Cole & Son revive classic wallpaper prints in new Pearwood collection

The new Pearwood Collection from Cole & Son celebrates the company's rich design history, paying homage to its extensive block print archive and the print techniques pioneered by the design house throughout its vibrant history.

Taking its name from the fruit wood blocks originally used by Cole & Son founder, John Perry, Pearwood was selected for its relative hardness, which allowed for cutting even the finest detail, yet it possessed a durability that would allow for longevity of the blocks.

“As custodians of one of the largest block print collections in Europe, it was important for the Design Studio to create prints faithful to Cole & Son’s artistic heritage, whilst reinvigorating designs from the house’s extensive archives”, says Carley Bean, Design Director, Cole & Son.

The collection of ten beautiful prints celebrates the time-honoured craftsmanship of a bygone era with a contemporary colour palettes and modern design steeped in tradition to create something uniquely Cole & Son.

The result is a beautiful and inspiring chronicle of timeless design.

These are the wallpapers that particularly caught our eye.

Pavo Parade

Taking its name from the peacock genus, Pavo Parade is an opulent print of metallic-toned peacocks. Their subtly ombrèd trailing tails pay homage to a technique pioneered by Cole & Son, whilst the subtle framing of the design creates a panel-like effect emphasising the birds’ grandeur.

See more on the Tropical Bird trend.

Pugin Palace Flock

The palaces and grand houses of the mid-1800s designed by A. W. Pugin were the inspiration behind this striking damask. Taken from an original block print, the Cole & Son Design Studio injected an opulent elegance to the design whilst retaining original symbolic motifs such as the pineapple, seen throughout many of Pugin’s works, signifying wealth and hospitality. Delicate flocking enhances the rich decadence of the design.

Treillage

Treillage (meaning latticework trellis) is a beautiful three-dimensional geometric print which can be used as a stand-alone paper, or for a more dramatic effect, mixed with other designs from The Pearwood Collection.

Floral Kingdom

Taking its inspiration from Gothic Revival design, Floral Kingdom is made of knotted leaves and each of the United Kingdom’s national flowers: spring time daffodils for Wales, fragrant roses for England, the bursting rosettes of the Scottish thistle, and the delicate shamrock sprig representing Northern Ireland and is available in four different colourways.

Each of the wallpapers is available in a selection of striking colourways.

Find further information atCole & Son.

See these wallpaper ideas for bathrooms and cloakrooms.

Jacky Parker is a London-based freelance journalist and content creator, specialising in interiors, travel and food. From buying guides and real home case studies to shopping and news pages, she produces a wide range of features for national magazines and SEO content for websites


A long-time contributor to Livingetc, as a member of the team, she regularly reports on the latest trends, speaking to experts and discovering the latest tips. Jacky has also written  for other publications such as Homes and Gardens, Ideal Home, Red, Grand Designs, Sunday Times Style and AD, Country Homes and Interiors and ELLE Decoration.