0:00:03 > 0:00:05- Can I have a little rummage around in your rubbish?- Yeah.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10How do you make money for nothing?
0:00:10 > 0:00:11I love that!
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 > 0:00:22So heavy. They don't make them like this any more. Look at that.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24That's why entrepreneur Sarah Moore
0:00:24 > 0:00:28wants to get her hands on things before they hit the skip.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34I'm a passionate maker, buyer and user of old stuff,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37and I've turned that passion into a money-making business.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41I make new stuff out of old stuff, and I sell it for a profit.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46And with some of the country's elite designers and makers...
0:00:46 > 0:00:48- Say something nice about it. - My juices are flowing in this one.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50They are going to be "wow".
0:00:50 > 0:00:54..she can transform her finds into desirable...
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Isn't that stunning?
0:00:56 > 0:00:59- ..valuable... - Oh, wow!
0:00:59 > 0:01:03- ..and, hopefully, saleable items. - That is bonkers!
0:01:03 > 0:01:07If Sarah is successful, then she can hand the profits back
0:01:07 > 0:01:09to the very people who had no idea
0:01:09 > 0:01:12there was cash to be made from their trash.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Oh, my God! That is amazing!
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Today, Sarah is at the Whitley Recycling Centre in Surrey
0:01:30 > 0:01:34for our first rummage on our tour of the nation's tips.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Today, I'm after those little gems that, once transformed,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39can make some cold, hard cash.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44The goal is to find four items
0:01:44 > 0:01:46that can go from unwanted and unloved
0:01:46 > 0:01:48to polished and profitable.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Now, while I'm doing this,
0:01:52 > 0:01:55you look up there and make sure I'm not missing anything, all right?
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Not just anyone can hang about the dump.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Sarah needed special permission from the dump owners
0:02:01 > 0:02:03before she could start poking about.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05Any minute now, it's going to be complete...
0:02:05 > 0:02:06Oh, no, it's even worse.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10Thankfully, she doesn't have to rely on her puzzle-solving skills
0:02:10 > 0:02:12to spot Keith and his car full of rubbish.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17- Hi, there. I'm sorry to bother you.- Go on.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21I was just looking at the contents of your boot. What are you doing?
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- Are you clearing out?- Yes. - What are the sacks?
0:02:24 > 0:02:26- What are all these for? - It's hessian.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Would it be possible to have a closer look at some of them?
0:02:29 > 0:02:31If they're whole, I might be able to do something with them.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33- All right. - If you don't mind?- Yeah.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- So, you do things with things, then? - Yeah.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- If you know what I mean.- That's a very good description of it.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43I try and make stuff out of things that are going to be thrown away.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49But can Sarah make anything out of Keith's old hessian sacks?
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Hessian is a coarse material made from the hemp or jute plant,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57popular in the past for making rope, as well as storing vegetables,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59- such as potatoes and onions. - I love these.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02It reminds me of the sack race when I was little.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04I'll have to think of something inventive to do with them, though.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07- She's going back a few years. - Hey, that's rude!
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Ooh, it's just a little bit cheeky, Sarah.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14I'm going to take your sack full of sacks,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17and have a little play-around with those.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21But what does Keith think will become of his hessian sacks?
0:03:23 > 0:03:26I've got no idea, to be honest.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28If somebody can find a use for things like that,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31which you don't see any more, it's brilliant.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33I know they look really rustic,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36but they'd make some really simple tote bags, wouldn't they?
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Something like that?
0:03:38 > 0:03:40Well, they can't get much simpler than they are just now,
0:03:40 > 0:03:45but Sarah knows one designer who can turn them from rags to riches.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50When you think bags, think Neil Wragg.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54From salvaged and unwanted materials,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Neil creates everything from handbags to haversacks,
0:03:58 > 0:04:02and prides himself on the fact his bespoke bags will last a lifetime.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06I love being able to create something
0:04:06 > 0:04:11from what would be rubbish, I suppose, to other people.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16You could have, for example, a tent that was at Glastonbury,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19and saw the Rolling Stones, and then now it becomes a bag,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23and it's seen quite a life already.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Everything here has got a personality.
0:04:27 > 0:04:28All the bags have lived a life,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31and they're now about to live a second life.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34So, let's hope Neil can breathe NEW life
0:04:34 > 0:04:38into that pile of unpromising hessian.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41These old sacks have got bags of potential.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46I'm hoping Neil doesn't mind working with something
0:04:46 > 0:04:48that really smells.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Oh, not you again!
0:04:52 > 0:04:53I've got sacks!
0:04:53 > 0:04:56- They are sacks.- Here, take these. - Thank you.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04- Bags of sacks. What could be better? - There's how many?
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- I think there are about 18. - OK.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10- That was brave. - Rustic.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12They smell, don't they?
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- They do, but all my bags have a smell.- That's reassuring.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Have you ever used sacks before to make bags?
0:05:19 > 0:05:22No, it doesn't tend to be the material
0:05:22 > 0:05:25that I make the top-end boutique-style bags from.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29They're agricultural, they're rugged.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32There's no disguising that feel, that theme,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35so we possibly don't try to hide that.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40We stick with the agricultural, erm, that kind of feel.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42We don't disguise what they were.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Do you think we should make something really agricultural,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48like something for the garden out of them?
0:05:48 > 0:05:52We add some fabric and turn it into a trug-style bag.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54So you're in the garden,
0:05:54 > 0:05:58and you're chucking your weeds and everything in.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Possibly add some leather, um, we make some nice handles.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06Neil plans to make them into useful trug-style bags,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09used for carrying tools, flowers, or veg when gardening.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13A traditional garden trug was a boat-shaped basket
0:06:13 > 0:06:15carved from a piece of timber,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18but these ones are going to be made from smelly old sacks.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20How much do you want for that, Neil?
0:06:20 > 0:06:23If we've got at least ten of these bags that you would take,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- then we can do them for £12 a bag. - That sounds great.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30£12 a bag is really reasonable. Brilliant. Well, enjoy the sacks.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32The deal is in the bag.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Well, that totally exceeds my expectations
0:06:36 > 0:06:39of what we might have been able to do with those old garden sacks.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42It looks like I just commissioned my first range
0:06:42 > 0:06:45of saleable, desirable garden trugs.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49It's nice and agricultural.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52I haven't seen anything that we're going to make
0:06:52 > 0:06:56out there on the streets, so I think this will be something very unique.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59A unique agricultural order it is, then,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02but at a budget of only £12 each,
0:07:02 > 0:07:04can he really turn these unwanted sacks
0:07:04 > 0:07:07into attractive trug-style bags?
0:07:12 > 0:07:15One item found, three to go.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Sarah's travelled to the Merchants Way recycling centre
0:07:18 > 0:07:25in Walsall, where the cars come in all shapes and sizes - big ones,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28little ones, very little ones,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31and very, very little ones.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Love a Porsche. I like the Porsche. It's classy.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Things like this are only going up in value,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40and they're going down in the skip, all day long.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46Can Sarah turn Don's jumble of junk into a tidy sum?
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Oh, I like the look of your chair. Are you chucking the chair out?
0:07:49 > 0:07:51- Pardon?- Are you chucking your chair out?- Yes.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57So heavy. They don't make them like this any more. Look at that.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Think it's the same sort of era as the classic Ercol,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03but it's just a bit too clunky.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07This chair is similar in style to Ercol furniture,
0:08:07 > 0:08:12famed for the sleek lines and smooth curves of their classic designs.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14It's really heavy, isn't it?
