0:00:03 > 0:00:06- 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 > 0:00:15The answer could be hiding in the 30 million tonnes of
0:00:15 > 0:00:18household waste we 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 > 0:00:23That's why entrepreneur
0:00:23 > 0:00:28Sarah Moore wants 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 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 > 0:00:45And with some of the country's elite designers and makers...
0:00:45 > 0:00:49- Say something nice about it. - My juices are flowing in this one.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50They are going to be "wow".
0:00:50 > 0:00:56- ..she can transform her finds into desirable...- Isn't that stunning?
0:00:56 > 0:01:02- ..valuable...- Oh, wow. - ..and hopefully saleable items.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04That is bonkers.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07If Sarah is successful, then she can hand the profits back to the very
0:01:07 > 0:01:12people who had no idea there was cash to be made from their trash.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15I've got £350.
0:01:15 > 0:01:16No!
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Today, we're at a recycling centre in Altrincham,
0:01:29 > 0:01:33just south of Manchester.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Sarah is in her element.
0:01:35 > 0:01:40For her, being down the dump is like a visit to a chic boutique.
0:01:40 > 0:01:41When you come to a place like this,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45you're on a mission to clear out, whereas I'm on a mission to clean up
0:01:45 > 0:01:49because there are mountains of money to be made out of piles of rubbish.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56The recycling centre has given Sarah special permission to do what
0:01:56 > 0:01:58she does best - treasure hunt.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05I think it's going to be a toptastic tip day today.
0:02:06 > 0:02:11She must find three unwanted items to rejuvenate or repurpose
0:02:11 > 0:02:15to sell on for a profit. What will she uncover?
0:02:15 > 0:02:17Will it be trash or treasure?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20I think it's fair to say that's trash.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22We'll take it that way, yeah.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29Can Jean-Luc add a little "je ne sais quoi" to proceedings?
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Oh, hello.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34- Hi.- Hi. That's not going in there, is it? It looks brand-new.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36- I'm afraid, yes.- Really?
0:02:36 > 0:02:39I tried to recycle to charity, but it will go
0:02:39 > 0:02:41because it doesn't have the labels on.
0:02:41 > 0:02:42Oh, I know. I hear that all the time.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Do you mind if I have a little closer look at it?
0:02:44 > 0:02:46You can have a look at it.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50- So, is it yours?- It's my daughter's.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53She needs some room in her house.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55It's been used, but it's absolutely fine.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56There's nothing wrong with it.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Would it be all right to pull it out and have a closer look,
0:02:59 > 0:03:00just see what it's like?
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Jean-Luc's talking about the UK Fire Safety Label.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07All upholstered items should have one.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Charity shops can only accept sofas if the label's attached.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14It's not a concern for Sarah, though,
0:03:14 > 0:03:18as once she's finished, it will comply with all the regulations.
0:03:20 > 0:03:21Come on, let's have a seat.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Are they going to bring us a cup of tea?
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- Yeah, I think so. What do you reckon?- That's not bad, that.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30You see, I'm looking for things that I can maybe use again,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32maybe reupholster. And if it's not comfortable,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34there's probably no point.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38- But this is...- This is quite comfortable. OK.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39Great, so glad you came.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- I might stay the rest of the day here.- Two sugars, please.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45THEY LAUGH
0:03:45 > 0:03:47- If it's all right, I'll take it away.- You can indeed.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Can I keep in touch. And if I manage to make something
0:03:51 > 0:03:55- out of it, I will show you what I've done.- That would be fantastic! OK.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57- Let's save this for another day.- OK.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Jean-Luc's trip to the tip has turned up trumps for Sarah.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07If you do something with it, that'll be great.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09That'll make my day.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Tres bien, Jean-Luc.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Who knows what Sarah has in store for this item.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18It's "que sera sera" for this settee.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25This sofa is a little bit newer than the stuff I normally take,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28but it's compact, it's in really good condition,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32it's comfortable and therefore it's saleable.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36I think I have the potential to turn this into some cash.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Not without a little help, Sarah.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44Meet Ray Clarke, upholsterer extraordinaire.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Ray made a name for himself in the world of fashion design
0:04:46 > 0:04:50before discovering his love for vintage furniture.
0:04:50 > 0:04:56His fresh, modern designs mix practicality, comfort and luxury.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I never intended to become, like, an upholsterer
0:04:59 > 0:05:00at the beginning.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03It wasn't the thing I set out to do.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06I suppose you could say upholstery found me.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12With my creative background in fashion design
0:05:12 > 0:05:16and textile design, I was able to use those skills and redirect them.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21And now this is all I do. I just give birth to chairs. I love them.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Yeah.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Give birth to chairs? Ooh, let's hope sorting this sofa
0:05:27 > 0:05:30will be a bit less painful.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37One item in the bag, two to go. Sarah is in the groove.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Down at the tip.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Let's get down to business.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54And it's not long before Sarah homes in on Paul.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56- Hiya.- Hello.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58That looks like some interesting stuff in there.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Yeah, it's just the contents of a garage
0:06:00 > 0:06:02that's built up over the years.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04OK, can I have a closer look?
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Can I have a little rummage around in your rubbish?
