Upcycle Challenge: Table-tastic
Back by popular demand! 10 celebrity experts and décor diy experts are taking part in the 4th annual Upcycle Challenge: Table-tastic presented by Rust-Oleum in support of Habitat for Humanity GTA and ReStore at the upcoming Toronto Fall Home Show.
Armed with a ReStore budget and a killer competitive edge, each participant was invited to source and upcycle a Dining or Kitchen Table from one of the 10 Habitat for Humanity GTA ReStore locations. They were encouraged to exploit their creativity and DIY talents and challenged to create their project using a Rust-Oleum mystery box.
“Habitat GTA ReStore is proud to work in partnership with the Toronto Fall Home Show” says Rob Lee, Vice President, ReStore. “This year marks our 4th Upcycle Challenge and we always look forward to see the creativity displayed by top DIY savvy designers and design experts in support of our organization.”
Participants include: Glen Peloso and Jamie Alexander (Designers – Peloso Alexander Design); Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault (Cityline expert and Colour Aficionado) and Glen Coyle (Contractor, Mike Holmes “Make It Right”); Tiffany Pratt (Designer Stylist, host of HGTV’S Buy It, Fix It, Sell It); Melissa Davis (Interior Designer, HGTV Income Property); Nicholas Rosaci (Designer and DIY Expert, Cityline); Evelyn Eshun (Interior Designer, Evelyn Eshun Design Inc.); Maria Perketa (design and build project management) and Erin McCoy (host, The Real Estate Talk Show); Yvonne Whelan (Yvonne Whelan Design); David White (David White Design) and Cristina Barbosa (Toronto Home Shows).
The Upcycle Challenge is the perfect way to draw attention to how easy it is to turn something old into something new, while raising awareness for Habitat for Humanity GTA and the ReStores. Repurposing or upcycling old furniture and finds has become one of the hottest trends around the world. More and more DIY enthusiasts are discovering the fun in transforming vintage furniture into stylish pieces for your home.
Cristina and I at the Restore on Bermondsey checking out all the great finds and of course looking for her table.
Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault used her design and DIY expertise to create a one-of-a-kind creation each year since the inaugural Upcycle Challenge. This year she brought the hot trend of Colouring books to life creating an adult colouring book table, plus even cut out holes to hold pots for the wet-erase markers and dry erase crayons!
“I’ve had several inquiries about the pattern and yes, I did free hand it all with a pencil and then painted over it using charcoal coloured Chalked Paint by Rust-Oleum and an artist brush… because I’m crazy like that,” added Leigh-Ann. “It is coated with Rust-Oleum’s clear dry erase paint and can be coloured over… and over… and over again!”
This is the third year that Glen Peloso and Jamie Alexander have participated in the Upcycle Challenge to show their support of Habitat for Humanity GTA and ReStore. Glen and Jamie selected a rattan table to bring back to life. They call it the perfect indoor/outdoor solution. With a combination of greys and oranges, what might have been in the dumpster has become a versatile and beautiful piece of furniture.
“Habitat for Humanity is not only a great organization, it represents the values and mores of our society,” states Glen and Jamie. “Everyone can find themselves in a difficult situation. A truly evolved and civil society takes care of every member in it to create a better whole. We love the idea of giving back to people who really need a little boost up to make their life better.”
Melissa Davis took a traditional metal legged dining table and transformed it into a whimsical dining table that children would love to eat at. She painted the legs gold and used white paint to refresh the table before adding the outline for 4 place settings in gold.
“As a mother, I know that by making meal times enjoyable, you have a better chance of getting your children to eat,” adds Melissa. “My son gave me the inspiration and approves of the finished table.”
David White jumped at the opportunity to take part. He selected a traditional oak table and after repairing and reinforcing it, he transformed it into a rustic farm inspired table using sandpaper and Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint.
“I had never used Chalked Paint before and I love it,” states White. “Painting was the easy part, sanding was another story. I used various grades of sandpaper to create the finished look.”
A French Neoclassical style mahogany dining table, its Louis XVI design is evident by the six tapered column legs with crested decorative metal capitals and brass casters, was a true ‘catch’ when Evelyn Eshun found it on her first trip to Habitat for Humanity ReStore in search of the perfect Table-tastic piece.
