First appointment 27/07

After the first appointment, we'd organize Jack and our Geomancer to do site survey to improve and discuss about color coordination & dos and don'ts in our humble HDB flat.

Initial design done by Legohouse

The following images are the initial design by Jack of Legohouse after meeting him for discussion and some tile selection without us signing on the dotted line. I think there are still some changes here and there and room for improvement. The design are based on the requirement.

Living Room
Still need color amendments as we like hotel color themes. We will purchase our own TV console and the ottoman near the shoe cabinet will be complimentary from our Serta mattress. The mirror would be in "tea tinted" color.

Kitchen

My wife prefers a kitchen to have more vibrant color and I prefer it sleek. The red and black combi suits the both of us. The backing behind the hob you see here is mosaic but we'd be using black granite in place of it. With respect to the flooring, we'd be using a darker tile with powder shimmering when light is reflected. We did not have any handles as sometimes we might knock onto it. The bigger shelves have handles as they are heavier and pulling could pose some problem.

Master Bed Room

Color coordination still off as we prefer the hotel theme. Already provided feedback and changes will be due in lieu.

ID handover payment based on work done

One method can be to list down all the items that are not rectified and ask your ID for a lump sum discount; however if you do this the ID sure got alot of things to argue, so even more headache.

If you want to be more detailed, you can do this:
1. Check which areas have not been rectified.
2. Determine a percentage of that particular area that is not rectified (this is the difficult part).
3. Take the cost of that particular area and calculate the amount of that percentage.
4. Add up all together and tell the ID that you want to cut out this amount.

The ID will surely argue on Point 2, but since you are so specific in analysing each area respectively, it will be difficult for him to argue much.

http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=9380

Reno To dos

More or less some of the stuff that I'd be requesting to be done.

Living/Dining Room
- L-box
- Laminated feature wall with stainless steel strips & glass display shelf with shoe cabinet near the entrance. Pls leave some space for our bench.
- Black or Tea color for the shoe cabinet mirror. Ventilations required below shoe cabinet.
- Corridor false ceiling from beam to store room entrance
- Remove TV console
- FOC Curtain Pelmet ( balcony )
- Remove mirror at dining
- Hotel type cozy Warm color
- Remove wrought iron gate.
- Relocate circuit breaker to shoe cabinet

Kitchen
- Bifold door
- 1.5 feet full height cabinet
- remove 1.5 feet from 18feet lower kitchen cabinet
- Reminder no handles for kitchen cabinets
- FOC for fridge base, washing machine & cabinet
- FOC for round stainless steel floor water drainer
- FOC( as original quotation) Sandblasted glass door with Stainless Steel dish rack & small cabinet above it ( location beside the sink )
- Mosaic to replace tempered glass backing at stove area
- White solid surface kitchen top + red cabinet + black floor tiles
- Full wall tiles for the stove side of the wall. Remove tiles occupied by kitchen cabinet( lower + full 1.5 feet )
- 6" height behind the sink area to prevent water splash
- Kitchen cabinet design to have anti slam and full laminate.
- Provide option to upgrade glass cabinet from laminated wood cabinet
- Paint for the rest of the wall without the tiles + FOC Plastering for affected wall
- Boxup the big pipe near the sink area. No need cabinet


Common toilet
- Bifold door
- FOC kerb
- FOC for boxup pipe
- FOC ledge x2 ( Vanity + Shower Area )
- Black floor tiling + 1 wall black tiles, Rest white wall
- FOC for round stainless steel floor water drainer


Master Bed Room
- Frameless mirror 6ft x 2ft
- FOC ledge 1150mm beside mirror to place hair spray, gel etc
- Top Track Sliding door wardrobe, laminate approx 2.3m ( reduce price accordinly from original 10feet )
- Normal wood headboard behind wardrobe( Note : our bed has it's own headboard )
- Cove light cum L-box above TV wall + 3 down lights
- Simple laminated suspended table to place DVD player
- FOC Curtain Pelmet
- Hotel type cozy Warm color

Master Bed Room Toilet
- Tempered glass door as quotation
- FOC kerb
- FOC ledge x2 ( Vanity + Shower Area )
- Tempered glass shower screen
- Small solid surface vanity top
- Black floor tiling + 1 wall black tiles, Rest white wall
- FOC for round stainless steel floor water drainer

General
- FOC supply/install all door handles
- FOC all demolish & hacking works
- Pls remove all hot/cold points for sink
- FOC bathroom accessories installation( include 2 spray guns )

Color Combination tips

http://home.ivillage.com/decorating/color/0,,7jb5jq1f,00.html

The 3 Serta , Simmons , Sealy

My wife and I swore by the 3S and I feel one won't go wrong with the 3S.