0:06:06 > 0:06:07Yeah, you're welcome. Yeah.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Luckily for Sarah, Paul's having a clear out
0:06:10 > 0:06:14as he's soon going to be moving home.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18- An old tool box.- So she's on the hunt for a gem in his junk.
0:06:18 > 0:06:19Lovely, I love that.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Who'd have thought an old tool box would catch her eye?
0:06:23 > 0:06:25- I really like that.- Right, OK.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27It's got, I think they call it pateena these days.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Most people call it rust and wear on it.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32But there may be something I could do with it.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Well, I call it patina, but it's all the same thing.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Oh, look. She's spied a filing cabinet, too.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48I really like that. It's decorative as well as being industrial.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51They've got a certain look to them. Don't know what that look is.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Rubbish chic or something.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55The next new trend, maybe.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58But what does Paul think Sarah will make with them?
0:06:58 > 0:07:02I'm not too sure, but I have seen some of her stuff before,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05and I'd be interested to see what she does with it.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07There's a real sense of history with this lovely old case,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11and I am loving the utility chic of this filing cabinet.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13I'm going to take them to somebody
0:07:13 > 0:07:16who makes magic out of metal like this and money for me.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22Artist blacksmith Bex Simon is an expert in manipulating
0:07:22 > 0:07:27metal into high-end furniture and bespoke metalwork commissions.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31When I went to art college and I was looking around to see what degree
0:07:31 > 0:07:35I wanted to do, I went into the forge and I saw people
0:07:35 > 0:07:40working with fire and the anvils and hammering metal.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44Oh, that was it. I just knew that that was what I needed to do.
0:07:44 > 0:07:49Together with husband Dave, this formidable team has the skill
0:07:49 > 0:07:54and imagination to create something special from any old iron.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59There's nothing more exciting to come into work, light a fire,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02heat up your metal. It's very magical.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04I hope Bex still feels that way
0:08:04 > 0:08:07when she gets a load of the rusty tool box and filing cabinet.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Sarah's got goodies for Bex and Ray.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Now she is on the lookout for an item she can transform.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26But if it's already hit the skip, then it's off-limits.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32She has, however, spied a little gem she'd like to share with us
0:08:32 > 0:08:36so has asked the recycle centre employee to fish it out.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39I love these. OK, if you find one of these, don't throw it away.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42It's got a hook on it, you put a little tealight in the bottom
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and it props up, and you have the most beautiful little wall sconce.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48And it sends out these lovely little rays of light from it.
0:08:48 > 0:08:53So don't throw them away. Even as a grater, that's worth a fiver.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55I love it. Never mind.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01I spy a familiar face. We've seen Tamara at the tip before.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08I've had it donated off friends and a charity
0:09:08 > 0:09:11because I had a house fire and I ended up with nothing
0:09:11 > 0:09:15and everybody has just been so great and, like, donated everything.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19Having relieved Tamara of her 1950s dresser,
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Sarah has her eye on an old set of ladders. Lovely stuff.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- Wow, they look like nice old ones. - Yeah.
0:09:27 > 0:09:28Where are they from, then?
0:09:28 > 0:09:33These were left in my house, my new house, by the gentleman that
0:09:33 > 0:09:35used to live there, and I've no need for them.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- I think they look cool. Can I have them?- Yes, you can have them.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- I'll try and make something cool, make some money, maybe?- Yeah.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- Be back in touch.- Yeah. - That would be lovely, thank you.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48That's another item saved from the scrapheap.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51I would have used them had they been safe, but I didn't feel
0:09:51 > 0:09:54they were safe, so I'm glad Sarah can make some use of them.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00So what do you reckon? A step too far or a stairway to heaven?
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Sarah has her three items.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Ray will take up the challenge of rejuvenating the sofa.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Bex will get busy knocking the filing cabinet
0:10:10 > 0:10:12and tool box into shape.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15And Sarah will be tasked with transforming the ladder.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22I can't save every bit of rubbish that comes in here.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26But I've had a really good go today and I've got some cracking items,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29all of which I know are going to make some money for nothing.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36London's East End,
0:10:36 > 0:10:40as famous for Albert Square as it is for the Olympic Park.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44The area is a cultural crucible that blends innovation
0:10:44 > 0:10:48with tradition, just like upholsterer Ray Clarke.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52I wonder what Sarah's going to bring me.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54It's just, it's just... Yeah,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57she always brings some really mad projects.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01- Look, it's a sofa, how mad can it be?- Hiya.
0:11:01 > 0:11:02Let me just pop that there.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04I've got a little something for you outside.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- Will you come and help me in? - Yeah, sure, sure.
0:11:07 > 0:11:08- Wow.- Let's get it inside.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Wow, look at this.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17I personally hate maroon and I'm not that keen on red stuff,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20all right? So for me, this is like a horror sofa.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25- I am really keen on this. - Natural.- Natural.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Now, I did bring along a little bit of natural linen.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30And what I was sort of wondering about this
0:11:30 > 0:11:34is if we could rough it right up and make it look really rustic.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37I don't want to say the word knackered, but I want this to
0:11:37 > 0:11:40look like it is something that the dog has been sleeping on.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42A dog bed? Now that's barking mad.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Is that really bad to ask?
