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New: A Vinyl Flooring Collection inspired by Historic Fabric Samples

Now I don’t know about you but for the most part I like things to look like what they are. So I’m not a fan of tiles that look like wooden floors (I have tried but it never quite works) or worktops that look like marble but are actually a form of laminate. I have no problem with Formica worktops but I’d rather use them in one of the vibrant patterns and colours they can come in than choose one pretending to be something it is not. So while I do have a Caesarstone worktop that is inspired by a stone one it’s not pretending to be Carrara marble – it’s just a sort of white surface with some grey veining in it – that is made from natural stone in another form. But I digress…

Gawthorpe Eve Green for For The Floor or More
Gawthorpe Eve Green for For The Floor or More –  named after Eve de Hulton, the wife of Henry De Shotilworth,  the first Shuttleworth to live at Gawthorpe, and builder of the Pele Tower to defend against Scottish attacks in 1325.

This is all a roundabout way of explaining my excitement when the press release for this collection of vinyl flooring landed in my inbox. Gawthorpe Hall is a range of gorgeous floral designs inspired, it turns about, by an archive of scraps of fabric taken from, among other things, a dress, a bedspread and some pieces of lace. It has been created exlusively for For The Floor And More.

We are used to patterned vinyl by now and most of the patterns tend to be geometric – mimicking tiles – but this is the first time I have seen a proper floral collection. And. if you were here earlier in the week when we were talking about how to correct mistakes or deal with things you can’t change, this might be an option. I’d far rather a large expanse of floral vinyl than plastic laminate pretending to be wood. And at around £52 per sqm it’s more affordable than real wood too.

Gawthorpe Blanche for For The Floor or More
Gawthorpe Blanche for For The Floor or More- from a silk dress of the 1900s

It’s also thinner so where you might struggle to open doors if you lay down a large piece of carpet, you might find vinyl easier to deal with. And it’s still quite cushioned underfoot.

But enough of that what do we have? Well, the designs were found in the archive of Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth MBE (1886-1967), who amassed more than 11,000 samples of fabric, tools and other objects during her lifetime. The collection, which now stands at more than 30,000 items, is housed at her childhood home – the National Trust property of Gawthorpe Hall – and cared for by registered charity Gawthorpe Textiles Collection.

the gawthorpe collection for For the Floor or More Eve yellow
the gawthorpe collection for For the Floor or More Eve yellow

Rachel was a maker, teacher, collector, philanthropist and social activist who began gathering textile and craft items back in 1912 to help her to teach heritage techniques – keeping them alive for future generations to learn from and be inspired by.

During her lifetime she amassed some 11,000 pieces of lace, embroidery, woven and printed materials, costume, tools and other objects which were donated by a wide network of family, friends and acquaintances with pieces from across the UK as well as Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. Each piece was labelled and filed along with a handwritten note, often written in her signature green ink.

Her dream was to create a craft house where she could display her vast collection as well as teach and lecture on the value of craft and she campaigned tirelessly to make this happen.

gawthorpe blanche green for for the floor and more
gawthorpe blanche green for for the floor and more – this design came from a silk dress of the 1900s belonging to Rachel’s mother.

“I have a vision of a place of meeting where neighbours will come for many reasons to seek stimulating thought by meeting other active minds, to find refreshment and inspiration and a joy in beauty,” she said in 1912.

The Textile Collection now numbers some 30,000 pieces and is housed at her old home. And now, for the first time, a selection of the patterns has been reimagined to create this flooring collection, available exclusively at For The Floor and More.

Gawthorpe Selina for the floor or more
Gawthorpe Selina for the floor or more – the design came from a 1950s silk dress and you can also order in pink and blue and green and yellow

What do you think? If my bathroom wasn’t a wet room I would seriously be considering this. I love the idea of a patterned floor in a kitchen with plain cupboards – say dark green cupboards and a green floral floor. I’m interested to know if there will be a generational divide in the reaction too. When I have written about anaglypta wallpaper and coloured bathroom suites in the past, the comments have been very clearly age related and it’s possible that these will be too. Especially as some of the designs have a very 60s feel to them.

Do, as ever, share your thoughts below.

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.

28 Comments

  1. I’m interested to see what others say about pvc and am rather ashamed that I didn’t really take in what it was and just had Lino in my rather excited head. On that note, I’m afraid I shall have to go back to ummming and errring until I can find something similar in Lino or another less environmentally impactful floor covering.

    1. It’s not floral but colour flooring company sell carbon neutral (maybe even positive?) rubber flooring that comes in rolls or in triangles you can arrange yourself into geometric patterns

      1. Kes I am so pleased to read your tip of rubber flooring from colour floor company. I have been thinking about rubber floor for our family bathroom as I really need something child friendly and easy to clean. It seems hard to come by so thanks for the tip!

  2. I am ancient and was part of the sixties generation in London. I love most of the flooring designs.
    I also long for her comments to be fulfilled in the coming months.

