Inside The Repair Shop star Jay Blades’ new restored shop as photos show incredible transformations 

Stunning photographs reveal how tired-looking furniture has been restored into immaculate and trendy upcycled pieces by The Repair Shop star Jay Blades and co-owner Steve Wyatt.

The BBC star and his business partner, furniture craftsman Mr Wyatt, opened their highly anticipated Jay & Co store in Poole, Dorset, earlier this week with more than 100 people waiting in line to attend the grand unveiling.

One piece for sale for £1,895 is a formerly stained and scuffed wooden sideboard, which had seen better days until it was restored into pristine condition.

Once rusted and shabby looking barstools have been transformed into an ultra-stylish furnishing with a pop of colour on a stylish black frame, now on sale for £350 each.

Meanwhile, dated armchairs with fraying old-fashioned fabrics have been revitalised and brought up to date using stylish reupholstery techniques, costing up to £1,500.

Before and after: This stained and scuffed sideboard is one of the pieces that has been lovingly restored by Steve Wyatt, co-founder of Jay & Co

The once scruffy looking sideboard was upcycled by furniture restoration expert Steve Wyatt and is on sale for £1,895

The once scruffy looking sideboard was upcycled by furniture restoration expert Steve Wyatt and is on sale for £1,895 

Jay Blades (left0) and Steve Wyatt (right) opened Jay & Co selling restored furniture in Poole, Dorset, on Tuesday

Jay Blades (left0) and Steve Wyatt (right) opened Jay & Co selling restored furniture in Poole, Dorset, on Tuesday

The shop, which revamps old, stained and scruffy furniture using recycled, reclaimed and reused materials has 50 chairs, sofas, lamps and other furniture and accessories on sale.

Cushions made from offcuts of their favourite fabrics cost between £60 to £90, while The Repair Shop fans can get their hands on a signed Jay Blades signature leather apron for up to £260.

Aiming to ‘save the world’ through craft, the pair use retro prints and bold patterns to restore the furniture to their former glory. 

This once rusted and shabby looking barstool has been transformed with a pop of colour and a new painted frame, now on sale for £350 each

This once rusted and shabby looking barstool has been transformed with a pop of colour and a new painted frame, now on sale for £350 each

This once rusted and shabby looking barstool has been transformed with a pop of colour and a new painted frame, now on sale for £350 each 

A pop of fuschia and new frame for this once rusting bar stool has transformed it into an ultra stylish piece (£350)

A pop of fuschia and new frame for this once rusting bar stool has transformed it into an ultra stylish piece (£350)

Scores of excited customers looking to purchase a design masterpiece attended the shop’s grand opening in Poole, Dorset, on Tuesday.

Mr Blades, who previously ran a online business selling restored furnishings is hoping his business will help revive Britain’s struggling high street.

The 53-year-old, who has fronted The Repair Shop on the BBC since 2017, said he wanted to show ‘the high street is not dead’ and hopes other businesses will follow his lead. 

Speaking at the opening, Mr Blades told The Times: ‘Restoring furniture is like restoring yourself.

‘If you see a broken, knackered chair and you’re able to fix it, put stuff into it, paint it, glue it, screw another leg on it, put some fabric on it, give it that unique twist.

‘Nobody should be put on the scrap heap. We all have a use. You just need certain things put into you in order to shine.’

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Before and after: This armchair has been revitalised and brought up to date with stylish reupholstery
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Before and after: This armchair has been revitalised and brought up to date with stylish reupholstery

Before and after: This armchair has been revitalised and brought up to date with stylish reupholstery

Restoration expert Mr Blades set up the business with Mr Wyatt, who was trained in upcycling furniture via Jay’s charity Out Of The Dark, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Mr Blades, who starred on the hit BBC show The Repair Shop, continued: ‘The amount of people who have come is surreal and overwhelming. It’s crazy.

‘It’s unbelievable the impact The Repair Shop has had on people. I’ve opened a shop because I wanted to show that the high street is not dead, it can still thrive.’

Before and after: This once fraying and grubby chair with a dated floral design has been transformed using ultra-stylish and colourful fabrics. Now sold.

A dated looking chair has been reinvorgated by Jay & Co with an Art Deco design, using wool and printed fabric

A dated looking chair has been reinvorgated by Jay & Co with an Art Deco design, using wool and printed fabric

These classic Art Deco armchairs (£900) use Camira wool and Timorous Beasties printed fabric

These classic Art Deco armchairs (£900) use Camira wool and Timorous Beasties printed fabric

The shop represents the latest triumph for Mr Blades, having welcomed King Charles to his workshop and received an MBE last year, in what is something of a modern rags-to-riches tale.

The furniture maker endured a troubled early life on a council estate in Hackney, east London, where he grew up in poverty after his father abandoned his much-loved mother Barbara.

He left school without qualifications, found himself wrapped up in gang culture and, by his twenties, ended up homeless and suffering a mental breakdown. 

