0:00:06 > 0:00:08How do you make money for nothing?
0:00:11 > 0:00:15The answer could be hiding in the 20 million tonnes of household waste
0:00:15 > 0:00:18we throw out every year.
0:00:18 > 0:00:19Before you throw that away,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22- is there any chance I could have a quick chat about it?- Sure.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25That's why entrepreneur Sarah Moore wants to get her
0:00:25 > 0:00:28hands on things before they hit the skip.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34I am a passionate buyer, user and renovator of second-hand stuff
0:00:34 > 0:00:38and I've turned that passion into a moneymaking business.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40I turn old into new and I sell it for a profit.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Sarah is ready to sift through as many boots and binbags
0:00:45 > 0:00:46as she needs to...
0:00:46 > 0:00:49That is the most fabulous thing I've seen here.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51This is so exciting.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..in her search for tip treasure.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55I love rifling through the rubbish.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01And, with some of the country's elite designers and makers...
0:01:01 > 0:01:03- Hello, hello! - What have you got today?
0:01:03 > 0:01:06I want to do what's right for this piece of rubbish...
0:01:06 > 0:01:09..she can transform her finds into desirable...
0:01:09 > 0:01:10Look at that!
0:01:10 > 0:01:12..beautiful...
0:01:12 > 0:01:13Speechless.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15..valuable...
0:01:15 > 0:01:16You're joking!
0:01:16 > 0:01:19..and, hopefully, saleable items.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22You always talk my kind of money, Jay. I love doing deals with you.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26If Sarah is successful, then she can hand the profits back to the very
0:01:26 > 0:01:31people who had no idea there was cash to be made from their trash.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33- HE CHUCKLES - Wow!
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Today, Sarah is at Witley Community Recycling Centre in Surrey.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56Every day up to 400 cars arrive here laden with junk for the tip.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00But much of it could be reused instead of landing
0:02:00 > 0:02:02headfirst in the skip.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Thankfully, Sarah is here to retrieve rubbish from this
0:02:08 > 0:02:09wonderful world of waste.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Some people like going designer shopping,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17others go and play golf, but for me this is where it's at.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19I'm in the department store for rubbish
0:02:19 > 0:02:23and all I've got to do is find the treasure in the trash.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27With a team of skilled designers waiting in the wings,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Sarah has special permission to be scouring through car boots
0:02:30 > 0:02:33looking for three items that, once revamped and sold,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37will produce a pay-out for the person dumping them.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Bring it down, I'm here all day.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43- I like the look of your chest! - Yeah!
0:02:43 > 0:02:44That's a loaded remark, isn't it?
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Come on, Sarah, keep your mind on the job.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Enter Richard and some interesting looking doors.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54- Hi, there.- Hello. - I like your doors!
0:02:54 > 0:02:56- Well, they didn't fit. - Oh, really?
0:02:56 > 0:03:00- That's an old one. That's one that came out...- Right.
0:03:00 > 0:03:01That was the moulded door I got.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04So it's not as good quality as the old one, then?
0:03:04 > 0:03:06No, but the old one wobbled.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Do you know something? It might be to my advantage.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11I'm looking for stuff that I might be able to recycle or
0:03:11 > 0:03:15make into something else, and your solid door might be just the thing.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Well, you're very welcome to have it.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21- I think it might make a great table or...- Table?!
0:03:23 > 0:03:27That's...really cool.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30I would love if I could take it away
0:03:30 > 0:03:32- and see if I could make something from it.- Yeah.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35It actually looks a lot nicer without the paint.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39It's really solid. It weighs a lot more than the new one.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42I can see lots of potential just because it's so solid
0:03:42 > 0:03:45and it's really big, which gives you plenty to work with.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47But what does Richard think?
0:03:47 > 0:03:49You see, thinking of it from my perspective,
0:03:49 > 0:03:54I can see turning it into a trestle and using it as a workbench.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57That's what I would do. But my shed's not big enough.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01It's really heavy. There's a lot of good quality wood there.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04That's fantastic, I'll definitely do something with that.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06You haven't got anything else in there...
0:04:06 > 0:04:11Yeah, I've got a vintage BT Home Hub that I don't need. Do you want that?
0:04:11 > 0:04:14No, the sun lounger's not going. That's on its way to my allotment.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Always worth asking,
0:04:16 > 0:04:20but on this occasion Sarah will just have to make do with the old door.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22I'm going to break the door!
0:04:22 > 0:04:25If she manages to take it away in one piece.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28She'll certainly have her work cut out with this old timber.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31But she does have someone in mind who can help.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39Rupert Blanchard is a sought-after furniture maker based in Margate.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Design-wise, I love making things
0:04:43 > 0:04:46that appear really clean and simple,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49but the cleaner and simpler they get,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52the more complicated they are to make.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56Rupert's furniture designs command a premium price
0:04:56 > 0:04:58which belie their humble beginnings.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Basically, other people's waste, I find some kind of beauty in it
0:05:02 > 0:05:06and spend a lot of time giving rubbish a lot of attention to
0:05:06 > 0:05:09try and bring it back into use.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Anything that you might find in a skip, basically,
0:05:12 > 0:05:13I'm happy to work with.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15That's music to my ears.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19This old door which Sarah has been given by Richard
0:05:19 > 0:05:20fits that bill perfectly.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27So, Sarah has rescued one item from the skip,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29but there's two more to find.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Unfortunately, she's spotted something it's too late to save.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36That is hundreds of pounds worth of lamp over there.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Sarah, you should know better than to eye up the stuff
0:05:39 > 0:05:40that's strictly out of bounds.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Anyway, it's not as if it's quiet -
0:05:43 > 0:05:47there's no end to the rubbish that is pouring in just now.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51And in no time, Sarah's on to her second catch.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56It seems skip visitor Stoyan is about to dump something special.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00- These are really cool!- Yeah. - So you're throwing them today?