0:11:44 > 0:11:48No, it's not bad to ask. If that's what you feel it deserves,
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- I can deliver that for you. Yeah, sure.- Less show home.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56- More, you know, rustic, traditional. - More boutique, rustic...
0:11:56 > 0:11:59I'm pushing on the rustic, I can tell, aren't I? Look!
0:11:59 > 0:12:02I'm going to end up dreaming of rustic.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Do you use any hessiany fabric?
0:12:04 > 0:12:06- I do. I mean, yeah. - That's not quite the grade
0:12:06 > 0:12:08that you'd want to sit on, is it?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10No, it's not.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12That's grim, Sarah.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16It's not meant to be seen, let alone sat on, even by dogs.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21I do have some linen scrim. It's quite thin but it can be doubled up.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26I'm looking at designer stuff, £50 a metre. How much is this a metre?
0:12:27 > 0:12:29That's about three pounds a metre.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Now, that's my kind of money.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35- But it's the look, it's the overall look.- But do you know something?
0:12:35 > 0:12:37You are so good at your craft,
0:12:37 > 0:12:39if you can make it look good in a sack...
0:12:39 > 0:12:41HE LAUGHS
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Sarah's made a saving on the material.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47But how much will it cost for Ray to weave his magic?
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Four-part figure?
0:12:50 > 0:12:55- Between £600, £650 for re-covering, it's just re-covering.- OK.
0:12:55 > 0:13:01- I would happily leave you with 650 quid to do this.- Right, done deal.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05- Fantastic, well, best of luck. - Thank you very much.- Bye.- Bye.
0:13:07 > 0:13:08Fantastic.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10I think Ray is going to duff that sofa up
0:13:10 > 0:13:14and make it look really rough, rustic but reassuringly expensive.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16I can understand where she's coming from.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I know the kind of work that she wants to have done,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22but it's got to be done properly. It's got to be done well,
0:13:22 > 0:13:27done right, and I'm a bit of a stickler for that as well.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32Ray has a budget of £650 plus materials for the transformation.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36HE SIGHS
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Uh-oh. Where do I begin?
0:13:39 > 0:13:43But can he really get on board with Sarah's cost-cutting design?
0:13:48 > 0:13:52Ah, the peace and tranquillity of Surrey.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
0:13:55 > 0:13:57it's also England's most wooded county.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03But who needs wood when there's metal to mould?
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Not blacksmith Bex Simon.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- She does like to challenge us with things, doesn't she?- She does.
0:14:10 > 0:14:11She hasn't defeated us yet.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15No. Let's just hope it's not a filing cabinet.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17SHE LAUGHS
0:14:17 > 0:14:21OK, who let the cat out of the bag?
0:14:21 > 0:14:23As soon as I saw this, I totally thought Bex and Dave.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25I think they're going to love this.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29- What do you do with a filing cabinet?- File stuff.- You file stuff.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- Paint it.- Paint it. - SHE LAUGHS
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- Crush it! - SHE LAUGHS
0:14:37 > 0:14:38Steady on there, Bex.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41No!
0:14:43 > 0:14:46- What's the matter? - It's a filing cabinet.- Yeah?
0:14:47 > 0:14:49It's beautiful!
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- How can you not love my cubby little filing cabinet?- Oh, my goodness me.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- Shall we take it in and have a look? - Yes, sorry.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58They don't like my filing cabinet. I'm really offended.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Anything but a filing cabinet.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- I found this at a tip, you know.- Amazing.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08And if Bex has anything to do with it, it's going straight back there.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12I'm thinking classic 1950s styling here. It's got beautiful handles.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14The drawer's go in and out. Look.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21SHE WHISTLES
0:15:21 > 0:15:23I think I've broken it.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24Demand a refund.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Oh, no, that's right, it was being thrown away.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29I can't imagine why.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32If we're going to work on this...
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Yeah, what do you think?
0:15:35 > 0:15:38..I really don't want it to look anything like a filing cabinet
0:15:38 > 0:15:41at all cos I really, really don't like them.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43I'd never have guessed(!)
0:15:43 > 0:15:47So what we can do is take out all the drawers
0:15:47 > 0:15:50separately and then go
0:15:50 > 0:15:54next door and just squash them in a press...
0:15:55 > 0:15:57..to make them completely flat.
0:15:57 > 0:16:03We'll take the handles off, and so each one becomes like a shelf,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06so it's like an open shelving thing.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09So the only reference back to it
0:16:09 > 0:16:11would be like these handles.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14She really doesn't like filing cabinets. I thought this was lovely.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17I don't know where I'm going wrong here.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Maybe Bex will feel the love for the old tool box.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Not looking great but bags of potential.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31I'm in the bathroom, and I'm getting ready in the morning,
0:16:31 > 0:16:33and a lovely bathroom cabinet on the wall, mirror...
0:16:33 > 0:16:36DOOR CREAKS
0:16:36 > 0:16:39- It's got a lovely like cross... - It's beautiful.- ..there.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43It's stylish, it's got lovely, original paintwork.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47I think this is the gem and that is the... You don't have to do both.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50- You could just do one.- Could be OK.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53- Just needs a hammer. - Ease the hinges a bit.
