How Sanderson’s Designers Find Inspiration in the Archive

7 July 2026

From historic wallpaper logbooks and antique textiles to 1970s advertisements, the Sanderson Design Group archive is home to over 75,000 items. This treasure trove provides an invaluable daily source of reference and inspiration for our design team.

The archive is housed at Sanderson’s ancestral home, Voysey House in London — originally built in 1902 as an extension to the Chiswick factory. The collection spans everything from our latest contemporary launches to pieces predating our founding in 1860. To bring new collections to life, our designers work hand-in-hand with the archive team, exploring an eclectic array of historical artefacts.

Image of striped bed in bedroom with Sanderson wallpaper

A Modern Interpretation: Trelliage

One spectacular example of this collaboration is Trelliage, created by British fashion couturier Giles Deacon. The design was born by seamlessly fusing two 19th-century patterns found deep within the archive, resulting in a striking, avant-garde interpretation.

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Preserving Heritage with Salvesen Graham

For their curated collection with Sanderson, design duo Salvesen Graham breathed new life into several archival gems. They masterfully recoloured Dallimore — originally an archive floral trial — alongside Fairdown and Aubrey. These designs have been cleverly adapted to feel effortless within a contemporary interior, while beautifully retaining their historic ancestry.

Image of floral cushion on outside chair with upholstered striped cushion

A Royal Tribute at Chelsea

One of our latest archive-inspired designs, The Kings Rose, was proudly unveiled at the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show. Inspired by a 1921 archival wallpaper with roots tracing back to 18th-century textiles, this design pays homage to the distinctive striped-petal bloom created for His Majesty King Charles III by David Austin® Roses.

Image of pink and red striped upholstered chair in front of floral curtains and wallpaper

Bringing History to Life

From historic textiles to hand-blocked wallpapers, our designers can get up close to these works to truly understand their tactility, weaves, and craftsmanship. By studying original brushstrokes and historic colourways, they can thoughtfully reconstruct, recolour, and reinterpretation history — or simply let their creativity flow.