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Yes, I don't need them.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Stoyan has had enough of trying to glue his broken dining chairs
0:06:06 > 0:06:10back together, but Sarah can see promise in these pews.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13I think they look lovely. How many have you got?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15- Er...I've got three. - Three? Lovely!
0:06:16 > 0:06:19They're really cool. I love the shape.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- That's fine, all yours.- Really?
0:06:22 > 0:06:27I'm so pleased you didn't put them on the tip. Thank you so much.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31These lovely old chairs are going to be made marvellous again.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33I've got a maker in mind
0:06:33 > 0:06:35to restore them and I think I'm sitting on a fortune.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Thank you so much.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40'You never know, someone's rubbish is somebody's gold.'
0:06:40 > 0:06:44So if you need something and you can use that...
0:06:46 > 0:06:47..you're welcome.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50So, item two is all set for a spruce-up
0:06:50 > 0:06:55and Sarah knows a perfect craftsman to overhaul these classic chairs.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Jay Blades is a builder turned philosophy graduate
0:07:04 > 0:07:06turned furniture restorer.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Jay has his finger on the pulse of modern design interiors,
0:07:10 > 0:07:14reworking the very best of British craftsmanship
0:07:14 > 0:07:16and bringing it into the 21st century.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23I've always had a passion for the kind of heritage that
0:07:23 > 0:07:25the British designers have produced over the years.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Traditionalists would love to keep it as it is,
0:07:28 > 0:07:30but to be reintroduced into the market
0:07:30 > 0:07:33I like to just add a bit of colour and something a bit quirky.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35I really enjoy adding my bit.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38I'm not necessarily worried about other people's reactions.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- It's more about do- I- like it? If I like it then it's good.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43The three rickety stick back chairs
0:07:43 > 0:07:45are a perfect project for Jay
0:07:45 > 0:07:47but, after all Stoyan's repairs,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50will he be able to stick them back together again?
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Sarah has successfully secured two items for Rupert
0:07:58 > 0:08:01and Jay's talents, but now she needs to search for a third
0:08:01 > 0:08:05piece of jettisoned junk she can renovate herself.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06Anything you fancy in there?
0:08:06 > 0:08:09But the pickings are looking slim.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11What's in the box?
0:08:13 > 0:08:17Shiver me timbers! Some treasure on the horizon.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Or at least, somewhere to store it.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21So what is it about the domed captain's trunk
0:08:21 > 0:08:25in the back of the car there that I find so exciting?
0:08:25 > 0:08:29I don't know if it's being dropped off or if someone's keeping it.
0:08:29 > 0:08:30Here's the guy coming now.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34The chest looks very old and it could be a great opportunity
0:08:34 > 0:08:37for Sarah to make some real profit for its owner Richard.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Sorry to bother you. Is that something you dropping off today?
0:08:41 > 0:08:42Yep.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46That looks amazing!
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Have you just had enough of it? Is there a story behind it?
0:08:49 > 0:08:53- There is, actually. It's my wife's grandmother's.- Right.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55So there's a bit of a story. I don't know what she did with it.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57She didn't go abroad?
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Did she always live in this country? Do you know anything like that or...
0:09:00 > 0:09:04- She went travelling when she was about 85, 90.- Oh, really?
0:09:04 > 0:09:07- I bet she didn't use one of these!- I don't think she used that then, no.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Unfortunately, I never met her, but apparently she was quite...
0:09:10 > 0:09:13- Quite spirited?- Yes. - Does it open?- I think so.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15One of the hinges is broken but...
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I think that is absolutely beautiful!
0:09:19 > 0:09:21And I totally understand why you might have finished with it
0:09:21 > 0:09:24but is it something that maybe I could take away and try
0:09:24 > 0:09:26and restore or do something with?
0:09:26 > 0:09:31- Yeah!- Yeah? You wouldn't mind? - Rather that than throw it away.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Although it's not a treasure chest, Sarah can see good money
0:09:34 > 0:09:38in it for Richard and his family by saving it from the crusher.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41'I really honestly don't know how much it would be worth.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44'I've never seen anything like that,'
0:09:44 > 0:09:46so no idea. No idea.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52This is stunning. It's absolutely beautiful.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54It's in real original condition
0:09:54 > 0:09:59and it would fit into a smart country house anywhere around here.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Sarah's search for the three items is complete.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Rupert will knock the old white door into shape.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10The three chairs are going to furniture designer Jay
0:10:10 > 0:10:13and the empty chest will be treasured
0:10:13 > 0:10:15and given a new life by Sarah.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18I love the things that I saved today,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22but the real question is can I actually make any money out of them?
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Margate is a seaside town on the coast of Kent.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Like Brighton and Southend, Margate was infamous
0:10:36 > 0:10:39for clashes between mods and rockers in the 1960s.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43Fortunately, it's now well known for the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery
0:10:43 > 0:10:47and its very own burgeoning vintage clothing
0:10:47 > 0:10:49and retro furniture scene.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53It's also home to Rupert Blanchard, who is one of the country's
0:10:53 > 0:10:56leading reclamation and bespoke furniture makers.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58And he's used to dealing with
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Sarah's wild and wacky dump treasure.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03I'm really looking forward to Sarah turning up.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06I don't know what she's actually turning up with.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09I'm hoping it's going to be something that I'm actually
0:11:09 > 0:11:10familiar with slightly.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13It may be wood, maybe a little bit of metal on it.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17If it's mass production or bespoke, if it's rotten or brand-new, I'm
0:11:17 > 0:11:22happy to sort of apply my own skills to it and play with it, basically.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25I just want to get on with it.