0:16:53 > 0:16:59Yeah, hammer some of these, like, dents out kind of things.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02OK, so basically you're not feeling the love for these.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05You want to crush this and hammer this. Why don't I just leave
0:17:05 > 0:17:10you with some budget, a little leap of faith and I'll come back,
0:17:10 > 0:17:12and there'll be something saleable that is in profit?
0:17:12 > 0:17:16Yeah. If it's not going anywhere, we'll stop...
0:17:16 > 0:17:20- And ditch it.- ..and say we've lost a few hours on that. It's a no goer.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24I think go for it, but if it reaches over 300 quid level in budget,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27then give me a call because I need to sign that off to make sure
0:17:27 > 0:17:29that I think we're going to be in profit.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31So on that basis, are you happy to go for it?
0:17:31 > 0:17:33- Yeah, let's do it.- Fantastic.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Well, I think it's pretty safe to say that Bex
0:17:39 > 0:17:42is not keen on filing cabinets.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45They're just so ugly. They really are.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48I hope that between them,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Dave and Bex manage to make something out of those two items.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Otherwise, I'm just going to come back to a little pancake
0:17:54 > 0:17:56of a filing cabinet and not a lot of profit.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00- Wish us luck. - SHE LAUGHS
0:18:00 > 0:18:04With a starting budget of £300, will Bex and Dave
0:18:04 > 0:18:07salvage anything from Sarah's finds?
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Back at home in Sussex, Sarah is hopefully taking
0:18:15 > 0:18:17steps in the right direction.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24I love these ladders.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27But as they are, I just can't make enough money out of them
0:18:27 > 0:18:29if I just sell them like this.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31So I've got to make them into something.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34And because they're quite a complicated set of angles,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37I think it's best to go for something really simple.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41So I want to make lovely little planters
0:18:41 > 0:18:45out of each of the steps, fill them up with beautiful bulbs.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47And so, people can have them in their homes,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50out on their windowsill, by the front door,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53just bringing a little bit of colour in their life. And then using all
0:18:53 > 0:18:57this lovely white paint, flaky surface as a real selling point.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00How hard can that be?
0:19:02 > 0:19:07To make flaky paint a selling point, a lot tougher than you think, Sarah.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Especially if you can't use a saw.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11Let's make a plan.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15When you do something, measure twice, cut once.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Not a complete novice then.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Look away now.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Oops, spoke too soon.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27A good start would be to secure the ladder by clamping it down.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Let the saw do the work.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33The longer the stroke, the easier it'll be.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Hm, we could be here for a while.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Let's clean up those bits. I could have maybe cut that a bit better.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Never mind, have a back across there. Plants in there.
0:19:52 > 0:19:53It should look quite cool.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56But one planter isn't going to bring in much.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00Time to step it up. See what I did there?
0:20:00 > 0:20:03You can come and help if you like. Don't just sit there.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Oh, I'd love to, Sarah, but quite frankly, I think
0:20:06 > 0:20:07I'll keep my distance.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13I'm channelling potting-shed chic. It's going to be awesome.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Well, I suppose you have to believe your own propaganda.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18But you still have to nail the backs on.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Just want to make sure I can make one
0:20:22 > 0:20:26and I'm on the right track before I cut the whole thing up
0:20:26 > 0:20:29and have to make a plan.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32This could be fun.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38Chin up, Sarah. Hopefully, all the hard graft will be worth it.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42On the bright side, Sarah bagged a bargain at a car-boot sale,
0:20:42 > 0:20:46paying only £30 for bulbs to put in the planters.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50But will her idea really flourish and bring in the big bucks?
0:20:57 > 0:21:00At his studio in Poplar, East London,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02it sounds as though Ray has come up
0:21:02 > 0:21:05with a design compromise for the old maroon sofa.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08The overall look is quite rustic,
0:21:08 > 0:21:12like a countryman's jacket with, you know, the leather patches.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17Kind of that look but translated into a two-seater sofa,
0:21:17 > 0:21:18if you know what I mean.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22So, Ray's giving a nod to Sarah's rustic vision,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25but with an extra air of elegance. Sounds expensive.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Before re-covering the sofa, Ray and his assistant Anna have to
0:21:31 > 0:21:33strip it back to check that the frame and the filling
0:21:33 > 0:21:35are in good order.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39Yeah, ripping this should be fairly good fun.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41I'm saying this cos I already know
0:21:41 > 0:21:43what's already going on underneath here.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46I can feel it with my hands and it's like, urgh.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Modern sofas aren't always built with quality in mind.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54No, it's not feathers, this is polyester wadding.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Yeah, bleurgh, bleurgh. Don't like that.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04But Ray is about to change all that.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05Ooh, this could be painful.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Cardboard there, cardboard here, cardboard here.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16They haven't even bothered putting webbing in here,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20it's just... I could punch through that. I'm not going to.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23But, yeah, it's a cardboard sofa.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29High-end sofa frames are made of solid hardwood like oak or maple
0:22:29 > 0:22:33and are put together with screws, glue and wood blocks.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35These could last a lifetime.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37But modern manufacturing methods
0:22:37 > 0:22:42and price wars have created some new ways of building frames.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Some are OK, others, not so good.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50The springs should be lashed laterally from end to end
0:22:50 > 0:22:54so that, when you sit in them, they don't spread apart.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Yeah, this is, um... I wouldn't say shoddy...
