We spent £70K transforming our 90s horror home into our Scandi-style dream pad but there's a mistake we deeply regret

The Irish Sun

24-04-2025

AFTER spending £70,000 renovating their home, a couple have admitted to making one mistake they deeply regret.
Charlotte 'Betty' Hadley and her husband, Luke, had always dreamed of owning their own property.
Advertisement
12
Charlotte and her husband Luke completed their home renovation together
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
12
They spent £70k doing it up themselves
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
12
The couple have turned it into a Scandi-style haven
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
When a house they loved came on the market for £543,500, they jumped at the chance to buy it.
But as soon as they stepped inside, they realised how much work was needed to transform the dated '90s horror' into the Scandi-style haven they envisioned.
With no DIY experience to speak of, the couple, aged 38 and 37, turned to YouTube tutorials to guide them through the renovation process.
Fortunately, their hard work paid off, boosting the value of their home by £106,000.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON DIY HACKS
However, not everything went smoothly, and they now regret certain decisions they made during the project.
A video where they discuss their renovation mistakes has gone viral, racking up 5.4 million views and over 18,000 likes.
'I love our home, but I wish we didn't rush into things and always go with the cheapest quote,' the assistant underwriter, from Kent, told
'My piece of advice – always research the reviews of tradespeople.
Advertisement
Most read in Fabulous
'If you buy cheap, you buy twice, and that's definitely proving to be the case for us.
'We'd also never go for black bathroom fittings again; it's the worst mistake of our renovation.
We're sisters who bought an auction flat that was 'falling apart' - and saved £8k doing it up using ChatGBT
'They have all become chipped and damaged.
'I just don't think they were made to last in our opinion.'
Advertisement
Charlotte and Luke self-taught themselves the skills to spruce up their five-bedroom detached home, such as plastering, installing the kitchen and laying down flooring.
They used Screwfix, Toolstation, B&Q and Amazon as their go-to places for replacing almost every aspect of their home – and for a fresh lick of paint.
We're not planning to move for at least another 10 years while our children grow up, but never say never
Charlotte 'Betty' Hadley
And while it cost an estimated £70,000, and took one year to complete; there's still so much more to do.
In the clip, she shows off their minimalist bathroom that cost £3,000 to transform.
Advertisement
The white tile walls contrast against the matte black fixtures, such as the sink and the shower.
It looks spotless, until she shows the chipped black hardware and the taps, which are scratched and scuffed beyond repair.
12
Spare bedroom before renovation
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
12
Living room before renovation, showing furniture and a conservatory
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
Advertisement
12
Bedroom after renovation with mauve walls and a large bed
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
Charlotte estimates it's going to cost another £500 to repair.
For now, though, they're focusing on adding more character and personality to their humble abode before taking on any other renovations.
She hopes sharing her home transformation journey will help others not to make the same mistakes they did.
Advertisement
She added: 'I've always admired home accounts and decided on a whim to start my own.
12
Kitchen during home renovation, showing an arched doorway to a partially-installed kitchen
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
12
Downstairs toilet before renovation
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
12
Partly renovated downstairs toilet with a new sink, gold fixtures, and a round mirror
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
Advertisement
'I love giving advice on what to do – and certainly not what to do – for others.
'We're not planning to move for at least another 10 years while our children grow up, but never say never.
'My advice? Try and do as much as you can yourself.
'There are so many tutorials out there and you might just surprise yourself with what you're capable of doing.
Advertisement
'Just make sure not to rush into anything.'
12
Charlotte deeply regrets one particular mistake
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
12
Renovated living room with beige sectional sofa and herringbone flooring
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
12
Renovated kitchen with white sink, gold fixtures, and flowers
Credit: Jam Press/@at_home_with_betty
Advertisement
Eight Easy DIY Tips & Tricks
The ultimate guide for homeowners and renters:
DIY expert's
Save time and money with this easy DIY tiling hack to transform a room in under an hour
Avoid these five mistakes in your next DIY project
Transform your kitchen with this
Noisy neighbours? Here's
DIY expert shared her favourite strategy for painting around glass without tape
If you want to give your kitchen a fresh look, here's
Five tricks to