0:08:14 > 0:08:15Yeah, it's, er...
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- It's a great pity, but... - When you're done, you're done.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22I don't think you have to feel guilty about it.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25- We've got more up-to-date stuff, you see, so...- Yeah.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27And do you know who made it,
0:08:27 > 0:08:31- or do you remember where you bought it from?- No idea.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35- Yeah. Cos it looks a bit like Ercol furniture.- Late '60s, '70s.- Yeah.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39- It's got a good look.- I do feel guilty about throwing this away.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42OK, I understand, but sometimes you know when
0:08:42 > 0:08:44- you've just had enough of something, don't you?- Yeah.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46Yeah, I don't think you have to worry about that,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49especially as I'm here to take it away,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52and hopefully do something exciting with it.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53Yeah, sure.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Sarah's got her hands on her second item,
0:08:56 > 0:09:00and Don's happy it's been rescued from the rubbish tip.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04If it can be repainted and reused, far better.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Far better than throwing it away.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11I think this is the poor relative of the Ercols,
0:09:11 > 0:09:15but it does mean I'm not destroying a classic British design.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18I think I'm updating something that was just going to go in the tip.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21So, in one way, I'm sad that it's not an established maker that
0:09:21 > 0:09:26I recognise, but then, in another, I can do what I like with it.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31Sarah knows exactly who to take this chair to for a modern makeover.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Jay Blades is a builder turned philosophy graduate
0:09:39 > 0:09:40turned furniture designer.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45What I love about furniture is the playfulness.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48It reminds me of my childhood, where I used to make Meccano sets,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50and just making stuff.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Now, with furniture, I'm allowed to take things apart...
0:09:53 > 0:09:55add some paint, add some fabric,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58and just basically add a bit of me.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03Jay has his finger on the pulse of contemporary interior design,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06reworking the very best of British craftsmanship
0:10:06 > 0:10:08and bringing it bang up to date.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13Personally speaking, I think adding colour is very important.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Give me the most ridiculous piece of furniture,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18and I will turn it into something beautiful -
0:10:18 > 0:10:21that's my claim to fame. I know I can do it.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22He's confident,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25but will he be able to give this chair a style of its own?
0:10:28 > 0:10:30I've brought Jay a real ugly duckling here,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33and I'm hoping he can turn it into a peacock.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36There's potential to make a little bit of money here
0:10:36 > 0:10:41cos, at the moment, this is three quid at a car boot, any day.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46She knows my kind of style of working with timber,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48and anything kind of mid-century modern,
0:10:48 > 0:10:51but she's brought me some interesting stuff before -
0:10:51 > 0:10:54stuff made out of metal and stuff like that,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58which I don't normally work with so, hopefully, erm...
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Yeah, I can't wait to see what she's bringing through the door.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- Hiya.- How are we doing? Are you all right? What have you got?
0:11:07 > 0:11:11It's all kissy-kissy, lovey-dovey now...
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Wait till they start haggling over the price.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21OK, it's not stylishly punching, you know, really hard, is it?
0:11:21 > 0:11:24But I'm sure you can do something with it.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27You say it's not stylish. I think it...
0:11:27 > 0:11:28I think it's quite cool,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32and not every chair in every household
0:11:32 > 0:11:34has to be stylish, and this is quite...
0:11:34 > 0:11:36I think it's quite nice in itself.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39It's not the finest of detailing on it...
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- Yeah.- ..but I know, in your hands, you're going to make it look...
0:11:42 > 0:11:44A wee bit of a refresh.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46So, am I allowed to just go wild with this one?
0:11:46 > 0:11:48- Can I do...?- Oh, yeah. - OK.- You can...
0:11:48 > 0:11:50- You can really go for it on this one.- I can go for it.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52I don't feel, you know... It was going to the tip.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55You can do what you like with it, as long as you make me some money.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59OK. Cool. So we're talking money, then. How much, how much...?
0:11:59 > 0:12:00I thought I'll leave you with a fiver.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02HE LAUGHS
0:12:02 > 0:12:05A fiver? To work on that?
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Wow. All right...
0:12:08 > 0:12:09I'm starting, you know...
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Yeah, you're starting super low. That is...
0:12:12 > 0:12:13In its current state,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17if I saw this at a car boot, I'd pay three quid for it,
0:12:17 > 0:12:18- and I'd be haggling, you know? - Yeah. Yeah.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20So we have got to elevate this.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Top whack, in my wildest dreams, one chair on its own -
0:12:23 > 0:12:25am I going to get 75 quid for it?
0:12:25 > 0:12:31Yeah. So that's going to be very, very tight on the creativity.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32Come on, now, Jay -
0:12:32 > 0:12:36where's that positive can-do attitude we know and love?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39But it is a beautiful chair in itself,
0:12:39 > 0:12:40and it could be made even better.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42That's why I come to you, you see, cos I know that
0:12:42 > 0:12:44when I come back, I'm going to go, "Oh, Jay, I love it,"
0:12:44 > 0:12:47because, at the moment, I'm not terribly keen.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Give it your special Jay magic, and we have a chance.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Sarah's leaving Jay a budget of £45,
0:12:58 > 0:13:03but has given him free rein to unleash his makeover magic.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06I feel a bit guilty about driving such a hard bargain there,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09but I'm hoping Jay can really strut his stuff with that chair,
0:13:09 > 0:13:14and create something that is really beautiful, and has some value to it.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I'm hoping to do something really creative with this,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22so Sarah will be able to sell it on for at least £70,
0:13:22 > 0:13:23and it should be...
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Someone should buy this for £70 after I've finished with it,
0:13:26 > 0:13:28cos it's a really solid chair, really sturdy,
0:13:28 > 0:13:32and I know she said she'll probably spend about...
0:13:32 > 0:13:34I'd say about four quid at a car-boot sale,
0:13:34 > 0:13:38but, after it's been jazzed up, it should be able to reach 70.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41A little bit more, probably. Probably even £80.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Jay will need to come up with a quick and simple idea to
0:13:45 > 0:13:50stay within the £45 budget, without scrimping on the style.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Back in Marlow, Buckinghamshire,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Neil's just about to get to work on his heap of hessian.
0:14:05 > 0:14:06Here are all the sacks.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10We've got about 18 sacks.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14We're thinking of keeping an outside feel to them
0:14:14 > 0:14:19and turning into something like a...
0:14:19 > 0:14:24hessian canvas version of a trug.
0:14:24 > 0:14:30So, first thing to do with these is to start the design process,
0:14:30 > 0:14:32and work out what we can do with them.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Before that, though...
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Time to put these in the washing machine, I think.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Quite right. That stinky sack smell's got to go.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44And once they're all freshly laundered,
0:14:44 > 0:14:48he starts to design the garden trugs he hopes to rustle up.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53I think we need to establish a shape.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Neil sketches out his first ideas.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59It looks, er, intriguing.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01If his design is going to work,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05he'll need to combine the hessian sacks with some other materials.
0:15:05 > 0:15:11So, if we maybe can do something with these...
0:15:11 > 0:15:15That's some reclaimed curtain wire from an old camper van.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Put a tube across around the top, holds it open.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Those will be put to good use, giving the trugs a bit of structure.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26And Neil's not done there -
0:15:26 > 0:15:29he's spotted another salvaged item to add to the mix.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Some tent material.
0:15:32 > 0:15:38It's good stuff. Canvas strip along the bottom of the base.
