Cole & Son: The Crown Jewel of British Wallcoverings
Cole & Son has been the definitive name in luxury wallcoverings since 1875, serving as the official supplier to the British Royal Monarchy. Holding a vast and incomparable archive that spans centuries, the brand is the guardian of traditional block-printing techniques, maintaining a historic factory in North London where many designs are still produced using the original wooden blocks. Their aesthetic is a masterful "conversation between eras," seamlessly blending 18th-century damasks and flamboyant French Chintz with 20th-century icons like the hauntingly beautiful Woods or the whimsical Flamingos. It is a collection for the true connoisseur, where every roll is treated as a piece of heritage art.
The brand is globally recognized for its unrivaled narrative depth and artistic collaborations. Most notably, their long-standing partnership with the Italian atelier Fornasetti has produced some of the most recognizable wallpapers in design history, featuring surrealist motifs of flying fish, architectural cityscapes, and the iconic face of Lina Cavalieri. Technically, Cole & Son balances its historic "Surface Print" textures—which provide a thick, painterly application of ink—with modern non-woven bases for ease of installation. From the botanical grandeur of the Royal Gardens of Highgrove to the mid-century geometries of the Contemporary collections, Cole & Son provides an atmospheric elegance that is both profoundly historic and strikingly avant-garde.