Before & After
Elliot, a professional sailor, and Manon, a long-haul pilot, have been living in their family home in Kent for over nine years, alongside their cockapoo, Phoebe. While the semi-detached house was in a fantastic location, it needed work doing from the very beginning.
“When we bought it, it was in need of an update and ultimately lent itself beautifully for an extension and loft conversion” they explained.
Like many large-scale renovations, the transformation didn’t happen overnight. In late 2024, they began building works, starting with a loft conversion to create a new master bedroom and en-suite. Soon after, the foundations were laid for their spacious rear extension, which is now home to their stunning open plan Rehome kitchen, dining, and living area.
Outgrowing Their Original Kitchen
Unlike many renovation stories, Manon and Elliot’s previous kitchen wasn’t just something they disliked, it had simply reached its limit…
“Our previous kitchen was a lovely handmade wooden shaker kitchen, which we had built when we first moved into our house. It served us very well for the last nine years, although we were slowly running out of space.”
They had a clear vision for their extension which their old kitchen just couldn’t fulfil. “A big island with breakfast bar was high up on our wish list, so were double ovens and plenty of storage.” More than anything, they wanted a space that could balance everyday practicality with entertaining. “We were after a kitchen that would allow us to have enough space for entertaining, whilst also remaining practical.”
And one feature was non-negotiable: “A hob on the island was a must.”
Discovering the Perfect Kitchen
Manon and Elliot first heard about Rehome through word of mouth. “A friend of a friend of ours found an ex-display kitchen through Rehome,” and that recommendation led them to explore our site, and it wasn’t long before things started to work out perfectly.
After initially viewing a couple of local showroom kitchens that weren’t quite right, Manon set up alerts for a very specific style- “We went onto the website and set up a notification for dark shaker kitchens.”
What happened next was a perfect example of why signing up to our kitchen alert is a must do for those who are looking for their dream kitchen for less but haven’t quite found ‘the one’ yet.
“Only a week later, when I was abroad with work, this beautiful dark blue Häcker kitchen popped up in my email.” Straight away, she knew it was worth pursuing. “I phoned my husband and asked him to quickly get in touch to arrange a viewing.”
A few days later, they were standing in the kitchen itself, and it was love at first sight…
“We were immediately drawn to the oversized island with breakfast bar, the double ovens and warming drawers, and the ample storage solutions.”
A Perfect Fit
Even though their extension hadn’t yet been built, Manon and Elliot came to the viewing prepared. “A quick measure up confirmed we could fit this all in our new extension, and we knew we only had to make minor changes to the layout to make it fit.”
In person and virtual viewings can be arranged on all of the kitchens on our site, and it is something we definitely recommend doing, to get a feel for the kitchen itself, and to give you a better idea of how the kitchen will work in your space. We also have a virtual design service that will allow you to plan how the kitchen will work in your space, as well as an in-house designer who can create renders of how the kitchen will look in your room…
The decision for Manon and Elliot was a quick one. “An offer was made the following day and thankfully accepted!” The majority of our sellers are open to sensible offers, so even though the kitchens we sell are already available at remarkable outlet prices, we recommend making an offer anyway- as we may just delight you even further!
For them, the standout feature in this kitchen was clear: “The island. The hob on the island, the double-sided storage and the breakfast bar were immediate eye catchers.” Paired with their love for darker kitchens, “it ticked all our boxes.”
Bringing the Vision to Life
Unlike a lot of Rehome buyers, Manon and Elliot took on the reconfiguration themselves- with a little remote support.
“We actually did all of it ourselves, with a little help from a remote architect/interior designer via Fiverr.” By providing measurements of both the space and the kitchen, they were able to visualise the layout before installation.
“We passed this on to our builders, who then made the walls fit around the oven units, making it look built in.”
The majority of tradespeople are more than happy to work with a pre-loved or ex-display kitchen, and can help you reinstall and reconfigure to suit your space.
The result? A kitchen that feels completely bespoke to your home, without the price. This is exactly what Manon and Elliot achieved by shopping with Rehome.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite the scale of the project, there were very few obstacles along the way.
“There was only one kidney corner unit we had to trim down and create an end panel for,” they said. Luckily, Elliot’s practical skills came in handy, and this was only a minor issue that was solved smoothly.
Because the kitchens we sell are dismantled by our Which? Trusted Trader Team into their individual units (as opposed to flat packed) the reinstallation process was even smoother. “Everything stayed assembled which made the reinstallation relatively easy.”
Patience Pays Off
From first spotting the kitchen online to enjoying it fully installed, the process took around six months, but much of that time was spent waiting for the extension itself.
“We went to view the kitchen mid-May… as the foundations to our extension had yet to be poured, the kitchen stayed in storage until September.”
Many Rehome buyers find their dream kitchen before they are ready for it. Luckily, the cost savings you make when shopping with Rehome mean that even with storing the kitchen until you are ready for installation you will still save thousands of pounds compared to shopping via high street.
By November, everything was finally in place and ready to enjoy.
Advice for Future Buyers
Manon and Elliot’s advice is both practical and honest: “Have an idea of what you want, what would be deal breakers and deal makers, have an open mind.”
Wise words- having an open mind when buying a pre-loved or ex-display kitchen is only ever a positive! The majority of the kitchens on our site can be changed so easily to suit your existing interior and tastes- repainting, reconfiguration, changing handles- it’s all possible! And so, whilst Manon and Elliots’ kitchen was perfect for them just the way it was, Rehome prices make it possible to completely tailor a kitchen to your desires all whilst still saving thousands.
Manon and Elliot also stress the importance of seeing a kitchen in person where possible. “If you can, visit the houses or showrooms these kitchens are in… we were incredibly lucky the previous owners were happy for us to come to their house to view the kitchen in real life.”. Again, this is all possible with Rehome, and our expert sales team are more than happy to arrange either a virtual or in person viewing on any of the products on our website.
Their top tip? Stay proactive. “Know what you’re after. Set up a notification and keep checking.”.
A Kitchen Made for Them
Now that everything is complete, Manon and Elliot couldn’t be happier with the result.
“Every time we’re in the kitchen, we say to ourselves we cannot believe this is ours.”
“It suits the space perfectly and it looks like it was made for us.”
A thoughtfully designed space, a seamless fit, and a kitchen that feels truly bespoke… Manon and Elliot’s story is proof that with the right approach, your dream kitchen might already be out there waiting… for less.