    “I have a vision of a place of meeting where neighbours will come for many reasons to seek stimulating thought by meeting other active minds, to find refreshment and inspiration and a joy in beauty,”

    There must also be cake!!

  3. I’m sorry I have to say this but however beautiful these designs are they are using a material that should have died a death a long time ago. Vinyl flooring is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) dubbed the poison plastic. PVC is the most environmentally damaging plastic. The production, use and disposal results in the release of toxins that build up in the water, air and food chain. Google PVC and you will find only manufacturers have anything good to say about it. It is practically the poster child for everything bad polluting our environment.

    I am surprised that the textile museum thought this was an appropriate way to use designs collected by someone who wished to encourage heritage techniques. Why not license the designs to another material that is environmentally benign – good old heritage linoleum.

    1. My question exactly. Why not linoleum? They could have just revived some of the fabulous old patterns that are already out there.

    2. Hi Valerie,
      Very interested in your comment, I would like to mention that the designs are available in other mediums apart from PVC and because PVC is sometimes requested we do contribute to a local Carbon Offset Scheme to try to counterbalance this to a degree. We also ensure that the supplier contributes to similar offset schemes and produces it using sustainable energy. Vinyl has some big issues that is very true, but it is the 3rd most popular flooring medium in the world because of its durability and ease of use and so there is a large demand for it. There actually is one positive in its use, if properly installed and cared for, installation of vinyl flooring can last for 10-20 years, far longer than most carpet and other soft surface solutions. This saves on the waste and environmental impact of removing, disposing of, and replacing your floors for decades at a time.

  4. Me being in the flooring business of selling all kinds of flooring have fallen in love with this. I have seen that designs are coming back where I live and can’t wait for something like to this to come towards us to purchase to sell to others. I would love to have this, any of them in my house. Especially in my office.

  5. My first reaction was a ‘definitely not!’ but actually I’m warming to the idea.. maybe in a small space like a utility!

  6. I’m digging it! In the next few years, my husband (the architect) and I (the textile junkie) hope to add a side porch to our 1856 Greek Revival in Mississippi. The construction will include reno of the master bath — and flooring like this is practical, pretty and unexpected. Now, to get buy-in from the hubs…

  7. Trippy colours and patterns and I love the practicality of these floors. Don’t know how long I could live with it in a big space but very useful for utility /laundry/ wet rooms /garden rooms

  8. Love it!!! I’ve had my fingers crossed patterned floors were going to be embraced!!!! Yay!!!!

  9. The patterns are gorgeous (particularly Selina) butI wish they were on a more environmentally friendly flooring – like lìnoleum!

  10. I absolutely love these – we were looking for funky vinyl designs that weren’t fake wood or fake stone and it is nearly impossible. In the end we went for Forbo lino, as it is such a natural product with a great random pattern, but it is subtle. These patterns are such fun in a bathroom where all the sanitary ware is white – or in any area where you need wipe clean floors.

  11. Lovely designs. Gawthorpe Hall is situated only 8 miles from me but I have never been. I have a friend who helps with the collection and he’s urged me to visit. When lockdown ends I will visit.

  12. Mmmm, I do like these. We have engineered wood in our kitchen and breakfast room, which really needs changing. I was thinking bamboo flooring, but maybe this would work and be warmer underfoot, more forgiving of grubby dog prints and a way to bring a bit of derring-do into fairly functional spaces. There’s quite a lot of prints and arty bits on the walls of the breakfast room though, so I’d have to think about that. Good post!

  13. I love these. I am renovating a flat designed in the 1960s and built in the early 70s and am looking at flooring at the moment. When I ripped off the woodchip wallpaper I found that the walls were originally painted light blue and orange which are colours I am now using in the redecoration. I hope the trend towards bold colours in home decor continues – enough of white woodwork and boring neutrals. Bring on colour and design, say I.

  14. This reminds me of the patterned Lino that used to be around up until about the 1950’s. There used to be the most gorgeous patterns around and you can occasionally still find some under carpet layers. I was so excited when I ripped up the manky carpet in my Sydney flat and found gorgeous 1940’s floral patterned Lino. I carted that Lino around the world until it all dried and cracked up and I eventually got rid of it. It’s perfect for the kitchen or bathroom. These are lovely but no where near as nice as the originals. The green is my favourite. I hope it kicks off a trend to bring back the Lino patterns of the past.

  15. Wow! These take me back to the quite jazzy yellow and black geometric design on our kitchen flooring when I was growing up in the 50’s. These floral ones are stunning.

  16. I love these and it’s a very timely post as I’ve been ummming and errring about what to put on a kitchen floor, a bathroom floor and a loo floor tho’ I might not necessarily go for these in all three rooms!!

  17. Love these – a relatively cheaper way to dabble in the sometimes risky realm of bold print. A world away from my Grandparents lino floor in their kitchen!

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