0:11:25 > 0:11:26- Hello!- Hey, Sarah!
0:11:26 > 0:11:30I'm a bit embarrassed. It's only a door.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35- It's a door, that's great! Let's bring it in, then.- Fab.
0:11:35 > 0:11:36You take that end.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39One objective down, then - recognised that straightaway.
0:11:39 > 0:11:40Is a door great?
0:11:40 > 0:11:43They are great if you've got a gaping wide opening
0:11:43 > 0:11:45at the front of your house.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- It's quite heavy. Solid, isn't it? - It's a pine door!
0:11:48 > 0:11:50That's what I thought.
0:11:52 > 0:11:58- It's a Victorian pine door.- That got left in the garden.- OK. Um...
0:11:58 > 0:12:01This one is really quite square, quite solid,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04doesn't seem to have much rot to it.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05Um...
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Nice little metal keyhole cover.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10We could incorporate that into something. I don't know why,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12but I'm thinking about a dressing table for some reason.
0:12:12 > 0:12:19So, dressing table. What, a mirror in the top or... What are you thinking?
0:12:19 > 0:12:21It's always been straight all its life.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24I'd like to make it a little bit more curvy.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28That might mean a lot of cutting, a lot of making it...
0:12:28 > 0:12:31It has always stood up straight. Maybe giving it
0:12:31 > 0:12:33a nice slinky little...
0:12:33 > 0:12:35end round, so...
0:12:35 > 0:12:38It's perhaps a lower table.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Turns round, goes up slightly...
0:12:41 > 0:12:45So you can sit against it and... you know, have it...you know,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48either a tiny little work table or a dressing table.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53A slinky dresser for somebody who is a slinky dresser, perhaps.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56But how much is this transformation likely to cost?
0:12:58 > 0:13:02I'd like to get this done in a day. I would like this done and...
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Keep it simple, keep it clean, but keep it quite abstract
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and sculptural. And so... Yeah...
0:13:09 > 0:13:13- I think in total, no more than two days.- That's fine.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18I think if we signed it off like that we're up to 400 quid on it.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20If there is a bit less than that, that's great - that might
0:13:20 > 0:13:23mean more for the guy who dropped it off.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26So, if we keep it to that kind of ballpark, I'm happy with that.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Yeah, I don't see any problems with this. It's going to be quite a...
0:13:29 > 0:13:31sculptural challenge, quite a...
0:13:32 > 0:13:34..interesting thing.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36I think it won't be to everyone's taste, this one,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39but I think we're going to do something new that people
0:13:39 > 0:13:41haven't seen before with this one.
0:13:45 > 0:13:51So, from distressed door to pop art dressing table. That boy is a genius.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56With costs of up to £400 to transform this old door
0:13:56 > 0:13:59into a slinky pop art mirrored dressing table,
0:13:59 > 0:14:04the pressure will really be on Sarah to sell it for a premium price
0:14:04 > 0:14:05if she is to return a profit.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Sarah's next stop on her wander is Wolverhampton in the West Midlands.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18It's here in the Victorian backstreets that
0:14:18 > 0:14:22retro modern craftsman Jay plies his trade.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Sarah is about to turn up with Stoyan's unmendable chairs,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30but will Jay be able to give them a lick of new life?
0:14:30 > 0:14:33All she's told me is it's something that's beaten up
0:14:33 > 0:14:37and it's a bit broken and I'm going to have to work my magic on it.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Normally, my style is repairing stuff
0:14:39 > 0:14:43and then adding a bit of je ne sais quois to it.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46For me, colour is a must.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49And, hopefully, whatever Sarah is bringing along to me today,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52I'm going to add colour to it.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56How are you? I'm very good. Can't complain. What have you got today?
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- I've got something really special today.- Look at these.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01I can see that, I can see that. That is...
0:15:01 > 0:15:05- Whoops! They need some work done, don't they?- They do need work.
0:15:05 > 0:15:10These scrappy seats are actually classic British Ercol dining chairs
0:15:10 > 0:15:13that were built at their factory in High Wycombe in the 1960s.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16These are one of the creme de la creme of our English designers
0:15:16 > 0:15:19and English manufacturers that are still functioning today.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21A lot of people want Ercol
0:15:21 > 0:15:24because it is the go-to kind of manufacture to have.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27So, for someone to throw these away...
0:15:27 > 0:15:29it's kind of interesting, I'd say.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32But it's very rare that you come across someone wanting to
0:15:32 > 0:15:34throw away Ercol. Very rare.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36The guy dropping these off said he'd bought them
0:15:36 > 0:15:39from a car boot, he'd given up mending them
0:15:39 > 0:15:40because they weren't in a great state
0:15:40 > 0:15:42and he didn't want to see them any more
0:15:42 > 0:15:46because this one's definitely seen better days and the others are weak.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50So, yeah, I thought that they just looked so cool.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54I love the colour about them. They just need that special touch, Jay.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55Yeah, they do.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59They need a bit more than a special touch, they do need repairing.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02So what we've got is glue that someone's tried to glue them with
0:16:02 > 0:16:06and one thing glue doesn't stick to is glue.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10So I'll have to remove all that glue. This is coming out as well...
