London Upcycling Show - upcycling competition before and afters

london upcycling show 2017 upcycling competition entries - before & after As part of the London Upcycling Show 2017, North London Waste Authority and environmental charity Groundwork London ran an upcycling competition for north Londoners. Competitors were challenged to upcycle an item from one of five furniture categories in less than three weeks.

These are the inspiring results.

competition category bedside cabinet (for child)

Young Barnet Foundation - BEFORE “My interest in upcycling began as a child when I would spend time with my Grandad. One day we came across a discarded chair in an alleyway, brought it home and lovingly restored it. From this, I inherited an appreciation for the aesthetics of everyday things.�

Young Barnet Foundation - AFTER “The London Upcycling Show poster reignited my passion for upcycling.

I’m always looking for creative ways to raise awareness of the great work the Young Barnet Foundation do, helping children and young people facing disadvantage in The London Borough of Barnet. Before I knew it my imagination had run wild with ways to create a visual representation of the charity.

Entering this competition has brought back so many childhood memories for me and I hope that it will empower me to upcycle many more projects in the future.”

Check out a storyboard for this makeover

Frances Ridout - BEFORE “I don't have much experience of upcycling. I have painted a few chairs and sanded / varnished a coffee table but this is the first thing I have really spent considerable time on.�

Frances Ridout - AFTER “My friend mentioned the competition to me because I enjoy being crafty and am keen on recycling.

I now have a lot more confidence to try and upcycle other bits of furniture!�

Anna Burton - BEFORE “I have always been interested in upcycling because I hate waste! I like to try and think of ways to reuse items or repurpose them in some way so I have had a go at making a table out of an old cable drum and some pallet furniture.

I entered the competition as I haven't done much cosmetic upcycling, it has mainly been changing the use, sanding and waxing for a natural finish. I thought it would be a fun challenge to do something for a child as it is slightly out of my comfort zone.

Anna Burton - AFTER “I have really enjoyed being involved, I have had to think of things that would appeal to children and parents but I also wanted it to be fun and useful.

I am really excited to see what everyone else has done too, as one of my favourite things about upcycling is that there are so many directions that you can take with one item.�

KIDS Adventure Play - BEFORE “Adventure Playgrounds originally grew out of reclaiming unwanted areas and discarded items after World War II. Playgrounds always have to upcycle – make do and mend is our motto! Especially because we are just starting a campaign to raise 100k to keep our specialist playground open.

We are inspired by the young people who attend our afterschool and weekend sessions - children are masters at creating brilliant play equipment out of discarded cardboard boxes, broken toys or unwanted clothes.”

KIDS Adventure Play – AFTER People’s Choice

“The young people who attend the playground were involved from start to finish. There were brilliantly wild and wacky ideas of how we could transform the bedside table. Children and staff flexed their imagination muscles, working together in afterschool sessions and Saturday playschemes to get making!

There was glueing, painting, collecting and even young people using power tools for the first time.

Terry May – BEFORE

“I have been upcycling for over 30 years as a hobby. I am from the generation of reuse and repair. One of the first things I remember upcycling was my childhood bunk beds and after that I repurposed a pram into a go cart – and that was back in the 1980s!”

Terry May – AFTER Best Upcycled Bedside Cabinet “Usually people tell me what they want doing with a piece of furniture, so this has been a different experience for me, being able to choose and do as I wish. I enjoyed the challenge of not having any instruction!”

competition category upright chair

Ota Obiekwe – BEFORE

“Upcycling is something I have been born with; it’s who I am. I don't like to see waste - at the same time, if I buy something and I don't like it, I will transform it.

Ota Obiekwe – AFTER

“Each new item is a new project in itself. Upycling is something I am passionate about and enjoy doing.”

