eau de nil work wonders for a calming setting – one can’t help but feel relaxed here. With understated finishes, such as metallics and mirrored furniture, and layer upon layer of luxurious textures, it’s an easy space to be in; refined yet welcoming. To reinforce that sense, velvet, faux fur, goat hair and leather seating punctuates the space, meaning there’s an inviting spot to curl up, or catch up, in every room.

What could be better than that?

THIS PAGE, ABOVE Costellini Ottoman Truffle Velvet

47cmDiax45cmH £275 Rhossili Cushion Cover Natural 51cmSq £75 £850

Florac Side Table 80cmDiax71cmH

Takayna Decorative Pine Cone Tall £60

Barrington Hurricane Lamp 32cmDiax52cmH £175 Fyli Vase Large £125 Faux Mophead Hydrangea Stem Purple £20

Acanthosphere Lidded Pot Light Grey £45

LEFT Nell 2.5-Seater Sofa 192x80x69cmH £2,695

Dahan Cushion Cover Air Force Blue 51cmSq £75 Elemeri Cushion Cover Charcoal 51cmSq £75 Zacke Cushion Cover Ash Grey 51cmSq £75 OPPOSITE PAGE Alastor Horse On Stand £225

Versailles Nested Consoles 130x34x81cmH £1,395 Fusang Decorative Cauldron £495 Morcent Table Lamp 24x14x49cmH £275 (seen with Pleated Linen Shade Natural 40cmDiax27cmH £80) Costellini Ottoman Ash Grey Leather 47cmDiax45cmH £450

66

A VIEW TO ELEGANCE

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LOREM IPSUM

68 | view the entire collection at oka.com

OPPOSITE PAGE Dige Urn £650

Stafford Dining Chair with Arms China Clay Leather 64x61x93cmH £695

Lapis Rug

244x305cm £2,995 Kalivia Round Dining Table 139cmDiax76cmH £2,795 Daintree Decorative Vase Brown £65 Faux Cosmos Stem £18

Lenox Drinks Trolley 91x48x88cmH £1,250

Gonglin Table Lamp 23cmDiax46cmH £250 (seen with Pleated Linen Shade Natural

40cmDiax27cmH £80) Reeded Bone Ice Bucket £275 Bamboo Tray £275 4x Twisted Glass Tumblers Short £30 Bricini Vase Medium £45 | Large £55 THIS PAGE

Pyramid £60

Katsura Cabinet Natural 91x45x180cmH £1,795 Gonglin Memory Box £195 Sesorthos Decorative

George Club Chair Fawn 61x72x71cmH £3,295 Elsdon Rug Washed Rose 244x305cm £4,495

69

Avitus Armchair Charcoal 126x98x90cmH £2,595 Elemeri Cushion Cover Indigo 51cmSq £75 Baricella Side Table 60x40x62cmH £695 Round Bone Box with Lid £295 Sesorthos Block Cross Decoration £60 Airi Floor Lamp 47x21x161cmH £425 (seen with Elemeri Pleated Silk Shade Heron Blue 50cmSqx33cmH £225)

Avitus 3-Seater Sofa

Charcoal 218x98x90cmH £3,495 Lilias Linen Cushion Cover Warm Grey 51cmSq £80

Sumba Cushion Cover 51cmSq £75

Mertensii Table Lamp 36cmDiax39cmH £250 (seen with Pleated Linen Shade Natural 30cmDiax20cmH £55)

Katsura

Cabinet Natural 91x45x180cmH £1,795 Gonglin Memory Box £195 Sesorthos Decorative Pyramid £60 Elsdon Rug Washed Rose 244x305cm £4,495 Tuffete Ottoman 115cmDiax38cmH £1,395

Corylus Decorative Hazel Leaf Dish £45 Faux

Shagreen Oval Plateau Tray £250

70

A VIEW TO ELEGANCE

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Rander Ceramic Stool Charcoal/White 30cmDiax47cmH £225 Lenox Drinks

Trolley 91x48x88cmH £1,250

Gonglin

Table Lamp 23cmDiax46cmH £250 (seen with Pleated Linen Shade Natural 45cmDiax31cmH £90) Reeded Bone Ice

Bucket 18cmDiax20cmH £275 Bamboo Tray £275 4x Twisted Glass Tumblers Short £30 Decorative Oak Leaf Dish £50

72

Sedgwick Mirror 120x3x120cmH £850

Takayna

Decorative Pine Cone Small £50 Papavera Vase Medium £175 Faux Catkin Stem Cream £22 Demoiselle Decorative Dish £225 Ruffelen Extendable Dining Table 255x95x79cmH (fully extended); 209x95x79cmH (leaves removed) £3,395 Camaret Dining Chair 48x56x99cmH £550 Gonglin Cabinet 61x41x84cmH £695

