Bert & May is arguably the brand that made us fall back in love with tiles, creating handmade designs that are both timeless and crafted to last. Founder Lee Thornley speaks to Jessica Jonzen about his leap from law to design, the transformative power of materials, and what lies ahead for the brand.
A BATHROOM AT CASA LA SIESTA, BERT & MAY FOUNDER LEE THORNLEY'S HOTEL IN CÁDIZ, SPAIN. IMAGE: BETH DAVIS
There are few decorative flourishes which have been beloved as much, or for as long, as the humble tile. Glazed tiles date back to ancient civilisations, adorning the temples and tombs of ancient Egyptians as far back as 4000 BCE. In the 16th century, Dutch Delftware, with their blue painted scenes, were popularised throughout the homes of wealthy Northern Europeans. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that this luxury good was transformed into a widespread domestic feature, and right through to the 1980s they were used in bold, colourful style.
And then 1990s minimalism and the 2000’s obsession with grey saw tiles fade into the background. Beige or grey, they were something to be chosen once the major design decisions have been made – the bigger and blander the better.
So when Bert & May launched in 2013 with their cement tiles in an extraordinary palette of colours and patterns, the time was right for the humble tile to take centre stage again. With their rich textures, handmade finishes and timeless colours, the brand's cement, glazed, terracotta and zellige tiles didn’t simply finish a room – they started it.
That idea has been central to Bert & May from the very beginning. The brand’s founder, Lee Thornley, first discovered the power of tiles while building his boutique hotel, Casa La Siesta, in Cádiz, Spain. After leaving behind his career as a barrister in London, Lee moved to Spain in search of something different. He didn’t have a masterplan, as he explains, “It really just began with me knowing what I didn’t want rather than wanting to do something. I knew I didn’t want to be in the rat race in London, and thought that going over to Spain would be a new, exciting adventure.”
Opening a hotel was the natural route. “The hospitality industry was really the only option in that area. You either grow vegetables on a massive scale, or you have a B&B, or you have a restaurant. So to open a B&B was the dream.” That dream became Casa La Siesta – built from scratch, using beautiful reclaimed Spanish tiles throughout, and it was here that Lee discovered the magic of material choice. “A huge part of the hotel’s success is down to the choice of materials. Using lots of lovely old tiles immediately gave it that sense of warmth and history.”
THE EXTERIOR OF CASA LA SIESTA, WHICH INSPIRED LEE TO START BERT & MAY. IMAGE: BETH DAVIS
Journalists agreed. One described Casa La Siesta as “a masterclass in unpretentious luxury” – praise that gave Lee the confidence to build a business around the very tiles that had brought his hotel to life. “I just thought, you know what? There is something in this. There is something really unique about it.”
At first, Bert & May sold only reclaimed tiles, but it quickly became clear that demand would outstrip supply. Lee began working with Spanish artisan, Juanma, to produce new tiles using traditional methods, ensuring they carried the same sense of character as the reclaimed originals. “The business evolved because there was a demand for that kind of beautiful, handcrafted product.” Juanma still creates tiles for the brand, and they also work with another small family-run workshop in Andalusia, and another in Fez, Morocco. "The stories and craftsmanship from these makers is just incredible," Lee enthuses.
The inevitable imperfections became the brand’s charm – and are now its signature. “When I set out, I was quite apologetic to customers about the fact that the tiles will mark, they discolour, they change, and they’re full of character. I’d say, ‘I’m really sorry they’re not quite as yellow on every tile.’ Now I’ll say to our sales team, ‘This is our uniqueness – this is our opportunity to educate customers.’”
That philosophy is now at the heart of Bert & May: craftsmanship above all else, celebrating imperfections, and creating products that last. It’s an approach that also dovetails with the brand’s sustainability ethos. “We’re all acutely aware of what happens in fast fashion with mountains of clothing being dumped in South America. Well, it hasn’t really been documented in the same way about interiors, but the exact same thing happens. People put a kitchen or a bathroom in and two years later they rip it out because it’s not the right colour.” Bert & May’s answer is simple: make tiles that people won’t want to rip out. “Even though, commercially, it would be attractive if people had new Bert & May tiles every year, what we’re trying to say is, we never want the customer to take our tiles out.”
