Innovative Furniture Repurposing Leads to Two Winners for Habitat For Humanity's Inaugural 'The Big Flip' Contest

Philip Feder and Cass Stabler are the winners of Habitat for Humanity’s inaugural ‘The Big Flip’ contest to promote sustainability and creativity to those reimagining and reviving furniture pieces while keeping them out of landfills. 

Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity.

The first rendition of the event had 46 entries and ran on Earth Day, April 22. The challenge was to transform used furniture innovatively (including, but not limited to, painting, restoring, and reupholstering).

Among the entries, 20 contestants sourced their items from a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, five found furniture pieces on the side of the road and six repurposed items they already had at home. There were 17 entries that showcased the creative use of Fusion Mineral paint, a popular and environmentally conscious paint line known for its superior durability and one-step application, according to a press release.

The winners were selected through two categories: The People’s Choice and Designer’s Choice. The People's Choice category had over 1900 online votes. The Designer’s Choice winner was chosen by the interior designers at Birchview Design, who evaluated entries based on criteria such as creativity, originality, usability and overall transformation. 

The Winners 

People’s Choice Category: 

The recipient of the People's Choice award is Philip Feder of Omemee. His winning entry, a Superman-themed side table crafted from repurposed comic book covers, captured the hearts of voters with its unique blend of creativity and sustainability.

“As a comic book and toy collector, I frequently encounter damaged comics. Rather than allowing them to be discarded in a landfill, I opted to repurpose them.” said Feder. “(I) used a combination of materials and paint, I added bar resin to seal the top. To emulate Superman's suit, I fashioned the legs of the table accordingly, drawing inspiration from the comics.”

Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity.

The Designer’s Choice award went to Cass Stabler for her meticulously crafted floral desk. She transformed a child-sized wooden desk and chair into a vibrant and functional piece of furniture. Cass transformed the pre-loved desk into a birthday gift for her seven-year-old niece. After thoroughly prepping the desk and matching chair, she patiently painted a floral motif to reflect her niece’s love of nature.

“It's a good thing the NHL playoffs were on because this took approximately eight hockey games (or 24 hours) worth of painting time,” said Stabler. “I already enjoyed finding nice, well-made furniture from sources like the ReStore and I have recently started painting more often. Being able to combine these skills and make a perfect gift for my niece was a lot of fun.”  

Both winners received a Fusion Mineral Paint™ prize pack, a one-year membership to the Peterborough Tool Library, and a $500 gift card to Chemong Home Hardware Building Centre.

“(We’re) Thrilled to have been part of The Big Flip contest—an amazing campaign that advocates sustainability and keeping our landfills free from furniture even if its not up to the best quality,” said Alaura Jopling, Chemong Home Hardware Building Centre marketing coordinator. “We encourage our customers to visit us anytime for guidance and supplies for their next DIY project. Together, we can help you create, repurpose, and give life to old furniture while protecting our planet.”

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