Painting and cabinetry � the kitchen starts to take shape

This last week has been about making sure all the preparation has been done so we can get the paint on. This means stopping, lining and sanding! We put on an undercoat of Dulux and then complemented that with a coat of Dulux Double Haast, from the Colours of New Zealand range, to match the rest of the house. Once again, Matt and Rowena have gone for the Wash and Wear finish, so they can wipe away the inevitable smears from their two-year-old�s grubby hands.

Matt and Rowena have gone for an HRV ventilation system, which removes moisture from the air and reuses residual solar heat from the roof crawlspace. They were keen on the HRV brand because of the health benefits of the moisture reduction and also the fact that has a �burnt toast mode,� which gets rid of unpleasant odours from the house � something that for better or worse are par for the course when you have a young, active family.

The cabinets from Stewart Scott show up all ready for action as expected and the Roxx benchtop begins to go in, though it is a measured process to ensure the alignment is correct. More on the benchtop next week!

Tips and tricks

Flat pack kitchens � the benefits of a flat pack kitchen lie in the cost savings and flexibility. But you do have to be fairly handy to install one, and you�ll need to measure fastidiously, as errors can be costly and inconvenient. And lastly, don�t underestimate the timings � while a professional can do it fairly smartly, a novice should allow at least two or three days.

Home ventilation � home ventilation systems like an HRV have fantastic health benefits and are especially important if your kids have respiratory complaints like asthma. They get rid of moisture but also clean the air with their particle filters. You�d be surprised how many pollutants are in the air you breathe � and of course they heat your house in winter too.