It takes imagination to turn an old piece of furniture into something new but the results are worth it
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KATRINA CLARKE STAFF REPORTER
The old makeovers that recently took place at the Toronto Fall Home Show were the furniture equivalent of a Cinderella story. For the 5th annual Upcycle Challenge, 13 celebrity designers and up-and-coming DIY experts chose pieces from Habitat for Humanity ReStores in the GTA and turned them into functional works of art. The pieces were sold at the show, with the proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity GTA. The Star spoke with the creative forces behind the most interesting pieces about their vision and the process to make it come alive. The results are inspiring. Just think: you might find your home’s next talking point along the curb next garbage day.
CLARE KUMAR, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER AND PRODUCTIVITY COACH
Kumar teamed up with Johnny’s Finishing Shop in Etobicoke, whose staff sanded, primed and painted the piece, according to her design requests. The result in a rich pop of colour with high sheen and gold details. “People were not going to see beauty in that without a lot of work,” said Kumar, who loved the final piece so much she wanted to keep it.
CLARE KUMAR
BEFORE: Clare Kumar’s piece was a rundown turntable cabinet to start with.
MELISSA RENWICK/TORONTO STAR
AFTER: Now it is brightly coloured side table.
MELISSA RENWICK/TORONTO STAR
AFTER: Chris Palmer finished with a kitchen island.
MELISSA RENWICK/TORONTO STAR
AFTER: Janice Fedak’s finished piece was a wine cart.
MELISSA RENWICK/TORONTO STAR
AFTER: Brightly coloured side table.
MELISSA RENWICK/TORONTO STAR
AFTER: Carson Arthur refinished the dresser into a child’s shoe/toy bench.
CHRIS PALMER
CHRIS PALMER OF HAND CRAFTED BY CHRIS PALMER Palmer stripped the desk down to its frame, then took the two matching drawer consoles and screwed them together. Next, he took a slab of thick pine and planed it down into a rustic butcher block top and...
ANNE RENSHAW
ANNE RENSHAW INTERIOR DESIGNER Renshaw refinished the drawer fronts, stacked and affixed the drawers together, added liners to the drawers and added hardware to the front of the piece. “(My vision was) to create a piece that embraced a fresh, new...
JANICE FEDAK
JANICE FEDAK COLOUR AND DESIGN SPECIALIST Fedak deconstructed the cabinet, sanded off the existing finish and added wine storage and shelving in the interior. She repurposed one of the doors, turning it into a serving tray, primed and painted the...
CARSON ARTHUR
CARSON ARTHUR LANDSCAPE DESIGNER AND OUTDOOR EXPERT Arthur removed the top two drawers and stripped off old layers of paint and sealant before repainting and reconstructing the piece. “I wanted to create something that my 6-yearold nephew would...