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Yeah, I would say shoddy, actually.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09This has got to be pushing Ray's perfectionist nature to the limit.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14I want to do this properly, or as well as I can possibly do it,
0:23:14 > 0:23:15so it's going to be upgraded
0:23:15 > 0:23:18better than it was when it arrived, anyway.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19Much better.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Ray's exacting standards has meant the job has gone from a
0:23:23 > 0:23:27relatively simple re-cover, to almost a complete rebuild.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31That's the excitement of the challenge on this,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35trying to produce something and still keep to within the budget,
0:23:35 > 0:23:41so it's not just like built with cardboard.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Argh! I hate cardboard.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46I hate cardboard. I can't stand cardboard.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49From one artisan loving life...
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Look at that - nasty, nasty, nasty.
0:23:54 > 0:23:55..to another.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02At her workshop in Guildford, Surrey,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06it's time for Bex to face her nemesis.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11- Do you want to have a go at having a look at this?- No.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13SHE LAUGHS
0:24:13 > 0:24:14I really don't like them.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18If you can take it apart for me, get all the drawers out...
0:24:18 > 0:24:23- Yeah, I can do that.- Yeah, if you do that for me first days, then I'll...
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- There you go.- Oh, OK. Thanks(!)
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Nice try.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Explain to me what you're trying to do.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37- Squash it flat. - Just the whole thing?- Yeah.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41So the plan is to make a shelving unit using
0:24:41 > 0:24:46- the drawers of the filing cabinet as the shelves.- Stomach muscles in.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48Stomach muscles.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50In the past, Bex has used her pneumatic press
0:24:50 > 0:24:52to shape and straighten metal.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57But this is the first time she's squashed anything with it.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- Oh, what a nice shape!- Yeah.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Ooh, oh, look at that, that's really nice.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Look at the way the corners have gone.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Nice one. It's like a tray.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25- I can go and make some tea. - THEY LAUGH
0:25:26 > 0:25:29See? That wasn't so difficult after all.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30All right, Mr Tea Boy?
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Now, onto the tool box.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42A quick buff was the plan to make it into a bathroom
0:25:42 > 0:25:44or kitchen cabinet.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46But...
0:25:46 > 0:25:48This is taking ages.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55It's working, though.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59Yeah, but it's like to do the whole thing...
0:25:59 > 0:26:03- Well, you've nearly done the whole thing.- Well, no, but I think...
0:26:03 > 0:26:08Look, imagine being someone who is going to buy...
0:26:11 > 0:26:16This was supposed to be a quick and easy job with real retail value.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19It looks like a piece of junk.
0:26:19 > 0:26:25Um, no, but a very artistically treated piece of junk.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27Nice sales pitch, Dave.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Well, you know, just look at that. At the moment,
0:26:31 > 0:26:33I'm not feeling the potential any more.
0:26:33 > 0:26:39I mean, an idea that I did just have was those hinges.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44You know how the old metal hinges, they're all scrolled
0:26:44 > 0:26:47and beautiful, and they're like on a wooden door.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49I know what you mean,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53but I can see the budget just going completely out the window on that.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57I know, but just doing this, I don't think the finish is good enough.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01- I think that's all right. - Really?- I think that'll be OK.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Well, at least someone is optimistic.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09Personally, though, I think this one could be Bex's undoing.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11I don't like this one.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Back in Sussex, Sarah's putting
0:27:19 > 0:27:23the final touches to her refashioned planters.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27It's coming along, isn't it?
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Not quite there, though. I want it to really pack a punch.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32But that, at the moment, stands me in at four quid.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34It's got to be worth more than that.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38It needs wow factor. Sparkle. Pizzazz.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Or an old tin bucket.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Not exactly what I had in mind.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47Happy days.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54Happy days indeed. This old wooden step ladder was saved from the skip.
0:27:57 > 0:28:03The steps of the ladder now make up seven country cottage planters.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07Sarah kept costs down by using soil from her own molehills
0:28:07 > 0:28:10and bulbs from a car-boot sale.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12And as much as it pains me to admit,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15the tin bucket tags are an inspired addition.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I was a little bit intimidated when I first started this.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24I couldn't quite visualise how they were all going to look together.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28But I think these planters, all their forest stuff inside them,
0:28:28 > 0:28:31all the free stuff that adds that lovely look to them
0:28:31 > 0:28:33has worked out really well.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35And I think I'm going to make a blooming great big profit
0:28:35 > 0:28:36out of this lot too.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Sarah first discovered the stepladder
0:28:40 > 0:28:42in the back of Tamara's car.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Wow, they look like nice old ones.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47- Yeah.- Where are they from, then?
0:28:47 > 0:28:51These were left in my house, in my new house, by the gentleman
0:28:51 > 0:28:54that used to live there, and I've no need for them.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57The ladder's days may have been numbered, but Sarah's crafty
0:28:57 > 0:29:02talent means it looks great revamped into planters.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06And where better to get the sales started than at her barn sale?
0:29:15 > 0:29:17Get it out there, make it sell.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24- So do you know what that's made from?- No.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26Doorframe or something or other.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29- Old stepladder.- OK.- No way!
