Many successful businesses are born out of necessity and Laura Ashley is no exception. In the early 1950′s, Laura and her husband Bernard lived in Pimlico, central London where Laura supplemented her income designing head scarves, napkins and tea towels which were printed on a machine designed by her engineering husband Bernard. She found inspiration in the Victoria and Albert Museum for Victorian influenced designs, but having little in the way of examples of Victorian samples with which she could work, led her to designing and printing her own range of Victorian influenced head scarves. These proved hugely popular, which a variety of high street stores stocking them.
Laura and Bernard soon gave up their main jobs to concentrate of the fabric design and print business. Laura was in charge of the design side where as Bernard handled the operational side of the business. Together they proved to be an exception team and the business soon gained global recognition. Since Laura Ashley’s death in 1985, the company branched out into interior and fashion design after Laura’s patterns became popular in women’s clothing and on upholstery. Currently the company designs lighting, upholstery, mirrors, towels ceramic wall tiles, fireplaces, fashion collections and much more.
Laura Ashley tiles are one of the most extensive ranges of designer tiles, having more than 40 different designs currently available. Many designs are based on the Victorian inspired patterns which Laura began designing in the early 1950′s, with more modern designs catering for a more contemporary market. Laura Ashley tiles encompass all aspects of both natural and ceramic tiles, borrowing inspiration from natural stone, ancient mosaics, art deco and Greek scroll work and even beach inspired ceramic tiles in the form of the ‘pebble’ ceramic tile.
Imagination is your only limitation as this vast range of ceramic wall tiles caters for a variety of tastes. Laura Ashley tiles are equally at home in the kitchen as well as in the bathroom, and would also be perfectly suited to an entrance hall or vestibule. Coupled with other designs from the Laura Ashley range of home furnishings such as kitchen cabinets, curtains, cushions and towels can create a flawless design where nothing looks out of place. At appears that the Laura Ashley range has something for everyone, whether it’s a modern ceramic tile, a Victorian inspired floral design, or tiles which echo the art deco aesthetic of the 1920′s and 1930′s, you can’t go far wrong with ceramic wall tiles from Laura Ashley.