My wife and I have tested the beds on various location : Furniture Mall, Serta Sleep center, Ackerman & Robinson's. Some of the mattress that we've tested are the following
1) Serta Missouri $2599
2) Serta Alabama $2699
3) Serta Louisiana $2100
4) Sealy
5) Simmons Glendale ( used in a lot of hotels, >$3k )
6) Simmons Charleston $2899

All of them are more than 2k and selection is based on plushness / cost ratio. Initally , tested the Alabama and it's really plushed. We're very concern as too plush will cause the matress to be less durable as prolonged sleeping on it will cause it to soften. After that we tried Misssouri and we felt that a less plush mattress is better for better support then a too plush one. As we are quite conscious, we progress on to Louisiana and I couldn't really felt the difference, it could be that I'm not heavy enough to appreciate the comfort as advised by the Serta sales exec. Hence. I'm leaning towards the Lousiana and I think if I can't feel the difference why should I pay more for it.

Simmons is very good as they are using pocketed springs but extremely expensive. By the way, for those that are uninitiated Louisiana is also using pocketed springs. Pocketed springs are good as it provides the support in compressed formed as opposed in tension with respect to individual spring by Sealy.

Simmons is out due to it's price and Sealy is out due to it's individual spring. And since, I'm tight on a budget and Serta is providing the following:
1) Serta Queen Size Matress protector
2) 4 Serta comfort pillows
3) 1 dutch pillow
4) 1 set of bedsheet
5) 2 Serta Couting sheeps
6) Serta Queen Size Designer Bedframe
7) ~$2000

Hence, we purchase the Serta based on the following criterion as above.

Quote from Singaporebrides

well let me give u all some advices i have done research for the 3 Ss(simmons ,sealy,serta).

For simmons they r renowned for the support for their original pocketed coil technolgy .Simmons is the first that bring in individual pocketed coil decades ago it is the orginal only orginal pocketed coil are pre-compressed. I know u all dont understand. For example when we pre-compresses a coil from a 7 inches(Simmons have the highest coil height in the market) to a stardard height simmons set, the coil actually will be insisting on getting up so we slp on the mattress we can feel the support.Imported from USA,Japn,Korea,Canada,OEM malaysia,OEM China n OEM Thailand

Sealy entered Singapore market not very long Sealy are renowned for their Posturepedic coil we call it open coil all the coils are fully connected with wire.Posturepedic coil have sensory arm n triple off set it is said to be able to adjust to the correct alignment for our body.Sealy mattresses are mostly very comfortable.Sealy is the world's best selling mattress. Total Sales figures (world no. 1) Sealy + its two other sub companies.Sealy also have very wide price range(cheap to very expensive)as compared to Serta n Simmons.Most range Asemble in Thailand.Only some Unicase(expensive) from USA

Serta is the youngest in Singapore mattress industry compare with the other 2.Serta is renowned for its mira coil technology is also name open coil fully connected with wire among the coil, n their comfort level for mattress.If serta says it is no.2 no one dare to compete with it for comfort level.But Serta these recent years did come out with their pocketed coil series for their mattresses.Serta did also won the title (We make the world's best mattress).Most range asembled in indonesia. practise OEM(original equipment manuafacturing).Some from USA.

Well If u wanted support higher can go for Simmons,if u wanted Comfort level higher go for Sealy or Serta open coil(motion transfer high) are used to make soft n comfortable mattresses.If you want support n no motion transfer between u n ur partner can go for Individual pocketed coil.If u only more concern about enjoying of comfort level 3 minutes before u slp u can go for open-coil Sealy or Serta.Only Simmons USA range can be compatible to Sealy n Serta for the comfort level.If u r more concern about the 8 hrs of sleep u will need good support u can go for Simmons.Choose a mattress according to what your needs.

Electrolux Washing Machine EW887

The following URL shows the Pros and Cons between a Top and Front Load Washing Machine

Criterion for my WM is as follows
1) at least 7kg so that our Queen size quilt/bedsheet/curtains can be washed
2) >800rpm to have a dryer clothes
3) < $800
4) Either from Bosch/Brandt /Thomson/Electrolux as there are the more reputable brans here. Miele is out since the pricing is too premium. Imagine $3000 for one.

