Shoppers who visit the Chic Chateau sale this weekend will find home furnishings that look like they came from the showrooms of high-end furniture stores: arm chairs covered in dark chocolate mohair, pillows filled with down and feathers, a bold turquoise vanity.

Credit the skill and creativity of the interior designers and volunteers who painted, sewed and glued items salvaged from local thrift, consignment and antique shops. Sponsors of the sale plan to raise funds for four nonprofit groups that serve low-income families, while demonstrating that consumers can spruce up their homes without spending a lot of money.

“I think our turnout is going to be great,” said Lisa Medder, an interior designer with SSI Design Group, a Greensboro cooperative. “We’ve donated a lot of time putting this together and everybody’s goal is to make money for the charities.”

Rooms will feature a lamp made from a $2 Jenga puzzle, a repainted science lab desk, a kitchen table made from an old door and metal scaffolding, and chairs covered with slipcovers sewn from a painter’s drop cloth.

“One of the reasons this was such a good idea is that we wanted to let people know about all the good pieces out there that are not new,” said Lynn Tester, one of the decorators. “In a way this is more creative because you have to work with what you find.”

Michele van Gobes, an account executive with Clear Channel Radio, decided to plan the fundraiser after hearing about a similar event in Hendersonville.

She recruited Allen Tate Realtors, Lowes Foods and other businesses to organize the event.

D. Stone Builders offered the use of a model four-bedroom house in the new Southern Gates development off New Garden Road.

Click here for map.

Proceeds from admissions and sales will be distributed among Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro, Housing Greensboro, the Barnabas Network and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, which serves Guilford County. Chic Chateau also will accept canned goods.

Beth Bealle said the donations will help Second Harvest reach its goal of collecting 13 million pounds of food over the next year, a 50 percent increase from last year.

“Every little bit counts, particularly when we’re in such tough economic times,” Bealle said. “That’s why we’re so pleased to be a part of this event in Guilford.”

[Thanks: http://www.news-record.com]