Pyaaz Lamp 28cmDiax45cmH £225 (seen with Pleated Linen Shade Grey Blue 40cmDiax28cmH £80) Costellini Ottoman Wide Herringbone Linen 47cmDiax45cmH £275

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Crosby Armchair Ash Grey 83x72x70cmH £1,395

Stafford Bar Stool Charcoal

Velvet 45x59x110cmH £450 4x Machame

Napkins £70 4x Twisted Wine Glasses Large £35 Faux Shagreen Oval Plateau

Tray £250 Urchin Jug £60 Nest of Six Lama Offering Bowls £195

74 | view the entire collection at oka.com

A VIEW TO ELEGANCE

Papavera Vase Large £275 Kirkwall Club Chair China Clay Leather 70x63x78cmH £795

Kabibi Cushion Cover Dusky Pink 51cmSq £80 Dalu Side Table

38x50x59cmH £750

Gonglin Planter £195

75

76

Versailles Mirror Large 89x7x140cmH £650 Kirkwall Club Chair China Clay Leather 70x63x78cmH £795

Hark Standing Mirror 40cmDiax180cmH £1,495 Vaquero

Stool 55x41x50cmH £650 Sesorthos Block Cross Decoration £60 Four-Poster Bed King 168x215x225cmH £2,995

Hester

Kabibi Cushion Cover Dusky

Pink 51cmSq £80 Nartelle Cushion Cover Ecru 56cmSq £75 Set of Two Versailles

Nested Side Tables 69x41x61cmH £595 Space Lamp Brass 15x10x43cmH £250 (seen with Pleated Linen Shade Natural 35cmDiax24cmH £65)

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A DESIGN FOR Your LIFE

Antoni Roig, OKA Senior Interior Designer

Enlisting the help of an interior designer can seem like an intimidating step, especially if you've never done it before. We caught up with our Interior Design team to answer some of the most commonly asked questions, and to find out more about how they work.

78 | Photographs Tom Griffiths

W

e believe that your home should be a relaxing place, where nothing is too precious or perfect to be enjoyed. It’s the motto our Interior Design team lives by; the most important thing is creating a space – however big or small – that works perfectly for its inhabitants and can be enjoyed at every moment. “We take into account how you want to live in your home – that’s what really matters,” says Antoni Roig, OKA's Senior Interior Designer (pictured left).

Even armed with this knowledge, letting an interior designer in can be daunting. Whether you’re looking to refresh a cushion arrangement, reimagine a room around a treasured piece of furniture or have just moved house and are at a loss as to where to begin, the sentiment remains the same: it’s your home, it’s personal. With years of experience under their belts, this feeling is one our Interior Design team understand – allow them to put your mind at ease.

Will my space feel like 'me'?

When asked how he goes about designing homes that don’t align with his personal style, Roig laughs: "That's what I do every day. But it’s not about me.” Our clients are always right at the heart of the design process, which is why, from the beginning, the team find it so important to get to know each person.

“I love to find out more about their personalities,” agrees Interior Designer Sarina Hawkins. “We’ll discuss what the function of each room should be, and the look and feel, but it’s when you learn that people have a big family and dogs, or are single and love to host, that you can really start bringing ideas to life.”

While this is how the building blocks of a project are conceived, it's important to recognise that the first iterations are seldom perfect – and that's all part of the process.

In fact, Roig actively wants his clients to tweak his designs, explaining that “what works for me in a sofa might not work for a client – it depends on how they sit, how they read, how they watch TV… I can only guide”. It’s this constructive collaboration and unique input – like spotting the perfect cushion cover – that shapes each home along the way.

oka.com/designservice | 79

Can I afford it?

“The idea of 'exclusivity' is definitely there, but it's a misconception – we truly cater for everyone,” Roig tells us.

“We design practical homes, liveable spaces. I enjoy putting one small room together for a young couple just as much as any big project I do.” The variety of homes the team has worked on over the past year is testament to this.

Their projects range from offering styling advice on lamp pairings for a London flat to furnishing a restored barn in the Cotswolds, keeping the integrity of the building in mind, while combining old and new pieces.

Of course, some budgets are larger than others, but cost needn’t be the be-all and end-all. “You just need to be a bit savvy – prioritise what you really need,” says Hawkins, who always recommends her clients spend money on “good furniture items”, such as sofas and beds. If they're well made the frames will last a lifetime, meaning they can always be reupholstered in years to come.

Can I keep my own pieces?

Most definitely. In fact, expertly layering a client’s existing pieces with OKA items is a particular point of pride for us. And, according to Hawkins, designing a scheme is even more fun when based around a client’s current furniture – “It completely changes the nature of what we have,” she says. “It’s great working together to find pieces in our range that we can mix and match; we really do find complementary pieces that work with all kinds of existing styles.”