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Oh, no. I was hoping the state of them wasn't too bad
0:16:12 > 0:16:16and then I thought, you are the go-to man for Ercol.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18I've seen the kind of fresh new look that you
0:16:18 > 0:16:22put on some of their pieces and I'm sort of wondering how much
0:16:22 > 0:16:25colour we can introduce and if it's all right to paint them.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29I think that adding some colour is not going to be too detrimental
0:16:29 > 0:16:30to the design of this piece.
0:16:30 > 0:16:35I will introduce colour but I won't overdo the colour on these.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37It'll be very modestly done.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39I do love these pieces,
0:16:39 > 0:16:42so I can't wait to start working on them, actually.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- You know what my next question is going to be.- It's going to be money.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47HE LAUGHS Money, money, money!
0:16:47 > 0:16:52- £50 each.- That's a deal!- OK, cool. I'd best get to work, then.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01The total cost of renovating the three chairs will be £150.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Sarah will need to find the right buyer
0:17:05 > 0:17:07if she is to turn a profit on these.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17So, with two items dropped off and hopefully on their way to be
0:17:17 > 0:17:18saved and sold,
0:17:18 > 0:17:21it's Sarah's turn to get stuck in
0:17:21 > 0:17:24back at the reclamation HQ in Sussex.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26And at her barn,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30she is hoping to turn Richard's chest into valuable treasure.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33But sometimes it's difficult to get started.
0:17:33 > 0:17:38The dog's run off again. Bramble, here!
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Bramble, here! Come on! Here!
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Right, I'm just going to put it in the house. Come with me. Come on.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Come on. Let's go.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48But preparation is everything.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53The dog is under no control. It just does whatever it likes.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55It's a nightmare.
0:17:55 > 0:17:56Bramble may be a nightmare,
0:17:56 > 0:18:01but the chest Sarah's saved might be what dreams are made of.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08Actually, I hadn't remember how it was on the inside.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11It's a lot better than I remembered, so that's quite cool.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15I probably won't even have to line it. It's just... It's in good nick.
0:18:15 > 0:18:16Ah, treasure!
0:18:16 > 0:18:19It's got a bicycle clip in it! Look at that!
0:18:21 > 0:18:25That means it's at least 50 years old because nobody uses those any more.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27More like 150 years old.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30And a sweet - nice!
0:18:30 > 0:18:35The mother lode! A good omen for turning a big profit.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38The metalwork and binding on the trunk is in really poor condition
0:18:38 > 0:18:41and that is going to affect how much money I can get for it.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44So my plan is to try and take as much of the rust
0:18:44 > 0:18:48and surface dirt off as possible and hopefully stabilise it,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51so it's something I can wax to make it look much more attractive
0:18:51 > 0:18:52than it does at the moment.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59It's going to need a lot of elbow grease to get this...together.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00SCRAPING
0:19:02 > 0:19:06With grease applied, it takes Sarah just half an hour to remove
0:19:06 > 0:19:09what looks like more than a century of filth.
0:19:14 > 0:19:15That's great.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17It's missing its clasp here.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Should have one on the side but it's missing.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23It seems this trunk also comes with a lot of baggage.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Quite recently somebody's put a couple of screws in here
0:19:26 > 0:19:27just to hold the hinge on.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32So we need to find out how big they are and go and get some better
0:19:32 > 0:19:35ones, hopefully with some sort of rounded top to them.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37It looks like they were hammered in before,
0:19:37 > 0:19:39so I'm not going to be able to do that again.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45All of the polishing is beginning to pay off and Sarah is starting
0:19:45 > 0:19:49to get a hunch that this chest could be quite valuable.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51What I might do is just take a picture of it
0:19:51 > 0:19:54and pop it on social media. I'd like to know how old it is.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56If anybody's seen one like it.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Particularly if anyone's sold one before
0:19:58 > 0:20:01and knows how much it might be worth.
0:20:01 > 0:20:02SHUTTER CLICKS
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Now, did you know the inventor of the door knocker
0:20:11 > 0:20:13won the NO BELL Prize?
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Taxi for me, please!
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Talking of doors...
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Sarah brought me this old door, which she saved,
0:20:21 > 0:20:25and I'm going to make a kind of console table/dressing table.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29I could find that it just collapses,
0:20:29 > 0:20:31it falls apart when I cut through it.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Especially because there are cracks running through the panels.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38But I won't really know until I do start cutting it up.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42It's a bit worrying that the success of this project could all
0:20:42 > 0:20:44hinge on a few cracks.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49I want to make sure that I am cutting the shelf
0:20:49 > 0:20:52to the right level. And this thing doesn't exist yet.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55I don't know what level it needs to be.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57I'm not copying another piece of furniture,
0:20:57 > 0:20:59so there's no standard to go by.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03There's no rule book. So I can't really go wrong.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07Confident - that's what we like to hear.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10It's quite hard for me to cut this door. It's quite...
0:21:11 > 0:21:12..quite upsetting,
0:21:12 > 0:21:16but it is a knackered door that was on its way to landfill, so...
0:21:16 > 0:21:21I'm going to give it a new lease of life.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27Upsetting it may be, but just think how satisfying it may be
0:21:27 > 0:21:30bringing that door back from death's door.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34The cuts I'm making through this door,
0:21:34 > 0:21:37they're not going to be straight through,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40they're going to be at 45 degrees, so I can join it to the next
0:21:40 > 0:21:43section of door seamlessly as one flowing line.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47I don't want ugly joints just flat against each other, I want to
0:21:47 > 0:21:49make this a nice, smooth, flowing line.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57Hopefully, I've sliced straight through at 45 degrees
0:21:57 > 0:22:00and it won't fall apart, but we shall see.
