0:00:03 > 0:00:05What are you chucking out today, then?
0:00:06 > 0:00:09How do you make money for nothing?
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Don't throw them, don't throw them.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16The answer could be hiding in the 30 million tonnes of household waste
0:00:16 > 0:00:18we throw out every year.
0:00:18 > 0:00:19Thanks so much for letting me have that.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22I think that's absolutely made my day. I love it.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25That's why entrepreneur Sarah Moore wants to get her hands
0:00:25 > 0:00:28on things before they hit the skip.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34I'm a passionate buyer, maker and user of old stuff
0:00:34 > 0:00:37and I've turned that passion into a moneymaking business.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40I make new stuff out of old stuff and I sell it for a profit.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46And with some of the country's elite designers and makers...
0:00:46 > 0:00:49- What do you reckon to that? - It's quite smart, isn't it?
0:00:49 > 0:00:50- Tell me you love it.- I love it.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53..she can transform her finds into desirable...
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Isn't it amazing?
0:00:55 > 0:00:57..valuable...
0:00:57 > 0:00:59It's quite a statement piece.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01..and hopefully saleable items.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05- I'll take you down to the till, that's fantastic.- OK, fantastic.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09If Sarah is successful, then she can hand the profits back to the very
0:01:09 > 0:01:13people who had no idea there was cash to be made from their trash.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Wow, that's amazing!
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Welcome to Walsall Recycling Centre.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33A nonstop hive of activity.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Sarah's on a mission to turn trash...into hard cash.
0:01:40 > 0:01:46I love rummaging through the bin bags and the boots and the boxes.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48And making money for nothing - that's just a bonus.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55But before you make a beeline for your local tip, take note -
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Sarah's been given special permission to seek out two items
0:01:59 > 0:02:02that she can rejuvenate and sell on for a profit.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08Although he doesn't know it yet, first to offer up possibilities
0:02:08 > 0:02:11is Alan, arriving with some comfortable seating.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14- Ooh, hi.- Hi.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16You've got some interesting looking things in there.
0:02:16 > 0:02:17What are you throwing out?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Just stuff from my late mother-in-law's house.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24OK, that sounds like a big job. Are you clearing out lots of stuff?
0:02:24 > 0:02:29Not too much, not too much but just some of the bulky heavy stuff.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32It's a shame in a way but we don't really know where else to take it
0:02:32 > 0:02:34- other than a tip so...- No, you definitely get to that stage.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36I'd love to have a look at it.
0:02:36 > 0:02:37- Is there any chance I can see? - Yes, yes.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- Wow, it's quite cool, isn't it? - HE CHUCKLES
0:02:46 > 0:02:49- There's a similar designed one that's all leather as well.- Really?
0:02:49 > 0:02:53With these two wingback chairs she could be onto something good here.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56A pair of chairs. How exciting.
0:02:56 > 0:02:57Well done. Wow.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04I have to say, that both those chairs are really interesting
0:03:04 > 0:03:06cos they're old, they're chunky...
0:03:06 > 0:03:07In a way, I am glad they're going to be reused
0:03:07 > 0:03:11cos they just seem too good to throw out but they're just so big
0:03:11 > 0:03:13in a small bungalow, which is where she is.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16If I could take those two chairs and then if I manage to do
0:03:16 > 0:03:19- something with them, could I come and show you what I've done?- Yeah.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20That would be lovely.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23Lovely indeed.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Sarah has her first find in the bag and has roped the guys
0:03:28 > 0:03:30from the tip in to help.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31Good work, lads.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36But what does Alan think Sarah will get up to with his chairs?
0:03:36 > 0:03:40I don't know. It's... It makes me think, really.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42I presume it's not going to be just recycled as furniture
0:03:42 > 0:03:43but as something else,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46so it will be interesting to see what happens to them.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49I'll just tell you if they're comfortable because that is the key.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50Ah, yeah.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Actually, that's got IKEA written on the back
0:03:53 > 0:03:55so it's not as old as you think it is.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Everyone's a comedian.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Very comfortable, but the look they have at the moment is just...