Hornsey Vale Community Association – BEFORE “My partner and I both repurpose recycled and unwanted materials: I make and sell brooches and purses from samples and offcuts, while my partner transforms bike tyres into belts. Our only upcycling furniture project has been making a metal chair into a planter. We often look at bits of furniture in skips and wonder... This is a great opportunity to experiment and make a difference. This project is a joint effort with two other members of Hornsey Vale Community Association.”

Hornsey Vale Community Association – AFTER “We had a very creative (and sociable) meeting to discuss ideas for the project. The end product is an example of the collaborative and playful approach we adopt in the running of the community centre. We hope you enjoy our Throne of Games!”

Find out more about the Hornsey Vale Community Centre

Andrzej Jazdzewski – BEFORE “My father was a self-taught ‘hobby’ carpenter, so I grew up with the smell of wood and paint - and respected the sanctity of the manshed. I also inherited a invaluable appreciation of patience … don’t rush a job!

Allow the materials and the medium to dictate the pace and progress of a project. I make my own furniture, and am indebted to IKEA for producing cheap simple furniture that is malleable to adaptation. I also fish out of skips and upcycle. There’s a measure of personal satisfaction in making, creating something.”

Andrzej Jazdzewski – AFTER “The collective exhibition may inspire the public to think more progressively and responsibly, offering another way to approach the issues of ‘reuse’ and re-brand sustainability. I feel an indirect connection to the other participants, a warm kinship born of shared creativity.

Applying our creativity to upcycling can have more than one beneficial outcome; for example, unwanted furniture receives a new lease of useability, offers grassroots initiatives a commercial basis, and gives gainful employment to disadvantaged members of society, with an opportunity to share new skills.”

Abi Park – BEFORE “I enjoy designing a more useful function into objects that people eventually chuck away. I’ve previously turned a broken chair into a birthing chair, and I am currently designing a resource game for children to teach us about how to manage the earth’s resources.”

Abi Park – AFTER “I entered the competition to force myself to find time to be creative. I’ve ended up by designing a balance board for my baby + 1 for interaction and play!”

Camilla Tepasse – BEFORE “I often have to move due to rent increases. I can't and don't want to spend a lot on furniture each time I move. I source most of my furniture from friends or from skips and the roadside. I clean it, paint/varnish it, and use it! When I have to move I often sell these pieces to help pay for moving costs: win-win.

I recently upcycled a chair and chest of drawers for my new flat but I wanted to use this competition to think beyond the quick and functional. I like a challenge and I like to find reasons to be creative. This competition was a way of meeting like-minded people and pushing my creative thinking.”

Camilla Tepasse – AFTER Best Upcycled Upright Chair “I hope that my piece will encourage people to talk about health and well-being in our homes and workplaces – particularly in terms of air pollution. Crafting is a form of mental well-being for me so as well as getting the satisfaction of upcycling a piece of furniture I use the time to leave the stresses of modern life behind and be completely selfish!”

Check out Camilla’s blog about upcycling her entry

competition category armchair

Gabrielle Bailey – BEFORE

“I don't have much upcycling experience, but it’s something I am interested in. I have picked things up from the street before to work on.”

Gabrielle Bailey – AFTER

“I entered the competition to give myself the motivation to complete something. I found being involved really therapeutic and inspiring.”

Alex Forrester – BEFORE “My interest in upcycling and refurbishing furniture started out as a necessity, when I moved into a new flat with minimal furniture. I watched Youtube videos and borrowed joinery books to learn basic skills, then built a bed from reclaimed wood without power tools. With my newly acquired skills I started collecting other items to furnish my flat, but also for friends and then even selling items to buy more tools. I like that the competition provided the piece of furniture so you're not exactly sure what you‘ll be working with!

This piece made me think differently from what I would normally do.”

Alex Forrester – AFTER “I signed up to the competition to find out more about what other people and organisations are doing in London with upcycling, as well as to be inspired by the different styles and creativeness of others.

I found it a great opportunity to make new links and get ideas for my next project. It's been wonderful to be able to have tips and advice from others as well as the opportunity to attend workshops.”

