OWNERS of a Wokingham store have stepped up, providing furniture and furnishings to help transform a Bracknell family home.
Husband and wife Azber and Rubina Bhatti, managers of Peacock House Interiors in Wokingham, answered the call to join BBC TV programme makers of DIY SOS in their next building rescue project.
With help from family, friends and Wokingham’s business community, the Bhattis have donated a range of furniture and furnishings, including beds, lamps and throws, for a family whose home needed major alterations to allow their young son, Rafi, to be able to live with them.
In 2023, then aged six, Rafi Amer suddenly fell gravely ill with rare complications from a E-coli infection, suffering organ failures, brain damage, and coma.
He spent many months in intensive care, and the family was advised several times to say their goodbyes to him, but against all the odds Rafi survived, and they longed to bring him home.
To do this they would need to build an extension with accessible bedroom and wetroom, and space for essential medical equipment.
Their challenge was taken up by BBC’s DIY SOS team, and the Amer family home development will be the subject of a television programme in the summer.
When Azber and Rubina heard about the project they contacted the programme makers.
“We spoke to the DIY SOS designers and presenters Gordon (Whistance) and Gaby (Gabrielle Blackman) and asked how we could help,” said Azber.
“They told us the family had no furniture to put in the new rooms.
“They didn’t even have a dining table, or beds, and Rafi’s dad was having to sleep on the sofa.”
So Asber and Ruby looked at Gaby’s interior designs for the home, and identified furnishings and furniture that they could donate.
“We shared our ideas with the BBC team and the family, and they loved them, so we got started straight away.
“We contacted our suppliers, and explained what we needed.
“And I chatted with other Wokingham shopkeepers to ask if they would be willing to contribute to the cost.
“So many businesses in Wokingham are really struggling at the moment, with high rates and rent, and footfall is low in the shops, but despite this, a number of them got involved, including Cleaver Property Management, who were especially supportive.”
Bhattis family members rallied round too.
“With it being Ramadan, this is a month of charity and helping others, so our family contributed about half the amount we needed.”
In just a few days, with the combined support, and some discounts from suppliers, the couple were able to buy all the items.
“We ordered everything in, and on Tuesday a van came to collect the boxes and deliver them to the property.
“There are lots of cushions, throws and table lamps and we’ve created some floral arrangements in vases too.
“Ruby has a real flair for designing and styling, so we’ll be in the house all day helping to get it ready for the family to come home and see the transformation.
We chose really carefully all the items for Rafi’s room, and for his sister’s room, and we thought of the garden too – we’ve given the family three outdoor beanbags to relax on.
“It’s been very encouraging to see Wokingham shopkeepers coming together to help support the project.
“We say that any good deed you do this month is multiplied by 70, and we are in a position to help right now – so why not?
“We watch a lot of home design programmes, and we were inspired by many of the DIY stories we saw.
“There’s nothing we can do to help Rafi from a health point of view but we can help to make sure they have a really nice home, and that they feel looked after.
“It’s another battle that they don’t have to fight.”
For information, visit: peacockhouseinteriors.com or drop in to the Elms Field store in Wokingham.
