Showhome with a difference

A three-bedroom showhome has been given a sustainable new look, with preloved items from our charity shops.  

A ‘rent to buy’ property in Bishop Auckland, County Durham has been given a stylish makeover with a twist. Every item has been carefully selected by interior design company, Stanza Style and purchased secondhand from our stores.
  
Leading the design project was Alex Egan, Founder of Stanza Style, who provided a full interior design for housing provider, Riverside. Alex’s vision was to create a sustainably chic home, to show buyers the amazing looks that can be achieved with preloved furniture – and on a budget.  

From tasteful furnishings and accessories to upcycled pieces, every item showcases the quality, affordable furniture and homewares that can be found in our charity shops, which also helps prevent these items from going to waste.  

Items included a mid-century cabinet for £40, two large sofas for £75 each, a coffee table for £25, a wardrobe for £30, bedside tables for £5 and lighting from £3.  Alex also transformed some preloved pieces with simple upcycling tricks and a touch of paint to give them a fresh look. The total cost of the makeover came in at just over £4,000.  

Commenting on the interior styling of the showhome, Alex said: “We wanted to prove that great design doesn’t have to cost the earth and showcase how preloved items can easily be transformed into something unique.
 
“The British Heart Foundation shops provided the perfect solution for finding items to achieve the look we were after for this showhome. We had fun hunting out the pieces and thinking about how we could upcycle them to suit the home.  

“Going forward we are pledging to put at least one preloved, upcycled item into each showhome we produce.” 

Allison Swaine-Hughes, our Retail Director, said “We were delighted to hear about Alex’s project and see the impressive results. This is proof that a beautifully furnished home doesn’t have to cost the earth. You can find amazing value and unique preloved pieces in our stores and online outlets, whilst preventing these items from going to waste.”

We have 190 home stores across the UK and our eBay shop stocks a wealth of home furnishings, from contemporary finds to vintage treasures and one-of-a-kind pieces. Every item sold goes towards raising vital funds for life saving research.

By joining the Reuse Revolution now, you can help us save more items from going to waste and help save lives.  Share your preloved purchases or upcycled items with us on Instagram by tagging @BoughtAtBHF and using #BoughtAtBHF.