Simplicity, durability and sustainability – Bert and May's pillars have helped renew the narrative on the importance of appreciating premium design
Thornley founder of Bert and May
Lee Thornley is the founder and creative director of Bert and May, a design-led lifestyle brand known for its range of tiles and wood. Thornley emphasizes the use of techniques in the context of today's cultural challenges as we all spend more time at home.
Thornley's early observations about the restorative power of design can be traced back to childhood memories of growing up in Blackburn, Lancashire. “When I was a little boy, my grandparents ran pubs and I remember trying to convince them to change the design.”Thornley recalled. Today Thornley writes to us from his new home in North Yorkshire – a sixties house about to be renovated – and paints a picture of life with his family today.
Despite his penchant for interior design, Thornley's recent creative inclinations have expanded beyond the confines of his usual canvas and into the natural world. “The garden was my refuge. Being creative while being physically active saved mental health».
Casa La Siesta, Thornley in the 2000s
With this appreciation for nature – and the world around him – Thornley engages with design in numerous capacities. In the early 2000s, Thornley's first foray into the industry began in hospitality. He restored a country house in Cadiz, Spain, which became the renowned luxury boutique hotel Casa La Siesta.
Thornley understood how design details can make or break a space. “Above all, people enjoy feeling comfortable and relaxed, and while something may look beautiful, hospitality design, just like home design, must also be practical.”Thornley explained. «Practical does not mean boring. It just has to work.”Thornley's hypothesis not only proved successful, but also ignited his passion for sourcing reclaimed materials and antique furnishings, while recognizing a void in the market.
Based on his observations and the success of Casa La Siesta, he began working on the first version of his company, focusing primarily on selling reclaimed materials online. In 2010, Thornley took the next step after meeting the owner of a family business that specialized in tile manufacturing.
Thornley renamed the company, the owner's family factory reopened and Bert and May officially launched in 2013. The brand has become a leader in handmade tiles. It has also attracted a global following and high-profile collaborators such as Soho House.
Tile, Bert and May weigh 1/8
2/8 Formentera tiles, Bert and May
3/8 Formentera tiles, Bert and May
4/8 Pals tile, Bert and May
5/8 Eugenie Tile, Bert and May
6/8 Cozar Tiles, Bert and May
7/8 Guadix Tile, Bert and May
8/8 Luna old iron tiles, Bert and May
Simplicity, durability and sustainability
Bert and May's pillars of simplicity, durability and sustainability have helped renew the narrative on the importance of appreciating premium design. “We need to convince people that investing in high-quality materials that last a lifetime is the way to create design.”Thornley said.
“We need to consider longevity in our design decisions and not view our homes as a seasonal collection of materials.” The company's team includes design staff in London and York as well as production staff in Spain. While Thornley maintains that each team plays a role in bringing the brand's color and material choices to life, Spain is significant as the company's birthplace.
Thornley added: “In Spain, so many of the recovered tiles have been discovered and continue to be recovered. It continues to create lots of new design inspiration for our new collections».
Embrace visual biases instead of following online trends
By then, Bert and May's vision had been brought to life through their focus on developing colors and finishes. The team draws inspiration from plants, flowers and trees. «Each tile is made by hand using a metal mold. The manufacturer pours each color into individual sections of the mold until the process is complete. It's a bit like painting by numbers.”explained Thornley when asked about the physical creation of each tile.
“Once all the pigment is poured into the mold, the colors are 'pressed' onto a cement support. They are then placed in water for 24 hours and left to dry in the sun for a week (not oven dried). It is this long and gentle drying process that softens the colors.”
Despite Bert and May's social media presence, Thornley hasn't allowed the pressures of the digital age to influence his own design preferences. He encourages others to embrace their visual inclinations rather than following online trends. In a time of global unrest, the convergence of individualism and imagination can keep businesses afloat. Although there are undertones of the current crises that have impacted industries such as design, Thornley remains steadfast in positioning Bert and May as a trusted resource by encouraging conscious creativity (and consumerism).
“We all have a responsibility to our planet to stop producing goods that do not stand the test of time, and good design should last a lifetime.” – he explained. “We, the consumers, are the ones who can change this corporate behavior by voting with our feet and stopping buying things we know won’t last.” By reclaiming so many of our materials , we believe in promoting design and showing people how these materials find their place in the right home.”
The key is to create a space that reflects your family
Viewing the photographs in Bert and May's online tile gallery illustrates how these materials can transform any environment. Colors and shapes come together in eye-catching back walls and hallway floors. Outdoor patios lined with geometric tiles and covered in foliage stimulate the senses.
Reclaimed wood and terracotta add a touch of character to the bedrooms and living rooms. In many ways, Lee Thornley has achieved his mission of creating design and giving people around the world the opportunity to make their house a home (worth designing).
As the world invites us to appreciate the places and spaces that may once have been overlooked, let us remember these wise words from Thornley: “It is important to create a space that reflects you and your family.” We all need to feel happy and healthy in our home because it is part of our identity. Hire an interior designer if you get stuck. But make sure you say what you like – and make it your own»
Bert and May
A bespoke tile design service and collector and distributor of reclaimed tiles and wood. Based in a warehouse in Bethnal Green, Bert & May is home to some of the most unique materials any architect or designer could wish for.
The customer base is broad and ranges from the interior design industry to architects, shopfitters and retail customers. Bert and May design new product collections and design interiors with unique materials