One recent client agrees: “Despite my constant indecisiveness OKA helped me create the perfect sanctuary in my bedroom and a homely yet modern sitting room, that still fit in with the rest of the house.”

The aforementioned Cotswolds home was also a unique exercise in combining furnishings, details and eras. “This house was beautifully constructed, it was a stage,” explains Roig. “It had an amazing base, with lots of raw materials that we enhanced with characterful pieces – there were opportunities in every corner.”

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How I t Works

How do you make sure I will still love it in a year's time?

While it’s true that some design firms adopt a solely trendled approach, the same cannot be said about OKA. For us, it’s quite the opposite; it’s all about longevity. “Some people are worried that they’ll be stuck with a ‘show home’, full of all the of-the-moment designs that they won’t like in a few years,” Hawkins says, “but that’s the beauty of the OKA collection – everything is timeless.” Roig echoes this: “OKA is a thousand styles. You put everything in the cocktail mixer and what comes out is an individual design, tailored for a specific person.”

1

Book a Complimentary Consultation

First, book an appointment – an informal chat – with our Interior Design team, either in-store or online. Whether you have a vision and need some help bringing it to life or are starting from scratch, this is the part where they can find out more about your project and you can get to know one another.

2

Sarina Hawkins, OKA Interior Designer

The Design Process

A scheme will all come down to measurements, so following a visit to your home – or a detailed look at plans – your designer will draw up a proposal, along with a shopping list to present you with. This is by no means the end result; you’ll work together to tweak the proposition, down to every last detail, until it's perfect for you.

What our Interior Design Service offers In short, our team can assist with anything and everything, anywhere around the globe. As well as being able to help you create a uniquely beautiful (and functional) space using furniture and accessories, they can also plan colour schemes and bespoke window treatments, such as curtains and blinds.

What's more, most projects can be taken from concept to completion in just three weeks.

Now you've got the inside information, as well as the answers to your initial questions at your fingertips, why not find out for yourself how the process works from start to finish?

3 Delivery and Installation

Once you’re happy with the layout and product selection, our team will arrange White Glove Delivery, where all the items you've selected will be unpacked and carefully arranged in your home.

Interested? To book your complimentary consultation simply email designservice@oka.com or visit oka.com/designservice

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Breaking the Mould In her second book, Three, London-based chef Selin Kiazim draws on global influences and her own instinct to inspire people to think outside the box when cooking Words: Clare Finney

I

t seems hard to believe, sitting across from Selin Kiazim in her chef whites, at a table in her critically acclaimed restaurant, but there was a time when this chef and food writer wasn’t sure about cooking professionally. She’d trained at Westminster Kingsway College, interned at various restaurant kitchens and “just couldn’t see myself being able to settle into the industry. I felt so nervous all the time – like I just didn’t belong”. Her turning point came in the form of Peter Gordon, the New Zealand-born chef and restaurateur who is widely credited for bringing fusion food to Britain, though his greatest legacy lies – and lives on – in the way he treats people in his kitchen. “From the moment I met him, I felt, ‘this is what it’s like to be a great chef, Selin Kiazim running a successful restaurant – and to be nice to people’. There was none of that bullying culture that I’d experienced previously,” Kiazim recalls.

Not only has the chef’s mentor influenced how she runs her own restaurant, Oklava, but his magpie approach to cooking and ingredients has clearly left its mark on her new cookbook, too. After almost a decade of working with Turkish-Cypriot flavours, Kiazim has branched out into “food from anywhere and everywhere”. The titular Three refers to acid, texture and contrast, which, the book argues, are the essential foundations for redefining everyday cooking.

Three is brimful of potential, not only to help up your game in the kitchen, but also to see a different side to this preternaturally talented chef, who has appeared on both Saturday Kitchen and Great British Menu. Though her parents are Turkish-Cypriot, Kiazim was born and bred in North London and the book reflects the eclecticism of her influences, with recipes divided simply by type of food.

“I have always hated the classification of food; the need to call it ‘British’ or ‘British with Japanese influences’,” she says. “I have been quite pigeon-holed as a ‘Turkish-Cypriot chef’. It’s exciting to now draw on global ingredients and global influences; to nod to my heritage, but to go beyond that. As a Londoner, I’ve always wanted my food to be inclusive of all my influences. It’s great to be able to say ‘Hey! I can cook something else’.”

How did you decide on the three of Three?

