A home should reflect its inhabitants; it’s a container for a patchwork of precious, personal items that nod to the characters and lifestyles of those who reside there. If there’s one piece of furniture that speaks to this most, it’s the sofa. Synonymous with how you like to spend your time—whether playing host to family movie marathons, alone time with a well-loved novel or catch-ups with close friends—it’s one of the most important items in the house.

So, what could be better than crafting a sofa that perfectly suits you and your habits? Offering more than a thousand iterations, our handmade-to-order Tailored by OKA seating collection is an invitation to individuality. The selection comprises a selection of classic styles in a variety of sizes, complete with a choice of legs, and a wide range of color and fabric options, including two new “clever” fabrics: velvet and linen. Both have been innovatively designed to look and feel just as luxurious as the natural materials, but with the benefit of greater durability.

In the words of our Co-Founder Sue Jones, one of the most gratifying things is “seeing how the sofas have lent a personal touch to people’s homes,” so we set out to show this to you, too. Read on to discover how three fans of OKA designed their ideal sofas.

Louise Roe sits on an orange velvet sofa, holding her hand to her face and smiling at something off camera. Palm-print pillows decorate the sofa.

Louise Roe’s Egerton Sofa

“I wanted my home to feel like a story, so you could really go from one room to the next and have a new experience, without it feeling jarring,” says fashion journalist and broadcaster Louise Roe, who renovated her London townhouse last year. To achieve the synergy she desired, she wove her “very traditional English” style throughout the space, using complementary color palettes, textures and materials to create a cohesive feel.

This sense of harmony was on her mind when she set out to find the perfect sofa for her kitchen, the heart of her home where her young family spends most of its time. With comfort high on the agenda, she opted for the gentle, sloping silhouette of our Tailored by OKA Egerton 2-Seater, along with soft, velvet upholstery. Next, she turned to color. “I wanted, as usual, to do something a bit different and experiment,” she explains. “I love our kitchen; the palette is dark blue and terracotta with lots of wooden tones, so I found the most stunning Dirty Orange shade to match. I squealed when I saw the sample; it sits so well with the rest of the house.”

A collage-style image, showing an orange velvet sofa, rattan lamp, palm-print pillow and large plant.

Though Roe’s home isn’t short of OKA pieces—our Coleridge takes pride of place in her sitting room—the opportunity to have something truly unique appealed to her creative side. “If you’re going to do something bespoke then you might as well push the boat out,” she says. “To be able to put your own personal spin on a brand you already love is a dream.”

Roe chose the Egerton Loveseat in Dirty Orange Velvet*, with Grayed Oak Legs. To discover more of Roe’s world, follow her on Instagram @louiseroehome

*This fabric is not available in the US. If you love this style, try our 'Clever' Velvet in Paprika for a similar look—you can order up to five complimentary fabric swatches.

Eric Underwood sits on a green velvet sofa, leaning on one arm and smiling at the camera. His dog Sophia sits next to him.

Eric Underwood’s Highmore Sofa

“As a performer I’m ‘on’ so often that when I get home, I just want to be ‘off’,” explains American-born actor and dancer Eric Underwood when we meet him in his north London apartment. “It’s really important to me that as soon as I come through the door, I’m in an easy, safe space.” Having to create a new home in a new city is, no doubt, tied into this sentiment. Underwood is, however, well-versed in moving around; born and raised in Washington D.C., he trained at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre in New York, before crossing the pond more than a decade ago.

When looking to move during England’s first lockdown of 2020—“yes, I was one of those mad people,” he laughs—the first thing that caught Underwood’s eye was this property’s summer room. “I was captivated by it; when I was designing the house I started from here and worked my way back inside,” he says. As he is a fan of blending the indoor with the outdoor—plants reign supreme in every room—this makes perfect sense. This verdant theme was on his mind when he chose Persian Green as his new sofa color. “I love the idea of everything looking really natural and complementary,” he tells us.

A collage-style photo showing a green velvet sofa, a black candle, an abstract pot and a yellow lampshade.

Describing his style as “relaxed and a little bohemian,” comfort, too, was high on Underwood’s list of requirements; the first thing he did when viewing the Tailored collection was to lie down on the Highmore. “Being able to properly lounge, on something soft, with a bit of give, is a must for me. I’m 6'2" and I can actually stretch out on it,” he says. “There’s nothing better than getting home at night and being able to lie there and look up at the stars. It’s very meditative.” Underwood chose clever velvet upholstery for his Highmore, which means his much-adored pup Sophia, who like her “father” is clearly a natural in front of the camera, can join him as often as she likes.

Underwood chose the Highmore 7ft Sofa in Persian Green Clever Velvet, with Ebony Legs. Stay up to date with Underwood’s next acting projects by following him on Instagram @ericunderwood

Deborah Abbott sits on a green linen sofa, wearing a blue shirt and white jeans, She is looking to her left and smiling at something off-camera.

Deborah Abbot’s Radcliffe Sofa

It doesn’t get much more picturesque or quintessentially English than the village of Turville in the Chiltern Hills, home to interiors enthusiast and long-term OKA customer Deborah Abbot’s gorgeous cottage, and equally pretty garden. While her house has all the charm of its Anglo-Saxon surroundings, it was actually only built in 2005, something that appealed to her practical side when buying it. “What I have here is something that looks very authentic, but has all the modern conveniences,” she explains.

When designing and renovating, her main priority was curating a space that would work for entertaining. So, when choosing a new sofa, one that fit her lifestyle was of paramount importance. “I love the linen; it’s rustic enough for the countryside and is going to be fairly easy to maintain,” she tells us. “There has to be enough space for the whole family to be comfortable; it has to work around the people in the room,” which, she says, is why she opted for the Radcliffe. “I love the fact that the cushions are deep and soft; it’s very snug, but elegant.”

A collage-style image with a green linen sofa, blood orange velvet armchair and pale blue lamp.

Abbot describes her home as a “collection of numerous bits and pieces that I love, which I’ve gathered over the years and work around.” Some favorite items include a sculpture crafted by a close friend and a Tibetan tray from a stint working in Nepal, yet the effect is perfectly congruent, thanks to a carefully curated color palette. “Everything in my sitting room is very tonal. I adore the Dune Green shade of the sofa; it really picks out the colors of the rug, which I hadn’t even realized had light green in it—it just adds that je ne sais quoi.”

Abbot chose the Radcliffe 6ft Sofa in Dune Green Laundered Linen, with Ebony Legs

 

Words: Jess Evans and Ellen Millard