5th Annual Upcycle Challenge: Storage solutions

Celebrity experts and emerging decor and DIY experts are taking part in the fifth annual Upcycle Challenge at the Toronto Fall Home Show at the Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place beginning Friday, September 23 and running until Sunday, September 25.

Confirmed participants include: Evelyn Eshun, interior designer, Evelyn Eshun Interiors; Carson Arthur, international landscape designer and outdoor expert, Cityline expert and star on HGTV’s ‘Home to Win’; Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault, DIY ninja and Cityline expert; Chris Palmer, founder of Hand Crafted by Chris Palmer, Clare Kumar, professional organizer; Jordan Spears, DIY, craftsman and carpenter; David White, designer, David White Design; Erica Gelman, designer, House Of Design;Janice Feda, colour and design specialist; Anne Renshaw, interior designer; Anna Rocoski (Toronto Home Shows); Cristina Barbosa (Toronto Home Shows); and Michael Penney, designer and owner, Penney and Company.

“I love the concept of the Upcycle Challenge, taking something from a Habitat for Humanity ReStore and giving it new meaning,” says Carson Arthur. “I am a huge fan of redefining items so that they work for today’s lifestyle. Our lives are constantly evolving, so should our furniture, but it doesn’t mean that we have to throw out the old in favour of the new.”

Revolving around this year’s Challenge theme of storage solutions, participants chose a piece from any of the 10 Habitat for Humanity GTA ReStores and were given free rein to be as creative and unique as their DIY minds would allow to design and upcycle a piece that will offer additional storage and organization options.

“I used an old radio cabinet as the base and an old kitchen cupboard as the top,” said Michael Penney. “I added two pine shelves and a bit of trim moulding from Home Depot to make the cabinet a proper hutch.I added some beadboard panelling to the back and new knobs to add a funky touch. Then I painted the outside Lily Pond from the Penney & Co Collection and Prairie Sunset for the interior then loaded it up with dishes and kitchen items for a great storage unit!”

Carson Arthur created a seat for a child with storage for shoes or toys under it from an art deco set of drawers.“I went with bright colours and bold stripes to add wow into a space but also to add a little fun into a functional piece,” adds Arthur. “My inspiration came from my nephew who can never sit still to put on his shoes. All of the backs of his sneakers are flattened because he just jams his feet in and off he goes.”

“I love the concept of the Upcycle Challenge, taking something from a Habitat for Humanity ReStore and giving it new meaning,”
– Carson Arthur.

On her trip to a Habitat ReStore, Evelyn Eshun was inspired by a wall sconce and quickly picked it up before someone else did and added a mirror and brackets to her purchase. She had an MDF board cut to create a base for the wall sconce and added a shelf that she siliconed to a mirror.

“The finished product is a dressing mirror, which can be mounted in a bedroom,” states Eshun. “The shelf is perfect for perfume and make-up, and you can hang some necklaces and scarves on it as well. The mirror is ideal for checking hair and lipstick on the way out the door.”

For Jordan Spear, DIY is about saving money. As a handyman and carpenter, he can upcycle used materials to create and tailor a specific project that is totally one of a kind and budget friendly! For the Upcycle Challenge, he created a great storage cabinet constructed entirely out of 2 doors and a mirror. The plan was to make it look old and retain the vintage character while still being functional, well built, and good looking.

“My inspiration comes from my love of antiques and unique one-off pieces, and the fact that it’s difficult sometimes to find that right piece for the home,” says Spear. “Living in a 160-year-old farmhouse presents challenges for finding the right furniture and decor, so to build my own with vintage charm and modern function satisfies that dilemma. People tend to throw away old furniture and materials, when, with a little creativity, these materials can be saved from the landfill and live a new life as something functional and unique.”

All entries will be displayed and will be on sale at the Toronto Fall Home Show, with proceeds going to support Habitat for Humanity GTA. An online voting contest will also run from September 15-23 so people can vote for their favourite upcycle masterpiece.