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- I almost want the full set, don't you?- I'll do you a deal.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37They seem to be flying off the shelf.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Fantastic, I'm so glad you bought that. Excellent. One more planter.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44- Have a lovely day.- Sarah managed to sell four planters, and Matthew,
0:29:44 > 0:29:47who owns Spriggs Florist in Petworth,
0:29:47 > 0:29:49snapped up the final three.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52I love the fact that these were made from old stepladders.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55Gives us an opportunity to offer something really quirky
0:29:55 > 0:29:56to our customers.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Now Sarah is on her way to tell Tamara
0:29:59 > 0:30:02the tale of her old wooden stepladder.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10- Hiya.- Hi, Sarah.- How are you doing?- All right, thank you.
0:30:10 > 0:30:11Nice to see you again.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14And you were madly tearing about last time I saw you.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17- And you've just moved here, is that right?- Yeah, yeah.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19And you had some ladders.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21They had a really lovely vintage look to them, but they're not
0:30:21 > 0:30:24- that practical when they're old like that, are they?- No.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27Did you imagine what we might do with them after we took them away?
0:30:27 > 0:30:29I don't know what you've done with them,
0:30:29 > 0:30:32but, yeah, I can imagine you've done something good.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Well, I know you said that you found them in the garden, so we
0:30:34 > 0:30:35thought it would be nice to make
0:30:35 > 0:30:37something for the garden out of them.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39- So do you want to see what we did? - Yeah.
0:30:39 > 0:30:44- So here is your stepladder planted up with spring bulbs.- Wow.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48- We managed to make seven of them. - They're lovely.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51- So I've got a little bit of money to hand over to you.- Aw. Thank you.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56- I've got £90 here. - Wow. Just off a ladder!
0:30:56 > 0:31:01- Just off a ladder!- Wow, thank you, Sarah.- What will you do with £90?
0:31:03 > 0:31:07Probably buy some paint and some new fabric to go on my couch,
0:31:07 > 0:31:10- cos I need my couch re-covering. - Fantastic!
0:31:10 > 0:31:12So that's what that will be going towards.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14It was great to catch up and so pleased
0:31:14 > 0:31:16that you let me have your ladders.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19- Thank you.- Take care. So nice to see you.- Thank you.- Bye-bye.
0:31:19 > 0:31:20Bye, thank you.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Well, I loved working on those stepladders, turning them
0:31:24 > 0:31:27from practical into pretty planters.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29And it sounds like Tamara has projects on her mind too,
0:31:29 > 0:31:32and that money's going to be helpful.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36Sarah did well in keeping her costs to just £30,
0:31:36 > 0:31:40and even better in selling the lot for £120.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44That leaves £90 for Tamara and her family to enjoy.
0:31:55 > 0:32:00Back in East London, Ray is putting the finishing touches to the sofa.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06Actually, I'm more nervous than confident, to be honest. Yeah.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11It's always a bit nerve-racking when Sarah comes to see the piece.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14I just never quite know what her reaction's going to be.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Not long to wait, Ray. She's on her way.
0:32:21 > 0:32:22Ooh, you tease.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27When I left Ray with a chain store sofa
0:32:27 > 0:32:31and the idea that he was going to turn it into potting-shed chic,
0:32:31 > 0:32:33who knows if he's managed to achieve that.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39- Hiya.- Hey, Sarah, how are you doing?- Really well, how are you?
0:32:39 > 0:32:43- I'm good.- Is this the baby? - This is the baby.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45Feels interesting under there.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48Yeah, looks considerably different from before.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52- Come on, then, let's see it!- Do you want me to whip it off?- Yeah.- OK.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55One, two, three. Ta-dah!
0:32:55 > 0:32:56Oh, wow!
0:32:58 > 0:33:02Sarah challenged Ray to transform this floral sofa into a
0:33:02 > 0:33:06rustic two-seater that would look at home in a country manor.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11And Ray's only gone and done it.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22Hours of love and attention have seen this sofa stripped
0:33:22 > 0:33:26back and re-assembled using master craftsman techniques.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32The mix of rustic, raw linen with luxury leather
0:33:32 > 0:33:36and suede makes the old sofa almost unrecognisable.
0:33:36 > 0:33:41The vision I had was not something as sophisticated and loved as this.
0:33:41 > 0:33:42Oh.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45You have created, you know, the bit of the potting-shed chic that
0:33:45 > 0:33:51- I was after but with some lovely details.- Yeah, yeah.- It's lovely.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54I love the scrappy look. Thank you for giving it that.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58But it's not... The thing is, to actually achieve this
0:33:58 > 0:34:01type of look takes so much work!
0:34:01 > 0:34:04- And they're all hand-stitched, aren't they?- That's hand-stitched!
0:34:04 > 0:34:06That's like just hours and hours,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09- getting that looking really quite perfect.- But you know what they say?
0:34:09 > 0:34:11- The devil is in the details. - Yeah, exactly.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13And that's what you've put into this.
0:34:13 > 0:34:14Did it blow the budget, then?
0:34:14 > 0:34:16Because this isn't the spec that I left with.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18I was on the £20 a metre fabric,
0:34:18 > 0:34:21and I'm not looking at that for that, am I?