Anyway, I went to Harvey Norman Millenia Walk as my current company has dealings with them and kind of like knew their sales executive there. I was served after mentioning that I'm from XXX company and I was provided with a better discount.

Bosch was out due to the plastic( not so durable) hinge at the opening , Thomson is out of the price range, Brandt doesn't have much promo at that time and since this electrolux EW887 is on sale for $810 ( inclusive 5 years warranty ) and fits our criterion hence we purchase it on the spot!

Jack from Legohouse

Was recommended by my colleague after getting quite a bit of quotation from contractors and IDs.

Some of the contractors and ID that we have met before are from the following :
1) Henry, Impress21 ( contractor )
2) Han Lim ( contractor - introduced by my Agent - a relative of his )
3) Andy, X-cel Design ( contractor )
4) Jacqueline, FuseConcept ( ID ) Exhibition
5) Patrick, Ho Bee ( Contractor )
6) Frank, ImageCreative ( ID ) Exhibition
7) Kelvin, Gplan ( ID )
8) Johnny, Futurehome ( ID )

Back to the topic, seems like Jack comes out with the most competitive pricing even it's just the first quote. Probably it's due to my colleague's recommendation and yeah he sent me the quotation in the matters of hours. I call this efficient.

During the meet-up, he's patient and willing to provide some ideas and he promised us with 3d drawings even we have not signed up with him. He promised us the 3d drawing of the feature wall, the kitchen and also our bedroom.

Since I have talked to my 6th ID/contractor, I try to incorporate all the plus points and confirm all my doubts to Jack with respect to the rest. He'd provide me with a revised quote by end of the week and 3d drawings mid week.

Refrigerator

We wanted to have a medium sized fridge and our parents advised us to purchase one that is at least 400l nett in volume cause based on experience fridge space is never enough. Initial plan is to purchase one that has this water dispenser outside which sets us at least $1100 and since we're saving some moolah for other items arrived to a conclusion to have one based on the following specifications:
1) > 400 l nett volume
2) 2 door without water dispenser to save cost
3) at least to 2 ticks for Energy Label Scheme to ensure energy saving
4) < $800
5) Titanium color preferred but Silver is fine
6) Freezer at the bottom is out ( Panasonic models ) We arrive on 2 suitable candidates. One is the Hitachi R-Z540AM (435l) and the other is the Toshiba GR-MG46SD (410l ). The Hitachi goes for $720 at Hong Liang with 1 year warranty( 5 year compressor ) and $810 for the Toshiba at Harvey Norman with 5 years warranty.


We finalized on the Hitachi due to the 435l volume costing only $700 and the ice maker being at the lower portion of the freezer which is more ergonomic to my wife. Without the warranty should be fine, since fridges normally don't break down. Crosses fingers.

Actually, premium Hitachi 2 doors are exceptionally nice, we would have purchased it but the volume is too large for our small family. Let's have some eye candy. I would say Hitachi has the best 2 door that you can find. I just love the color and also the cylinder bar type of handle which makes it look so sleek.

Our 5I HDB Floor Plan at Yishun

Here's our lovely Home, purchased at $265k, 10k above valuation. Area : 122m2

1st appointment : 27th July.

2nd appointment : 12th Sept ( projected - after Chinese 7th month )
Start reno : 2nd/3rd week of Sept ( projected -need to consult Feng Shui Master)
End reno : Early November ( projected )

Design Theme : Modern Contemporary ( Hotel ambience ) . Emphasis will also be practicality vs design. i.e if the design rocks but maintenance sucks, then we will not do it but try to improvise it to suit the maintenance part.

Blueprint as below.

Rinnai Hood and Hob

Purchased the Rinnai set due to good reviews and recommendation from the forums and it's Made in Japan too. Didn't purchase the Hob made of tempered glass due to instances that some people having explosion due to cracking of the glass due to high temperature.

The following are the model that we purchased. 15% discount from Hong Liang .


RH-985C

• 880mm chimney hood
• 800m3/hr extraction capacity
• 2-speed setting
• Charcoal filter
• Light bulb: 2 x 20w

Overall Dimension (mm):
900(W) X 480(D) X 856(H)
Colour: Stainless steel

RB-333

Three Burner Built-in Hob (SUS)
Dimension (mm): 870(W) x 510(D)
Cut-out (mm): 725-840 x 425-480 x R110

Actually we didn't want to purchase the hood but since we're not fabricating the top cabinet we need the hood to fill the gap and besides, a better hood will help to provide better suction for a cleaner kitchen. Some specs considered for the hood is at least 800m3/hr air extraction.