For a fourth consecutive year, woodcare brand Feast Watson is launching the Re-Love Project; a collaborative campaign featuring the talents of seven Australian  designers as they upcycle for a good cause.
Pioneering their own personal hunt for second-hand goods, the designers are  prepping and planning, ready to transform seven 'pre-loved' timber furniture items into beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces. In   August, design fans will have the chance to bid for the creations via eBay, with all proceeds donated to the Salvos.
During the upcycling process, designers will be documenting their Re-Love journey on Instagram. Followers will have the chance to witness the project transformations from start to finish, and interact with the designers via their social channels.
Below, the designers chat to Domain about the pieces they have chosen for the project and the tips they would give other keen DIYers who are also interested in giving something old a new lease of life. 
1. Kip & Co - Kate Heppell ???


 "I have always loved finding old unique pieces at local trash and treasures, markets (particularly the Mill Market in Geelong) and op shops. As the names suggest, they are hubs for old treasures with a great opportunity to make someone else's old junk into something modern, fun and in a style that suits my home. Sometimes they just need a clean, and other times I'll paint or sand or deconstruct for re-purposing. Often I just love them the way they are and the re-love process is simple. Old treasures have so much character and beautiful history so most often I try to stay true to this and so it might just mean a quick spray or oil. Probably my favourite bit about the process is the initial searching to find gems.
"I have chosen an old school desk. I purchased it at the Mill Market and it is in awesome condition and a really cool model of this style of furniture. It was $225 but the girl sold it to me for $200 which I thought was a sign given Feast Watson gave us $200 to start with. I wouldn't usually pay this much for the starting piece but it really is a great find and I knew this would be a piece that I personally would love to buy so I thought that was a good start.
"My tip with most things in life, and this is no exception is - HAVE FUN! For me this will mean colour, and lots of it. If I want a little kid to be inspired to use this desk for things like homework I need to first make it fun and inviting so that the child actually wants to be there."
Keep up with this project here.
2. The Design Hunter - Melissa Bonney and Margo Reed
"Both Margo and I are collectors by nature - both of our homes are filled with roadside finds, or vintage pieces picked up at the local thrift shop. There's something special about having pieces in your home that have had another life - a story to tell, a history. Both of us love to take the old piece and work with it to create something new - a bedside table out of an old chair or a coffee table from some old timber. The process really starts with the piece - finding that something special, that piece of treasure that you know you need to take home with you. After that, it's really about letting your imagination and creativity run wild to create something new out of something old. The 'finding' of the treasure is definitely the most exciting part - it's the beginning of something new.
"This year we've picked a really sturdy old set of drawers, a little sad and dull looking but good bones. We actually were lucky enough to have the piece given to us by a friend who was throwing it away. Never ones to look a gift horse in the mouth we jumped at the chance to take it home and use it for the Re-Love project. The drawers are a little boring and painted in a flat white gloss paint, but we could see that with a little sanding, some beautiful stains and timber finishes as well as a few little bells and whistles it could become something wonderful.
"Always be on the lookout! Whether you're driving in the car and there's a council clean up or just wandering past your favourite Salvos store - keep your eyes open for hidden treasures. Look for pieces that are sturdy or can be easily fixed - there's nothing worse than starting a project only to find you need a professional to fix it."
Keep up with this project here.
3. Norsu Interiors - Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier



 "There's something really special about bringing a tired old piece of furniture back to life. Most pieces on the market these days aren't made the way the used to be, so it's a real treat to inject a modern take on a something classic that has been lovingly hand crafted from high-quality materials.
"We find investing time in preparation is by far the most important step in the process. It's critical to begin by bringing the piece back to it's original form with lots of elbow grease (and sandpaper!). From there, the fun starts by allowing our creativity to take over and experiment with different finishes, hardware and accessories. Beyond the obvious end result, we find the whole process quite therapeutic and relaxing. You can't rush these projects, so they're a great opportunity to take some time out while channelling creative energy.