0:15:39 > 0:15:46Another canvas strip around the top, because the hessian sack,
0:15:46 > 0:15:51although it is strong, it's a very loose weave,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55so we can't have people putting in their plums
0:15:55 > 0:15:58and then seeing them roll across the floor.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02With plum security the very highest priority,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Neil applies a mix of paraffin wax and beeswax to the canvas
0:16:06 > 0:16:09to make the fabric more durable.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12So, the wax will strengthen it and make it sturdy,
0:16:12 > 0:16:18so compared to some unwaxed canvas here,
0:16:18 > 0:16:25we've got a much stiffer wax, and it will be waterproof as well.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30To create that stiff waterproof texture he's after,
0:16:30 > 0:16:35Neil then irons the material so that the wax impregnates the fabric.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38With all the elements in place, Neil stitches it all together.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Well, bag number one, I think the concept is right,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53the design is right, the look is right.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57It's, er, yeah, it's about there, so that's good.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00It's great, but that was just a prototype.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04He's still got a pile of sacks to start work on.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Well, the challenge is to make something along the lines
0:17:07 > 0:17:11of what I normally make, which is nice-looking bags.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Um, the challenge, at the moment,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18is doing it at a price within the budget,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20so trying to get something
0:17:20 > 0:17:22that's quick and straightforward to make.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25However, it obviously can't fall apart.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Neil's got a budget of only £12 per bag,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31and these trugs seem to need a lot of intricate work.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46In Wolverhampton, Jay is pondering his creative options.
0:17:48 > 0:17:54I'm thinking probably two, maybe three colours, with this one.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58He has to keep time and materials to a minimum to make sure
0:17:58 > 0:18:02he doesn't go over his £45 budget.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Sometimes what tends to happen is you start to paint,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07and then the design comes to you,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09so what I'm going to do is just play it by ear.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12You guys are going to, erm, see as this...
0:18:12 > 0:18:15creatively unfolds.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21This is a free-form design odyssey into the unknown.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24It's upcycling jazz.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26So I'm going to do black all over,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29but I'm going to pick out some highlights with some colour.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32To me, anyway, those two work really, really well together,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35looking at it from a bird's-eye view...
0:18:37 > 0:18:42So really, really thin layers is what this one requires,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45and most paint, anyway, when I'm using it,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48I always do it very thinly,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51simply because I want the colour to build up,
0:18:51 > 0:18:55rather than dab on a load of paint.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Jay is using chalk paint.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02It requires no surface preparation,
0:19:02 > 0:19:04and it comes premixed with the wax finish,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07which protects the paint against wear and tear -
0:19:07 > 0:19:09both big time-savers.
0:19:12 > 0:19:13Hmm...
0:19:13 > 0:19:18So, sometimes what I tend to do is just try to imagine the chair,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22erm, finished, and seeing if that looks all right.
0:19:22 > 0:19:28To me, now, that looks a little bit lopsided,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31so I would need something else added in there
0:19:31 > 0:19:35or, I'm thinking, the pink doesn't work.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38It might end up just being two colours.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Changing the design will take time,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44and that could have a knock-on effect to the cost.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50What I'm going to do
0:19:50 > 0:19:54is add the black, because at the moment, the pink and the blue
0:19:54 > 0:19:55are not working as well together,
0:19:55 > 0:20:01and it's probably because I can see a lot of the brown,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04so I need to have the black, really, on there.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13We could be witnessing creative genius at work...
0:20:16 > 0:20:19..or a project spiralling out of time and over budget.
0:20:25 > 0:20:30Back in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, Neil's finishing the unenviable task
0:20:30 > 0:20:35of turning hessian rags into what Sarah's hoping will be riches.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37Sarah's about to arrive
0:20:37 > 0:20:39and see the transformation of these hessian sacks.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43They were a real challenge. The mess was incredible.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46I've had a workshop full of hessian.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49I became Hessian Man by the end of the day.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52So they've been a challenge, definitely.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Now, this could be a little bit embarrassing,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59because all of the sacks that I left Neil with were in terrible shape.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01They had moths flying out of them.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03If he's managed to make something saleable out of them,
0:21:03 > 0:21:05I'll be really surprised.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10The sacks started off as smelly, dusty and moth-bitten,
0:21:10 > 0:21:12with little or no sacks appeal.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23They are now multifunctional trug-style bags,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26complete with a canvas base and handles,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29and curtain wiring round the tops
0:21:29 > 0:21:31to make them practical as well as stylish.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35- I can't wait to see them. Is it a "them"?- There's plenty of them.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39- I think they're amazing! - Good.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43They look so clean and nice and fresh and...
0:21:44 > 0:21:45- Fantastic! - Good.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- There's loads of them. How many have you managed to make?- Ten.- Ten.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Oh, they're really impressive.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54It's something that was going to be thrown away,
0:21:54 > 0:21:56and it will just last another lifetime.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58It's a massive achievement.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02You've turned something that was, frankly, nearly useless,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04short of keeping your tools in in a shed,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08into something that's highly saleable and really attractive.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11It took Neil long enough to make one trug.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14How on Earth has he managed to knock up ten?
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Once I got the production roll going,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20then I was making strips of canvas all in one go, so it's fine, yeah.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22They've come within budget.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25They're bang on, they really are.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Sarah's delighted, and Neil's just glad
0:22:29 > 0:22:33he doesn't have to don his cape and become Hessian Man any more.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37Not sad to see these ones go. Quite happy to see the hessian sacks go.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I am so pleased with this lot.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44They look absolutely fantastic and they've got bags of style.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Get it?
0:22:50 > 0:22:52At the tip, Sarah spotted Keith
0:22:52 > 0:22:55and his large collection of hessian sacks.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58I love these. It reminds me of the sack race when I was little.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03With Keith's blessing, Sarah made off with a bin full of sacks.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06If somebody can find a use for things like that,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08which you don't see any more, it's brilliant.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12And that somebody was bag-maker extraordinaire Neil,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15who turned them into multipurpose marvels.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17And, thanks to his handiwork,
0:23:17 > 0:23:21they were bought by husband-and-wife team, Nick and Kim,
0:23:21 > 0:23:26to sell in their online retro furnishing and lighting shop.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27Beautiful.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31- Functional. - Mmm.- Very functional.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33With the bags rehomed,
0:23:33 > 0:23:37it's time for Sarah to visit Keith at his home in Surrey.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44- Hi, there.- Hello.- Hi, Keith, how you doing?- Hi, not too bad.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- Very nice to see you again. - Yes, and you.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49I'm here to catch up about the hessian sacks
0:23:49 > 0:23:51- that you were dropping off at the tip.- Yeah.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53I didn't get the pleasure of working on them myself,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55but they went to a lovely chap called Neil,
0:23:55 > 0:23:59- who uses lots of old materials to make new bags.- Mm-hm.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02He took them and we had a discussion together about what to do with them.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Well, let me show you. So, here you go.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- That might be the way you remember them.- Right, OK, yeah.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13- And this is how they ended up. - Wow. They're good, aren't they?
0:24:13 > 0:24:17Are they gardening bags or shopping bags or...?
0:24:17 > 0:24:19They were whatever anybody wanted to be with them.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Lovely Neil made ten of them for us.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25- After his money, we actually managed to sell them at a profit.- Right, OK.
0:24:25 > 0:24:31- So, we have £50 here to hand over. - Oh.- All for you.- Oh, grand.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Oh, thank you. That's most unexpected.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Any ideas what you might do with it?