0:22:02 > 0:22:03No, not quite.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07Well, the good news is it's not fallen apart.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08Not quite through.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12By cutting this door in half, Rupert is turning this into a do -
0:22:12 > 0:22:14that's half a door.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21I have made one, two, three, four, five, six cuts to this door.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Hopefully, six cuts is all we're going to need,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28so this little centre section can disappear
0:22:28 > 0:22:33and that means that I should be able to...
0:22:33 > 0:22:34fold the door together now.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39You kind of get the idea of what I'm trying to achieve to...
0:22:40 > 0:22:44..to make it appear as if the door has actually folded up on itself.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
0:22:48 > 0:22:50I'm still experimenting at this stage.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54I'm just trying to work out the piece of furniture
0:22:54 > 0:22:57that at the moment only exists in my head.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Yeah, it won't just levitate!
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Nobody said anything about levitation.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Once mastered, that's bound to RAISE the value.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19And in Wolverhampton, Jay is still purring over the Ercol chairs.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21These are a stick back chair.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24I think they originated in the 1960s
0:23:24 > 0:23:27and this is classified as Ercol's originals.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31Britain's manufacturing I'd say at its best.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36Sexiest leg in furniture and it does exactly what it's supposed to do.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Looks good, it holds the seat up, um...
0:23:39 > 0:23:41perfect form.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43This is a part of English history
0:23:43 > 0:23:48and I'm just adding my little bit of "ooh" to it.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Although Sarah bought three chairs for Jay, he's decided that
0:23:51 > 0:23:53one of them is too far gone.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57So he will use the third one for spare parts for the other two.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03All of these have to be sanded down and that's all of the sticks,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06including this bit here.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08That is kind of water damage there.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12So it will be interesting to see if that has gone through
0:24:12 > 0:24:14and I can't clean it off.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17What I might then have to do is just paint this.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20So the design what I've gotten my mind is
0:24:20 > 0:24:23determined by what the chair unravels to me.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28And unravelling before our very eyes is Jay's plan for the colours.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34So you imagine a light chair, that colour, with black, and then...
0:24:34 > 0:24:38with a hint of that, and those work.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44So I'm quite happy with that, actually.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48All it means is that I've just got to do loads of sanding.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Sanding down ingrained stains is one of the biggest jobs of any
0:24:55 > 0:24:57furniture restoration.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01And it will reveal to Jay just how much of the wood
0:25:01 > 0:25:03he'll have to paint over.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09The wet wipe actually gives a true indication of what
0:25:09 > 0:25:12the wood will look like once it's finished.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16And it will show kind of all the imperfections that are there.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19So it's almost like getting a dry run of how it's going to look.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22And although most of the wood is fine, a small number of
0:25:22 > 0:25:27ingrained stains means this part of the chair will need to be painted.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Now, this...is going to look...the bee's knees.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35I can see a really vibrant mint green.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39I might just do one leg at the back but everything else black.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44Just that one leg. And then these I'll probably have to paint, um...
0:25:44 > 0:25:47This might be black as well. So it will just...
0:25:47 > 0:25:49It's going to look amazing.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Back at her house,
0:25:57 > 0:26:01the photo Sarah took of the old trunk is generating some results.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04She's been directed to a website that deals specifically with
0:26:04 > 0:26:08travelling chests, like Richard's wife's grandmother's.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11So there's all sorts of different trunks on here,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14but basically it's a dome top antique trunk,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17and it looks like it might be American or Continental.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19It doesn't look like it's British.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22And probably 1870, something like that,
0:26:22 > 0:26:24are the similar ones coming up on here.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28And wow, some of them are as much as 3,000 a trunk,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30that look just like our one.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33I mean, the condition of ours is not great,
0:26:33 > 0:26:37but we might be talking as much as £1,000 for the trunk.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39And that would be amazing.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Sarah's success is measured in sales
0:26:43 > 0:26:49and she always seeks out the best opportunities to maximise profits,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53hosting regularly her own furniture and clothing sales from home...
0:26:53 > 0:26:55I just sold the sofa.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58..advertising and selling online...
0:26:58 > 0:27:00SHUTTER CLICKS
0:27:00 > 0:27:01Get that online.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06..or meeting commercial buyers in person to sell direct.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Seeing this is really refreshing.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11It's good and people are going to want more of it.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14It's going to grow, this thing, I think, that you're doing.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17With opportunities galore in the things we throw out,
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Sarah's always looking to make money for nothing.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27So Richard's wife's grandmother's old trunk went on one more
0:27:27 > 0:27:29journey from the garage to the dump.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30That looks amazing!
0:27:30 > 0:27:33She went travelling when she was about 85, 90.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37- I bet she didn't use one of these! - I don't think she used that, no.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40And after sitting in the garage for years,
0:27:40 > 0:27:44Sarah took it to the barn to rejuvenate it.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46That looks a lot better.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48And after some detailed research,
0:27:48 > 0:27:52she discovered it's possibly an American traveller's trunk from
0:27:52 > 0:27:56the 19th century, which could sell for a healthy profit for Richard.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Back at the house, there's been a change of heart.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03Knock-knock. Hattie, Richard's wife,
0:28:03 > 0:28:07is finding it difficult to say goodbye to her grandmother's chest.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11- Hi, there.- Hi. - Hi, I'm Sarah. Hi. Come on in.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13And Sarah has invited her over
0:28:13 > 0:28:15to take a look at what she's been up to.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18- There you are. Do you recognise that? - Look!