Lee Brown – BEFORE “No previous experience or training in the field at all if you discount when I was at secondary school.

And I failed art and design technology plus wood work.”

Lee Brown – AFTER

“I signed up to the competition to see if my ideas are appreciated by others, because I feel I have a non-conventional approach to design and interiors.”

Barnet Furniture Centre – BEFORE “The Barnet Furniture Centre is Barnet's first reuse centre; we're up a side alley so we're a well-kept local secret. Our upcycling competition entry was a bit of a team effort. We had two volunteers who are woodworkers and handymen - they fix anything with anything and are self-taught repurposing magicians – and the other three volunteers were on painting, upholstering and decorating.”

Find out more about the Barnet Furniture Centre

Barnet Furniture Centre – AFTER Best Upcycled Armchair “We are all Barnet and Enfield locals, passionate about saving stuff that gets left out on estates, fixing it up and passing it on to those who couldn't otherwise afford it. So we took a repurposing angle on our entry and are proud of delivering something weird and wonderful to behold.”

Helen Westerby – BEFORE “I’ve always loved the idea of upcycling - I hate waste and I’m pretty rubbish at throwing anything away. I’d never had the opportunity for any real furniture upcycling, I’d only ever made curtains, cushion covers, loose covers for an old ottoman, and done various bits of patchwork before. I thought this competition would be the perfect opportunity to try my hand at recovering a piece of furniture. I wanted to breathe new life into something that had come to the end of its use.”

Helen Westerby – AFTER Overall Winner “Doing this project has shown me that, with a bit of thought, it’s amazing what can be done with a piece of furniture you’d never think could be reused. It’s taught me not to dismiss something because of its appearance. Given the choice, I’d never have picked this old bucket chair. I’m glad I was given it as it made me push my capabilities. I’m a Clothing Design Pattern Maker, so had some of the skills needed. It was nevertheless very difficult, particularly given the timescale, but it was great fun and very rewarding.”

competition category side table

Fiona McLeod – BEFORE “I have always been into arts and crafts and I have learnt some basic techniques whilst working to a budget.

Upcycling has become a new creative outlet for me since I have changed jobs and I am retraining in a new career. I have just started a course in interior design, so upcycling fits in with this.”

Fiona McLeod – AFTER

“Doing this competition has helped build my confidence, and made me realise I actually know more than I thought I did!”

Jasper Keech – BEFORE

“My old housemate, Jonny, our friend Becca and I used to do quite a lot of upcycling and DIY. We decoupaged an old box shelf with lots of beer bottle labels, made a table out of an old wooden crate, and used to turn beer cans into plant pots. Thought I’d just give it a go, I always like a challenge.”

Jasper Keech – AFTER “This was a good excuse to get the DIY team together and get creative, maybe a bit messy, and have a laugh whilst making something cool.”

Daniel Davies – BEFORE

“Absolutely no experience at all with upcycling before!

I only really heard of the idea/concept recently but was interested by it immediately. I love the idea of not only re-using disregarded items, but also re-imagining them to become something else.”

Daniel Davies – AFTER “I don't really consider myself a particularly 'creative' person, but I like using my hands and working with equipment, tools etc. What better way to take some time to be creative and have some fun?”

Stanley Chapman – BEFORE

“I've done building work and have some carpentry skills - I like to reuse wood. Upcycling is a hobby, something I have a passion for. The competition is good practice to increase and put my skills to use.”

Stanley Chapman – AFTER

Note from the editor: Unfortunately Stanley become unwell and was unable to complete his entry. We hear he had plans to tile the top in black and white, and turn this into a games table.

Lindsey Molyneux – BEFORE “I’ve been inspired by my mum, who does a lot of upcycling.

When I was decorating my bathroom back in June, instead of replacing the furniture, I decided to upcycle three pieces for the bathroom and give them a new lease of life.

