BENCHTOP BEAUTY

Project NATASHA DICKINS

Tilly Roberts. Some photographs Cath Muscat, styling

feature products from suppliers other than Bunnings. ABOVE For a no-fuss upgrade, keep utilities, including the oven and sink, in the same place while doing a straight swap of existing cabinets and adding new benchtops

Whether you’re building a flatpack kitchen from scratch or simply replacing countertops, here’s how to install new timber or bamboo benches with joins over corner cabinets.

A standard bench is 600mm deep and an L or U shape requires a join over corner cabinets. We’ve used bench joiners by making bore holes along the adjoining edges and securing from beneath (see step 5). Before cutting and installing your benchtop, sand with 180-grit abrasive paper and wipe away dust with a damp cloth. Apply two coats of hard wax oil or varnish with a mini roller, leaving to dry between each coat. After the bench is installed, apply a final light coat to seal the joins.

TO PREVENT TIMBER OR BAMBOO FROM WARPING, UNPACK AND LEAVE IT IN THE KITCHEN TO ACCLIMATISE FOR A DAY BEFORE WORKING ON IT

n Safety equipment (mask, ear and eye protection) n Tape measure and pencil n Three saw horses n Two quick-grip clamps n Circular saw with straightedge n Drill with 10mm, driver and 4.5mm bits n Jigsaw n Mini roller with tray n Combination square n 32mm spade drill bit n Small handsaw n 10mm chisel n Hammer n Small shifting spanner n Cloth n Two 600mm x 33mm panels• n Masking tape n Sealer (hard wax oil or varnish) n Woodworking adhesive n Three benchtop joiners n 38mm x 38mm angle brackets n 8G x 14mm chipboard screws n 8G x 28mm chipboard screws

1 Ryobi ‘ONE+’ 18V 165mm circular saw, $149/skin only (battery and charger sold separately), I/N: 6210595. 2 Kaboodle Kitchen 2400mm x 600mm x 33mm American oak benchtop panel, $640, I/N: 0246290• . 3 Rhino trade saw horse, $64, I/N: 5820759. 4 Makita 450W orbital action corded jigsaw, $149, I/N: 6240425. 5 Empire ‘True Blue’ 150mm combination square, $18.09, I/N: 5660527. 6 Irwin ‘Marples’ 10mm high impact chisel with strike cap, $31.98, I/N: 0021700. 7 Irwin ‘Speedbor’ 32mm spade drill bit, $11.90, I/N: 6354255. 8 Kaboodle Kitchen benchtop joiner, $26.30/pack of 6, I/N: 2662003. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. 1 When measuring up to cut panels, for a wall-to-wall bench, deduct 5mm from the final length to allow for movement when installing. Add 20mm for the overhang at the open end of the bench, and allow for the thickness of end panels that haven’t been attached to the cabinets yet.

4 Check if your trades make the utility cutouts when installing. If not, use the supplied templates to mark the sink and cooktop with tape. Pre-drill into one corner with a 10mm bit to allow for the jigsaw blade and cut, clamping the cutout from underneath for the last side to prevent it dropping. Tip: Finish the cut with sealer.

7 From each hole to the edge, mark a centre line and 5mm either side and cut with a handsaw to the same depth as the holes. Position a 10mm chisel with the angled end facing down and tap with a hammer to clean out the channels, checking the joiners fit snugly.

2 Set the bench on saw horses with the top facing up, ready to cut from the outside edge to avoid breakout. Clamp a straightedge parallel to the cutting mark. Tip: Measure from the edge of the circular saw baseplate to the blade and use this to position the straightedge.

5 To set out the bore holes for the bench joiners, make sure the undersides of the benches are facing up and use a combination square to mark 20mm in from the edges to be joined, then mark the centre and 100mm in from either end. Note: One bench has holes along the side, the other has them at the end.

8 Ensure the shelf is positioned in the corner cabinet before installing the benches, enlisting a second pair of hands to move them. Apply adhesive along both edges of the join, push the benches together and position the joiners in the holes, tightening with a small shifting spanner until the adhesive beads, wiping away excess. 3 Set the blade to cut 10mm deeper than the bench thickness, then run the saw against the straightedge to make the cut. For this 33mm-thick bench, the blade depth is 43mm. Tip: Position two saw horses under the bench, with a third under the offcut, away from the cutting line.

6 Use a 32mm spade bit to drill the holes, checking the tip is centred and the edge of the hole is on the 20mm line. Hold the drill straight, stopping regularly to check the hole goes no deeper than 23mm to avoid drilling right through.