0:04:01 > 0:04:02It's not going to go into everybody's house
0:04:02 > 0:04:06and I want to make them commercial, saleable and expensive.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09And given the style of them, this needs a specialist upholsterer.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11This is going to have to go to somebody who really knows
0:04:11 > 0:04:13what they're doing, who can cope
0:04:13 > 0:04:15with the fact that there's wood and fabric.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17I've got just the person in mind.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Meet Ray Clarke - upholsterer extraordinaire.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Ray made a name for himself in the world of fashion design
0:04:27 > 0:04:31before discovering his love of vintage furniture.
0:04:31 > 0:04:37His fresh, modern designs mix practicality, comfort and luxury.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41I never intended to become, like, an upholsterer at the beginning.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44It wasn't the thing I set out to do.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47I suppose you could say upholstery found me.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54With my creative background in fashion design and textile design,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57I was able to use those skills and redirect them
0:04:57 > 0:04:58and now this is all I do.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02I just give birth to chairs, and I love them, yeah.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09But will it be love at first sight when Ray claps eyes on these two?
0:05:16 > 0:05:19That's one find ready to be transformed.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Now time for Sarah to find a little project for herself.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Just wondering if I'd like earrings is made out of these.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28What do you think?
0:05:29 > 0:05:34Hopefully John and his magic carpets will be just the ticket.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- Have you got somebody rolled up in the middle of there?- No, no.
0:05:37 > 0:05:38Isn't that lovely?
0:05:40 > 0:05:43I really like your carpet. I like the back of it.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45What kind of nick is it in? Is it...
0:05:45 > 0:05:48It's got chunks out of it where it had to be fitted
0:05:48 > 0:05:50- around radiators and things like that.- OK.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53But it's a lovely old carpet, isn't it? It's...
0:05:54 > 0:05:56..beautiful.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58I'm going to go have a look at the other one while you're at it.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05- Wow.- You are getting excited, Sarah.
0:06:05 > 0:06:06Go on, then.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09She does love a good find.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11I think that I like that one more than that one.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13I think it's cos I've got a few ideas about
0:06:13 > 0:06:15what I might do with some carpet.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18I think it's just beautiful. I really love this.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20I think I'm going to pop this one back in the recycling.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21I can do an end.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26No, I think you need manpower.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29With some more manpower from the chaps at the tip,
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Sarah nabs one of John's rugs.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37But does he have any idea what she might do with it?
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Not really, no. Not at all.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43I'm with you, John. Help us out, Sarah.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Well, I am super pleased to have discovered this because I think
0:06:46 > 0:06:50this carpet would have been really valuable when it was made.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53It is obviously really good quality and you can see from the back
0:06:53 > 0:06:55that it's so well-made.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59With the magic carpet safely snaffled away,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Sarah's two-item treasure hunt is complete.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Ray Clarke will take charge
0:07:05 > 0:07:07of Alan's pair of chairs.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09And Sarah will come up with
0:07:09 > 0:07:12a strategy for John's old carpet.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17I really love the eclectic mixture of items that I gathered today.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21I've got huge potential to transform them into things that are fabulous,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23and make some money for nothing.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35These days, the streets of East London team with creative
0:07:35 > 0:07:38businesses and design know-how.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43It's here Ray practises the sport of extreme upholstery.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45And he's one of our top players.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Oh, Sarah is coming today.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Um, yeah, I wonder what she's going to bring.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53It's almost like you're in goal and you've got to be prepared
0:07:53 > 0:07:55for a shot from any angle, do you know what I mean?
0:07:55 > 0:07:58From someone taking the penalty. It's like...
