WHAT YOU NEED

The NAD 3050LE 100 watt stereophonic amplifier is a 50th anniversary limited edition release, with only 1972 available in the world.

Available from Relics HiFi in Dunedin for $3999 including guitars, mandolins, and ukuleles. All of them are unique. ‘‘I’ve never made two guitars the same,’’ he says ‘‘And I try not to copy instruments. I try not to build a Gibson or Martin copy, but their designs influence me, because they influence my clientele.’’

Thorens TD201 turntable, in white or black gloss finish. Available from Relics HiFi in Dunedin for $1399.

For custom orders, the first step is for Steve to sit down with the client. They’ll discuss various aspects, including how the instrument will be used; is it for performing on stage, or perhaps for recording in a home environment?

Among Steve’s current projects is a guitar for an Arrowtown client who he’s known for a long time. ‘‘He wants a guitar that is nice and easy to play and that doesn’t need a huge amount of volume,’’ he explains. ‘‘I recommended the cedar top to him because it’s really nice at a low volume, and has a lovely tone.’’

Enhance your audio game with some new hifi hardware this winter... and add some guitar-centric vinyl box sets to the collection while you’re at it.

The lack of availability of some woods traditionally used by luthiers has made Steve seek out alternatives. Among them are native woods, including kahikatia, Southland beech, puriri from Great Barrier Island, and recycled kauri. ‘‘It’s wonderful, but it’s so hard to get,’’ he says.

As well as the continuing joy of working with wood, it’s the people he creates beautiful instruments for that Steve most appreciates. Especially when he gets to see them performing.

‘‘It’s lovely hearing someone make them really sound great.’’ he says.

Available from Relics

Music in Dunedin:

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Live at the Fillmore 1997 (6LP box set $399.99);

Prince - Welcome to America (2LP + Bluray box set $209.99); Mick Fleetwood and Friends

- Celebrate the Music of Peter Green (4LP box set $124.99)

1. Plan, plan, plan

With any design project, the planning aspect can’t be emphasised enough. What are you trying to achieve, what are your must-haves, what is your budget, how will you work around a kitchen that’s out of commission for weeks?

There are many things to consider, from where cabinets and appliances will go, to colour schemes, materials, flooring options, and much more. But there are good project planners available online that will help keep you on track

2. Go with the flow

How do you use your kitchen, and how can you maximise the efficiency of the work flow within that space? The classic kitchen triangle rule takes in the sink, oven, and fridge as the three areas that must be connected through some kind of logic. This is something that will need to be considered during the planning phase of your project, because if you get it wrong the end result will be perpetually frustrating.

3. Cabinet fever

Cabinetry will account for one of the bigger costs of the project, so you will want to carefully consider your options. Can the existing cabinets be refreshed and incorporated in some way to save you a little? There are different grades of cabinetry available, and you won’t necessarily need the top end brand name products to get the best result for your needs, so shop around.

4. A place for everything

Of course, when you’re choosing new cabinets you’ll want to make sure that all of your kitchen storage needs are accommodated. You’ll need to consider the items that you need to access every day, and those that you’ll use rarely. Again, have a look at the options as there are plenty of elegant storage solutions on offer, or you can go more rustic with hooks for pots, or magnetic strips to make knives more accessible.

A kitchen renovation is often one of the first projects a home owner will tackle, especially in older houses. Here are some tips on how to get started.