0:28:18 > 0:28:20- Do you remember, Megan?- Yeah.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23The chest now looks fit to store treasure,
0:28:23 > 0:28:26and Sarah is able to give Hattie a bit of history on it.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30I think it was probably something around 1850, 1875,
0:28:30 > 0:28:32something like that, so quite old.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35And some people are suggesting it's an American trunk,
0:28:35 > 0:28:37so I don't know if there is any connection with where it
0:28:37 > 0:28:41came from with that kind of travel, but probably not English.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Yeah, it's a really fun sort of "olde" piece.
0:28:45 > 0:28:51It is, um, yeah, well worth hanging on to, I think. Do you like it?
0:28:51 > 0:28:54The chest did once feature prominently in Richard
0:28:54 > 0:28:59and Hattie's home, but when they started a family it was put aside.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01When we had Megan, as soon as she was mobile,
0:29:01 > 0:29:04I was just really concerned about having it in the house
0:29:04 > 0:29:06because I thought with the metal...
0:29:06 > 0:29:08edge, I was just worried if she lifted her up,
0:29:08 > 0:29:11it could literally chop her fingers of,
0:29:11 > 0:29:15so that's when it went into our garage which, unfortunately,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18is a bit damp and that's when it sort of, um...
0:29:18 > 0:29:20got into a bad way.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22But with even the briefest of clean-ups,
0:29:22 > 0:29:25the chest has been given a new lease of life.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28It's literally had half a go at being sanded,
0:29:28 > 0:29:32and I think if you want to use wire wool on it or a wire brush,
0:29:32 > 0:29:36it would actually come up really quite well.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40And inside all we've done is just given it a really good dust-out.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43But it's in ready good condition inside anyway.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48What can you see?
0:29:48 > 0:29:51Sarah can see that Hattie never really wanted to lose this
0:29:51 > 0:29:54precious item and wants her to have it back.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56- Shall we take it with us, Chloe? - Yes!- Yeah?
0:29:56 > 0:29:59- That would be great, thank you. - It's quite heavy.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02It's got wheels on the bottom, which is a really good feature
0:30:02 > 0:30:04if you want to move it around.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07Hattie and Richard almost got rid of the chest at the dump,
0:30:07 > 0:30:10but thankfully this family heirloom is going back home.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14And for safety's sake, it won't be used as a toy box.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17There you go. Well...
0:30:17 > 0:30:20It fit. Brilliant.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22I am so pleased it's going back home.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24Oh!
0:30:24 > 0:30:28- Oh, that is really sweet of you. Thank you so much.- Thank you.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32- I'm glad it's going home. - Thanks very much.- It's a pleasure.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37Isn't that sweet? That's so nice that it's actually gone home.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40It's a very sweet ending.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45From one sweet ending to another.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49Sarah is back in Margate, where Rupert is adding the finishing
0:30:49 > 0:30:53touches to the pop art dressing table made from an old pine door.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59Every time I come down and see Rupert I get such a surprise.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02I don't know how that genius mind works,
0:31:02 > 0:31:05but everything he turns out it's just really special.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09So today it's a console dressing table made out of a door.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Who knows what that's going to look like?
0:31:12 > 0:31:14When Sarah saved it from the dump,
0:31:14 > 0:31:18it was a simple pine door which had seen better days.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Rupert's given it an imaginative uplift
0:31:21 > 0:31:25and a new purpose in life as a quirky console table.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27It looks like it's having a good old knees up
0:31:27 > 0:31:30and will add bags of character to someone's hallway.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37- Rupert, hi.- Hey, Sarah. - How are you doing?- Good, good.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43Back again, I see, for another weird contraption.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Oh, Rupert, it's fantastic!
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Yeah, it's an odd one, this one.
0:31:48 > 0:31:49I was really worried about you turning up
0:31:49 > 0:31:54because I think you'd either hate it or kind of love it.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57Essentially, I tried to make a hallway console table,
0:31:57 > 0:32:01somewhere just to put your keys, put your gloves on the side.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05So I've actually added a new piece of architrave round it.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08When I say new, I pulled that out of the skip.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11It matches the period of the door.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13I had that mirror kicking around the warehouse.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15It is of the same period as the door.
0:32:15 > 0:32:20I love the fact if it goes on a wall it's going to add so much detail
0:32:20 > 0:32:23and it's just so simple, and that is why it's brilliant.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25Yeah, I wanted to keep it simple.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29I'm really always interested in the history of pieces and, to me,
0:32:29 > 0:32:32flaking paint of different colours really tells
0:32:32 > 0:32:34the story of its previous home.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40I think we said the budget on this was £200-£400.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42How did we get on with that?
0:32:42 > 0:32:44I haven't spent so much time on it and, luckily,
0:32:44 > 0:32:47I haven't had to spend much money on it.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50I'd be happy to let you have this for around the 200 mark.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52That would be no problem.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55With £200 worth of budget, I should be able to make a profit on it.
0:32:55 > 0:32:56So thank you.
