above: A selection of furniture and accessories by OKA, including the Egerton sofa (right) – Photograph courtesy of OKA
Westporters stepping inside 44 Main Street may feel as if they’ve been teleported across the Atlantic and into the homes of British friends with great style and taste. Welcome to OKA, a leading British interiors brand, with dozens of venues across the U.K., and an interior design service. In 2019, the company opened its first U.S. locations in Houston and Dallas, and in late December planned the opening for its first Northeast retail store here in Westport.
Why Westport? Our town seems a natural choice. “We are very excited to bring OKA to the East Coast and especially to Westport,” says Cofounder and Creative Director Sue Jones. “Its rich cultural history and artistic bent make it a perfect match for us.” The store transformed the building that was home to Banana Republic and, before that, to Klein’s Department store.
The two-story, 14,500-square-foot retail space downtown is designed as a series of exquisitely decorated rooms and staged vignettes recalling the richness and warmth of a Regency-style London townhouse, a country house in the north of Wales and a bucolic Cotswold cottage. The rooms will change with the seasons.
In effect, OKA Westport is a treasure trove of unusual finds and statement pieces, as well as a gateway to an Old World aesthetic that even well-traveled Westporters rarely get to experience. Once inside, shoppers will find not only an eclectic mix of furnishings— plush, made-to-order sofas; classic dining tables and chairs; an abundance of throw pillows in the colors and textures of an English garden—but also services not normally available in American retail stores. Recently, the company launched its first customizable collection, “Tailored by OKA,” which offers made-to-order seating designed in the United Kingdom. On hand in Westport is a team of home stylists providing advice and helping customers realize the interiors of their dreams.
If you can’t visit OKA Westport in person, visit the brand online at oka.com.