OKA’s First East Coast Store Launches in Westport

Pillows in quintessentially British hues span an entire wall, allowing shoppers to carry home accessories that lend their space a custom look without the lead time.

OKA, a phonetic nod to the British pronunciation of “ochre,” is located at 44 Main Street in Westport.

This cozy moment features OKA’s Marwick leather sofa and George club chair; a set of six fern prints in, appropriately enough, ochre makes a statement on the wall.

The showroom offers an abundance of lampshades in silks, solids, and stripes.

Pick a bouquet from a collection of faux blooms, and you don’t ever have to worry about replacing the water in the vase.

A vignette is ready for a cocktail and a game of bridge.

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

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

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

Established online in 1999 by three design-loving friends, Lady Annabel Astor, Sue Jones, and Lucinda Waterhouse, OKA’s first showroom opened in London in 2000. “Color and comfort are the first words that come to mind when I think of our brand,” says Jones, who was on hand to launch OKA’s U.S. flagship location (there are also showrooms in Dallas and Houston, Texas). “Our collections really are the epitome of British style. By that I mean there’s an eclectic mix of designs, global influences, patterns, and textures, which all sit together harmoniously—even though you might not think they would. Just as these elements do in a quintessentially English home.”

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

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

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