Honouring Laura Ashley’s 100th Birthday from Our Welsh Farmhouse at Plas Uchaf

Plas Uchaf
Sep 7
2 min read

A look at her timeless influence on home, heritage and life on a North Wales farm.

Today marks what would have been Laura Ashley's 100th birthday, and here at Plas Uchaf I feel especially reflective. Living in a traditional Welsh farmhouse (very reminiscent of her early homeware catalogues), her legacy feels very close to home. Not just in spirit, but in the pieces I use, wear and treasure every single day.

I've been collecting vintage Laura Ashley for many years now, and it never fails to amaze me how timeless the designs are. I wear the dresses to work (although not on the farm unless I am feeling extraordinarily whimsical!), I use her fabrics and accessories around the house and they blend so naturally into our home and lifestyle. I often flick through her early catalogues or decorating books when I'm planning changes in the farmhouse, or when I am styling the shepherd's hut for guests. They remind me that beauty does not have to be complicated or impersonal.

Laura Ashley once said "I don't like ephemeral things; I like things that last forever". That vision speaks to us here at Plas Uchaf, where we are working to preserve not only our farmhouse and gardens, but also the traditions and crafts and heritage of rural Wales.

Laura Ashley’s Timeless Legacy: Sustainable Design and Local Craftsmanship

Laura Ashley was so far ahead of her time in the way she worked. By introducing flexible working methods, employing local craftspeople and choosing to use British made materials, she laid the foundations of what we now recognise as sustainable and ethical design. Long before "eco-strategies" became a business buzzword, she was quietly proving that beauty, heritage and responsibly could go hand in hand. Its a lesson many companies today could look back on and learn from. Supporting local skills and using thoughtful, lasting materials is not only good aesthetically, but good for the future too.

For those who want to bring a little of that timeless charm into their own lives and wardrobes, classic Laura Ashley pieces can often be found on platforms like Vinted, where vintage treasures continue to be re-loved, or through Next.co.uk, which now carries the Laura Ashley Home Collection. The official @lauraashleyuk account is also celebrating this centenary year with events, stories and design highlights.

As I look through my collections of books, newspaper clippings and catalogues on a peaceful Sunday afternoon, looking out to a Welsh landscape, it feels right to celebrate Laura Ashley not just as a designer, but as a true Welsh icon. May her influence be recognised far beyond fabric and fashion, and leave a legacy of beauty, tradition and inspiration that will last forever.

Penblwydd Hapus Laura Ashley ❤️