9 Use a 38mm x 38mm angle bracket as a template to mark the screw holes inside the cabinets and under the benches. Pre-drill with a 4.5mm drill bit, securing the brackets with 14mm screws. Secure into the bench through the cabinet rails with 28mm screws. Tip: Angle brackets and screws are supplied with new cabinets, or buy them in store. This technique joins benches over a corner cabinet, with one end positioned against the side of the other

To use a mitre instead of the above corner joint, check the manufacturer’s instructions to make the 45° cut to the panels, then follow from step 5 to install the joiners.

You can also order a custom benchtop with professional installation at Bunnings‡. Visit the Special Orders Desk.

n All electrical and plumbing work must be carried out by a licensed professional, including plumbing in the sink and hooking up the oven and cooktop. Check with your trades if they will make the utility cutouts in the bench. n Position a set of saw horses to cut and finish the benches outside for improved ventilation, and always wear the recommended safety gear. n Make sure cutting equipment is sharp – invest in a new speed bore bit if necessary, and check the jigsaw blade is suitable for timber. n Like laminate or marble, a timber bench isn’t designed for directly chopping on and should be coated with a more moisture-resistant sealant than food-safe oils used for chopping boards. n Concrete, stone or marble installations require different methods of cutting and joining and are best left to the professionals.

Renovating your kitchen is an exciting adventure, with myriad decisions to be made on everything from souped-up storage to a perfect working triangle. But your choice of appliances is arguably the most important element of your new space. Thankfully, you can make these key decisions easily and all in the one place, with the Everdure range at Bunnings. By purchasing all your major appliances from the one family, they’ll play well and look great together, and you’ll get to enjoy the same fantastic functionality throughout your brand-new kitchen. So now the only question is which of these fabulous appliances to choose! RANGEHOOD

Forever burning the sausages? A good rangehood is a must, sucking up smoke, steam, grease and whiffy odours to keep your kitchen healthier and cleaner. A canopy rangehood is a powerful choice and the perfect match for enthusiastic cooks who work with all burners blazing! It also makes a visual statement – choose one to suit your kitchen style.

If you want a rangehood that sits out of sight, a slide-out model might be the one for you. Despite its smaller size, a slide-out rangehood can still handle whatever steam and smoke you throw at it.

Robinhood 900mm glass wall canopy rangehood, $628, I/N: 5103587†

Everdure ‘RBES692’ 60cm classic canopy rangehood, $339, I/N: 0147023

Everdure ‘RBES62B2’ 60cm slideout rangehood with black glass fascia, $178, I/N: 0182421

DISHWASHER

A good dishwasher is a must in any kitchen. When choosing, look for a model that offers flexibility with several different washing programs. Everdure’s 60cm freestanding model has six cycles, to tackle everything from rinsing glassware to scrubbing dirty pots. The other important factor is capacity – do you have a big family or do you regularly cater for a crowd? Opting for a model with a third layer for cutlery will give you more room for plates and pots in the bottom level.

Everdure ‘DWF146SC1’ WELS 4.5-star 12L/min 60cm stainless steel freestanding dishwasher, $616, I/N: 5103644 COOKTOP

Induction cooktops have gone from ‘new-fangled technology’ to the preferred choice of many. They give an incredible degree of precision, they’re easy to wipe clean and very efficient, with all the heat going to your pans and very little escaping into the kitchen. But while induction cooktops are amazing and their streamlined profile is ideally suited to a modern kitchen, gas versions will never go out of fashion. Many home cooks prefer a gas burner, as it allows them to visually monitor the flame and adjust as needed. Gas burners are also compatible with all types of cookware (some pans aren’t suitable for induction).

Everdure ‘UFEE507W’ 50cm freestanding electric cooktop and oven, $675, I/N: 5102044 Everdure ‘CBGS92’ 90cm stainless steel gas cooktop with wok ring, $559, I/N: 5102711

Everdure ‘OBES6782’ 60cm side-opening built-in oven, $982, I/N: 0328030†

Everdure ‘OBEGS602’ 60cm built-in oven, $559, I/N: 0089568 OVEN

Do you want a built-in version or a freestanding oven? Built-in ovens win on ergonomics, able to be positioned at a better height for viewing and handling hot dishes; for even easier access, go for a side-opening model. Built-ins are less bulky than freestanding, but this doesn’t mean you have to compromise on capacity. Everdure’s 60cm ovens punch well above their weight in useable space, so you’ll never struggle with the Christmas ham again!

If a freestanding oven is your preference, but space is limited, you can still have your first choice with an Everdure 50cm cooktop and oven. This appliance delivers all the bells and whistles, including two ovens (the smaller one has both grilling and baking options) and four hot plates, without hogging valuable kitchen space.

Everdure 70cm stainless steel 5 burner gas cooktop (fits a 60cm cutout), $509, I/N: 5103816

Everdure ‘CBIE62’ 60cm induction cooktop, $747, I/N: 5103065