Retouched by Flair held a launchpad event at the MUSON Centre in Lagos on October 22, 2026, previewing The Retoucher, a home makeover reality competition set to premiere in April 2027. The show is designed to showcase African interior design, give young designers a platform, and demonstrate to Nigerian households that an attractive home does not require a large budget.
How the Launch Competition Worked
At the event, two teams, Team Blue and Team Orange, worked to turn a space into a cosy living room with a budget of N250,000. They relied on African materials, including Ankara and Adire fabrics, artworks, flowers and handmade decorations. Instead of costly furnishings, the teams swapped a conventional centre rug for a mat and created a chandelier and lamp inspired by a hat, showing how local materials can produce a distinctive look.
Judges scored presentation, originality, space management and innovation. Audience members held 60 per cent of the voting power, while the main judges accounted for the remaining 40 per cent. Team Orange won the N250,000 prize, and Team Blue received a consolation prize.
What the Show Will Include
The Retoucher is an African home makeover and interior design competition created by architect and interior designer Debola Majekodunmi through Retouched by Flair. The series will feature 18 contestants and run on national television for 13 weeks. Its stated goals include promoting indigenous materials, African culture, sustainability and affordable design.
Filmmaker and writer Tade Ogidan, who is helping develop the programme, described it as a continuing, multi-season format. Contestants could be assigned to transform bungalows, hotel receptions and offices, not only bedrooms and living rooms. Members of the public would be invited to submit their homes, and selected households would receive makeovers, with viewers taking part through voting.
The Argument Behind the Budget Message
Majekodunmi said her work after returning to Nigeria revealed a common belief that a well-designed home is expensive to achieve. She argued that a comfortable, relaxing environment matters more than the size of the spending, and she encouraged viewers to make use of available materials and local crafts regardless of income.
She also expressed the view that African interior design could gain wider recognition, comparing it to the attention Nigerian food and music have received. The initiative is set to begin in Nigeria and later expand across East, West, North and South Africa. These are the organisers' goals and projections; the broader market impact has not yet been demonstrated.