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Yeah, sorry about the football analogy.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06No worries, Ray. Good to know you are poised and ready for kick-off.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Normally, weight is a benchmark for quality.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12This is definitely heavy but if it's quality, I'm not sure.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15I'm hoping that between the pair of chairs,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18we're going to be able to create something really lovely.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20And Ray is going to take up the challenge.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27- Ray, how are you? How are you doing? - Good to see you.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- I've got a couple of little... - Oh.- I'm not going to say beauties.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32I've got a couple of little chairs for you.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Any chance you can give me a hand? This one is really heavy. Hold on.
0:08:36 > 0:08:37Is that all right up there?
0:08:39 > 0:08:41- There she goes.- Lovely.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Come and bring the little orange fellow in.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46- He looks a bit like an elephant to me.- Yeah.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48There's something odd about his ears.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51His ears? What's she on about?
0:08:52 > 0:08:56So, these two came into the tip as a pair but
0:08:56 > 0:08:57they don't have to stay together.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01I'd much rather work on this one, to be honest, than this one, I think.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05- OK, well...- Simply because this one has got a lot more character.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09The orange chair will be put aside
0:09:09 > 0:09:11so Ray can concentrate on the black one.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17I did wonder about just really making it pack a punch.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22Something fabulous on it, beautiful fabric, something bold.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Well, actually, Sarah,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28truth to tell, I've been kind of developing my own fabric.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30- Really? - Or trying to design my own fabric.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33- That's a new thing for you, isn't it?- Yes. Completely.
0:09:33 > 0:09:34What kind of fabric is it?
0:09:34 > 0:09:37- Well, we're in the Year of the Monkey now, apparently.- OK.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39O...K.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41The fabric is based on different
0:09:41 > 0:09:45types of New World and Old World monkeys.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Are you going to be able to nail it in time to get it on here?
0:09:47 > 0:09:48I think so.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51It sounds like, to me, you're going to pour your heart and soul
0:09:51 > 0:09:52into this little chair.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Lots of upholsterers design or are inspired
0:09:55 > 0:09:58by using other people's fabrics, as am I.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01But very few of them are able to actually
0:10:01 > 0:10:05bring their own designs to a piece.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07It will be a work of art.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14Ray is dreaming big, but what will his time and materials cost?
0:10:14 > 0:10:18So we're looking at around 800-850 mark. Somewhere between there.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21OK. If I can leave you chiselling away at the cost?
0:10:21 > 0:10:24If I leave you around £800, I love the idea of the monkeys.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26It's going to rock, it's going to rock.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28- Go for it, OK?- Yeah, thank you. - Take care!
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Thank you very much. Yes! Yes.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36I think he's pretty happy with this project.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Well, that chair sounds like it's going to look amazing
0:10:39 > 0:10:43and I don't want to hamper Ray's creativity so I think saying yes
0:10:43 > 0:10:46to a load of monkey business all over it is definitely the way to go.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48And I think I'm going to have
0:10:48 > 0:10:52a little chance of making a bit of profit, fingers crossed.
0:10:53 > 0:10:54This is awesome.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56It will be a complete unique piece of art
0:10:56 > 0:10:59that nobody on Earth, except the buyer, will have.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01I'm just...
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Yeah. I'll be totally made up.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Oh, sorry, it's very difficult to...
0:11:06 > 0:11:09to contain my emotions, I'm sorry.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11No apology needed.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Ray has a big budget of around £800 to remake that chair
0:11:17 > 0:11:22but he's never created a new fabric for upholstery before,
0:11:22 > 0:11:25so Sarah is taking a risk on this one.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43In the leafy Sussex countryside, Sarah is at home in her farmhouse.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47And you better feel like dancing cos she's thinking of cutting a rug.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49It fits perfectly, doesn't it?
0:11:49 > 0:11:52It's actually quite a nice carpet but I've got plans.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54I thought I might make a set of luggage out of it.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Sarah could make a carpet bag from it,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02but now she is having a closer look at the rug,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05maybe she has already bagged something unexpected.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07It's got a really fine weave to it.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11I think that it might be some kind of wool or silk mix to it.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15I think it's handmade. I don't think I can cut it up.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Certainly not without taking it to
0:12:17 > 0:12:20somebody who really knows what they're talking about.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22So that's not me!
