Before & After
For Tanya, a 31-year-old full-time doctor in surgical training, buying her first home was not only a milestone, but a chance to create a space entirely her own. She bought a garden flat in Bristol in December 2023, and the first on the list to complete was the kitchen. Within eight hours of having the keys to the place, Tanya had taken a sledgehammer to the old kitchen and completely gutted it…
The kitchen had definitely seen better days. “It was very tired and sad, it needed to go. It was a laminated wood kitchen that was over 20 years old,” Tanya explained. However, while the kitchen itself wasn’t much to look at, she saw the potential in the space straight away- “I bought the flat because I loved the kitchen space and visualised its potential!”.
Finding Rehome at Just the Right Time
Tanya first heard about Rehome through a family connection. In fact, her mum’s friend had already used Rehome and achieved a beautiful kitchen renovation as a result. Rehome was recommended to her months before her flat purchase had gone through, and so when the time for her to get the keys rolled closer, she began her search…
“I was scrolling through Rehome daily for a couple of weeks and then I found my kitchen! It was exactly what I wanted- shaker style with quartz worktops and plenty of units to play around with and reconfigure.” Rehome’s helpful team of experts were able to arrange a viewing for Tanya, something we recommend all of our buyers to do.
We understand that buying from a third-party marketplace can be nerve-wracking at times, but with Rehome it doesn’t have to be. Along with our detailed listings and approval process, we can easily arrange viewings for you to ensure you know exactly what it is you’re purchasing and can see it in all its glory, in situ. Tanya went to view the kitchen and fell so in love with it that she purchased it the same day.
Tanya didn’t yet have the keys for her flat, and so the kitchen was but briefly into storage. Whilst buying and storing the kitchen before even owning the home might sound like a bold choice for many, but Tanya knew it made sense. Even with storage costs factored in, you are still saving thousands of pounds on retail price buying through Rehome and this way ensures that you can secure your dream kitchen as soon as you see it. “The day I moved in, the first priority was to get the old kitchen out and to use my week of annual leave to get the Rehome kitchen in.”
A DIY Project at Its Finest
Finding a kitchen fitter at short notice proved impossible, so Tanya did something not many first-time buyers would attempt and planned and installed the kitchen herself… We love Tanya’s bravery but couldn’t help but wonder how she did this. “I basically made a to-scale drawing of my kitchen space and the plumbing and electricity points and then cut out to-scale units individually and played around with the layout,” she explained. “This process took me a couple of days to work out exactly what I wanted.”
This is a common occurrence in Rehome transformations, as the kitchens we sell are dismantled into their individual units and can therefore be reconfigured into whatever layout you choose- one of the many attractions of buying pre-loved. The fitting the kitchen yourself element is a less common occurrence!
With the help of a hired van, some strong friends, and a friend’s dad who brought a laser level, she got the units delivered from storage and installed. “We got the units all secured in place,” Tanya said. “I used a plumber to safely install the gas hob and an electrician to move some sockets and install the extractor hood.”. Kudos!
Making It Her Own
Tanya’s kitchen was originally a U-shape layout and painted sage green, but she reimagined the space to suit her needs. “I repainted the kitchen using Farrow and Ball ‘Mouse’s Back’,” she said. “I also changed the layout completely from the original and added shelving and panelling over the following months.” We love the result, and can you blame us? The kitchen now looks much more at home, in a style and colour that can be enjoyed for years to come without ever going out of style.
One of the most difficult parts? The quartz worktops. Whilst worktops are excluded from the sales price of most kitchens due to the fact that we cannot guarantee their safe removal, when they are removed safely the buyer has the option to keep them, as was offered to Tanya. “I was adamant that I wanted to use them and I had surplus to requirements, but obviously I’d completely changed the layout of the kitchen.”
Since the quartz already had cutouts for the sink and hob, it required meticulous planning. “This took many late nights of measuring to the millimetre and playing Tetris with all of the layout options to make it work.”
Eventually, Tanya found a local company to cut the quartz to size. “They wouldn’t fit it because it wasn’t their quartz or their measurements, so they didn’t want the responsibility of it not fitting,” she laughed. “This was a pretty nail-biting moment when I had to fit it and see if my measuring had worked out! Thankfully it did.”
Unlocking Value with Rehome
Tanya had her offer of £4,749 accepted on the kitchen, a beautiful Mackintosh shaker kitchen that came with quartz worktops, a sink and tap, and top-quality AEG appliances included in the price. “It saved me over £30,000 compared to quotes for similar kitchens,” she said, and also saved thousands on appliances too.
Buying through Rehome gave her access to a premium kitchen at a fraction of the high street price, which meant she could invest more into the rest of her renovation without compromising on the quality of what she bought.
Her Advice for Others Considering Rehome
“My advice would be absolutely do it!” Tanya said. “It saved me a huge amount of money, and I really enjoyed the process and learnt so much. I would say to allow yourself more than a week to get it all planned and fitted though, as I don’t think I’ve ever been so sleep deprived!”
Whilst Tanya loved her home renovation process and the fact that doing most of it herself meant she saved a lot and learnt even more, she was often burnt out whilst working full time. “Now the idea of taking on any other big projects makes me want to sleep for weeks! So, I’d definitely say to pace yourself and make time for rest and socialising in between.”
A Kitchen That Tells a Story
The whole process took a couple of months; from the moment Tanya spotted the kitchen online to when it was fully installed. Most of that time involved the kitchen sitting in storage whilst Tanya eagerly awaited the keys.
However, within two weeks of getting her keys, the transformation was underway, and today, Tanya’s kitchen is everything she hoped for. A timeless, functional space that will continue to fill her home with character for years to come.
It may have taken some heavy lifting, a few sleepless nights, and a lot of measuring, but the result is a truly unique space that reflects Tanya’s style, determination and creativity — all while unlocking incredible savings and giving a second life to a beautiful kitchen that might otherwise have gone to waste.
