Binky Felstead x OKA: Transforming Her London Home

“This is the room that sold us the house,” explains Binky of ‘The Barn’, “named so for obvious reasons.” Indeed, the welcoming space doesn’t feel anything like an extension of a townhouse in Barnes, London – which Binky Felstead and husband Max moved into in order to accommodate their growing brood – but rather a rustic addition to a rambling country farm (next on Binky's vision board, perhaps?).

All high ceilings and wooden beams, the living space is flooded with plenty of natural light and brings the greenery of the outdoors in through large, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors. Binky says: “There’s no TV in here – it’s where we come in the morning for breakfast or just to relax and soak up the sun.” She adds: “It doesn’t really feel like you’re in South West London, (where Binky Felstead lives) which is great, as we’re country people at heart.”

Following her previous collaboration with OKA, Binky once again enlisted the expertise of our Interior Design Service to help give her new Victorian home what she describes as “a facelift”, starting with the ground floor. “I just love how sturdy everything is from OKA and the uniqueness of each piece. I feel like I’ve learnt a lot working with the Interior Design Service on this latest project, too – I’m really happy with how it turned out.”

For the open-plan living space – which incorporates ‘The Barn’ at one end, a living room at the other and a dining area in the middle – the brief was simple: cosy. “It’s my big word,” Binky explains. “I wanted the interiors of my new house to feel unique by being furnished with pieces that not everybody had.”

And Relax…

Set against a warm backdrop of sand-coloured beams and similarly-hued striped wallpaper, ‘The Barn’ is a comfortable spot for lounging and “chilling out”, as Binky puts it. Key pieces curated by Charlotte Saunders, the dedicated OKA interior designer she was assigned, include our 3-Seater Highmore Sofa, 2-Seater Egerton Sofa, Coleridge Areca Armchair and Sheki Armchair with the Fanshawe Square Ottoman as the crowning glory in the centre of the convivial arrangement. “I love the fact that the sofas and footstools are all very comfy and amazing quality,” Binky explains, “but I wanted my own touch on each piece, so when I found out that you can choose your own fabrics for pretty much anything, including seating and curtains, that was a huge plus for me.”

Working closely with Charlotte in-person to discuss moodboards and via WhatsApp to share ideas, the resulting scheme cleverly layers patterns and textures for an eclectic look rather than a ‘matchy-matchy’ aesthetic – the hallmark of any effortless space.

Complementing the bespoke seating from our Tailored by OKA collection is an oversized arched mirror that gives the illusion of another window, open shelving laden with ornaments and photo frames to add a personal touch, a colourful Rander stool for drinks and nibbles and an elegant dog bed on which family labrador Pedro can cosy up in the corner, amongst other new pieces the duo combined with much-loved OKA designs from Binky’s previous home.

Hosts with the Most

“As you can see, we’ve gone for an extra-long style to cater to all the kids’ parties,” says Binky of her new Arthur Table in the adjacent dining space, “as well as an amazing OKA bench seat, which, rather amazingly, hasn’t been stained!” Extra seating is provided in café-style Feur Dining Chairs with cushioned seats meaning Binky has had “no complaints of sore bottoms at dinner parties.” Of which there are many, by all accounts. “We’re massively into hosting,” she reveals. “Max is very good at the cocktails and food, and I’m very good at making sure everyone’s glasses are full and things look pretty. So, we’re a good team.”

Acting as a characterful backdrop is a fun and colourful gallery wall comprising our iconic Kraak plates – inspired by Ming and Qing period property in a signature white-and-blue colourway – painted glass Binky sourced from a shop in Notting Hill and our Concho Wall lamps to dial up the atmosphere for dinner dates. Binky is the first to admit that she could “kill a cactus”, so naturally she opted for faux stems – “you could never tell they’re not quite real,” she says – arranged in a statement vase as the finishing flourish.

But the biggest interiors question Binky gets asked by her followers on Instagram? “Where is your floor covering from?” The hand-tufted Alanya Rug has been used beneath the dining area to zone the space while adding texture and warmth under bare feet, particularly welcome in the cooler months.

Movie Night

“I’m good at interior design, but I need options to choose from, which is where OKA’s service comes in,” Binky says. “I didn’t know where to start in the snug, for example.” The space, which houses a well-curated library and working fireplace accessorised with the Berenson Fire Fenders in a goat-hair cheetah print that adds a touch of whimsy, was last on the list to design and is where Binky and Max watch movies with the kids. Better still, because it’s right next door to the playroom, they can see the children playing as they relax by themselves with a glass of wine. Binky wanted colour in her new house, and she’s certainly achieved it, both in the upholstery she’s chosen for her furniture and the “perfect red” she’s selected for the walls, a shade she says “scratches that countryside itch.”

Interior Design Service

“I was very excited to work with the Interior Design Service again,” says Binky, who was assigned a dedicated interior designer. “Working with Charlotte was a delight and I couldn’t recommend the service more.” Over a couple of months, the two collaborated every step of the way to develop a vision for Binky and bring it to life in a stylish but comfortable family home with cosiness at its heart. Filled with colour, pattern and texture, it’s beautifully-layered with timeless pieces that are as hard-wearing as they are beautiful to endure family life. “I like to draw on inspiration from the personalities of my clients,” explains Charlotte. “And this house definitely feels like Binky – warm, free-spirited and completely effortless.”