"We selected a gorgeous old timber fireplace mantel which was purchased at the Salvos in Abbotsford for $145. This piece stole both our hearts the moment we laid eyes on it because of it's uniqueness, beauty and potential to upcycle it with a Scandi twist."The best part of a re-love project is that there's no right or wrong way to tackle it. Be sure to have some fun with the process, and don't be afraid to experiment with colours and finishes that you may ordinarily shy away from. If it doesn't turn out the way you envisaged, don't stress - you can always re-love it another way!"
Keep up with this project here.
4. Mark Tuckey
"I love to use pre-loved materials for a few reasons. Originally, it was all about the environmentally friendly nature of it, a big passion. It's also the love and challenge of turning someone's junk into a thing of beauty. There's nothing like standing back and seeing something that was destined for the tip after its renovated and looking desirable. Also, ironically, sometimes really great things get discarded that have more structural integrity than things made these days, so they have great bones and respond well to some TLC.
"The process: find a well-made item that was made of quality material, make it structurally sound, remove old finish, fill holes and do any other work needed to prepare for new finish. Then it's time to apply the new finish coat, whatever that is, at that point the piece really starts to sing! No doubt the most exciting part of the process is when that new finish goes on and what was assumed to be junk becomes beautiful, that's the big reward, the most enjoyment.
"We have chosen two tables for less than $200. They came from the Salvos in Abbotsford. The tables lend themselves to doing up based on my parameters and we figure this will be a good money-making prospect for the project.
"I suggest once you choose a good quality item, sit down and think, make a list of what is needed on site for each stage of the project. Then get all those tools and materials onsite before each stage is started."
Keep up with this project here.
5. Archer Interiors - Aimee Tarulli
"When designing a space for a client there are always a few existing items of furniture they love or that they have a sentimental attachment to, so I try to create spaces that mix the new with the old. Pre-loved pieces and materials tell a real story and provide a really interesting design aesthetic.
"I purchased an old timber bassinet from eBay for $40. It has a beautiful shape and the foundation of solid timber.
"I called the lovely people at Feast Watson before I started and told them about my plans for this bassinet and they gave me such great advice on how to prepare it in order to get the best end results. Choose a piece that looks and feels really solid and you'll have all the building blocks for creating a really special piece."
Keep up with this project here.
6. Styled Life Home - Simone Barter
"I believe that re-creating pieces of furniture for your home adds a personal and unique touch, this is why I love creating and re-loving furniture. I am always looking through old ware stores and seeing how to creatively change the piece. It is all about what catches my eye and the thrill of finding something amazing.
"I love my three-piece patio setting, it reminds me of my grandmother and how she would sit and drink cups of tea in her sun room. The setting was at a lovely antique store. It was not for sale but I was able to talk the owner into selling it for $100. The timber is so beautifully worn it has so much character.
"[My advice would be to] choose a piece of furniture that you fall in love with as it will not matter how much work needs to be done on the piece. Always pick the best quality products to use on your own project so all your hard work will look at its best for many more years to come."
Keep up with this project here.
7. The Painted Hive - Kristine Franklin
"For me there's just something so satisfying about taking what was an undesirable item and transforming it into a piece to be coveted; an object of beauty. My personal love affair with up-cyling and re-loving furniture started not long after buying my first house. Although a necessary frugality struck the initial spark, a sense of boundless creative abandon fanned the growing flames - I was hooked! 
"This year I have selected a mid-century style sideboard. It was being cleared from a Salvos store for just $5. It was acquired as part of an entire estate lot, however was in such bad condition they were having trouble on-selling it. Apparently they were about to dispose of it when a friend saw it and forwarded me a photo (yes, I am that person who picks up the crap no-one else wants!). Although I took a risk buying it 'sight unseen', I knew it had great lines and proportions and the potential to be amazing.
"[Try] not to get disheartened when things don't work out. I've stuffed up plenty of things on my first (and even second or third!) attempt only to get it right in the end and feel an incredible sense of pride and accomplishment. You know what they say, 'if you're not making mistakes, you're not trying hard enough'."
Keep up with this project here.