I’m excited to once again be helping behind the scenes of the Bend Area Habitat ReStore’s Furniture Flip. This the second year for the fledgling fund-raiser, which benefits the Bend Area Habitat and its efforts to provide affordable home-ownership to low-income residents of Bend.
The goal of the event is to challenge local artists and designers to take furniture and household goods that others have discarded – – the ReStore’s stock-in-trade — and transform them into unique artworks and furniture pieces worthy of anyone’s home. Those creations are then offered for sale (via live auction this year) in a fun, festive environment that also serves as a community-wide reminder of the ReStore’s ongoing commitment to “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.” (It’s no coincidence that the Furniture Flip auction event on April 23 coincides with Earth Day weekend.)
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Back in February, the ReStore invited local artists and designers to participate in the Flip and showcase their DIY skills by creating between one and three pieces to be sold at the Flip event. The rules were straightforward: “Take something that might have been destined for the dump and give it a new life.”
Seventeen designers/teams signed on to take the challenge. The group assembled in late March to review the rules, shop the store and learn this year’s three themes.
Here’s an overview of the themes:
- Inside Out: Transform items originally intended for use indoors into furniture or décor (or perhaps a party game?) that’s ideal for a backyard patio, entertaining space or garden.
- Bright Ideas: Rethink lighting -– whether by revamping a light fixture, transforming lighting components into furniture/décor or creating a light fixture from found objects.
- What was It? : Truly unleash your creativity by re-imagining something so completely that we won’t know what it was in its previous life.
In the spirit of reduce, reuse, and recycle, participating designers were instructed to use no more than 20 percent of new materials per item they design. They would have one month to complete their works. To help with some of the more complex projects, DIYcave co-owner Aaron Leis announced that all participants would have free access for the duration of the challenge to all DIY resources (sweet!).
Each designer/design team was awarded a $25 ReStore gift card per item with which to shop (they’re also welcome to shop at the area’s other resale outposts); then they were given an hour on the spot to see what they could find…
Flip designers scour the Receiving Room at the ReStore.
Jeffrey Smith and Sally Ragsdale-Smith pondering the lumber options at ReStore.
ReStore Director of Retail Operations Sophie Paez transports a Flip designer’s finds to the checkout.
At the April 23rd Flip auction event, which will take place from 7-9 pm at the Bend ReStore, all of the artists’ creations will be on display and available for purchase. The designers will also vie for six different awards (all but one of which is chosen by a panel of judges; there’s also a People’s Choice Award). Award winners will be announced at 9 pm.
To add to the festivities, Shred Town’s food truck will be on hand in the ReStore parking lot; beverages are being provided by Cascade Lakes Brewery, Humm Kombucha and Dutch Bros. coffee.
Tickets to the event are $5 per person. They’re available at the Bend Area Habitat ReStore, 224 NE Thurston Ave., (you can also buy 5 for $20 there) or online. Proceeds benefit Bend Area Habitat for Humanity projects.
To find out more about the Furniture Flip, visit the Furniture Flip website or call the Bend ReStore at 541-312-6709.
About the Author
Lisa Broadwater, GRI, CDPE, is a Central Oregon-based real estate professional who specializes in listing and selling homes, especially in Sisters, Tumalo, Bend and Redmond.