I didn’t want it to just be another cookbook full of recipes – I wanted it to be something different. I kept thinking of those people who have a certain repertoire of recipes that they make every day on repeat. I thought “wouldn’t it be great if these people were just able to throw open their cupboards and create something out of what’s there; to think as we chefs do”. Then I thought about what we look for in a plate of food, and that is where acid, texture and contrast came in. I wanted to write a book that was full of generous ideas and guidance, as well as recipes; that gave you not just a recipe for green chilli jam, but several ideas on how to use it.

82 | Portrait Andrew Hayes-Watkins

How challenging was it to create an entire cookbook during a pandemic?

I’d been bouncing some ideas around with my agent before lockdown, but I just never got around to doing the proposal. I was always needed in the kitchen, one way or another. Then, lockdown hit and I thought “this is how I need to use my time”.

It was a great opportunity on the one hand, but I would also say that I had to go deep to push through the barrier of being uninspired. Like the rest of us, there were plenty of times when I would just sit and stare blankly at a wall.

Where do you recommend people start when first approaching Three?

There’s a recipe for slow-cooked leeks with oyster mushrooms that is easy, but full of flavour (see p.84). I give lots of suggestions for using it: you can have it as a side dish, or tossed through pasta or noodles.

It’s one of my favourites.

When Oklava opened in 2015 it challenged many Londoners’ preconceptions about Turkish food. How easy was it to bring people around to the idea of paying more for something they might not immediately recognise as Turkish?

I was trying to do something very specific with Oklava, and that was to show people there is more to Turkish food than the lovely kebabs and mezes you get for such good value in Dalston. When we first opened, I was always defending the prices. The other thing was that my very specific heritage is North Cyprus, which is largely unrecognised. It was really nice to be able to represent that tiny part of the world, and the food I grew up eating, but through the eyes of someone born and brought up in London.

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

The fact that Oklava is now seen not just as a great Turkish restaurant, but as a great restaurant, is something I have only come to appreciate in the past year-and-a-half. That reflects the food and drink, but it also reflects everything else that goes into it, including the service and the staff. Watching the kitchen during service is like watching a silent ballet; the team all know how to move around each other, where to be and what to do at different times – it’s amazing to see. From the outset, my business partner Laura [Christie] and I intended to create a happy, inclusive working environment, where staff were paid properly and well looked after, and now it’s something we get increasingly recognised for. I am proud of achieving that.

Three: Acid, Texture, Contrast – The Essential Foundations to Redefine Everyday Cooking by Selin Kiazim (£18, Hardie Grant)

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Slow-Cooked Leeks and Oyster Mushrooms Although the name states oyster mushrooms, this recipe will pretty much take what you throw at it, so you can really use any type you like. Mushroom foragers at markets will often have some really beautiful varieties, such as ceps or chanterelles, which are a little bit older and need to be eaten sooner rather than later – scoop them up for a lower price, they will work beautifully.

SERVES 4 2 large or 4 small leeks, green tops cut off Extra virgin olive oil 2 big handfuls of coriander, with stalks 1 large garlic clove 1 chilli 1 lime, zested and juiced 300g oyster mushrooms (or variety of choice), torn into pieces 1 tbsp butter Sea salt flakes 84

Dice the leeks into pieces that are approximately 2cm each and wash thoroughly. Heat a large, lidded widebased pan over a medium heat and add 5–6 tablespoons of olive oil – it should be enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Add the leeks, season with fine salt and once you hear them starting to fry, turn the heat down a little and place a lid on top. Sweat the leeks gently, stirring occasionally, for 25 minutes or until soft.

to anyone, but I reckon it should be about the quantity to escape from the bottle when it takes in its first “glug” of air. More is better than less, in any case.

Blitz to form a paste and add a little more olive oil if needed. Set aside.

Place a large frying pan over a high heat for 1 minute. Add another glug of oil, followed by the mushrooms. Fry for 2–3 minutes, so they get a little colour and cook through. Add the butter and season with sea salt flakes. Scoop the Roughly chop the coriander (both leaves mushrooms out of the frying pan and and stalks), garlic and chilli, then place drain on a paper towel. To serve, stir into a small blender with the lime zest. the coriander paste into the warm leeks Add a glug of olive oil; “glug” is one of along with the lime juice. Spoon onto those words that could mean anything a plate and top with the mushrooms.

FOOD

Muhammara A traditional component of a Turkish spread, or meze, this dip originally hails from Syria. Most recipes will include roasted red peppers, but I prefer to make it without. I love it on toast with a sprinkling of chives and Maldon Sea Salt, or in a sandwich with grilled halloumi.

Turkish pepper paste is available to buy online and in Middle Eastern supermarkets.