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Completely change your plans, why don't you? Sheesh!
0:12:26 > 0:12:29So, Sarah's headed for auction house Bellmans
0:12:29 > 0:12:32in Wisborough Green, West Sussex,
0:12:32 > 0:12:38where auctioneer Jonathan Pratt should be able to advise on the rug.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40- Jonathan, lovely to see you. - Hello, Sarah.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43I've got a little something you might be able to help me with.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Gosh, let's take that off you. Get the other end.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47- Uh!- Right...- Thank you.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Auction houses can offer valuation services to anyone looking to put
0:12:51 > 0:12:54antique items up for sale.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58With 20 years in the trade, Jonathan is just the man to tell Sarah
0:12:58 > 0:13:02if she's onto something with her bit of old carpet.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Um... Quite nice.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08It's quite a nice carpet, actually. It's very obviously Persian.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Looking at the style of it and the colours, it's...
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Well, you want it to be antique at the very best,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16early part of the 20th century. It's getting close to that.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Stylewise, it looks like it's like West Persia.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23What I need to look for on here is signs of wear and discolouration.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27Jonathan thinks it's a genuine Persian rug.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30What you're saying, this is really bringing it to life for me.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34But what sort of sale estimate would Jonathan put on it at auction?
0:13:34 > 0:13:38I'd reckon potentially between £200-£400.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- Really? - Potentially, yeah. Certainly...
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Would you like to get off my rug, sir?
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Yeah, that's valuable, Jonathan.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Can my tip-find rug come here and stand a chance of selling?
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Yeah, absolutely. I really believe it can.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53I'm joining you down the tip, I can tell you!
0:13:53 > 0:13:55It's amazing down there. It's really good, isn't it?
0:13:55 > 0:13:58It is good, Sarah, yes.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03Jonathan will put the Persian beauty in his next appropriate auction.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05- Brilliant, I can't wait. - Thank you. OK, bye.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07I take my hat off to her. What a find.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09She's obviously got a very good eye.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12On the whole, it has great potential.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15With no outlay on materials for this little project,
0:14:15 > 0:14:19Sarah's in with a chance of profit but will that rug that was headed
0:14:19 > 0:14:23for the skip really live up to its potential at auction?
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Back in busy East London,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Ray is hard at work on the wingbacked armchair.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37In fact, he seems to have ripped it to bits.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I've basically gone a bit nuts on the chair!
0:14:43 > 0:14:46I've basically stripped it back as far as I can do,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50taking out all the, erm, external panels,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53inside panels, inside backing, inside arms as well,
0:14:53 > 0:14:58so I can get it prepared for a new colour, a wood stain.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Ray needs to remove all of the chair's dated upholstery
0:15:04 > 0:15:08and strip the wooden frame before he can begin to modernise it.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13He's got a big budget of around £800 to do that, but time is money
0:15:13 > 0:15:17and this is a seriously time-consuming job.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Especially when you're sanding it all by hand.
0:15:22 > 0:15:23Ah, that's more like it.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Ray's brought out the electric sander
0:15:26 > 0:15:28which will speed things up a bit.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30With all the sanding done,
0:15:30 > 0:15:34Ray moves on to removing the original tacks.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36This chair has to get done,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38and it won't do itself, so, you know...
0:15:38 > 0:15:41There's nothing electric that can do this faster,
0:15:41 > 0:15:46so he'll just have to pull them out by hand one by one.
0:15:46 > 0:15:47I hate it when they snap off!
0:15:49 > 0:15:54It takes great patience and some determination as well.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Oh! It's snapping off!
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Great patience, yeah(!)
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Ray's also been hard at work on the real stars of this piece -
0:16:05 > 0:16:07his menagerie of monkeys.
