FOUNDED IN LONDON

In a vibrant hub of more than 190 block printing companies active during the 18th and 19th centuries, the son of a Cambridgeshire merchant began carving a name out for himself

THE WALLPAPER FACTORY IN OFFORD ROAD, ISLINGTON LONDON IS OPENED

Cole & Son’s founder, with discerning taste and innovative foresight starts to harness the power of industry to complement traditional woodblock printing methods prevalent at the time

HAND-FLOCKED WALLPAPER IS REVIVED

This was a process imitating cut velvet originating in Holland in the late 17th century. It provided a more purse-friendly version of the wallhangings en vogue with the aristocracy

A RANGE OF TECHNIQUES INCLUDING PAN COATING, USED TO CREATE DEEP, RICH, TACTILE STRIPES AND STRIÉ PRINTS IS DEVELOPED

Perhaps Cole & Son’s founder’s most notable contribution to the wallpaper industry was the creation of a process to imitate silk.

Using a solution of ground mica, he was able to develop a lustre-like silk effect on the paper which is still used today

A.P. COLE, PROPRIETOR OF COLE & SON (WALLPAPERS) LTD, PURCHASES THE COMPANY

This includes some 2000 wooden wallpaper printing blocks acquired from neighbouring firms as they closed down over the course of the previous 60 years.

The company now exhibits the best in quality wallpaper manufacture from showrooms on aristocratic Mortimer Street in central London

ALWAYS EMBRACING INNOVATION

Cole & Son creates one of the first screen print studios in Europe

COLE & SON GO TO MARKET WITH SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC WALLPAPER PRINTS OF THE CONTEMPORARY DESIGN MOVEMENT

These include the perennially popular contemporary classics Woods and Palm Leaves

COLE & SON IS GRANTED A ROYAL WARRANT AS A SUPPLIER OF WALLPAPER TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

ELLE DECORATION INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARDS WINNER

Woods wins the EDIDA Wallcovering of the Year Award for its iconic design & classic monochrome colour palette

COLE & SON’S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH FORNASETTI

Cole & Son begin their long-standing relationship with the Italian atelier Fornasetti, creating exceptional wallpapers from the Milanese maestro’s vast archive of Objet d’art

COLE & SON x VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

“It is good when my ideas get carried over into other artistic media. This collection is a perfect opportunity to be able to work with a heritage company like Cole & Son and to see my ideas from fashion translated into the world of interiors and wallpaper”
Vivienne Westwood, 2009

COLE & SON x GUCCI

Cole & Son created the bespoke Flora wallpaper for Gucci using one of the House’s silk scarves for the hand-screen print repeat

ROYAL HOUSEHOLDS & BEYOND – COLE & SON COLLABORATE WITH HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES

The Design House launches its first collection in collaboration with the charity Historic Royal Palaces, guardians to some of the most famous royal residences in the United Kingdom, including Kensington Palace, Hampton Court, and the Tower of London

ARDMORE CERAMICS TRANSLATED TO CAPTIVATING WALLCOVERINGS

Recognised as modern day collectables by auction houses Christies, Bonham’s, and Sotheby’s, Ardmore ceramics depict the enchanting flora and fauna of the Kwazulu Natal area of South Africa. Translated to vibrant wallcoverings by the Design House of Cole & Son, 2017’s Ardmore collection was the start of a beautiful friendship between the two ateliers

COLE & SON LAUNCHES ITS FIRST FABRIC COLLECTION, THE CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION – FABRICS

A selection of some of the design house’s best-loved designs in a range of luxurious textiles

ELLE DECO WALLCOVERING COLLECTION OF THE YEAR: THE PEARWOOD COLLECTION

Reimagined gems from the Cole & Son archive win ELLE Deco UK’s British Design Award for Wallcovering Collection of the Year

THE DESIGN HOUSE MOVES HOME

In 2022 – the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – Cole & Son move into a new home in the heart of Chelsea, Jubilee Place

FUNGI FOREST WINS EDIDA WALLCOVERING OF THE YEAR

Cole & Son’s first ever eco-base wallpaper, Fungi Forest – which was designed in collaboration with British fashion house, Stella McCartney, wins the ELLE Decoration International Design Award for wallcovering of the year

COLE & SON’S FIRST EVER FLAGSHIP OPENS ITS DOORS

On 18 September 2023 Cole & Son welcomed visitors into the house’s first ever flagship; a former art gallery which is now home to a retail space and by-invitation archive library

WITH A COMMITMENT AND PASSION FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE, COLE & SON’S IN-HOUSE ARTISTS CONTINUE TO PRODUCE INNOVATIVE AND BEAUTIFUL WALLPAPERS

Current collections reflect a long and distinguished history as well as a continuing passion for artistic design and quality craftsmanship