FOR 300g 150g walnuts, toasted 40g Turkish mild pepper paste (tatli biber salçasi) 120ml extra virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, finely grated ½ tsp dried chilli (red pepper) flakes or powder (pul biber, preferably) ¼ tsp cumin seeds, toasted and ground ½ lemon, juiced 25g pomegranate molasses 1 tsp caster sugar Preheat the oven to 140°C/120°C fan.

Spread the walnuts on a baking tray, roast for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Once cool, place in a food processor and blitz to a coarse crumb. Place into a bowl with the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly. Season to taste using fine salt.

Store in a container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

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Chermoula Beetroots, Dates and Pistachios Until the tender age of about 32, beetroots and I did not get along. My mind was changed after a visit to Coombeshead Farm, chef Tom Adams’ Cornwall outpost where, while he is off chasing his hand-reared Mangalitsa pigs through the woodland, he quietly lets his food do the talking. As part of a first course at a dinner that went straight to the top of my list of favourite meals that year (and the next too, incidentally), beetroots grown by a neighbouring farm were served. They were the sweetest, earthiest beetroots I had ever had, with a texture approaching that of fudge. Like any true foodie geek, I ambushed Tom after dinner for tips and tricks. His dish inspired me to give beetroots another go.

Chermoula is a North African condiment and works really well with the flavour of beetroot. If ever I form an all-girl punk band, I think we will call ourselves the Chermoula Beets.

SERVES 4 Chermoula

Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan.

1 small handful of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Wrap the beetroots in a foil envelope and place on to a baking sheet. Place into the oven and cook for 45–90 minutes, depending on the size of the beetroots – it’s ready when a skewer or the tip of a knife inserted into it comes out easily. Leave to cool slightly. Using a small knife, peel the beetroots and then cut into chunks.

1 small handful of coriander, finely chopped ¼ red onion, finely chopped ½ chilli, finely chopped ¼–½ lemon, juiced 1 small garlic clove, finely grated ½ tbsp vinegar (red, white, apple cider or moscatel), plus extra for the beetroots 50ml extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for the beetroots ½ tsp smoked paprika Beetroots 800g–1kg beetroots, a selection of different colours, if you can find them 5 Medjool dates, stones removed and each chopped into 6 pieces 25g pistachios, toasted and chopped

Turn the oven down to 140°C/120°C fan. Coat the beetroots in a little olive oil and salt and scatter across another lined baking sheet. Place in the oven and cook for a further 2–3 hours or until they have shrivelled a little, to look a bit like sun-blushed tomatoes. Remove from the oven and, once cool, coat in a little olive oil, vinegar and salt.

To make the chermoula, combine all the ingredients and season to taste. If preferred, you could use a food processor to blitz all the ingredients into a rough paste.

Spoon the beetroots across a serving plate and top with the chermoula. Scatter over the dates and pistachios.

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FOOD

Pork, Crackling and Coriander with a Palm Sugar, Chilli and Lime Dressing

There really is nothing quite like pork crackling – even the sound of the skin popping as you take it out of the oven makes my mouth water. This must be high-quality, sustainable, and ethically reared meat, or otherwise I wouldn’t bother – what was good for the pig will be good for us. To be honest, if I’m going to roast a big hunk of pork shoulder with crispy crackling, I don’t really want much next to it, other than a good salad of some description. I love carbs as much as the next person, but sometimes they do just get in the way of this porky loveliness. That said, noodles or a bowl of rice would work well with this recipe.

Before cooking, ensure the skin of the pork is very dry; to achieve this, leave it uncovered in the fridge for at least 24 hours.

SERVES 4 2kg bone-in pork shoulder, skin scored (ask your butcher to score it for you) 20g coriander, shredded 4 spring onions, finely sliced Palm Sugar, Chilli and Lime Dressing 45g palm sugar ½–1 chilli, depending on your taste 1 large or 2 small garlic cloves 4 tbsp fish sauce 2 limes, juiced

Heat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan.

Prepare the palm sugar, chilli and lime dressing by blitzing together all the ingredients. Taste and adjust with more sugar or lime if needed.

Line a roasting tin (big enough to fit the pork) with 2 layers of foil. Place a piece of baking paper over the foil and sit a rack into the tin.

Season the pork liberally with fine salt and place into the tray. Pour a cup of water on the bottom of the tray and cover the pork with foil. Place in the oven for 1 hour.

Remove the foil and turn the oven down to 180°C/160°C fan and cook the pork for a further 2–3 hours or until tender. You can test this by inserting a small knife into the

thickest part of the meat and you should feel little resistance. Take the pork out of the oven and leave to rest in a warm part of your kitchen for at least 30 minutes.

Turn the oven up to 240°C/220°C fan.

Place the pork back in the oven, for 8–15 minutes (depending on how hot your oven is) to crisp up the skin. You will need to turn the tin every 5 minutes or so to achieve even crispiness all over.