0:16:07 > 0:16:13I've just looked up certain types of monkeys and just illustrated them.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18His signature fabric will be printed up from his monkey sketches.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Because of the types of monkeys I've chosen as well,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23give me an opportunity to maybe explore colour
0:16:23 > 0:16:25in quite a vast range.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29So you've got the gold of the tamarin here,
0:16:29 > 0:16:33and then you go on to the red howler.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36And then there's a black howler as well.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38So, hopefully, this will be more of a surprise for Sarah
0:16:38 > 0:16:40when she gets to see this
0:16:40 > 0:16:42cos I really didn't have a chance to show her.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Ray's final monkey designs will be sent to a fabric printing company
0:16:47 > 0:16:50to be transferred onto a velvety fabric.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Obviously, I want the print process to go quite well
0:16:56 > 0:16:58to capture all the definition,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00but I'm also asking a tall order
0:17:00 > 0:17:03because asking for the illustrations to go into a pile fabric,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06as opposed to just a plain, flat fabric,
0:17:06 > 0:17:10so there may be some compromise I might have to make at some point,
0:17:10 > 0:17:11but we'll see.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14It's getting me all lumpy in the throat as well at the moment,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16I'm that excited.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Ray is passionate about his monkey designs,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24but he still has a lot of work to do on that chair.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Once his labour costs are factored in,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30can he really manage to deliver it on Sarah's budget?
0:17:39 > 0:17:44In Wisborough Green, West Sussex, it's sale day at the auction house.
0:17:44 > 0:17:49And Sarah's Persian rug is about to go under the hammer.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54Now its fate is in the hands of today's auctioneer, Simon Garner.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59We have, I think, between 30, 40 rugs for sale every month.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01It will sell. I'm confident.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Sarah thought she might have spotted a quality weave
0:18:05 > 0:18:09but will any of the buyers at the sale want to snap it up?
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Lot 970A is this Kashan carpet. Early 20th century one...
0:18:17 > 0:18:21When Sarah met John, he was about to unload a roll of unwanted rug.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23It's got chunks out of it where it had to be
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- fitted around radiators and things like that.- OK.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Sarah loved it but did John
0:18:28 > 0:18:32have ideas on what fate might await his rug?
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Not really, no. Not at all.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Well, he will soon find out
0:18:36 > 0:18:40because the rug has now been successfully sold at auction.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Sarah is on her way to see John and fill him in on what became of it.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- Hello, Sarah! - John, lovely to see you again.
0:18:53 > 0:18:54Yes, nice to see you again.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- Are you well?- Yeah, very well, thank you. You?- Yes, very well.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59I said when I met you at the tip that I'd really like
0:18:59 > 0:19:01to keep in touch with any progress on your rug.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03So I had scissors poised ready
0:19:03 > 0:19:05to cut it up to make it into carpet bags
0:19:05 > 0:19:07and there was this little voice inside me saying,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09"I'm not sure that I should do that,"
0:19:09 > 0:19:13because I'm not a rug expert but I do have a friend who is.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16And so I bundled up your rug
0:19:16 > 0:19:20and I took it to the local auction house and let Jonathan,
0:19:20 > 0:19:22who runs the auction house, have a look at it for me.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25- So he put it into auction for us. - Oh, right.
0:19:25 > 0:19:26I would never have expected that.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29So it did sell and I've got the profit here.
0:19:29 > 0:19:36I have got £381.60 for you.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40I would've never imagined that! That's amazing.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Is that a bit of a surprise then?
0:19:42 > 0:19:47A massive surprise. I'm amazed it's this much money.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49That's amazing. Thank you very much.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52I don't think I'm going to throw anything away again!
0:19:52 > 0:19:54What are you going to do with that sort of money?
