OBI
FOR AS LONG AS I’VE the idea for Oliver Thornton Home,
I’ve wanted to use dog models in our advertising campaigns. To me, dogs are the heart of a British interior. Whether curled up by the fire or stretched out on a sofa, they epitomize the Country House experience. So when I first came across Obi, it felt like one of those meant-to-be moments.
I stumbled upon his Instagram feed @sadiedel_only_dreaming quite by accident and instantly fell in love. Maybe the universe was offering me a gift, or maybe my algorithm was clogged full of dog content because my husband sends me puppy reels 24/7 in a highly strategic attempt to wear me down and get us a dog.
I reached out to Obi’s owners on a hopeful whim, asking if he might like to become the very first model for Oliver Thornton Home. Thankfully, they said yes and the rest is now a little piece of our brand history.
At the time,
we were in the production and finishing phases of making prototypes, and keen to explore the idea of photographing a dog within our world. We set up a test shoot in a London based studio to explore how that sense of warmth and idealized British beauty would translate into imagery. We spent time experimenting with composition, settings, and lighting, allowing Obi to simply exist whilst @robin_bell_ expertly captured him on film in both set poses and at ease.
Upholstered in our Heritage Velvet, Ink; a rich, deep slate navy, the Haddleigh Sofa provided the perfect backdrop. Obi’s markings effortlessly created a striking contrast. He looked truly extraordinary. What made the experience even better was just how much fun it was to have him in the studio. Obi was impeccably well behaved calm, and completely unfazed by the cameras and activity around him.
THE FINAL IMAGE,
styled in a room with the 7’ Haddleigh Sofa, hits exactly the right note. This is exactly how I envisioned a new era of British heritage, reborn as relevant, elegant and seductively glamorous.
Obi wasn’t just our first model, he helped tell our story in a way that felt emotional, connecting us to the Country House lifestyle and a British way of living. He set the course for many more to come, and for that, he’ll always have a very special place at Oliver Thornton Home.
