KITCHEN RENO

Good things take time

Emmett, a master electrician and jack of all trades, tackled most of the renovation himself. In November 2014 he gave up work for five months to concentrate on revamping the villa, hoping to make it habitable before Hannah had their first baby. As is often the way, the job took longer than anticipated. When the family moved in, little Jed was one day old and the entire rear of the home was incomplete. It took another few months of working weekends and nights to complete the renovation.

KITCHEN The budget was blown when Hannah (pictured with son Jed) fell in love with a marbled benchtop. However, it’s an extravagance she doesn’t regret. Carpet was lifted to reveal rimu floorboards, which were polished and stained in the hallways,...