0:19:54 > 0:19:57A friend of mine's wife has been very poorly.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01She's only in her 30s and she got quite a nasty illness.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03She's now in a wheelchair and they've just put a stairlift
0:20:03 > 0:20:07into her house so I'm going to give it to them.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11That will be absolutely fantastic. You know, I couldn't be happier.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13I'm so pleased we stopped that
0:20:13 > 0:20:15little rug going into the skip that day.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18This will make, I hope, a difference.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21- Sarah, that's absolutely brilliant. - I'm really pleased.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25- That's a lovely outcome. Thank you ever so much.- Thank you.- Bye-bye.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Bye-bye. Bye.
0:20:27 > 0:20:33What a result. The Persian rug sold at auction for £480.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38After auction costs totalling £98.40 were deducted,
0:20:38 > 0:20:45Sarah was able to hand over an amazing £381.60 to John.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Well, I think John was genuinely surprised by that outcome,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53and the value of his old rug,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56and that money is going to a cause that is really close to his heart.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Back in East London, Ray has finished
0:21:05 > 0:21:08his makeover of the hotly anticipated armchair.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12He is waiting for Sarah...anxiously.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15I'm proper nervous!
0:21:15 > 0:21:17I just hope that she really likes it, yeah.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Oh, no, what have I done?!
0:21:20 > 0:21:23You've done up an armchair, Ray, don't worry.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29Although Sarah is also on tenterhooks.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32I've come to see Ray and to find out how the armchair has turned out
0:21:32 > 0:21:33that I left him.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36And this is one of the projects that has really been on my mind
0:21:36 > 0:21:40because Ray is inventing a whole new fabric to go on the chair
0:21:40 > 0:21:41and doing all of the upholstery
0:21:41 > 0:21:44so this just one of those things that could go either way.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Either way, the transformation is now complete.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52When Sarah dropped off the chair, it was solid
0:21:52 > 0:21:54but badly needed bringing up-to-date.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10But now Ray has worked his magic. It's utterly transformed.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16Ray's hand-illustrated menagerie of monkeys are rendered
0:22:16 > 0:22:20on a luxurious moleskin velvet,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23which he's positioned to show off the stylish simians
0:22:23 > 0:22:24to their best effect.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30The chair has been entirely reupholstered with quality
0:22:30 > 0:22:32finishings and the original wood
0:22:32 > 0:22:35has been stained in a cool contrasting grey.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Ray took a big creative risk
0:22:39 > 0:22:45on designing his own unique monkey fabric and it's paid off splendidly.
0:22:45 > 0:22:46Well done, Ray.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52But what will Sarah make of it?
0:22:52 > 0:22:54- Hiya!- Hi. Ooh!
0:22:54 > 0:22:58- You're not nervous, are you? - Just a little bit, yeah.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01- Let me see. - I'll pull it off. One, two, three.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Ta-da!
0:23:03 > 0:23:08I absolutely adore it. You've done so well there. It's so cool!
0:23:09 > 0:23:13She likes it! The woman from Del Monte says yes.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16She does indeed.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20- Which is your favourite monkey? - I do like the black howler.- Yeah.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22And I love the golden tamarin. Ooh! Come round here.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26- I want to take you round the back. - I'm going on tour.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28- So, who's he? A howler? - Yeah, it's a black howler.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30And that's a red howler.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32That chair is a triumph.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35What's so odd is I can't even relate to the chair that I brought to you.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37- No.- Because of what you've done to it.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39It's like you're showing me something
0:23:39 > 0:23:41that I've never seen before.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42With the very highest praise,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Sarah is delighted with Ray's monkey chair.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49It meant so much to me to try to do this, so thank you
0:23:49 > 0:23:52for giving me the opportunity to do this.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Honestly, thank you.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57I'm properly made up, I really am.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01It's smiles all round for the painstakingly finished chair.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04On that note, Sarah has got a question
0:24:04 > 0:24:09but she doesn't want to pry-mate. You see?
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Has it gone over budget?
