John Perry builds and opens a wallpaper factory in Offord Road, Islington London

Perry, with discerning taste and innovative foresight starts to harness the power of industry to complement traditional woodblock printing methods prevalent at the time

Perry begins to revive hand flock wallpaper

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

John Perry develops a range of techniques including pan coating, used to create deep, rich, tactile stripes and strié prints.

Perhaps Perry’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 Perry's company

This includes some 2000 wooden wallpaper printing blocks acquired by Perry 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

Cole & Son designs exquisite collaboration collections with international luxury design houses

Italian atelier Fornasetti and South African ceramicists Ardmore.

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

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