Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit launches first-ever ‘Furniture Flip Challenge’

Fundraiser aims to benefit families in need

PONTIAC, Mich. – It’s a creative challenge with a big impact -- and it might just help clear some clutter in your home, too.

The Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit is launching its first-ever “Furniture Flip Challenge,” a summer-long project inviting people to transform old furniture into fresh, re-imagined masterpieces.

This initiative is not only a fun creative outlet but also serves a good cause that could help hundreds of local families while giving new life to items that might otherwise end up in landfills.

A new perspective on old furniture

In a dim warehouse in Pontiac, what some might see as junk, others see as possibility. Madisyn Hosking is one of the first participants to sign up for the Furniture Flip Challenge. She’s not a professional, but someone who wanted to do something fun and meaningful.

“I’ve always kind of done crafty things on my own and found loopholes on how to make something happen,” Hosking said.

The challenge is simple. For a $30 entrance fee, participants can choose up to three donated furniture pieces. They can take them home and let their creativity run wild -- painting, rebuilding, or transforming them however they wish.

“You have all summer to work on it, and we’ll have a huge celebration and auction in September featuring Hilary Farr from HGTV,” said Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit CEO Diane Charles.

The flipped pieces will be displayed at a fundraising event in Bloomfield Hills, where guests can bid on them. Prizes will be awarded in categories like “Most Transformed” and “Most Artistic,” with a grand prize of $5,000 for “Best in Show,” chosen by HGTV star Hilary Farr herself.

What was once worn, wobbly or outdated now looks sunning -- from hutches turned into coffee bars to drawers transformed into planters and pet beds.

“I get inspired just looking at what people come up with,” Charles said. “There’s so much talent in our community.”

It’s more than just about design, it’s about dignity. All the money raised will go toward helping local families in need, many of whom have children without a bed to sleep in.

“Right now, there are more than 20,000 kids in Metro Detroit sleeping on the floor or on a couch,” Charles said. “We want every child to have their own bed.”

And even if you’re not crafty, you can still help out.

“It’s so easy to participate because if you have a piece of furniture sitting around your home -- guess what? It’s clutter. Call us, and we’ll pick it up for free and help a family in return,” Charles said.

Whether you enter the challenge, donate, or simply spread the word, this is your chance to flip something old into something life-changing.

As Madisyn loads up her piece of furniture to start her flip, she knows she’s not just creating something beautiful -- she’s helping to give another family a fresh start.

The last day to enter the challenge is the end of July, and all finished pieces must be returned by the end of August. The auction and awards bash featuring HGTV star Hilary Farr will take place this September.

The Furniture Bank is always accepting furniture donations, so there are many ways to contribute. More information can be found on the official Furniture Flip Challenge website.