The father-of-three, who’s now engaged to fitness trainer Lisa-Marie Zbozen, said he could fit all his belongings in one carrier bag when he lived in a hostel before he was given social housing on the Victorian Peabody estate. 

Dyslexic and unable to read, it wasn’t until the star reached 51 that he began to tackle the illiteracy problem that had haunted him all of his adult life – after he’d found fame on the show that tapped into the nation’s obsession with heritage crafting.

A set of four of these nBeautiful G Plan wooden dining chairs finished with a bright yellow cushioned seat cost £800

A set of four of these nBeautiful G Plan wooden dining chairs finished with a bright yellow cushioned seat cost £800

This ultra-modern and stylish G Plan Astro Table on sale at the newly opened Jay & Co store in Poole, Dorset, is £595

This ultra-modern and stylish G Plan Astro Table on sale at the newly opened Jay & Co store in Poole, Dorset, is £595

A lovingly restored dressing table and mirror on sale at Jay & Co for £1,195

A lovingly restored dressing table and mirror on sale at Jay & Co for £1,195

He set up the business with Steve Wyatt, whose background also includes homelessness as well as a 22-year drug addiction and a spell behind bars.

Mr Blades said: ‘There is no reason why other people can’t do what Steve and I have done here. But it’s special to do this with Steve because I’ve known him a really long time.’

Mr Wyatt, 45, said: ‘I started restoring things and Jay said to me, ‘What can you do differently?’ and here it is. Our shop.’ 

Jay, who has been homeless himself, added: ‘There is no reason why other people can’t do what Steve and I have done here. 

The Repair Shop fans can get their hands on a signed Jay Blades signature leather apron

The Repair Shop fans can get their hands on a signed Jay Blades signature leather apron

This retro Mathmos lava lamp is on sale at Jay & Co for £95

While the Bright Beasties chair has already been sold, after scores of customers attended the shop's grand unveiling yesterday, the vibrant footstool costs £250

While the Bright Beasties chair has already been sold, after scores of customers attended the shop’s grand unveiling yesterday, the vibrant footstool costs £250

‘But it’s special to do this with Steve because I’ve known him a really long time.’ 

Sue Dickson, 59, a foster carer who queued to meet the TV star, said: ‘I think he’s brilliant and it is great for the area that he has brought his shop to Poole.’ 

As business continues today, several vintage chairs have sold and there have been numerous enquiries on sofas and other stylish furniture. 

Co-owner Mr Wyatt revealed they were targeting customers who own second homes in the affluent area and need to furnish their properties.

He said: ‘Jay and I were sat next to each other on Monday and I said wow, this is the proudest day of my life.

Jay Blades Black base swivel chair costs £1,500

Jay Blades Black base swivel chair costs £1,500

This Kohinoor Howard Keith swivel armchair dates back to the 1970s but was upholstered using Camira black wool with orange velvet piping. Costs £1,750

This Kohinoor Howard Keith swivel armchair dates back to the 1970s but was upholstered using Camira black wool with orange velvet piping. Costs £1,750

This beautifully restored Archie Shone Heals dressing table is on sale for £1,195

This beautifully restored Archie Shone Heals dressing table is on sale for £1,195

This beautifully restored Archie Shone Heals dressing table is on sale for £1,195

‘There’s been lots of interest and we’ve sold three or four pieces, but as word gets out and people tell their friends about us business should pick up.

‘We want to target people from London who have second homes down here and need furniture for their homes.’

Customers said they had popped into the store as they are fans of The Repair Shop.

Jay Blades opened his first real store yesterday in a bid to help revive Britain's struggling high streets

Jay Blades opened his first real store yesterday in a bid to help revive Britain’s struggling high streets

By Dutch designer Gerald Van de Berg, this statement swivel chair has been reupholstered using tangerine orange leather. Costs £1,000

By Dutch designer Gerald Van de Berg, this statement swivel chair has been reupholstered using tangerine orange leather. Costs £1,000

Cushions made from offcuts of their favourite fabrics cost between £60 to £90

Cushions made from offcuts of their favourite fabrics cost between £60 to £90 

Kathleen Sheret, 62, a nurse, said: ‘I love the Repair Shop and I’m gutted I missed the shop opening. I think the stuff in here is adorable and the chairs are stunning.’

John Fitzpatrick, 57, a company director from Sheffield, said he wanted to see the ‘unique’ furniture on display.

Felicity Hodkinson, 52, a leadership coach from London who is renovating a property in upmarket Evening Hill, Poole, said she was on the lookout for statement pieces.

She said: ‘I’m doing a major flat renovation and looking at furniture to put in it.

‘There are some beautiful restored pieces.’