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Yeah, several things
0:24:38 > 0:24:43but I think it would be nice to take mother-in-law out for a bite to eat,
0:24:43 > 0:24:47or a glass of wine or two glasses of wine, something like that.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Fantastic. Thank you very much for dropping them off
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- and thank you for letting me have them.- Thanks.- Absolute pleasure.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- Thanks very much.- Nice to see you. - OK, thank you.- Bye.- OK, Bye.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59I was really impressed with what Neil managed to do
0:24:59 > 0:25:01with those old hessian sacks,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03and I think Keith was quite impressed too.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06And he's taking his mother-in-law out with the 50 quid.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08There are Brownie points to be had there.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12Neil stuck to his budget of £12 per bag,
0:25:12 > 0:25:16and produced ten, at a total cost of £120.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19The job lot of bags sold for £170,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22giving Sarah £50 to hand back to Keith.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36With the first item making a profit, Sarah's now in Altrincham,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39just outside Manchester, to find another lucky so-and-so,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42transform their junk, and produce a pay-out.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Diamond rings? £50 notes?
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Wishful thinking, Sarah.
0:25:48 > 0:25:49Perhaps mother and daughter,
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Carol and Tamara, will be able to provide a hidden gem.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Where's all this stuff coming from, then?
0:25:55 > 0:25:59I've had it donated off friends and a charity,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02because I had a house fire, and I ended up with nothing.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06Everybody has just been so great and donated everything.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07How traumatic.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Furniture, curtains, bedding, the lot. Clothes for the kids.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13- Everybody was safe, though? - Everybody's safe.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Thank goodness for that.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19People were so generous that Tamara has brought the surplus items
0:26:19 > 0:26:22that were damaged or in bad condition.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27- Plus, she needs the space. - So how many kids have you got?
0:26:27 > 0:26:30- I've got ten altogether. Six of them are at home.- Ten?!- Yeah.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32How old's your oldest and how old's your youngest?
0:26:32 > 0:26:3326, and the youngest is one.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Blimey! Well, with ten kids,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39I bet a bit of extra pocket money could come in handy.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45So, if Sarah can make a profit to give back to Tamara, all the better.
0:26:45 > 0:26:51- That's fantastic.- And this old chest of drawers might be just the thing.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55- So what do you reckon, 1950s? - I'd say so.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58It's nice and chunky, isn't it?
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Here, let's just pop it down there.
0:27:00 > 0:27:01Brilliant, thank you.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05Sarah definitely thinks that's a solid find.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07I will keep in touch, show you what I've done,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10and try my best to make you a bit of money. Really nice to meet you.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13- And you.- Good luck with getting your house together again.- Thank you.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15- Thank you very much. - Brilliant. Thank you.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17We'll need to find a home for this lot.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21While Sarah figures out how to attach that mirror,
0:27:21 > 0:27:26let's find out what Tamara thinks will become of her chest of drawers.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Probably decoupage, whatever it is.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35Get it painted, or stripped back to how it originally was,
0:27:35 > 0:27:37which would be nice.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41So, that dresser's gone from derelict to decoupage
0:27:41 > 0:27:43in a matter of moments.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47It's well made, it's got great proportions, there is lots of money
0:27:47 > 0:27:50to be made here, and I know just the person who's going to make it.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Daniel Heath has a passion for all things sustainable.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06An award-winning wallpaper and textile designer,
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Daniel loves adding an artistic flair to reclaimed materials,
0:28:10 > 0:28:15creating made-to-order furniture, and contemporary design pieces.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18I've always been interested in drawing.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I've always drawn things from a very young age. I used to watch
0:28:21 > 0:28:25wildlife programmes and come away and draw the animals.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29I guess I always wanted to be able to apply those drawings
0:28:29 > 0:28:34to something, so the routes were graphic design or textiles,
0:28:34 > 0:28:36and it's actually meant that I've been able to take my imagery
0:28:36 > 0:28:38and put it on all sorts of different things,
0:28:38 > 0:28:40and it's been really good fun doing that.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Let's just hope Daniel thinks he can have some more fun with that
0:28:43 > 0:28:45chunky chest of drawers.
0:28:45 > 0:28:50That peach princess, I think, really needs a masculine makeover,
0:28:50 > 0:28:52so I'm hoping Daniel is the man for the job,
0:28:52 > 0:28:55and that he'll help me carry it upstairs.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Daniel's just the lad if you've got something heavy.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04- There you go. - OK.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Great, OK, so mirror for up there.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09Yeah. I have got the legs for it, I'm wondering
0:29:09 > 0:29:11if maybe we should put them on to see what it looks like,
0:29:11 > 0:29:14to give you an idea about the proportion of it.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17Be nice to make it more contemporary.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19Would you be keen to keep it just one colour?
0:29:19 > 0:29:21I think maybe we keep it one colour.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24We might do something tonal, on the door fronts.
0:29:25 > 0:29:30Daniel might opt for a two-tone look on the dressing table,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33but the girlie peach paint job definitely has to go,
0:29:33 > 0:29:35and he's got another idea.
0:29:36 > 0:29:37The mirror's great.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41We can detach the mirror, and then what you'll get is a nice, really
0:29:41 > 0:29:45really delicate illustration that we can work onto the back of this.
0:29:45 > 0:29:46That sounds brilliant.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48I had not thought that you would get detail onto that,
0:29:48 > 0:29:50so that is a real bonus.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54They've decided on a radical redesign,
0:29:54 > 0:29:57but what's all that going to cost?
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Well, I think there's a fair amount of work to do on it,
0:30:00 > 0:30:03as we can see, so I think it's going to come in at around £400.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- I'm happy at that price. - Great. Thanks very much.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09- There's profit to be made, isn't there?- There certainly is.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11Brilliant. I can't wait to see it.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Daniel Heath is never one to disappoint, is he?
0:30:16 > 0:30:21He's going to turn that feminine, pink, not-very-classy thing
0:30:21 > 0:30:24into a dapper gentleman. I can't wait to see the results.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26I know I'm going to make a profit.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30Sarah's confident, but then, she doesn't have to do any of the work.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35Sarah's brought me quite a challenging piece.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38It looks like somebody's obviously had a go at trying to
0:30:38 > 0:30:43make something of it, over several
0:30:43 > 0:30:45paints of coat...
0:30:45 > 0:30:47- TUTS - "Paints of coat!"
0:30:47 > 0:30:50You'll definitely have a lot of "paints of coat" to do
0:30:50 > 0:30:52before that's presentable.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55There we go.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00Daniel has a budget of £400 for that transformation, but will
0:31:00 > 0:31:05he really manage to turn peach and fuzzy into butch and beautiful?
0:31:12 > 0:31:15In Wolverhampton, at Jay's workshop,
0:31:15 > 0:31:18he's getting ready for Sarah's arrival,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21for a thumbs-up or down to his renovation.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29I'm really pleased I managed to save the Ercol-style chair,
0:31:29 > 0:31:31because, after years of being well-used and well-loved,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33it was being thrown away, reluctantly,
0:31:33 > 0:31:37but I'm hoping that Jay and his fantastic style has recreated
0:31:37 > 0:31:40something that would be welcomed back into anybody's home.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47Has Jay succeeded in jazzing up the retro chair?
