Our story

Committed to exceptional materials and fine craftsmanship, the Bert & May name is synonymous with a raw yet refined aesthetic that underpins our entire collection.



Our story started in Spain in 2004, when Bert & May founder Lee Thornley left London to set up a reclaimed tile company in Andalusia. Just four years later, Lee opened his award-winning boutique hotel, Casa La Siesta, in Cadiz. As a result of his painstaking work on the interior of this sensitively restored country house, Lee found that he had a natural talent for sourcing reclaimed materials and rare antique fittings. He also discovered that this architectural salvage was much sought after by interior architects and designers and from here, a new project was born.

What began as an online venture selling reclaimed materials took on a new life in 2010 when Lee met Juanma, owner of a small family business that had specialised in making artisan encaustic tiles using traditional handmade techniques. The pair decided that the future of the company lay in making their own vintage-inspired designs, so the family factory reopened and production began. Rebranded and officially launched as Bert & May in September 2013, the company has evolved into a specialist supplier of handmade artisan tiles.   

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