Take the pork out of the oven and leave to rest for 20 minutes. Tear the meat on a large board, roughly chop the crackling and scatter over the top. Sprinkle with the coriander and spring onions. You can either dip the pork into the dressing or spoon it over.

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Baby Gem, Dates, Crispy Lavash and Feta This salad is one of the few recipes that I repeat regularly. It’s got sweetness from the dates, juicy crunchiness from the baby gem, a lovely fragrance from the herbs and a dressing that you can throw together in an instant.

You could replace the Medjool dates with another type of dried or fresh fruit that you like. My favourite variation on this is natural dried apricots, bitter rocket and crumbled goat’s cheese.

SERVES 4 8–10 crispy lavash shards 6 Medjool dates, cut in half, stones removed Extra virgin olive oil 200g feta cheese 2 baby gem, leaves separated A big handful of freshly picked herbs, such as coriander, parsley, mint, chives or basil Vinegar (red, white, apple cider or moscatel) Sea salt flakes

Grill the lavash on a hot barbecue or griddle pan – if you have neither, brown them a little in a dry, hot frying pan. Once the flatbreads have begun to colour and char, place them directly onto the rack of a preheated oven at 180°C/160°C fan for 5-10 minutes, or until crispy, flipping midway through. Remove and leave to cool before breaking into large shards.

Cut each of the date halves into 3 pieces and place into a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and run them through your fingers so they separate out nicely. Crumble the feta into the dates, ensuring you keep some chunky pieces – you want it to keep its form as you mix it.

Add the leaves and herbs to the bowl.

88 | view the entire collection at oka.com

Now it’s time to dress the salad. I would encourage you to freestyle this, but as a general guideline, I like to use about 3 parts olive oil to z1 part acid. Drizzle the salad with the oil followed by your vinegar of choice, and season well with sea salt flakes. If you prefer, measure the dressing into a bowl and taste it first. Give the salad a good mix (it really is best to get your hands in there). Taste to ensure there is enough salt, oil and acid, and adjust as necessary; a measure of a good dressing is if one bite isn’t enough.

Add the crispy lavash to the bowl and mix again, making sure you coat the shards with everything without breaking them up too much. Serve immediately.

FOOD

Sweet Melon and Pickled Peppers Acid, texture and contrast can be deceptively simple: find yourself the sweetest, softest melon, pickle some peppers, serve. If you think about it (and I have), it has the three key building blocks in surplus.

SERVES 4 2–4 peppers of your choice (I like to use Turkish mild peppers) Malt vinegar (you can use other vinegars, but certainly don’t use your finest) 1 sweet, ripe, good-quality melon (any will do but cantaloupe works well) Sea salt flakes

Heat the grill to its highest setting. Place the peppers on a flat baking sheet and put under the grill to blister and blacken all over. Pop them into a bowl, cover and leave for 10 minutes. Rub off the blackened skins with your fingers and remove the seeds.

Slice the peppers, season with fine salt and cover in malt vinegar. Leave for at least a few hours, but ideally overnight.

Cut the melon into wedges and remove the seeds.

For each wedge of melon, cut the skin away and then place the flesh back onto the skin before cutting each wedge into 4–6 pieces. Serve with a scattering of the pickled peppers.

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A Love Letter to: Sri Lanka Sarah de Vere-Drummond, Co-Founder of boutique holiday rental company Kip Hideaways, describes her passion for the pearl of the Indian Ocean As told ol to Kate Lough

Sarah de Vere-Drummond

90 | Looking for more inspiration? Visit oka.com/ideas

PALM Hotel, Ahangama, Sri Lanka

TR AVEL

“

M

y first trip to Sri Lanka was when I was 22. I was fresh out of university; it was the first stop on a year-long backpacking trip around Asia and it captured my heart. I was bowled over by its natural beauty: vast jungles, paddy fields and mountain landscapes teeming with wildlife, all ringed by swathes of pristine beaches. It felt like a place of adventure, wonder and pure magic.

I gravitated towards travel for work and was lucky enough to keep going back to Sri Lanka to stay in some incredible places.

The most memorable was a remote jungle lodge in the northwest: a group of wonderfully simple, secluded huts hidden in Sri Lanka’s ancient heartlands.

Then, 18 months after the birth of my twin daughters in 2019, my husband and I took the plunge and moved to Sri Lanka for two years. We made the south coast our base, living in a little village called Ahangama about half an hour east of the city Galle.

Once a sleepy fishing village know only by a handful of surfers, it now has a cool scene, which has attracted a community of artists, creatives and eco-entrepreneurs. It has incredible little coves and beautiful Art Deco houses dotted around – to us, it still felt undiscovered, the real deal.

