Member Focus – Lola Design
December 13, 2024
Innovative Leeds brand The Monkey Puzzle Tree have worked with interior design firm ABDA to create wallpaper for stunning new bedrooms in the Hilton Double Tree hotel in Leeds centre.
Designed to showcase the creativity of our region, the 29 rooms and suites which were completed this June are a real departure from the previous minimalist interiors, with the new spaces creating a memorable destination for those visiting Leeds.
Founded in 2017 by Charlotte Raffo, The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with Yorkshire based artists to create locally manufactured wallpapers and fabrics for interiors with a twist and a conscience. They have achieved a national presence winning numerous design awards and are regularly featured in the press and on BBC television.
After meeting Charlotte at a London trade fair, Interior Designer Annie Wearn of ABDA fell in love with the ethos of The Monkey Puzzle Tree and the unique designs the brand creates.
Charlotte collaborated with Harrogate artist Joel Weaver, an alum of Damien Hirst’s studio to create the wallpaper used in the Hilton hotel.
The abstract black and white print which resembles a murmuration of birds was created from the by-product of a formal piece Joel conceived for an exhibition.
Joel’s original piece featuring thousands of hand drawn lines across a large canvas took him weeks to complete. But the two pieces of blotting paper on which he had wiped the excess ink from his pen onto were chosen as the pieces to bring vitality to the hotel rooms.
The blotting paper panels were enlarged and adapted by Charlotte to create the innovative wallpaper for the hotel. With sustainability being an important consideration for the project, the wallpaper was designed to fit each space to reduce wastage.
Interior Designer Annie Wearn of ABDA commented:
‘I absolutely love the Disorder in Stasis print, it sat in perfect alignment with my narrative for the design and really makes the suites. We’ve received lots of wonderful feedback from the Client & Hotel already.’
Charlotte Raffo of The Monkey Puzzle Tree said:
‘It’s wonderful for such a large organisation as Hilton to be sourcing their products locally. This order directly benefits our local economy, with our artists receiving a generous royalty payment and local manufacturers producing the wallpaper.’
The Monkey Puzzle Tree was founded with a mission to support local industry and artists after founder Charlotte Raffo experienced the decline of local manufacturing first hand.
Following her redundancy from the Pittards Tannery in Cross Green, Leeds, which closed in 2006 with the loss of almost 300 jobs, she felt that something had to be done to support and promote the heritage mills and skills in our region.
Charlotte is also passionate about amplifying local creativity which she feels can often be overlooked outside of the capital. The business pays each artist they work with a 20% royalty back to the artists on sales they make.
About Monkey Puzzle Tree
The Monkey Puzzle Tree has gained a cult following amongst interior designers and homeowners who enjoy both the function and aesthetics of these highly individual fabrics and wallpapers.
Combining a love of colour and pattern with a strong ethical purpose, their exquisite textiles and wallcoverings enrich interiors with character, authenticity, and a quiet sense of rebellion.
Established in 2017 by Charlotte Raffo, The Monkey Puzzle Tree carved out a new way to harness creative ideas by collaborating with carefully selected Yorkshire artists, celebrating the best of the North of England’s creativity, eccentricity and innovation.
The company works to support local communities and minimise the environmental impact of their products, paying their artists generous royalties and manufacturing their luxury designs within 100 miles of their Leeds studio.
They are currently working towards achieving BCorp status and receiving growth support from Creative UK and the British Library.
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