PEARL LOWE'S BATHROOM, DESIGNED WITH BERT & MAY'S CEMENT TILES. IMAGE: COURTESY OF BERT & MAY
Instead, Bert & May encourages people to design differently – to choose carefully at the start of a project, so that the decisions endure. “If you get the core material decision right at the beginning, you’re not going to find it difficult later to decorate your home. And that’s exciting – to see how differently the tiles can be used. You can use terracotta in a very contemporary way; it doesn’t have to be rustic at all.”
The result is a brand that has helped shape the way we think about tiles and surfaces in the UK. Zellige tiles are now beloved by interior designers for their ability to add texture and colour to a room, and as a result they adorn many of the most stylish homes. When people think of zellige tiles now, they think of Bert & May. Lee is modest about this influence, but admits that having “core principles of craftsmanship” and a focus on “celebrating the imperfections” has given the brand a clear identity.
That clarity extends into design. Working alongside creative director Ruth Webber, Lee continues to develop Bert & May’s collections that marry tradition with innovation. Ruth’s new “Brushstrokes” range, inspired by Rothko paintings and launching on 6th November, introduces a painterly ombré effect into tile form. For Lee, it’s the kind of project that excites both the team and the makers. “They feel like they’re painting, not just manufacturing – it’s more artistic.”
Headquartered in York, Bert & May proudly celebrates its northern roots. “I really like the fact that we’re a northern brand – I’m from Blackburn,” says Lee. Alongside showrooms in Chelsea, Shoreditch and Bristol, the brand is set to open The Mix by Bert & May in Bethnal Green, this November. Designed as a one-of-a-kind destination, The Mix will feature immersive room sets created in collaboration with brand including Farrow & Ball, The Water Monopoly and Sophie Cooney Runners, offering a dynamic alternative to the traditional showroom.
SANABRIA SWEET YELLOW CEMENT TILES AND NARANJA TERRACOTTA TILES, BOTH BERT & MAY
Looking back, Lee sees how far the business has come from those early days of sourcing reclaimed tiles. “The business originally was just me going and picking things that I loved. Now we’ve got our product manager and creative director, but fundamentally we’ve shifted away from stock to designs.” That creative sensibility extends to bespoke projects too, with a clever bespoke tile builder tile on the website to enable customers to create something unique. “But it goes even further,” says Lee. “If you come to me with a fabric and said, ‘I love this, is there any chance you could rework it onto a tile design?’ That can be done.”
What hasn’t changed is the belief that a home should reflect the people who live there. Lee once said that “your home is your opportunity to be artistic,” and it’s a mantra that underpins Bert & May. “The loveliest homes are the ones that are reflective of the person who lives there, that are somehow unique. We’ve all been in those homes where you walk in, and you feel that warmth. It couldn’t have been designed for them without them having a huge input. Be brave enough to go with what you like.”
That bravery is something Bert & May’s customers take to heart. Timeless but never generic, their tiles become part of a home’s story, ageing and evolving alongside the people who live there. And that, says Lee, is the whole point. “When we say the word ‘home’, it’s very evocative, isn’t it? We don’t really mean the four walls with a kitchen and a bathroom. We mean this feeling you get. So for me, it’s so important for people to feel that our tiles are a really intrinsic part of that home, rather than just irrelevant surfaces.”
By putting tiles at the heart of the design process, Lee Thornley and his team have changed not only how we use them, but how we value them. And in doing so, they’ve made the case that sometimes the most enduring design decisions start not with paint colours or furniture, but with a single tile.
IMAGES (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) THE KITCHEN AT LEE THORNLEY'S HOME IN YORK, DECORATED IN BERT & MAY'S ZELLIGE, TERRACOTTA AND CEMENT TILES; A BEDROOM WALL IN LEE'S HOME DECORATED IN BERT & MAY TILES DEMONSTRATES HOW VERSATILE THEY CAN BE; LEE THORNLEY AT HOME. IMAGES: BETH DAVIS
bertandmay.com; The Mix by Bert & May opens on 1st November on Vyner Street, Bethnal Green, E2
Throughout October and November 2025, Bert & May are offering members of The Staying In Crowd – our special home-loving community – an exclusive 15% discount. Find out more here.