0:32:56 > 0:32:57I think it's gorgeous,
0:32:57 > 0:33:01and there is a wall in my house that definitely needs one of these.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07So, with Sarah made up with the make-up checking mirrored console
0:33:07 > 0:33:10table, all she has to do now is find a new home for it.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16Wow, the beauty in that design is all about its simplicity.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19It's such a clever idea and it's so functional.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22It's a door, now it's a console for a hall.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26It's brilliant and I'm hoping that that should be pretty easy to sell.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Who would have thought back in the dump in Witley, that Richard's
0:33:32 > 0:33:37ill-fitting door would gain a new lease of life as a console table?
0:33:37 > 0:33:42I can see it turning into a trestle and using it as a workbench.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45- That's what- I- would do. But my shed's not big enough.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50Shame the shed wasn't as big as Richard's ideas.
0:33:51 > 0:33:56But the good news is, that allowed Rupert to customise and crease
0:33:56 > 0:34:01that old timber, turning it into a cool console table.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05Sarah has yet to find the right home for this unconventional creation.
0:34:07 > 0:34:12Sarah has come to Surrey to show Richard how his old pine door
0:34:12 > 0:34:14has been reinvented.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21- Hi, there! No, you're not... Oh, hello! How are you?- Hi.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25- Nice to see you.- Hello, who's this?- This is James and Jessica.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Hello, guys, how are you? BOTH: Good.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31Have you come to see what happened to your old door? BOTH: Yes.
0:34:31 > 0:34:32Come on out, I'll show you.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35We need to know how a door can become anything other than a door.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37James can't really imagine it.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41Really? Have you thought about what we might have done with it?
0:34:41 > 0:34:46- Yeah, an old TV.- An old TV? - Yeah, one of those wooden ones.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49That's a really good idea, I wish I'd thought of that.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52- Do you want to see what we did was it?- Yeah, absolutely.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55OK, so, it looks a bit different.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58It's something that's probably not everyone's cup of tea,
0:34:58 > 0:34:59but your door went on holiday.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01It went all the way to Margate
0:35:01 > 0:35:03to this amazing designer who is called Rupert Blanchard.
0:35:03 > 0:35:08And he has made your door into, it's a console table.
0:35:10 > 0:35:15- That is...- Wow.- I mean, but you still can see what it is, can't you?
0:35:15 > 0:35:18And then, when it's in a more household position, I think
0:35:18 > 0:35:19it looks quite smart.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22So it's not everybody's cup of tea because it looks a bit scruffy,
0:35:22 > 0:35:25- but I think it's really imaginative. - I really like it.
0:35:25 > 0:35:26What do you think, Jess?
0:35:26 > 0:35:29Um... It looks bit different to how I expected.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32I think it would go really well in our house. Do you think it would?
0:35:32 > 0:35:34- Yeah.- You do admit that much, don't you?
0:35:34 > 0:35:35Could we maybe have it?
0:35:35 > 0:35:38It's funny you say that. Normally I come here and I say to people,
0:35:38 > 0:35:39"This is what I've done with
0:35:39 > 0:35:42"your old door and I've sold it and I'm here to give you the money,"
0:35:42 > 0:35:46but your door hasn't sold yet, so I can either...
0:35:46 > 0:35:51give you the door or hang onto it and try and sell it for you.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54I'm pretty sure that we're going to want to take it off your hands.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58In the few minutes that I've thought about it, I really, really like it.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01- So please...- For MY room!
0:36:01 > 0:36:03- It could be for your room, maybe for the man cave.- Yeah.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Really nice to see you again.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Thank you ever so much and I'll be in touch very shortly.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Take care, bye-bye.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16Sarah never sold the piece,
0:36:16 > 0:36:18but Richard decided he wanted it for his home.
0:36:19 > 0:36:24Sarah may be £200 out of pocket but at least it was a happy reunion
0:36:24 > 0:36:27for the old door and its original family.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36With two out of three items completed,
0:36:36 > 0:36:38Sarah has one more pick-up to make,
0:36:38 > 0:36:42and in the West Midlands Jay has finished the Ercol chairs
0:36:42 > 0:36:45and is waiting nervously to see if she likes what he's done.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56Sarah knows I love Ercol, so her bringing me these,
0:36:56 > 0:36:59hopefully she'll be pleased with what I've produced.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01I would have these in my house all day, every day.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03These are really, really brilliant.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06But will Sarah agree with the radical approach to colour
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Jay has taken with these classic chairs?
0:37:09 > 0:37:11I can't wait to see what Jay has done.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15He's Ercol's biggest fan and I'm hoping with the pair and the spare
0:37:15 > 0:37:19I dropped off he's managed to create two fabulous Ercol stick back chairs.
0:37:19 > 0:37:24When Sarah brought three chairs to Jay, they were on their last legs,
0:37:24 > 0:37:27and now, 50 years after they were made,
0:37:27 > 0:37:30they are cutting-edge Ercol chairs once again.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33SHE GASPS
0:37:33 > 0:37:37What have you been up to? You're just a genius. Look at that!
0:37:39 > 0:37:42- Just the one leg?- Just the one leg. - How quirky is that?
0:37:42 > 0:37:45All they needed was a decent amount of glue,
0:37:45 > 0:37:50taking the glue that was out of it and then putting them back together.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53And they are ready to go for another 60, 70 years, I believe.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55Perfect.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58Made my day. HE CHUCKLES
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Absolutely perfect.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03I think you've kept that purity, that Ercol finish,
0:38:03 > 0:38:07- and that look and just enhanced it. Oh, just...- World-class. Thank you.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Brilliant. Couldn't be more pleased.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13Flattery will get you everywhere. Flattery will get you everywhere.