0:31:54 > 0:31:57Jay's creative instincts have served him well.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59He kept to his original concept.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05The soft pastel shades give this chair a cosy feel,
0:32:05 > 0:32:10but the sky-blue and pale-pink detailing pop and catch the eye.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Chalk paints have a rustic texture.
0:32:17 > 0:32:22Jay has used this to give the chair the subtly distressed finish.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25It feels vintage, in keeping with the original styling.
0:32:28 > 0:32:33I think Jay's come up trumps again, but what about Sarah?
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- Hello.- How are you doing? Are you all right?
0:32:37 > 0:32:39- You like it? - It's neat.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41I think that really looks really nice.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43You got the chalk paint out.
0:32:43 > 0:32:48Yeah. I'm not a brilliant chalk paint expert, I must admit.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50There are people that can probably do a far better job than me,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53but I love working with chalk paint cos there's no rubbing down.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56It's just straightforward - slap it on and there you go.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58You've got some candy colours in there,
0:32:58 > 0:33:00and they're working really well with the grey.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03- You like it, yeah?- Yeah, I think you've done well.- Thank you.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06Jay's got the thumbs-up for the style,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09but has he kept to the £45 budget they agreed?
0:33:10 > 0:33:13A quick and easy job, erm, with chalk paint.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15£45 - can't go wrong.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17I think it looks quite cool, actually.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19- I can't ask for more than that. - No?
0:33:19 > 0:33:22For 45 quid, that is... It's great.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24You've picked all the good points,
0:33:24 > 0:33:26and made them look so much better than they did,
0:33:26 > 0:33:30and I can see that going into interiors magazines anywhere.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32- Job done. - Right. OK. Cool.
0:33:32 > 0:33:33I'm happy, you're happy, and then,
0:33:33 > 0:33:36hopefully, the person who it goes to, they'll be happy as well,
0:33:36 > 0:33:38- so happy all around. - Brilliant.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40Well, let me take that away and, erm, try and get it sold
0:33:40 > 0:33:43and I'll pass on the happiness when I find out who takes it.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45- All right, no problem. - Thanks again.- You take care now.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51For £45, it's a really cheap and quick and easy job to do.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53It's a solid chair, as I said before,
0:33:53 > 0:33:55and it's going to last the test of time, really.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57It's... It's a good, strong chair.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03Well, Jay has managed to pump a bit of cool into our one single chair.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06He's really lifted it with those lovely pastel colours,
0:34:06 > 0:34:10and I'm hoping to squeeze a little bit of profit out of it too.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19Sarah first came across the chair just as owner Don was about to
0:34:19 > 0:34:21sling it in the skip...
0:34:21 > 0:34:24- It's really heavy, isn't it? - Yeah.- It's got a good look.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27I do feel guilty about throwing this away.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29..so he was happy Sarah saved it.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37With its colourful redesign, it was sold to Nick,
0:34:37 > 0:34:39who also bought those hessian bags.
0:34:41 > 0:34:47It's time to bring Don up to date with his chair's upcycling odyssey.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50- Hello again, Don.- Hello. Hello, Sarah.- How are you doing?
0:34:50 > 0:34:52Very well, thank you. Yeah.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55I said, when we last met, that if I could do something
0:34:55 > 0:34:58- with your lovely old chair, I would be back in touch.- Yeah.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01And, although it was maybe a little, erm,
0:35:01 > 0:35:04- old-fashioned looking, it was... - It was dated, yeah.- Dated?
0:35:04 > 0:35:06Yeah, probably dated, but do you know something?
0:35:06 > 0:35:08Dated is now called retro, retro is vintage,
0:35:08 > 0:35:10- and vintage sells, so... - Oh, right. Right.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14It went off to Wolverhampton, to a fantastic guy called Jay Blades.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17- Right.- Now, I'll be keen to know what you think about it,
0:35:17 > 0:35:19- so I've got some pictures. - Oh, right, yes.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Here is your chair.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24- Oh, yeah. - So, what he's done to it...
0:35:24 > 0:35:28- Right, right. Wow. - Now, he has painted it,
0:35:28 > 0:35:29and he's added some colour.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Oh, right.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34- Do you approve?- Quite different, quite different, yeah.
0:35:34 > 0:35:35Transformed it, hasn't it?
0:35:35 > 0:35:38- Yeah, it has given it a new lease of life and...- Really, yeah.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40- Oh, yeah. Yeah. - Yes, he worked on it beautifully,
0:35:40 > 0:35:43and the colours make it actually quite commercial.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46- Right. Yeah.- So, I have got some profit to hand over to you.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48- I have got... - Really?
0:35:48 > 0:35:50- ..£25 here. - Oh!
0:35:50 > 0:35:53- The profit from your old chair. - Oh!
0:35:53 > 0:35:56- That's for you to keep, to do whatever you like.- Well...
0:35:56 > 0:35:57Thanks very much indeed.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59What will you do with that? Any ideas?
0:35:59 > 0:36:02- A worthwhile charity, I think. Yeah. - Oh, well, that's a lovely idea,
0:36:02 > 0:36:05- and thank you so much for letting us have your chair.- Yeah.
0:36:05 > 0:36:06It was a sweet little thing,
0:36:06 > 0:36:08- and I'm glad it made a little bit of profit.- Yeah.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Hopefully, people will be inspired to pick up a paintbrush
0:36:10 > 0:36:13- and do something with their own chairs.- OK.- OK?
0:36:13 > 0:36:15- And it was lovely to catch up with you.- Yeah, brilliant.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18- It's been a pleasure.- Take care. - Been a pleasure.- Bye-bye.- Thank you.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Well, that was a lovely chair, a lovely result,
0:36:23 > 0:36:26and a lovely £25 going to good causes.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31Jay charged £45 for the makeover.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36Sarah sold it for 70, making a profit of £25.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50That's two out of two making money. We're on a roll!
0:36:50 > 0:36:53The next thing Sarah picks out, she'll work on herself,
0:36:53 > 0:36:56and it looks like there's something she can settle on
0:36:56 > 0:36:59in Barbara and John's estate.
0:36:59 > 0:37:00That looks quite cool.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02They don't make them like that any more, do they?
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Look at that! What's the story behind this one?
0:37:05 > 0:37:08It was one of two sun loungers, camp beds,
0:37:08 > 0:37:12that my parents had at a holiday home they had down in Devon.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Is it just me or does it look sort of quite cool?
0:37:15 > 0:37:17Well, I suppose...
0:37:17 > 0:37:21Perhaps somebody younger than me might think that it was cool!
0:37:21 > 0:37:24I think I've probably seen too much of it in my time.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26It might be something that could have another lease of life,
0:37:26 > 0:37:28and it would be great to take it away
0:37:28 > 0:37:32- and see if there's one last gasp for the lounger.- By all means.
0:37:32 > 0:37:33- That would be lovely, thank you. - Yeah.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36It'd be nice if it had some other use again.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Either Sarah's expecting some sun,
0:37:38 > 0:37:42or she's got a clever idea up her sleeve.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44What do Barbara and John think that might be?
0:37:44 > 0:37:46Not much you can do with the chair, except lounge in it.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48I hope she finds somewhere nice in the sun.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50But it's a very nifty piece of kit, isn't it?
0:37:50 > 0:37:53- I think she'll have a great time on it.- Mm.
0:37:53 > 0:37:54Relaxing away!
0:37:56 > 0:37:59You're probably wondering what I want to do with the retro camp bed,
0:37:59 > 0:38:02but it's got style, it's got class!
