In a warehouse on North Perry Street in Pontiac, creativity is colliding with compassion — one repurposed nightstand at a time.

This is the setting for the Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit’s inaugural “Furniture Flip Challenge,” an imaginative competition with a heart. The contest invites DIYers, woodworkers and artists to reimagine discarded household furniture into stunning, functional works of art. But beyond the color and craftsmanship, every flipped piece represents something deeper — dignity. Funds raised will go directly to providing essential furniture and mattresses to needy families.

The contest, which runs through July 31, culminates in the “Furniture Flip Bash” on Sept. 4 at The Village Club in Bloomfield Hills. The fundraiser will auction off the finished pieces and award $10,000 in prizes, including a $5,000 Best in Show award selected by internationally renowned designer and HGTV star Hilary Farr.

“I think it is wonderful on every level,” Farr said. “I think it’s an incredibly important part of their mission, and any mission, to bring dignity to help the less fortunate and those in need. Dignity is everything. What I love about this particular organization is that it also brings joy, literally and physically, into the homes of the people they serve, along with satisfying a need.”

That need is real and urgent.

The Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit, the oldest furniture bank in North America, has been quietly yet powerfully serving families since the 1960s. The nonprofit has provided essential furniture and mattresses to more than 80,000 families across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, most of whom are transitioning from homelessness, escaping domestic violence or recovering from house fires and floods.

“We are a grassroots charity,” said Diane Charles, president and CEO of the Furniture Bank. “The money raised through this challenge will help us deliver furniture and mattresses to those who need it most, especially children who are currently sleeping on sofas or the floor. Metro Detroit has a bed poverty issue that no one talks about. There are 20,000 children under the age of 18 in our region without their own bed.”

The Flip Challenge is not just about recycling materials; it’s about restoring hope.

Charles credits her husband, Jim, as the original inspiration behind the idea.

“For years, he has always found different uses for things,” she said. “He once turned old MSU mailboxes into a flower box and cement from our old driveway into a 2,500-gallon pond. When I saw a beautiful armoire headed for the landfill, I thought, ‘What could this become?’ And the idea for the Furniture Flip Challenge was born.”

At the core of the contest is a vibrant call to action: stop by the Furniture Bank’s Pontiac warehouse, choose up to three old furniture pieces, pay a modest entry fee, and turn them into showstopping secondhand treasures. Artists have free rein to sand, paint, upholster or deconstruct as long as the final product is safe, functional and creative.

That balance of beauty and utility is essential to Farr, who will serve as a judge at the bash.

“Function comes first,” she emphasized. “Whatever piece is repurposed must fulfill a genuine need, and it must be safe. The creator can absolutely let their creative juices flow, but the ego shouldn’t get in the way of the purpose. The function should never be sacrificed for flair.”

Color and design also matter to Farr, who hopes to see vibrant, uplifting pieces emerge from the competition.

“Color is everything. I want to see pieces that are inspiring, especially in homes that are healing. And I love that this is not only keeping items out of landfills, but also honoring the original craftsmanship of decades past. If you’re taking a piece made in the 1970s and giving it a useful new life into the next decades, that’s magic.”

That magic has already sparked a wave of interest from creatives around the region and beyond. Each item in the Flip Challenge has its own story, waiting to be rewritten by someone with a vision and a toolkit. In fact, the entire process is attracting new supporters and spotlighting an often-overlooked issue — furniture insecurity.

“In my first year on the job, I learned that the Furniture Bank is not a household name,” Charles said. “But thanks to Hilary’s social media posts and the momentum from this event, we’re reaching a broader audience. More people are realizing that furniture is about more than comfort; it’s about creating a safe, nurturing environment to rebuild a life.”

Research supports that sentiment. Charles points out that teens who eat dinner regularly with their families — around a shared table — are statistically more likely to succeed academically and emotionally.

“A roof is just the beginning,” she said. “A bed, a table, a chair … these are the basics that make healing possible.”

Beyond the $5,000 grand prize, the event will recognize creativity across multiple categories: Most Artistic, Most Functional, Most Creative, Most Transformed and People’s Choice, each awarding $1,000. The transformed furniture pieces will be auctioned live during the bash to raise additional funds for the Furniture Bank’s operations, including fuel and maintenance for their delivery trucks and the purchase of brand-new mattresses.

For those unable to flip furniture themselves, there are still plenty of ways to get involved. Attending the bash, bidding on pieces, becoming a Furniture Bank ambassador by spreading the word on social media, or donating gently used furniture are all impactful ways to support the cause.

“This is about community,” Farr said. “There’s so much isolation and divisiveness right now, but events like this bring people together. It’s not brain surgery. But we’re brightening people’s lives.”

And for Charles, that brightness is something she hopes to carry forward.

“We absolutely see this becoming our signature annual event,” she said. “It’s a great way to involve the community, have fun, help the environment, and do good all at the same time.”

In a world of disposable everything, the Furniture Flip Challenge is flipping the narrative. Here, a chipped chair becomes a cherished accent piece. A scratched dresser becomes a statement of style. And most importantly, forgotten furniture becomes the foundation for families starting over.

For more information, contest rules or to sign up, visit furniture-bank.org.

As Farr puts it: “Try it. It’s worth it. It’s for our planet. And for someone out there, it might just change everything.”