“My goal in giving this classic beauty a new look was to stay true to the period while giving it a mod/glam look of the 21st century,” elaborates Evelyn. “Originally designed in the late 18th century, this design proves to be timelessly perfect in a traditional or contemporary styled interior even with a fresh coat of white and grey paint from Rust-Oleum.”
Habitat for Humanity is synonymous with helping families in need build homes, communities and dreams and Nicholas Rosaci couldn’t think of a better collaboration to participate in and use his DIY skills to transform simple furniture into inspired furnishings. To clean and degloss the table surface , he started with Rust-Oleum’s Krud Kutter with light sanding before priming the surface with “painters touch” sandable spray primer. The table base and top was painted in wide and narrow contrasting stripes using Rust-oleum’s Painters touch Hi Gloss white and black latex paint and the daring diagonal X pattern on the table top was complimented with details of liquid metallic gold spray paint for an extra elegant edge.
“True chicness isn’t about how much something cost but rather what you make from something simple, states Nicholas. “I set out to reinvent my table incorporating two of the season’s hottest trends –classic black and white stripes and gold for a graphic and fashion forward esthetic using my favourite trusted Rust-Oleum products. The end result is a beautifully finished dining table that makes a grand first impression that is timeless and seamlessly integrates into almost any décor.”
Cristina Barbosa chose a table that she felt could work for many different sized spaces. The wings allow for a very small or quite large table and help stylize the table depending on their position; the table can be left plain by leaving the wings down, or more fun by pulling the wings up or even more funky when you add in the insert. Cristina painted the wings with Rust-Oleum’s Ocean Mist color, left the top the original color and painted a geometric triangle Aztec type pattern with the Ocean Mist, Bright White and Forged Hammered in Burnished Amber to spice it up a bit. For a little added touch, she did a dip effect on the table legs which gives it a unique look.
“The paint was really easy to work with, it was the patience with the taping and waiting for it to dry to be able to do the next triangle that was the hard part,” Cristina says. “I am really loving all things Aztec right now, so I did something that I would 100% love in my home and tried to make it so that other people would love it too.”
Yvonne Whelan’s inspiration came from the table she chose, which was a fairly simple harvest table in very good condition with a nice shape. Yvonne gave it a current trendy twist by adding some metallics (gold has been all the rage this past year in design) and painting it white to give it adaptability to fit into a lot potential spaces, whilst making the gold metallic pop.
Tiffany Pratt worked with the existing table top and painted the legs of her table a vibrant pink.
“With this challenge I went with a less is more approach,” adds Tiffany. “The table top was already a glass covered marbled show stopper and I was given some white primer and hot pink Rust-Oleum paint to re-surface the wood. I liked the idea of making the base entirely hot pink (very on brand for me) and treating the edge of the table with a spray painted marbled effect to blend with the table top. This table is intended for fun, for humour and for a room in the house that needs a texture and colour injection!”
When sourcing the table, Maria Perketa and Erin McCoy were looking for something inspiring and unique; something with character. They transformed a dining table into a multi-functional piece that could serve as a credenza, makeup vanity, writing desk or dressing table. Wanting to take the challenge up a notch, Maria and Erin made sure they used everything in their Rust-Oleum supply box. They even managed to make a candelabra from the leftover table legs.
“We just knew we had something special when we found our table,” says Maria. “After all, one (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure! With a little imagination and effort anyone can re-purpose items you already own! A lot of passion, sweat, and loads of laughter went into this project, and thankfully no accidents!”
All entries will be displayed at the Toronto Fall Home Show from October 1 – 4, at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place. Who will you vote for. Voting is open until Wednesday, September 30th www.facebook.com/TorontoHomeShows.
If you like a table, they will be sold in support of Habitat for Humanity GTA and ReStore.
To see all of the afters tables, before pictures and more information on the participants visit the Toronto Fall Home Show site.
For more information on RESTORE and it’s locations visit
Toronto Home Shows, Show Manager Tina Holmes, a.k.a. @TinaLovesPinot, is always on the hunt for that little treasure to upcycle and you’ll never know what you’ll find at ReStore