0:38:02 > 0:38:04You can't let things like that go in the tip.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06And I think, with a bit of funking up,
0:38:06 > 0:38:08that thing is going to make some money.
0:38:08 > 0:38:14With that fourth item secured, Sarah's time at the tip is over.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16I might be here some time. You might want to go away.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31Back in his studio in Walthamstow, East London,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Daniel's turning his attention to the dressing table.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39One of the first jobs is to remove that thick layer of gloss paint,
0:38:39 > 0:38:41but that's going to be a tough job.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45So, I'm going to strip down the paint, and I think I'm going
0:38:45 > 0:38:48to see what the condition is of the piece underneath.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51I'm still a bit concerned about how we're going to get the paint off
0:38:51 > 0:38:54without messing up the top surface.
0:38:58 > 0:39:04I'm hoping that putting a bit of heat on the paint surface
0:39:04 > 0:39:10will just bubble it up, so then we can scrape it off, because...
0:39:10 > 0:39:13- Oh!- Whoops. Don't drop your drawers, Daniel.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21This heat gun will help to strip the thick paint from the wood beneath.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27So it's bubbling up, I'm hoping that that'll mean...
0:39:31 > 0:39:33Yeah. Lovely under there.
0:39:37 > 0:39:42It's actually really nice. I think it's teak.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45I wonder if that'll change my ideas for what I do with it,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47in terms of painting the drawers.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54With this discovery, Daniel might ditch the plan to paint them,
0:39:54 > 0:39:57and instead expose the natural wood.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01That's going to mean a lot of painstaking prep work,
0:40:01 > 0:40:05but that doesn't daunt a perfectionist like our Dan.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11This piece of furniture was made nearly 60 years ago,
0:40:11 > 0:40:15but you sand it back and actually, it's still great underneath.
0:40:15 > 0:40:21It was built to last. I'm going to carry on scraping.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24You do that, Daniel. It's going to take you a while.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34Back home in Sussex, I bet poor Sarah's hard at work
0:40:34 > 0:40:37turning the old sun lounger into a money-maker.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Oh, or maybe not.
0:40:41 > 0:40:46Absolutely nothing wrong with this. Just like this - perfect.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48But it's not going to make much money.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52The sun worship will have to wait.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Time to get the lounger into the workshop.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02I loved this lounger the first moment I saw it.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05I don't know why, I suppose it's cos it's retro,
0:41:05 > 0:41:08and I can tell it's really well made.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10It's got a fantastic ratchet system on here,
0:41:10 > 0:41:13which means the ends go up and down and stay in place,
0:41:13 > 0:41:15so it's designed to be really comfortable.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18There's a blow-up pillow under here.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21And that's done well to survive in such good nick for...
0:41:21 > 0:41:23Well, it must be...
0:41:23 > 0:41:25I'd say nearly 50 years old.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29Some things actually improve with age, I think you'll find, Sarah.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31Take me, for example.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36The only thing about it is, at the moment, it's really looking tired.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38Actually, I haven't been sleeping well lately.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40There's a bit of rust on the legs...
0:41:40 > 0:41:42I'm not opposed to a rub-down.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44..and there's some marks on the canvas.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47Well, you can't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49So, I'm thinking, a little bit of an update,
0:41:49 > 0:41:51and I might be able to make a few quid on it.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55Oh, there's definitely life in the old dog yet.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57But back to the sun lounger.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00The cover's in good nick, so Sarah's going to use it in the final piece.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03It just means removing and washing.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07But what exactly is the master plan for this project?
0:42:08 > 0:42:11So, I'm thinking, if I can reposition this
0:42:11 > 0:42:14from sun lounger into daybed, or make it into something
0:42:14 > 0:42:16that people want to have in their conservatory
0:42:16 > 0:42:19or even as a spare bed in their bedroom,
0:42:19 > 0:42:23then I might stand a chance of making some money out of it.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27So it needs some careful thinking,
0:42:27 > 0:42:30but I'm going to get this washed and at least know that I've got that
0:42:30 > 0:42:32to work with if it comes up in good condition.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37So, it's a makeover that promises quite the transformation.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44As the canvas is edged with plastic,
0:42:44 > 0:42:49Sarah's cleaning it by hand using a mild washing powder in warm water.
0:42:51 > 0:42:52One more rinse.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58Then it's just a matter of hanging it out to dry.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Actually, that's happened to me a couple of times too.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04Hmm, who knew I had so much in common with a sun lounger?
0:43:06 > 0:43:08Time to sort those legs.
0:43:08 > 0:43:13Spray time! I'm doing it out here because if I get mess everywhere,
0:43:13 > 0:43:15next week, it's going to be mown off
0:43:15 > 0:43:17and it'll be completely gone by then.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19I'm going to have it upside down.
0:43:19 > 0:43:20Hm!
0:43:20 > 0:43:22Maybe it's a table.
0:43:24 > 0:43:25Must stay focused.
0:43:31 > 0:43:32Oh, yes!
0:43:33 > 0:43:36It's definitely called "shocking yellow" for a reason.
0:43:38 > 0:43:42OK, the similarities between me and the lounger end right here.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44I wouldn't be seen dead in that.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47I hope you know what you're doing, Sarah.
0:43:47 > 0:43:48Hold back.
0:43:48 > 0:43:52When you're spray-painting, it dries so quickly. It's better just to do
0:43:52 > 0:43:56very fine layers, and then you don't get all these dribbling marks on it.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58And you want to go past the object every time,
0:43:58 > 0:44:00and then you don't get over spray,
0:44:00 > 0:44:03which is this kind of film of little bits on the surface.
0:44:03 > 0:44:06So, it dries very quickly, do it quickly, move on,
0:44:06 > 0:44:08come back and give it another layer.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10The legs may need a couple of coats,
0:44:10 > 0:44:13but there won't be any need to lacquer it,
0:44:13 > 0:44:16as the spray paint should prevent any further rust.
0:44:16 > 0:44:20But, of course, yellow legs and a clean canvas isn't enough for Sarah.
0:44:23 > 0:44:25Well, I've managed to get the first coat onto the frame,
0:44:25 > 0:44:28and that looks great, and the cover has washed up really well, so now
0:44:28 > 0:44:33I want to add some 1950s-inspired floral design to the cover,
0:44:33 > 0:44:36and I'm hoping that my potatoes are going to help me out.
0:44:36 > 0:44:41No, I'm not going mad - these work really well as an instant printer.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44They carve really well, and they're slightly porous,
0:44:44 > 0:44:46so that when you pick up the paint on it,
0:44:46 > 0:44:49you get enough to do a few good prints before you have to dip again.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52If you've never used them, you need to try.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56A potato stamp - now there's a thrifty thought.
0:44:56 > 0:45:00First, Sarah needs to carve her design into the cut spud.
0:45:00 > 0:45:03You can draw an outline with a pencil,
0:45:03 > 0:45:05or freestyle it as Sarah's doing.
0:45:05 > 0:45:10Well, I'm happy with that. Time to give it a quick test.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13Sarah's using some left-over emulsion paint.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15It may fade once it's washed,
0:45:15 > 0:45:18but it all adds to the overall rustic charm.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21Definitely worth practising.
0:45:21 > 0:45:25Once you get stuck in on the real thing, there's no going back.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32I think that sample looks really cool.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35I'm a bit scared about doing it on the real thing.
0:45:35 > 0:45:36Don't worry, Sarah -
0:45:36 > 0:45:41if you mess it up, there's only your reputation on the line.