I’ve not been back since I returned to the UK last summer, but I know exactly where I’ll stay when I do.

During my time I met an inspiring couple who fast became the closest of friends. They have created the coolest place to stay on the island: PALM. Inspired by [Sri Lankan architect] Geoffrey Bawa's indoor-outdoor architecture, it is a collection of dreamy open-air A-frame cabanas, nestled between rice paddies and breezy palm trees, about five minutes from the coast in Ahangama. Before the pandemic, it was the place to be; its food, setting and vibe are so special.

It’s a pretty simple lifestyle in Sri Lanka. I would start my day with an early morning surf or yoga session, grab a coffee and late breakfast at [café] Maria Bonita and hang out on a local beach such as Kabalana, before heading into Galle (when the day has cooled off) for a stroll around the fort and an ice cream.

I recommend renting a moped and taking the time to explore the backstreets, paddies and little villages inland from the coast – you’ll see so much of daily life and incredibly rural scenery.” kiphideaways.co.uk

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Hidden Gems Forget honeymoon hotspots and buzzing beach clubs – the best of Greece is found beyond the well-trodden paths, says Kate Lough From spring through to autumn, Greece’s islands and coastline leap into life, making for the most idyllic of Mediterranean breaks. Far away from the crowds of Mykonos and Santorini, these four lesser-known spots are the ones to add to your travel list this year.

Villa Chora, Hydra

92 | Looking for more inspiration? Visit oka.com/ideas

TR AVEL

Hydra, Saronic Islands Separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strip of water, the magnetic and noble Hydra has played muse to writers, poets, artists and musicians since the 1960s (if not longer).

Arriving from Athens by boat, you’ll be struck by its crescent-shaped harbour and vertiginous town, where fishermen's houses jostle with Venetian-style palazzos from the 18th century.

Car-free, the only ways to get around are by donkey, boat and foot, which means Hydra feels spectacularly paused in time. Languorous days should be spent boat-hopping to charming coves with super clear water – stopping for simple fish lunches at Kodylenia’s – before sundowners at Hydronetta and dancing at the fabled Pirate Bar. To soak up the island’s illustrious naval history, the Lazaros Kountouriotis Mansion is a must-visit. Bed down at the castle-like Villa Chora, which has incredible views from its hilltop position and is only a (very steep, admittedly) 15-minute walk to the town’s cosmopolitan action. theluxurytravelbook.com

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Ithaca, Ionian Islands

Ithaca Bay House

An island of adventurers and wanderers, Ithaca is the mythical birthplace of Odysseus and it’s easy to see why Homer’s hero was so keen to return.

Rugged, mountainous and very green – even at the height of summer – this Ionian island is the ideal place for a family odyssey of your own. Stay at Ithaca Bay House, which has a magical position a few bays around from Kioni, easily the prettiest village on the northern part of the island. When you’re not lounging by the infinity pool or dropping down to Kantina for a simple taverna lunch, take the house RIB boat to secluded bays or, in the evening (between April and November), to foodie hotspot Rementzo for dinner.

For more of an off-the-beaten-track evening, drive up to Exogi for a sunset hike up the mountain to the monastery. Take in the 360-degree views of the island, before nipping back down for bowls of exceptionally good traditional Greek salads, pies and stews at Exogiinos, a wonderfully unexpected restaurant surrounded by stunning vistas. scottwilliams.co.uk 93

Mani HNG

Mani Peninsula There is more to explore in Greece than its islands alone – the Mani Peninsula, in particular, is nurturing a cult following.

Set on the wild southern tip of the Greek mainland, near Kalamata, this place, which is rich with history as well as mountainous landscapes, is home to the proud, ancient Maniot people (who believe themselves to be descendents of the Spartans). The author Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor was so entranced with Mani that he made it his home in his later years; similarly bewitched was historical fiction writer James Heneage, whose idyllic home overlooking the sea is one of the loveliest places to stay. Surrounded by acres of olive groves and scented by fig, pomegranate, almond, orange and lemon trees, Mani HNG sits on the foothills of Mount Taygetus and is a wonderful base for exploring. Visit age-old stone watchtowers, castles and villages, as well as the many Byzantine churches and chapels that dot the area. For nature lovers, there are long, beautiful hikes and stretches of beach for swims and taverna lunches. fivestargreece.com

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Mani HNG

94 | Looking for more inspiration? Visit oka.com/ideas

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Escape to the Country The best new British boltholes for a romantic rural retreat

Aller Dorset

Patmos ES

Patmos, Dodecanese Islands Although Patmos is one of the most stylish Greek islands, it still flies relatively under the radar. A firm favourite with the low-key art and fashion elite, it has a rich Byzantine and Ottoman heritage and architecture, as well as plenty of sandy beaches and an exceptionally handsome whitewashed town. Easily the chicest place to be, the town is characterised by cobbled lanes, buzzing squares and cascades of bougainvillea. Stay at Patmos ES, a beautiful 18th-century neoclassical mansion, brimming with antiques and featuring spectacular views across the sea. It’s a short hop to the bottom of the steps of the majestic 11th-century Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, which proudly dominates Patmos. After a day exploring the island’s bays by boat – you can even motor across the water to Turkey’s Bodrum for lunch – it’s time to hit Astiri bar for cocktails, before going to dinner at the muchloved Benetos near Skala.

