DO IT.

The couple stayed in their place for the entire project. “We got very familiar with a camping stove that we borrowed from a friend and used as a temporary set-up,” says Lucie. “We set up the fridge and freezer using extension cords and also used our barbecue quite a lot!”

Pivotal to the project was creating the floor-to-ceiling cupboard at one end of the space. This generous cabinet acts as a pantry, coffee-and-tea station and keeps all manner of plates and bowls neat, alongside Lucie’s beloved collection of blue-and-white Cornishware.

Being on the ground floor of an old 1930s-style apartment block of six didn’t make things easy. “We discovered that the wall was three bricks deep, so approximately 500 bricks were removed,” says Lucie. “Our builder went as high as he could go, but when bricks started dropping from above, we realised that we had reached the maximum height.” Two lintels were put in and the cupboards were made to go as deep as they possibly could. The interior wall was then sealed with a water membrane to make it extra secure.

Matt managed all the trades, from plumbing and electric to cabinetry and stone installation. The entire process was smooth, according to Lucie. “All our tradespeople turned up on time and never cancelled; they were all a bit of a dream team. We love our new kitchen!” For more info on Matt’s work, visit fearns.com.au.