0:34:21 > 0:34:24You're looking at somewhere around the £950 mark for this.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26- OK.- That's £650 for my labour plus the materials.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29OK, so that's a bit more than we were hoping
0:34:29 > 0:34:30to get away with, wasn't it?
0:34:30 > 0:34:33It's a bit more than we were hoping, but to be honest with you,
0:34:33 > 0:34:36- it's infinitely more sellable, I think.- Yeah.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38It's a case of the cobbler's shoes.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40I would love to have something like this at home as well.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Great, well go to a tip near you
0:34:42 > 0:34:44- and you too may have something like this.- Yeah.
0:34:44 > 0:34:48You just need to have a keen eye like Sarah.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50It was at a tip in Altrincham that she struck lucky
0:34:50 > 0:34:52when she met Jean-Luc.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54- Oh, hello.- Hi.- Hi.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58- That's not going in there, is it? It looks brand-new.- I'm afraid, yes.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01- Really?- I tried to recycle to a charity, but it will go
0:35:01 > 0:35:03because it doesn't have the labels on.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Oh, I know, I hear that all the time.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09In reupholstering the sofa, Ray has also ensured
0:35:09 > 0:35:12it complies with all the fire regulations,
0:35:12 > 0:35:15complete with fire labels, so it's ready to sell.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19And where better to flog a high-end piece of furniture
0:35:19 > 0:35:21than at her barn sale?
0:35:22 > 0:35:24Well, it's a rustic setting, I suppose.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27And it's certainly caught Ron's eye.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29If you bought it...
0:35:29 > 0:35:31- But I love this. - It's beautiful, yeah.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34- I think I'll go for it.- Really?
0:35:34 > 0:35:36You sound surprised, Sarah.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39I didn't expect to sell it today cos I didn't think it was quite
0:35:39 > 0:35:41the right environment to sell it.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45- In here?- It's the perfect environment.- We just love it.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Another happy customer.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51But with a £300 overspend, has it made enough of a profit
0:35:51 > 0:35:54to make Jean-Luc, its original owner, happy?
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Sarah has travelled to his home in Hale to show him
0:35:59 > 0:36:01what Ray did with the old sofa.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07- Hi there.- Hi there. - How are you doing?
0:36:07 > 0:36:09I'm doing very well, thank you.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12Last time I saw you, I think you were being a very helpful
0:36:12 > 0:36:15- daddy or you were helping drop off a sofa.- That's right.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19- It wasn't yours, was it?- No, I was dropping it for my daughter.- Yes.
0:36:19 > 0:36:20In the end, it went up to London,
0:36:20 > 0:36:22to a great upholsterer called Ray Clarke.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26- Do you want to see what he did with it?- I'd love to.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29- Can't wait. - See if you recognise this.- Wow.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32That's very smart.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35That's outstanding. I love the leather on it as well,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38- it's really nice.- Yes, we were really pleased with how it looked.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42- I know you said that you couldn't give it away.- That's right.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44- But we managed to sell it.- You did?
0:36:44 > 0:36:47Yes, and I have some profit to hand over here for you.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50- So I have £100 here from the sale. - Wow, fantastic. Thank you very much.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54That's not for me, anyway. That belongs to my daughter, anyway,
0:36:54 > 0:36:58which will go to my granddaughter, hopefully. Everybody's lucky.
0:36:58 > 0:36:59Perfect. Thank you ever so much.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01Thank you very much, bye. Bye.
0:37:03 > 0:37:09Even though Ray went over budget, bringing his costs to £950,
0:37:09 > 0:37:13Ron was happy to pay £1,050 for the sofa,
0:37:13 > 0:37:17which meant a lovely £100 profit for Jean-Luc's granddaughter.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Not bad for a sofa a charity shop had to turn away.
0:37:24 > 0:37:25Over in Surrey...
0:37:27 > 0:37:30..it's time for Bex to reveal to Sarah what has
0:37:30 > 0:37:34become of the old filing cabinet and tool box.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37I was really quite pleased when I found the filing cabinet
0:37:37 > 0:37:40at the tip, but Bex and Dave were not keen on it at all.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43In fact, when I left them, they said they were going to crush it,
0:37:43 > 0:37:46and I was going to pay them for the privilege.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49Can't imagine what they've done with it.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Oh, it has been a challenge, cos obviously, a filing cabinet is
0:37:52 > 0:37:57quite... Well, it's just quite big and bulky and...
0:37:57 > 0:38:00- As blacksmiths, there's not a lot you can do...- No.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03..with that sort of material.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05I think we've managed to come up with something
0:38:05 > 0:38:08out of the two items
0:38:08 > 0:38:12that works quite well in a...in a...
0:38:12 > 0:38:14sort of wacky kind of way.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18It's one for a niche buyer, I think, this one.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20No, stop pigeonholing it.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22Don't pigeonhole it.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27So a shelving unit and a bathroom cabinet, then.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Nothing so conventional from Bex.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37She fought her phobia of filing cabinets
0:38:37 > 0:38:40and has seamlessly brought together the old tool box
0:38:40 > 0:38:44and filing cabinet to produce this contemporary lock-up.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48A drawer of the cabinet was squashed to form a shelf
0:38:48 > 0:38:52and the lid of the tool box makes an eye-catching door.
0:38:53 > 0:38:59And the quirks continue on the side with these...hinge detail things.