There are shepherd’s huts, and then there are the two shepherd’s huts designed by former fashion PR Cat Earp and her husband Ant on his family farm in Dorset. Set in a magical location overlooking a lake (cool dips much encouraged) in idyllic countryside, the huts come with seductive outdoor baths, cosy fire pits and breakfast hampers filled with locally sourced food, as well as thoughtful interiors, packed with details such as handmade glassware. allerdorset.com

The Bradley Hare

A village pub with rooms, located on the Duke of Somerset’s Wiltshire estate, The Bradley Hare punches well above its weight – largely thanks to having ex-Soho House designer James Thurstan Waterworth at the interiors helm. Beautiful antiques and freestanding baths, plus excellent food and wine, make it a winner for weekends away – even more so with five-star country house The Newt and the medieval town of Bruton in striking distance. thebradleyhare.co.uk

fivestargreece.com

Grain Store at Coombeshead Farm

Set within acres of meadow and woodland, Coombeshead is both a working farm and a guesthouse; its old Grain Store has recently been transformed into four new bedrooms – think roll-top baths and sheepskin rugs. These are just the ticket for sauntering to, via the courtyard, after a sublime five-course dinner at the resident restaurant, where dishes are made using produce from the farm. coombesheadfarm.co.uk

Patmos ES

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NOT E PER F ECT Discover your signature room fragrance with The Chronicle Collection

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stores nationwide | oka.com | 97

P O W E R D E S K I N G: ALICE EDWARDS

The founder of bespoke stationery company Memo Press tells us how she gets things done Tell us what Memo Press is all about, and what inspired you to launch it?

Memo Press is a bespoke stationery company specialising in notepaper, greetings cards and event stationery. I was previously a journalist, but somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I wanted a change – something more sustainable, both from a green point of view and how it fitted into my life. I’ve always loved stationery, so it felt like the perfect fit.

Launching a new business in 2020 seems like either an incredibly brave or crazy move. What impact did it have on your plans?

Surprisingly, it helped enormously in ways I would never have expected. I had lots of focused time at home – aside from home-schooling two children. I could concentrate on launching the business without the distraction of having to physically see anyone. It also meant I was forced to only work with UK suppliers, which has become a core value of Memo Press.

What have you learnt along the way?

Not to be afraid to ask for help; people are overwhelmingly helpful if you just ask, and if they’re not then I’ve found they’re generally not the right people to be asking.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

Whitney Bromberg Hawkings, Founder of online florist FLOWERBX – she has given me lots of incredible advice and great commissions. She also taught me to have the confidence to say I can do something and then figure out the pieces later!

How do you find running a business from your home?

I love it; I find it enormously freeing that I can pick up a job when I need to and then go out and do the school run.

There are definite drawbacks, and compartmentalising my time is a weekly juggle; I’ve found that planning ahead is essential.

How do you stay productive during your working day?

Endless lists – without them I think any number of things would be forgotten. I’m also much more productive in the morning, so I try and have that time at my desk and afternoons for meetings.

What advice would you pass on to any budding entrepreneurs?

It would actually be stolen from [Net-a-Porter Founder] Dame Natalie Massenet. I saw a talk where she said: “You may have found a gap in the market, but is there a market in that gap?” That really stayed with me.

I knew there was a gap for beautifully made, sustainable stationery, but the rest was a gamble. Thankfully, so far, it’s paid off.

TOP Beardon Armchair 73x90x100cmH £1,095

Ledringhem Desk 121x59x80cmH £1,395

To discover more of Edwards’ world visit memopress.co.uk or head to our Instagram page @oka

98 | Photographs Tom Griffiths

Grisewood Lamp and Shade Brown 31x20x42cmH £225 Flaubert Bone Letter Rack £195 Tortoiseshell Vase Short £55

Faux Mophead Hydrangea Stem £20

ABOVE Giant Glass Paperweight £85

A beautiful collection of sofas, armchairs and ottomans custom-made in England.

Five styles. Four fabrics. 28 colours. Over 1,000 possibilities.

Start creating your dream design at oka.com/tailored

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