Pictured: Furniture craftsman Steve Wyatt, who opened up Jay & Co with The Repair Shop star Jay Blade

Pictured: Furniture craftsman Steve Wyatt, who opened up Jay & Co with The Repair Shop star Jay Blade

More than 100 people waited in line outside the Jay & Co store for its much-anticipated opening on Tuesday

More than 100 people waited in line outside the Jay & Co store for its much-anticipated opening on Tuesday

Mr Blades has filmed almost 300 episodes of The Repair Shop, which sees him and his team of craftspeople restore anything that members of the public bring to them. 

Last year, as part of the BBC’s centenary celebrations, customers included King Charles, who brought in an 18th century bracket clock and a ceramic antique made for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. 

Filming takes place in a barn at Weald & Downland Living Museum in West Sussex, but the public are not allowed in while the cameras roll. 

Jay Blades’ rags-to-riches story: From east London council estate to star of TV’s The Repair Shop 

The furniture maker endured a troubled early life on a council estate in Hackney, where he grew up in poverty after his father abandoned his much-loved mother Barbara.

He left school without qualifications, found himself wrapped up in gang culture and, by his twenties, ended up homeless and suffering a mental breakdown. 

The father-of-three, who’s now engaged to fitness trainer Lisa-Marie Zbozen, said he could fit all his belongings in one carrier bag when he lived in a hostel before he was given social housing on the Victorian Peabody estate. 

Dyslexic and unable to read, it wasn’t until the star reached 51 that he began to tackle the illiteracy problem that had haunted him all of his adult life – after he’d found fame on the show that tapped into the nation’s obsession with heritage crafting.

Speaking about when he was homeless, Mr Blades said: ‘At 21 I was all over the place, I had no direction, I left London because I was getting into loads of fights and there were people after me.

Furniture maker Blades, 52, has seen his career flourish in recent years after he took on the main presenting role on the hugely successful BBC craft show; marking a stark contrast to a tough childhood growing up in North London with his mother Barbara (pictured)

Furniture maker Blades, 52, has seen his career flourish in recent years after he took on the main presenting role on the hugely successful BBC craft show; marking a stark contrast to a tough childhood growing up in North London with his mother Barbara (pictured)

MBE: Jay was given the honour for services to craft and in recognition of his work promoting heritage craft and restoration in the UK

MBE: Jay was given the honour for services to craft and in recognition of his work promoting heritage craft and restoration in the UK

‘My mum moved to Luton and I lived up there with her for a bit.

‘I had my first child, and then split up with the missus, and moved back to London, then I ended up homeless and went into a hostel.’

‘I had a supermarket carrier bag with all of my stuff in there and it wasn’t a lot. I remember thinking, ‘is this what my life has come to, is this the end for me?”

But the TV star was helped out of the hostel and was given social housing on the Peabody estate, which was built in 1910, along with three other young men.

When Mr Blades lived on the estate, it had a strict list of 17 rules for tenants which banned dogs and wallpaper and said everyone had to be vaccinated against smallpox.

The father-of-three is now happily engaged to fitness trainer Lisa-Marie Zbozen

The father-of-three is now happily engaged to fitness trainer Lisa-Marie Zbozen

Blades has spoken previously how he was brought up in impoverished conditions, after his mother Barbara (pictured) was abandoned by his father when he was a baby

Blades has spoken previously how he was brought up in impoverished conditions, after his mother Barbara (pictured) was abandoned by his father when he was a baby

Looking back: Jay made the admission on his new documentary series, There's No Place Like Home, where he revisited his old flat on the Peabody estate (pictured)

Looking back: Jay made the admission on his new documentary series, There’s No Place Like Home, where he revisited his old flat on the Peabody estate (pictured)

The Peabody estate was founded by American philanthropist George Peabody who wanted to provide affordable housing for Londoners living in slum conditions, but with rules on moral conduct.

Mr Blades said it was when he was living in the flat that he found voluntary work which kickstarted his career as a furniture restorer and designer.

His earlier life was similarly bleak, he’s revealed previously that he used to live amongst rats in his childhood home in Hackney, north-east London.

The star told how he was brought up in impoverished conditions, after his mother Barbara was abandoned by his father when he was a baby.

He said: ‘When I was born my mum came to live here with my uncle. My mum got pregnant with the man who contributed towards my birth and he left her high and dry.’

The BBC show has propelled Blades to being a household name after the furniture maker was picked to host the show

The BBC show has propelled Blades to being a household name after the furniture maker was picked to host the show

Jay added: ‘[He] took all her money from her, said he was going to promise her this and that, and he didn’t, he just disappeared. The time for my mum must have been quite desperate I would say.

‘There was loads of rubbish everywhere, there were rats.’

In 2021, the presenter starred in the BBC documentary Learning to Read at 51, which saw the once-illiterate star tackle the written word after years of being unable to read.

The presenter learned how to read last summer using the same techniques children use, such as phonics.

Speaking to The Sun at the time, Mr Blades recalled how he was brought to tears when he received a letter from his teenage daughter Zola, who lives in Turkey with his ex-wife Jade, and was able to read it.

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