0:38:13 > 0:38:14Oh, good.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17I think we set the budget at 100 quid for the pair.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20- Did we come in on budget? - We came in on budget.
0:38:20 > 0:38:25Luckily, Sarah can already see how these ultra-modernised
0:38:25 > 0:38:29chic Ercol chairs will sell themselves.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32They were tired and they were going to a skip and look what you've done.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34- Yeah.- Fantastic. - Thank you. Thank you.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37- I'm glad you're pleased. - I think you can tell
0:38:37 > 0:38:41I really do like them. I knew there were coming home to the right person
0:38:41 > 0:38:43and I'm sorry to say and taking them away again.
0:38:43 > 0:38:44Yeah, you will take them away.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49Yes, they needed a little bit of gluing, TLC, but the beauty
0:38:49 > 0:38:53with Ercol furniture is that it will last the test of time.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55It will outlive me, most probably.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59And it'll be a case of if we can just add a little bit to it
0:38:59 > 0:39:02to make it just looks like "Ooh!" or draw people's attention,
0:39:02 > 0:39:04that's what I'm all about.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10At the dump, these battered
0:39:10 > 0:39:14but beautiful Ercol chairs were about to be discarded for ever.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17They're really cool. I love the shape.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19Sarah thought she could make a profit from them
0:39:19 > 0:39:22and Stoyan was very happy to let her try.
0:39:22 > 0:39:27They need something and if you can use that...
0:39:27 > 0:39:28you're welcome.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31And with a touch of Jay Blades' design wizardry,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34they became cool retro chairs with a bright future ahead.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Oh, just...
0:39:36 > 0:39:39World-class. Brilliant. Couldn't be more pleased.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Sarah showed them to Martin at the Old Cinema
0:39:42 > 0:39:46and he snapped up the funky chairs for his retro London store.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50It's got a nice sort of fun '50s,
0:39:50 > 0:39:53'60s look about it and it's really done well.
0:39:53 > 0:39:54I like them.
0:39:54 > 0:39:58Now, Sarah's in Surrey to show Stoyan what became of the chairs
0:39:58 > 0:40:02and hand over any profit from the sale.
0:40:06 > 0:40:11- Hi, there! Hello, hello!- Hello. - Hiya. I'm Sarah, hi there.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14- I'm Vilyana.- Hi, there.- I'm Stoyan.- Nice to see you again.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16- How are you? - Yeah, very well, thank you.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- I've brought some pictures to show you of your chairs.- OK.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- Now, I remember you dropped three off at the tip, didn't you?- Yes.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26- And you got them from a- car-boot sale? Yes.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29And they had been stuck together lots of times. Was that you who...
0:40:29 > 0:40:33- Yeah, we used that nearly nine years.- Oh, really?
0:40:33 > 0:40:35They were a bit wobbly and they were quite old.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39They were unstable and we had no use for them in the room.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42- We just didn't have space for them. - OK.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- So, would you like to see what happened to them?- Yeah, please.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47There's an amazing guy called Jay Blades,
0:40:47 > 0:40:50- who specialises in revamping... - It's very art.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53- What do you think?- Very art, yeah.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56- Ooh.- Nice.- Good? BOTH: Yeah.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58- Do you think it works? - Yes, and this is bright as well.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02- Really good. - The colour contrast is...
0:41:02 > 0:41:04I didn't think you could do that with these chairs.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07It turns out those chairs were made by somebody called Ercol.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09They have a very strong look.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13Ercol is collectable and we paid him £100 to paint it all
0:41:13 > 0:41:16and to make them look fantastic. But we sold them for £200,
0:41:16 > 0:41:22so I've got £100 here to give to you for your chairs.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25- I told you about...- We can give them to charity ourselves.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29- Keep that for the charity ourselves.- Really?- Yes, please.
0:41:29 > 0:41:30What I'd like to do is,
0:41:30 > 0:41:34if I give it to you, you can choose which charity you give it to.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39Macmillan's. At school we did some work for Macmillan, so I could...
0:41:39 > 0:41:41That would be great if you're happy with that.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43And I can send you pictures if you want to show
0:41:43 > 0:41:47anybody at school how the money came or what we did with your chairs.
0:41:47 > 0:41:48That's fantastic.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52- OK.- Thank you.- Thank you very much for letting me have your...
0:41:52 > 0:41:57- That's lovely.- Thank you.- And good luck with...what you're doing.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01- It's really great.- Oh, well, thank you. They were great to work on.
0:42:02 > 0:42:08Jay charged £100 to repair and reimagine the Ercol chairs.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12Sarah sold them for £200, making a nifty profit of a 100 quid
0:42:12 > 0:42:16for Stoyan and his daughter Vilyana.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18It's been really emotional to see Sarah
0:42:18 > 0:42:21and what she done with these chairs.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24I mean, to me it was just...
0:42:24 > 0:42:27They were just chairs, which done the job, but now
0:42:27 > 0:42:32they looks really, really good and I'm impressed what they done.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38Sarah rescued three unwanted items from the tip.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44The treasure chest that steered its way back home...
0:42:45 > 0:42:50The pine door was revamped into an offbeat console table.
0:42:52 > 0:42:56And the swing was put back into those '60s-looking chairs.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03Well, that wasn't quite the outcome I expected for that trio of tip
0:43:03 > 0:43:05treasures, but it was satisfying nonetheless.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08That chest has gone back to the heart of the family where it
0:43:08 > 0:43:09belongs to be.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11The console table is now a treasured possession,
0:43:11 > 0:43:14and the Ercol chairs have raised money for charity.