British designer Mia Reay is turning fragments of history into modern interiors, drawing inspiration from sources that range from English country houses to traditional Uzbek textiles.
Since launching her London and Lancashire-based wallpaper studio in 2022, Reay has built a reputation for creating hand-painted designs that blend historical references with contemporary craftsmanship. Her made-to-order panels begin as paintings inspired by objects found in archives, antique books and historic homes before being digitally prepared and printed in Lancashire.
«Inspiration can come from a tiny Indian painting, or Scandinavia, or England … it’s just about the beauty,» Reay said in interview to the Financial Times.
Her designs draw from a wide range of cultural influences. One pattern, Bukhara, adapts traditional Suzani needlework from Uzbekistan, while other collections reference Japanese embroidery, Scottish heraldry and antique Indian furniture.
Despite their varied origins, Reay’s wallpapers share a distinctive visual signature. She often works with what she calls «broken» colours—tones deliberately mixed or softened to create a faded, vintage feel.
«Hues are mixed, or ‘dirtied’, with natural dyes and soft colours,» she explained, producing what she describes as a sense of «faded luxury.»
The idea for the company emerged during the COVID‑19 lockdowns, when Reay and her family moved from London to their historic estate in Lancashire. Spending time in the house’s library, she began experimenting with wallpaper designs after becoming frustrated with the existing interiors.
Working with painter Graham Carr, she developed the designs in a traditional way, drawing and painting each pattern by hand before scanning and preparing them for print.
The brand quickly attracted attention from interior designers. British designer Rita Konig and New York decorator Stephanie Stokes have both incorporated Reay’s wallpapers into residential projects, helping introduce the collection to an international audience.
Today, her wallpapers are sold to clients around the world, from Miami to Melbourne.
Reay says the versatility of the panels allows them to be used in unconventional ways, from small rooms to wardrobe doors.
«I love the idea of an extra-large pattern in a tiny room,» she said. «People often ask me how to hang it — and I say, ‘Hang it as you see it.’»
