Designing furniture may not be the first thing that comes to mind as a creative activity. This month, thanks to the Upper Yadkin Valley Habitat for Humanity's “ART for HOMES” program, Elkin residents can put their artistic skills to practical use and design, build and decorate any piece of Habitat furniture they choose.

ART for HOMES, now in its third year at the Elkin-based Habitat Home Shoppe, encourages anyone with or without previous decorating experience to artistically redesign or reconstruct any piece of Habitat furniture. The program not only allows people to flex their creative muscles, but also to become more involved in Habitat for Humanity.

“We sponsor ART for HOMES so we can get more people interested in Habitat and raise money,” said Habitat Home Shoppe Manager Lynne Childers. The store is located at 102 E. Market St., Elkin.

Participants in the program help Habitat for Humanity raise funds by purchasing pieces of furniture to decorate. According to ART for HOMES's guidelines, the piece cannot exceed $50 in value. After the Habitat Home Shoppe's staff approves the piece, the person is free to remake the furniture in anyway he or she sees fit.

“They can totally destroy the object and recreate it,” said Childers.

Childers said that the more imaginative the furniture's transformation, the better. According to Childers, one of last year's most popular and successful pieces was designed by former Elkin resident Stephanie Gibbs.

Gibbs converted an old luggage trunk, purchased at Habitat Home Shoppe for $5, into a wine cabinet. Gibbs's wine cabinet featured a display for wine bottles, tasting glasses and a tasting guide, all of which were donated by local businesses. The majority of expenses Gibbs paid to convert the luggage trunk into a wine cabinet was $3.50 to purchase contact cement used to attach padding to the display case shelves.

Gibbs's wine cabinet was later placed beside other entries in a silent auction. According to Childers the annual ART of HOMES silent auction is an event in itself. As in past years, this year's celebration will feature musical entertainment and hors d'oeurvres while the auction takes place. All proceeds raised from the auctioned ART for HOMES furniture will benefit Habitat for Humanity.

“We'd like everyone in town to participate, help us make money and get together for the party,” said Childers.

The deadline for finished ART for HOMES pieces to be returned to the Habitat Home Shoppe is Aug. 30. All submissions should include a “before picture” of the item and the artist's name.

The pieces will be displayed and available for sale at the ART for HOMES celebration at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 10.

For more information about ART for HOMES, call the Habitat Home Shoppe at 526-4663 or 526-2277.