UpScale ReSale Design Challenge returns to benefit Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The UpScale ReSale & Design Challenge, Wilmington’s most creative interior design competition, is set to return for its ninth year, bringing together local designers to transform secondhand items into stunning home décor. The two-day fundraising event, benefiting Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity, will take place March 14-15 at Hotel Ballast.
The challenge invites 16 interior designers, stagers, and contractors to craft 10-by-10-foot vignettes using only items sourced from Cape Fear ReStores. From furniture to building materials, designers repurpose and upcycle donated goods into unique creations, all of which are available for purchase to support Habitat’s mission of providing affordable housing.
“For me, I just get inspired by a piece,” said Carly Forman, a returning designer. “I’ll walk in the store when it’s the first time to start gathering our items, and I’ll find a piece, and I’m like, ‘Oh, this is neat.’ Maybe I’ll kind of go with this. This year I’m doing a ‘Palm Royale’ theme, because that was my favorite show last year. I found a couple of pieces and thought, ‘Oh, this would be really cool—hotel lobby bar style.’”
The event kicks off Friday evening with a VIP Preview Party from 6 to 9 p.m., where guests will have the first opportunity to browse the designs, enjoy food and drinks, and vote for the coveted People’s Choice Award. Early shopping is available, though purchases cannot be taken home until Saturday.
“The VIP party is the one that you don’t want to miss,” Forman said. “There’s drinks, food, socializing, silent auction items, and all of the booths are open for purchase. You get early shopping that night. You can’t take anything with you because we like to leave the booths intact for the public sale on Saturday, but you can get some really great stuff on Friday night, because on Saturday a lot of it’s already gone.”
On Saturday, the event opens to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a $5 admission fee. DIY demonstrations will provide attendees with hands-on experiences in upcycling and restoration techniques.
“Saturday is still a great day to come,” Forman said. “They have a lot of demonstrations by Flea Body’s Antique Mall. They’ll do things like take little tile trivets you can paint and take home, and some chalk painting demos. Saturday’s a lot of fun as well, but Friday night is the fun party. That’s the one you don’t want to miss.”
The UpScale ReSale & Design Challenge aims to raise enough funds to build a home for a local family in need.
“We try really hard to raise enough to build a house,” Forman said. “I think we did meet our goal, and they did the ribbon cutting in August. Even after the event is over, the items that don’t sell at UpScale ReSale will go back to the ReStores, and they’re still selling. So we’re still raising money even months after the event’s over. But the event is where we really try to push to raise as much as we can.”
WWAY’s Matt Bennett will be emceeing the event.
More information, including ticket details, can be found here.
