Topping things off

Now the all-important benchtop is in we can really get a feel for how the kitchen is going to look. The 50mm slab was supplied by Roxx, who are thin-stone specialists and was fabricated by Italian Surfaces, a small business based in Penrose.

Of course the sink also goes in along with the benchtop and Matt and Rowena have made an excellent choice in the Franke Isis model from Burns Ferrall. To complement their new sink, they went with Methven Kiri tapware, which represents a new modernist direction in tapware. The taps look striking and incorporate a distinct New Zealand flavour to add visual interest to the kitchen.

Matt and Rowena continue to get the benefit of saving money on their flowing hot water in the kitchen as well thanks to the solar water heating system from Solapac.

The modernist design of the tapware goes nicely with the James Hardie Horizon Lining Sunset splashback. The splashback comes with a protective coating to prevent damage to the pre-finished surface during installation and James Hardie also offer free touch-up paints to make sure the Horizon looks its best once it�s in.

When installing James Hardie products, try using a James Hardie Recognised installer found on the James Hardie website. Matt and Rowena used Steve Cleary from SC Interiors to ensure a quick and hassle-free installation. Like all James Hardie Recognised Installers, Steve helped ensure best practices were adhered to, like keeping the Horizon at least 100mm from any elements.

Re-wiring was essential to stop the constant overloading problems they were having. It�s worth mentioning here that you need to be quite careful about who you get to do your electrical work, because it�s a prerequisite for the electrical sign off for your CCC that you have names and registration numbers of your practitioners. Getting your brother�s mate to do it is not the way � unless he is certified. Matt and Rowena went with NRG again and were thoroughly pleased with the results. NRG are nationwide.

While they were at it, NRG installed the new Powerpack Rangehood from Robinhood. The Powerpack is an integrated model that stays fully out of sight and is a favourite with those who love clean lines in their kitchen.

Further to this theme, Matt and Rowena have created a breakfast area as well, which can be shut away by the doors created by HomePlus once breakfast is finished. The kids love this, as well as scribbling their food (and other) wishes on the chalkboard while Mum�s preparing meals.

Tips and tricks

Benchtops � push the boat out when it comes to the surface. It needs to be the best quality you can afford, as it�s expensive and inconvenient to replace.

Sinks � while top-mounted sinks are easiest, they often collect crumbs and debris around the edges. Under mounted is a bit more work but much easier and more hygienic.