Nine renovators chosen as the lucky contestants for Canberra’s online reality show, Decorate for a Difference, will get exclusive after-hours access to the IKEA Canberra store on Monday 30 July.
In just two hours they must select every piece of furniture and styling items they wish to decorate their zones of the Bonner charity house.
The challenge is a dream-come-true for many of the teams, who will get exclusive after-hours access to the store, support from the IKEA Canberra design team and the chance to win $1500 in IKEA products.
Decorate for a Difference is hoping to raise a goal of a million dollars for charity when four teams of two, and a solo stylist, go head-to-head on Saturday 18 August to give a charity house in Bonner a complete styling overhaul.
The teams’ day jobs range from yoga teachers to graphic designers to public servants, and they will be guided by Luton Properties auctioneer Jason Roses on current trends in the Canberra market, to get the best possible price for the three-bedroom charity house.
Raize the Roof co-founder Danielle Dal Cortivo said more than 40 Canberran teams and soloists applied.
“The quality of applications we received was phenomenal, and we’re so excited that the Canberra community is jumping on board and getting involved,” Ms Dal Cartivo said.
“We’re hoping Decorate for a Difference will help us reach our $1 million goal to raise money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages in Botswana.”
The competition will be broadcast on social media as a reality show, and the Canberra community will be instrumental in the final styling choices and voting for their favourite zone.
Voting is simple – every dollar donated is a vote towards your favourite zone. One lucky voter from the public will win a money-can’t-buy exclusive in-home consultation with IKEA Canberra and a $500 IKEA gift card.
If Canberrans love what they see in the house, they can bid for the furniture and styled items in each room, generously donated by IKEA Canberra with all proceeds going to the Charity House project.
Half the proceeds from the auction of the Charity House will be donated to the Starlight Children’s Foundation to support children with serious illness and their families living in the Canberra region. The other half will go towards supporting SOS Children’s Villages to develop self-sustainable projects, which support orphaned children in Botswana.
Meet the Teams
Shelley and Mia – The Wallpaper Flowers from Coombs and Dickson
Best friends Shelley and Mia met at Art School almost 20 years ago (they are both goldsmiths) and both have a strong background in arts and design. Mia has worked at the Canberra Glassworks and now works for Arts ACT. For the past 15 years Shelley has had a private contemporary jewellery practice based at Gorman House. It may come from the 20+ years of working in a design field, or it may be that they are just born with it, but Shelley and Mia believe that designing interiors is their very special super power. They have also spent copious amounts of time at IKEA – quality time, and assure us that they will stop at nothing to make their zone the most beautiful, cosy, appealing space you could ever want in a home.
Rose Polglase – The Lone Stylist from Gowrie
Rose grew up appreciating beautiful aesthetics, trending design and adoring style. From a young age she has been obsessed with styling across beauty, fashion and interiors. She likes to create spaces that feel like home and help improve the livelihood of others. Creativity has always been Rose’s lifeblood and she is ready to take a step out into the unknown, put herself out there as the only solo challenger and embrace the uncertainty with this exciting challenge.
Kait and Andy – Team Kandy from Queanbeyan and Crace
Best friends Kait and Andy met at Design School – Kait works in design and Andy is a town planner (who also loves yoga!). They are used to creating designs based on a brief and like to push the boundaries. They are a fun and passionate duo whose own style is a contradiction – they like minimalist, clean styles but are drawn to boho spiritual influences.
Maria and Nicole – Sisters from the Southside from Chifley
Maria is the founder and interior designer of Studio Black Interiors, a residential interior design practice, while her sister Nicole is her glorified style sidekick and trainee. Canberra born and bred, Maria and Nicole are obsessed with interiors – building and styling is in their genes. With a keen eye for detail, and using an intuitive approach to styling and design, they look forward to creating a space that’s not only gorgeous, but functional and practical.
Pip and Ron – decor-daters from Holder
When they’re not chasing around their 16 month old son, partners Pip and Ron are really into upcycling and repurposing furniture. They can spend hours at The Green Shed fossicking to find a gem! They also consider themselves to be ‘Gumtree gurus’ hunting down bargain buys. They save to buy statement pieces and team them with treasures they find along the way to create an eclectic yet balanced room. They love Scandinavian furniture, are fans of industrial warehouses, appreciate raw materials and natural light.
Follow #decorateforadifference on Instagram and Facebook (and @raizetheroof) to stay up-to-date and to donate.
