Designers Create Lavish Living Spaces from Recycled Items - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Franque Thompson

OMAHA (KPTM)- Habitat for Humanity teamed up with Westroads Mall to host the first ReStore Designer Challenge.  The event features the creativity of some of Omaha's best interior designers - using only recycled items.  Some of the city's top designers stepped up to the challenge to give the public any eyeful of ideas.

"We got together with five different interior design firms as well as some student's from metropolitan community college from their interior design program.  And we just let them go wild within the restore using all materials from the restore and to come up with five different vignettes," said David Klitz, director of ReStore.

"It was exciting because I have never really done anything design wise with restoring items. And so it took me out of my comfort zone but it was a wonderful experience," said designer, Patti Adams.

Some of the re-purposed items included florescent light bulbs, broken mirrors, empty stereo boxes and even air vents from ceilings.  Designers found a new purpose for these items, but it didn't come easy.

"Thinking outside the normal design box of you know, you go somewhere and you shop for something until you see it.  And this was trying to think and create something out of something that wasn't what it was and created something new.  I mean that was the challenge," said Adams.

Not only does this opportunity showcase creativity but it's also a fundraiser for the public to have a part in.  Visitors have the option to choose their favorite design and vote on them by sending a text message to the mall's mobile system.  With each text, Westroads will donate a dollar to the Habitat for Humanity to help build new homes around the city.

"Pretty much everybody now-a-days has texting on their cell phones. So, really, you could make a donation to Habitat for sending a single text, so it's just that easy, coming out and texting to vote," said Westroads marketing coordinator, Kasi Haberman.

"What habitat is doing for the community is awesome.  And to have a little part in that makes you feel good," said Adams.

Voting ends this weekend.  You can find all of the displays in the Von Maur Court.