At SMJ, we’re thrilled to announce our support for the Better Benchtops by AGB initiative, a groundbreaking movement aimed at eliminating silica dust in the kitchen benchtop industry.

We’ve been creating award-winning kitchen and joinery in Taupo for over 30 years. Ensuring your ongoing satisfaction with the products and service you received is an absolute priority for SMJ. Read on for our advice on caring for your kitchen.

For everyday cleaning, wipe your benchtop with warm soapy water (mild detergent) and a damp cloth. Red wine, fruit juice, coffee, tea, tomatoes, citrus fruit, soft drinks and certain spices can stain your stone benchtop, wipe these off IMMEDIATELY with water and a damp cloth...

Stu Martin started at entry level learning the ropes of his trade whilst completing his apprenticeship. Once qualified he honed his craft and moved up the ladder into a managerial position. Industry was pumping until one day, without warning, he was told that his position was to be made redundant.

With a new small family he had some tough decisions to make. Stu says, “Mum was freaked out Dad said ‘about bloody time, now its your time to go out and do your thing’. ”

At this time of year not only am I busy planning for Christmas I’m also thinking about what I need to go on our yearly camping trip. Every year I revise our list of necessary equipment, what worked well and is there anything else that I might need

Usually there is a lot of discussion about where to place everything But the one area that I have the final say, is the kitchen. As I do most of the cooking it means that I can cook in my kitchen exactly the way I want.

We live in a society that if something gets broken it is often cheaper and easier to throw it out and buy a new one. This is what is called a Linear Economy – which relies on cheap, widely available resources to create favourable conditions for economic growth and stability.

I first came across the concept of a Circular Economy a few years ago and decided that this is something I would like to investigate further. Little did I know that here at SMJ we are already following some of the different principles of The Circular Economy.