Britain’s Queen Elizabeth visits the RHS Chelsea Flower show in London, Monday May 22, 2017. Photo Credit: RHS Special Events

Discover our alternative red carpet

Floral fashion is in full bloom at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and our Queen is the fairest of all the Royal visitors.  We always anticipate what she will be wearing.

Here at Alternative Flooring we are blushing with pride. Why? Well because we made the floral ‘alternative red carpet’ that The Queen walked along at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Charity Gala Preview on Monday 22 May. Yes, she stepped on our lowers of Thorpe, a famous Liberty floral pattern expertly woven into glorious carpet for the first time by Alternative Flooring.  We even sent swatches of the carpet to the Palace to inspire Royal fashion.

The story began when RHS Chelsea Flower Show spotted our award-winning carpet design in House & Garden and asked if they could collaborate with Alternative Flooring on the grand Gala entrance. Alternative Flooring then made the 19 linear metre piece which was expertly cut in two to create a resplendent 38 linear metre runner. It is a bit of a fairy tale complete with a good Queen and a happy ending.

Images from top left to bottom right: Members of the Royal Family seen arriving at the RHS Chelsea Show in the following order. The Royal car, Queen Elizabeth, Kate – The Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Beatrice, Prince Edward with Sophie – The Countess of Wessex. Images © RHS Special Events

Explore floral fashion on floors

Flowers of Thorpe is a classic Liberty floral, created in the 1970s but emulating the wonderful small flower designs, which were so popular at Liberty in the 1930s, and a style the brand has become synonymous with. This joyful pattern is now re-imagined as carpet and made in Britain– where it is woven on axminster looms in Wilton, Salisbury.

Giving this desirable Liberty Print a new visualisation as flooring brings it into our interiors in a refreshing way, that can follow a contemporary or vintage path.

Florals are in fashion with summer catwalks loving these go-to prints. While you can take inspiration from the shows few of us ever go head-to-toe in flower power. The same is true for homes.

How to use floral carpet in the home

Flowers of Thorpe is a pattern that sets the decorative scheme of a room. If spread right across the floor, then pick a colour in the pattern for plainer walls and furnishings.  There are eight colours to choose from – green, red, cream, yellow, coral, pink, teal and blue.

If used as a runner or bespoke rug with space to breath, then shake up your scheme and go for more pattern but of a different scale on walls, furniture and accessories.

Florals big or small, inside or out just make us happy. We couldn’t be happier that our Queen is walking on Flowers of Thorpe, Summer Garden at the world’s most prestigious show and pinnacle of the horticultural calendar.

This month, all at Alternative Flooring just want to say it with flowers.

Visit RSH Chelsea Flower Show website

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