0:45:41 > 0:45:42Ooh, the pressure!
0:45:46 > 0:45:49She's hoping to keep costs to a minimum
0:45:49 > 0:45:51and profits to the max with this one,
0:45:51 > 0:45:55but with such a bespoke look, will she find a prospective buyer?
0:46:00 > 0:46:04In Walthamstow, Daniel's still hard at work on the dressing table.
0:46:04 > 0:46:08Today, he's helped by his assistant, Laura, and it's a good job,
0:46:08 > 0:46:10because it's intricate work.
0:46:11 > 0:46:14The primer from the previous paint job is still in there.
0:46:14 > 0:46:19- Just getting the last remnants out with little scalpels.- Scalpels?
0:46:19 > 0:46:24- This is less like woodwork and more like surgery.- Got to get it all.
0:46:24 > 0:46:26But I think it will be worth it,
0:46:26 > 0:46:29I think it's going to have a good result.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34Once every last atom of old paint has been removed,
0:46:34 > 0:46:37Daniel's planning to paint the exterior of the unit,
0:46:37 > 0:46:42and oil the front of the drawers to showcase the natural wood grain.
0:46:44 > 0:46:49We'll have a nice contrast between the kind of warm, orangey wood
0:46:49 > 0:46:55and the cool, dark blue that we're going to use on the outer casings.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58But before all that, a base coat.
0:47:00 > 0:47:04He's even going to line the drawers with wallpaper of his own design.
0:47:05 > 0:47:12This should be enough, unless I'm not doing my calculations right.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17Daniel's going all out to create a unique and sophisticated
0:47:17 > 0:47:22new item for Sarah, but this is all taking a lot of time.
0:47:22 > 0:47:25Is he really going to be able to deliver on budget?
0:47:33 > 0:47:35Back in Sussex,
0:47:35 > 0:47:38Sarah's putting the final touches to the retro sun lounger.
0:47:42 > 0:47:43Oh, fancy!
0:47:48 > 0:47:51When Sarah rescued it from certain death at the tip,
0:47:51 > 0:47:54it was a tad tired, but still functional.
0:47:57 > 0:48:02Now, the sun lounger screams of 1950s glamour.
0:48:04 > 0:48:07Sarah has embellished the canvas with potato-print leaves
0:48:07 > 0:48:10and hand-cut fabric flowers.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18She's re-covered the head support pocket
0:48:18 > 0:48:21with matching floral material,
0:48:21 > 0:48:26and the vibrant yellow legs set the whole thing off a treat.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS
0:48:30 > 0:48:31CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS
0:48:31 > 0:48:33All we need now is a pool and a cocktail,
0:48:33 > 0:48:35and I could be made for the day.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38But that won't sell it, will it?
0:48:38 > 0:48:39CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS
0:48:42 > 0:48:44Sarah first discovered the sun lounger
0:48:44 > 0:48:47in the back of Barbara and John's car.
0:48:47 > 0:48:53It was one of two sun loungers, camp beds, that my parents had
0:48:53 > 0:48:55at a holiday home they had down in Devon.
0:48:56 > 0:49:00Perhaps somebody younger than me might think that it was cool!
0:49:00 > 0:49:03I think I've probably seen too much of it in my time.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06Well, I'd be willing to bet John would struggle to recognise
0:49:06 > 0:49:09his old sun lounger now.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11It did make it to the seaside -
0:49:11 > 0:49:14it was sold to the Shed Boutique in Ramsgate,
0:49:14 > 0:49:18where Lucy was very pleased with the new addition to her stock.
0:49:18 > 0:49:19We are a seaside shop,
0:49:19 > 0:49:23and this sort of mix of retro and arts and crafts really go together
0:49:23 > 0:49:25nicely for us, and suit what we sell in the shop.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28Sarah has returned to show Barbara and John
0:49:28 > 0:49:31what became of their old sun lounger,
0:49:31 > 0:49:33but will she be handing over any profit?
0:49:35 > 0:49:37- Hi, Barbara, hello. - Hello, Sarah.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39How do you do? Hello, John, lovely to see you again.
0:49:39 > 0:49:43- Hello.- Now, it was down in Witley where I first saw your sun lounger.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46In fact, it wasn't yours, was it? Was it your parents'?
0:49:46 > 0:49:49My parents, yes, and in fact I can remember it since my childhood.
0:49:49 > 0:49:50It's one of those things.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53It was one of two that's been around for a long time.
0:49:53 > 0:49:54Well, it had a certain look,
0:49:54 > 0:49:57and it was that thing that first drew me to it.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00But did you wonder why I took it away?
0:50:00 > 0:50:03Well, certainly, because I've always found it incredibly uncomfortable!
0:50:03 > 0:50:04Well, for ten minutes in the sun,
0:50:04 > 0:50:07I'm sure it would be lovely to lie on.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09I've actually got some pictures to show you.
0:50:09 > 0:50:11So here is your sun lounger after a makeover.
0:50:11 > 0:50:14- Ohh!- Oh, my God!
0:50:14 > 0:50:17- It's beautiful, actually. - My mother would have loved that,
0:50:17 > 0:50:19because she was a great one for making all sorts of
0:50:19 > 0:50:22weird artworks and things, and I think she would particularly have
0:50:22 > 0:50:26appreciated what you've done with that, from an unpromising start.
0:50:26 > 0:50:29I really enjoyed working on it. It was a sweet thing,
0:50:29 > 0:50:31and it turns out that other people liked the look of it
0:50:31 > 0:50:33and I've actually managed to sell it at a profit.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36So I have some money to share with you here.
0:50:36 > 0:50:40I've got £33 here that I've managed to...
0:50:40 > 0:50:43- Blimey!- ..garner as a profit for you, so there you go,
0:50:43 > 0:50:46there is a small windfall from the sun lounger.
0:50:46 > 0:50:50That is probably about ten times what it cost originally!
0:50:51 > 0:50:54- Thank you very much. - What might you do with that?
0:50:54 > 0:50:56I think I'd like to spend it on the garden, actually.
0:50:56 > 0:50:58I think that would be appropriate, wouldn't it?
0:50:58 > 0:51:00She really would have appreciated that,
0:51:00 > 0:51:02- being a great gardener as well. - I think she'd have been amazed.
0:51:02 > 0:51:04She would, she'd have been absolutely gobsmacked.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06Well, it was a really...
0:51:06 > 0:51:09I loved working on it, it was a bit of fun, I've made a bit of money,
0:51:09 > 0:51:12and if you're going to buy something for the garden, I'm really pleased,
0:51:12 > 0:51:15cos I think that puts it very nicely back where it came from, doesn't it?
0:51:15 > 0:51:18- Yeah, yeah. - Lovely, thank you so much.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21- Thank you.- I look forward to seeing you and your excellent rubbish
0:51:21 > 0:51:23at the tip sometime soon.
0:51:23 > 0:51:25- Thanks ever so much, bye-bye. - OK, bye.- Bye.
0:51:30 > 0:51:34The old lounger cost Sarah £12 to transform.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36She was able to sell it for 45,
0:51:36 > 0:51:41which meant there was a profit of £33 to return to Barbara and John.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46Well, the sun lounger might have been a bit of a laid-back project,
0:51:46 > 0:51:48but I loved working on it,
0:51:48 > 0:51:51and I'm pleased that £33 is going to buy something lovely
0:51:51 > 0:51:53for John and Barbara's garden.