Mend and make do sometimes is the best way forward. They looked great, considering it was my first ever experience. I didn’t waste any time signing up for the competition. I thought it would be a fun and interesting challenge, where I could learn some new skills.”

Lindsey Molyneux – AFTER Best Upcycled Side Table “While researching ideas, I picked up some new skills and some self-assurance, that I can do things and succeed. I shouldn’t be worried that I can’t do something. I hope this will give me confidence for future projects.”

competition category sideboard

Adriana De Palma – BEFORE “I don't have that much experience, but my interest in upcycling came from trying to furnish our first home. There's so many furniture pieces out there that are full of character and so sturdy – often they just need a sand and oiling to make them look beautiful again. I saw the email from my local Freecycle group and couldn't resist signing up for the competition – it just seemed like it would be so much fun!””

Adriana De Palma – AFTER “I'm a scientist by day so it is wonderful to do something creative in my spare time. In my work, I focus on trying to protect plants and animals on earth and a big way we can help is to waste less so we can take less from the planet.

That is part of what made me so interested in this competition: upcycling is good for the planet, good for people, and most importantly, it is great fun!”

Susana Padilla – BEFORE “I started to be interested in furniture fairly recently, in 2014. I went to an evening course for six months in college on furniture restoration and I discovered then that I wasn't so much interested in bringing antiques to their formal glory, but preferred beautifying the pieces nobody wanted as they looked ugly or were too broken. After college I went to France for a year and helped an upcycler for a few weeks, which gave me the chance to learn some basic techniques. I also trained with a couple who were both upholsterers and with an artist of lacquer in Paris. I entered the competition to challenge myself, and for the fun of it!�

Susana Padilla – AFTER “I really enjoy the whole creative process of looking for ideas, testing textures, colours, techniques and of course getting to actually do the final piece. I look at it and think, did I really do that? Sometimes I get really surprised about our creative potential.”

Gemma Seddon – BEFORE

“My experience with upcycling is really varied - mostly it’s to create art. I have always had a strong interest in it though, as it’s amazing to see what can be transformed from one use and style to another.”

Gemma Seddon – AFTER “A bit of a stress trying my hand at carpentry to fix the issues with the sideboard. It’s been a good challenge and I like that. I really enjoyed trying gold leaf for the first time with the piece.”

The Loop @ Grahame Park – BEFORE

“I've always invented things and been creative with waste goods, but I’d never done proper furniture upcycling before volunteering at the Loop.

The Loop told me about the competition and asked me if I would like to take part. I like a challenge so I said yes.”

Find out more about The Loop @ Grahame Park

The Loop @ Grahame Park – AFTER People’s Choice

“I learned more about planning a project, making use of things and materials already available to keep costs minimal, improvisation, teamwork, and about different types of paint!”

Luke Newcombe – BEFORE “It all started one day while I was out walking the dog. I found a fly-tipped tyre and had the idea of taking it home and turning it into something functional. I painted it, put it in the front garden and planted it up with tulips. It looked so great! Now I'm always spotting flytipped stuff that can be repurposed.

My dad was a carpenter so I learned some skills from him, but Youtube is also useful for researching! I work in an office Monday to Friday, so I like having these projects where I can mess around with timber and gardening in the evenings and on weekends.”

Luke Newcombe – AFTER Best Upcycled Sideboard “Just taking part has been cool, and especially being able to do something to encourage people to take time to repair things or turn them into something functional, instead of throwing things out on the street.”

That’s all folks!

Thanks to the upcycling competition judges at the London Upcycling Show 2017: (L-R) Andy Dickson from The Chair Man, Chris Barrett from ThinkFOUND, Tommy Walsh of Ground Force fame and (seated) Georgina Burnett, The Home Genie.

Thank you also to Competition Prize Sponsor, Durkan Community Contractor.

Feeling inspired? For more info about furniture reuse in north London, visit North London Waste Authority’s Wise Up to Waste website.