0:39:01 > 0:39:07THEY LAUGH
0:39:07 > 0:39:09What's so funny? I actually quite like it.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12- LAUGHS:- Everything I've ever thought about you.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Look at that! Oh, my word!
0:39:15 > 0:39:18What...? that is bonkers!
0:39:18 > 0:39:20May I open it? How does it open?
0:39:20 > 0:39:23- Open it up for me. - You just open it up like that.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27And then we flattened one of the drawers and just put it back in,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30- but a flattened drawer. - It is lovely.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33They are...they are fantastic.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36They look sort of alien, don't they?
0:39:36 > 0:39:40Yeah, well, it's basically based on circuit boards cos it's,
0:39:40 > 0:39:44you know, filing and systems and stuff.
0:39:44 > 0:39:45It is brilliant.
0:39:45 > 0:39:50It's funny, it's useful... These hinges, really cool.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56Bex and Dave took on those two tip finds and won.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00What's more, they managed to do it within the agreed budget.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02I was, I have to say, a teeny bit worried
0:40:02 > 0:40:04about the crunch, crunch, sort of
0:40:04 > 0:40:08idea that you had before, so it's actually quite a relief as well.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11SHE LAUGHS
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Well, it's not often you get a good old laugh
0:40:13 > 0:40:15out of an old filing cabinet.
0:40:15 > 0:40:16They've done a fantastic job.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18My turn now to make some money out of it.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25Paul was moving home and clearing out his garage when Sarah
0:40:25 > 0:40:29spotted the filing cabinet and tool box in the back of his van.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33I really like that. It's decorative as well as being industrial.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Paul struggled to see its potential.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39I'm not too sure, but I have seen some of her stuff before,
0:40:39 > 0:40:42and I'd be interested to see what she does with it.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44And Bex certainly took some convincing.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48But she finally unleashed its quirky charm.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54It didn't take long for Sarah to entice Nick,
0:40:54 > 0:40:58an online retailer, into buying the bespoke piece to sell
0:40:58 > 0:41:00through his shop, Smithers of Stamford.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07This is absolutely bonkers. I love it.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11Sarah's on her way to Paul's new home to tell him
0:41:11 > 0:41:15what became of his old filing cabinet and tool box.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19- Hello.- Hi, Paul. How are you?- Good.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21So you've made the move?
0:41:21 > 0:41:23Yeah, we're here. Eventually, yeah.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25And so from what I remember, you were clearing out
0:41:25 > 0:41:28- the garage in your old house, is that right?- That's right, yes.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Yeah, so I loved the look of your sweet little filing cabinet,
0:41:31 > 0:41:36- and we took away an old metal box case as well.- Yeah.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39I took them to Bex Simon, who is a fantastic blacksmith artist who
0:41:39 > 0:41:42works with her partner, Dave. And between them,
0:41:42 > 0:41:45they decided they were going to make one lovely piece of furniture.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- Would you like to see it? - Oh, yeah, I'd love to.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49OK, so brace yourself cos it doesn't look
0:41:49 > 0:41:53- quite like you might remember it. - Crikey!
0:41:53 > 0:41:58- Wow! That's...that's...striking. - Striking?
0:41:58 > 0:42:01I was wondering what you'd make of it.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03But that looks fantastic.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05And it's been sold,
0:42:05 > 0:42:07- so it's gone off to a retro vintage store.- OK.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09And I've got £40 here, which is
0:42:09 > 0:42:12- the profit made from selling your filing cabinet.- Yes, brilliant!
0:42:12 > 0:42:14- Thanks very much. - So you've just moved.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16Is there anything you think you might be using that for?
0:42:16 > 0:42:18We're looking at shrubs this weekend,
0:42:18 > 0:42:21so I think the garden's going to get a little makeover in one corner.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24Oh, fantastic. Well, if that helps to go towards that,
0:42:24 > 0:42:27then I'm really pleased. But thank you so much for letting me have it.
0:42:27 > 0:42:28It's bright and it's beautiful,
0:42:28 > 0:42:31and it's going to go on to be in the heart of somebody else's home.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33- It's lovely, really nice to catch up.- Thank you.
0:42:33 > 0:42:34- Bye-bye.- Yeah, lovely.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38Well, Bex completely squashed Paul's filing cabinet,
0:42:38 > 0:42:41but we managed to squeeze a little profit out of it too,
0:42:41 > 0:42:44and I think Paul's happy with that.
0:42:44 > 0:42:49Coming in on budget of £300 and selling for £340 means
0:42:49 > 0:42:54Bex and Dave turned Paul's old metal into a £40 profit.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Not bad, considering she hated it at the start.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02Sarah's managed to make money from all three items
0:43:02 > 0:43:04she salvaged from the dump.
0:43:04 > 0:43:09The sofa is now trendy, with at least 25 years of good use ahead.
0:43:09 > 0:43:13The filing cabinet and tool box became a new-look lock-up.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16And of course, Sarah's idea for the ladder
0:43:16 > 0:43:19flourished into spring planters.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Well, I really couldn't be happier.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25That's three amazing items, three fantastic results
0:43:25 > 0:43:27and the chance to hand over three chunks of cash
0:43:27 > 0:43:29to some very delighted people.