0:24:10 > 0:24:15I'm feeling now that my original costs
0:24:15 > 0:24:17were probably a little bit low.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20It took longer than I thought, so therefore labourwise
0:24:20 > 0:24:22it would have been a bit more expensive.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26The amount of work that's gone into the chair has pushed
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Ray's labour costs up,
0:24:29 > 0:24:36meaning he's gone around £150 over budget at a total cost of £950.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38However, Sarah is still confident.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44I will try so hard to sell this at very high-end
0:24:44 > 0:24:47so that we turn a really good profit over on this.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49- If you would, that would mean a lot. - Great job.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Lovely finish and I think you should be very proud of that.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54- Well done.- Thank you.
0:24:57 > 0:24:58She likes it.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Ah! These monkeys, you're so tricky, I'm telling you.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Those tricky monkeys are a triumph.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12Ray took a chance on a creative idea that really paid off
0:25:12 > 0:25:15but it came with a high cost to Sarah's budget.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Back in Walsall Recycling Centre, Sarah found Alan about to off-load
0:25:27 > 0:25:29two armchairs.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31A pair of chairs, how exciting.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Alan was happy for Sarah to nab them.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39In a way, I'm glad they're going to be reused cos they just
0:25:39 > 0:25:41seem too good to throw out.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45So, Sarah spirited them straight to Ray in East London...
0:25:45 > 0:25:46Lovely.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50..who immediately took a shine to one chair in particular.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Now Sarah is on her way back to Walsall to update Alan
0:25:55 > 0:25:58on what became of his armchair.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- Hello.- Hi there, Alan. How are you doing?- I'm very well, thanks. You?
0:26:04 > 0:26:05Very nice to see you again.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10- I said I would be in touch with news about your chairs.- Yes.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Now, remind me, were they your in-law's chairs?
0:26:12 > 0:26:14That's right, yes, they were. From an old farmhouse, I believe.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17And as a pair, I thought we'd like to keep them as pair,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21but as it turned out, I took them to somebody who had a look at them
0:26:21 > 0:26:23and thought that there was one that was particularly good.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26I took it to an upholsterer called Ray Clarke
0:26:26 > 0:26:28so I've got some pictures of what he did to it.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Gosh.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34- Wow.- Is that recognisable? - It's tremendous, isn't it?
0:26:34 > 0:26:36It has been transformed.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40He has redesigned it, he has given it a whole new lease of life.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42These are the pictures of it in his studio.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45I've never seen anything like that before. That's unbelievable.
0:26:45 > 0:26:46It's unbelievable.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49You just think, what are we all throwing away, really?
0:26:49 > 0:26:51- Yes, well... - It's got that potential.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56It has got huge potential and it is out there now waiting to be sold
0:26:56 > 0:26:59and I've got high hopes that it's going to generate some profit
0:26:59 > 0:27:02- for you, and I'll keep in touch... - Wonderful.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04..and be knocking on your door with the money in the future.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06- Thank you ever so much. - Pleasure, pleasure.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11Well, I think that Alan was really impressed with all Ray's hard work
0:27:11 > 0:27:13because that chair really is a unique piece
0:27:13 > 0:27:15and I'm sure it's going to sell well
0:27:15 > 0:27:18and I'm going to be sending cash back to Alan very soon.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Ray's materials and painstaking labour on the chair
0:27:23 > 0:27:27came in at just under £1,000.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29This niche item has yet to sell
0:27:29 > 0:27:34so it's currently a potential loss of that £950.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44Sarah successfully saved two items from oblivion.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49The Persian rug was a fabulous tip find
0:27:49 > 0:27:51that sold for a fortune at auction.
0:27:53 > 0:27:58And the wingbacked armchair had a marvellous monkey makeover.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Well, that's two fantastic results.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Ray created a really fabulous chair,
0:28:06 > 0:28:08which I'm sure is going to end up as pride of place
0:28:08 > 0:28:09in somebody's home soon.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12And that rug - well, it just goes to show
0:28:12 > 0:28:14you never know what's going to turn up at the tip.