0:51:59 > 0:52:02In Walthamstow, Daniel Heath's putting a final shine
0:52:02 > 0:52:06on the 1950s dressing table with mirror.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09Well, I'm back in East London to see if Daniel Heath has managed
0:52:09 > 0:52:12to change the drab dressing table into something beautiful.
0:52:12 > 0:52:16It was right up his street, so I really hope he's nailed it.
0:52:17 > 0:52:21When Sarah picked it up, this was a vision in peach,
0:52:21 > 0:52:24girlie, and stuck in its dated paint job.
0:52:31 > 0:52:36Now, it's a slick and stylish cobalt blue beauty.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40All of the hard work revealing the original wood grain
0:52:40 > 0:52:44on the drawers has paid off splendidly,
0:52:44 > 0:52:48and Daniel's aviary of etchings are an elegant and airy touch.
0:52:52 > 0:52:54But will Sarah be drawn to it?
0:52:54 > 0:52:57I'm looking forward to showing Sarah what we've done with it.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01It was a lovely shape to work with, a nice piece to work on,
0:53:01 > 0:53:06- especially considering how it came in.- You said it, Daniel.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09- Daniel. Hiya. - Hello, Sarah, how you doing.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12I'm really well. Is that really it?
0:53:12 > 0:53:16That's it, yes, that's what was underneath all that pink.
0:53:16 > 0:53:19- The wood's beautiful. - The grain is quite lovely.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23And that mirror, it's lovely. These are just charming, aren't they?
0:53:23 > 0:53:25- Thank you. - Beautiful etchings on there.
0:53:28 > 0:53:30Tucked away, there's even more.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32Oh, what a surprise!
0:53:32 > 0:53:33We've lined the drawers,
0:53:33 > 0:53:38because we wanted to bring some more pattern into the piece as well.
0:53:38 > 0:53:41That's a really lovely touch. I think that's beautiful,
0:53:41 > 0:53:46to get that extra bit, and that colour way, inspired... Oh, wow!
0:53:46 > 0:53:49Wallpaper of Daniel's own design in the drawers
0:53:49 > 0:53:52makes another personal touch.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55I really can't believe how stylish it looks.
0:53:55 > 0:53:59- It's a smart piece. - It's packed in there, isn't it?
0:53:59 > 0:54:01I think it's safe to say that
0:54:01 > 0:54:04Daniel's got one satisfied customer in Sarah.
0:54:04 > 0:54:10She might even sell it, if she can stop enthusing long enough.
0:54:10 > 0:54:13I think you've created something that's hugely saleable,
0:54:13 > 0:54:16and it's just, "How high do we sell it for?", because it's beautiful.
0:54:16 > 0:54:20Yeah, I couldn't believe what it was hiding, basically,
0:54:20 > 0:54:23underneath the thick pink gloss.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31When Sarah first spotted them, mother and daughter,
0:54:31 > 0:54:34Carol and Tamara, were clearing out surplus items
0:54:34 > 0:54:36after disaster struck at home.
0:54:36 > 0:54:39Because I had a house fire, and I ended up with nothing,
0:54:39 > 0:54:44and everybody has been so great and, like, donated everything.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48- Tamara's is a busy household. - So how many kids have you got?
0:54:48 > 0:54:50- I've got ten altogether. - Ten?!
0:54:50 > 0:54:52How old's your oldest and how old's your youngest?
0:54:52 > 0:54:5526, and the youngest is one.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58Sarah was happy to help her free up some space
0:54:58 > 0:55:00by taking the dressing table...
0:55:02 > 0:55:06..which has since been reborn as a beautiful blue bit
0:55:06 > 0:55:08of bedroom furniture.
0:55:08 > 0:55:12And it wasn't long before the dressing table found a new home.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16A keen customer spotted a shot of it
0:55:16 > 0:55:21proudly displayed on Daniel Heath's instagram account.
0:55:23 > 0:55:28Now, it's off to be delivered to its new owner,
0:55:28 > 0:55:31and Sarah's returned to Greater Manchester to update
0:55:31 > 0:55:37Tamara and mum Carol on what became of their dump-destined item.
0:55:37 > 0:55:41- Hello.- Hi, Sarah.- How are you? - I'm all right, thank you.
0:55:41 > 0:55:44- Hello, Tamara. Oh, Carol, hi there, how are you?- This is my mum.
0:55:44 > 0:55:45- I remember meeting you. - Yes.
0:55:45 > 0:55:51You were looking like you had been very busy when I last saw you.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53Yes, decorating and clearing.
0:55:53 > 0:55:56The dressing table - it wasn't a very modern-looking thing.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59- It hadn't been well decorated, had it?- No, no.- It wasn't you, was it?
0:55:59 > 0:56:02No, it wasn't me, it was already like that.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04Did you have any idea what we might do with it?
0:56:04 > 0:56:09- Probably repainted it, maybe... - Change the handles.- Yes.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11A bit of an update.
0:56:11 > 0:56:13I took it along to a guy called Daniel Heath,
0:56:13 > 0:56:16and he specialises in surface pattern design.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18So, do you want to see what he did with it?
0:56:18 > 0:56:20- Yeah. - Yeah.
0:56:20 > 0:56:22Here is your dressing table.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25So he stripped it back...
0:56:25 > 0:56:27- Oh, it's lovely.- ..and he repainted it and finished it.
0:56:27 > 0:56:30- Look at the mirror.- And engraved the mirror.- That's gorgeous.
0:56:30 > 0:56:34- That's lovely.- So, I did manage to sell your dressing table.
0:56:34 > 0:56:36I've actually got some money here -
0:56:36 > 0:56:43- I've got £350. - No! Shut up! Wow.
0:56:43 > 0:56:50- Wow, Sarah.- All yours.- Thank you. - It's an absolute pleasure.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53I didn't really expect that, honestly. It's brilliant.
0:56:53 > 0:56:55And what will you do with it? Any ideas?
0:56:55 > 0:56:57I'm going to buy a new TV with it,
0:56:57 > 0:57:00I had one donated and I was very grateful.
0:57:00 > 0:57:03The sound went on it this morning, so I'm going to replace the telly.
0:57:03 > 0:57:06- Excellent, well, really great to catch up.- Thank you, Sarah.
0:57:06 > 0:57:10- Nice to see you, Carol, as well. Bye-bye.- Bye!- Thank you!
0:57:12 > 0:57:15I am so pleased that this particular project has turned out well,
0:57:15 > 0:57:18because Tamara and her family have been through lots recently,
0:57:18 > 0:57:21and I think that money is going to come in handy.
0:57:23 > 0:57:27Daniel's materials and labour on the dressing table came in on budget,
0:57:27 > 0:57:33at £400. It then sold for a splendid £750,
0:57:33 > 0:57:38leaving Sarah with £350 to hand over to Tamara.
0:57:44 > 0:57:47Sarah has rescued four items from a life of grime.
0:57:51 > 0:57:56The smelly old hessian sacks are now stylish garden trugs.
0:57:56 > 0:58:00The bit of brown furniture became black, and blue, and pink.
0:58:01 > 0:58:05Sarah stamped her mark on the sun lounger,
0:58:05 > 0:58:09and one peachy dressing table was dragged in to the modern day.
0:58:12 > 0:58:14Well, what a fantastic result.
0:58:14 > 0:58:16Who'd have thought so many amazing things could be made
0:58:16 > 0:58:18from just a trip to the tip?