Final Pictures

Pictures of our home
(will upload more pics in due course)

Dinning Area






























Swarovski crystal dinning lights


Living Room

Recent House Shopping Sprees

Robinsons Sales:

- Fake Flowers

- Kinu Fitted Sheet

- Kingkoil Microgel Pillow

- Sleep Solution Microgel Pillow

- Candleholder

- 8R Photoframe

Isetan Private Sale:

- GK MBR Bathroom Mat

- Asbel toiletries holder

- Kitchen Chopper Knife

- Kitchen Scissors (after loosing our old one)

Ikea:

- Big Vase

- Common Bathroom Shower Screen

- Shower Screen Rod and Hooks

- Dining Room Net Curtain

- Paintings

- Painting Frames

- Sofa Cushions

- Cushion Covers

- Throw Rugs

- Wine Holder

- Wine Glass

- Kitchen accessories.......

42" Panasonic Plasma TH-42PV70H

After shopping, researching, surveying for the right LCD/ Plasma to buy. We finally settled on the Panasonic 42" Plasma TV. Was comparing between this Panasonic and LG 42PC5R model. LG is cheaper, selling at $1799 in Best Denki IMM with 5 yrs warranty and $200 voucher. This fully made in Korean plasma was a very good deal considering its quality, colour, design etc.

Panasonic was selling at $2199, 5 yrs warranty (last 2 yrs partial warranty) and free $200 NTUC/ Shell vouchers at Best Denki IMM. Most other shops we visit were selling at $2399. We heard that Panasonic roadshow at Suntec was selling at $2199, giving away $400 Takashimaya and $100 Sony Ericsson vouchers and on top of that, giving 5 yrs FULL warranty (meaning can exchange 1 to 1 set, if the set is faulty). It is indeed tempting. That's why we signed up in lesser than 5 mins at the roadshow. Ours was the 3rd last set on sale.

Panasonic parts are made in Japan and assembled in Singapore. So not too bad, eh.















HD Models with Superb Image Quality and Easy Operation (2 HDMI terminals)
1080p Digital Processing Chip-Set/1080p Digital Re-mastering Processor
3,072 Equivalent Steps of Gradation
Max. 10,000 : 1 Contrast
VIERA Link [HDAVI Control 2]

Andrew did his online research comparing the pros and cons of Plasma vs LCD. Read more here.
Basically the reasons we chose Plasma over LCDs are:
1. Longer life span
2. Improved Plasma has much lesser chances of burnout than before
3. Lesser electricity consumption
4. Plasma is more suitable under ambient lighting whereas LCD tvs are more for normal lightings
5. Side viewing angle is better than LCD
6. Motion picture quality far exceeds LCD TV
etc...

Hazel was initially persistent on getting LCD but was finally convinced by the above point 6. The salesman at Harvey Norman, Milenia Walk, showed the comparison of motion graphics and true enough the picture was still "intact" although in motion, but on the other hand motion picture in LCD TV became blurry. It became very clear when you are viewing an action movie on a LCD and Plasma TV. The answer is pretty obvious. You get very giddy when you watch the blurry actions on a LCD but not on a Plasma.

So, hurray, we will finally get to watch proper TV programs when the set delivers on Wednesday.

Rectification List

1. Awaiting HDB/ Town Council to confirm ceiling and wall seepage problem. Probably result from external walls or above unit. *big SIGH*
2. Change MBR casement windows and grilles as previous owner did not install it properly. Water seepage from bottom of casement when raining.
3. Painting touchups
4. Plastering touchups
5. Change chipped tiles at kitchen wall and floor
6. Clean up MBR stained tiles, white patches etc.
7. Cut out tile to cover kitchen drainage hole
8. Wash marker and sticker marks/ stains

Shifted in

We finally shifted in on 11 Nov 2007 (Sun). House was still very messy on Sat. Luckily parents came to help us pack and clean up. With their help, we can concentrate on our unpacking. Lots of white patches on our kitchen and MBR bathroom floor tiles.

General cleaner told us on Wed that he can't clean them off as it may be silicon or paint. We have to try to scrub it off somehow. Or have to ask painter to remove them with thinner.

Anyway lots of unpacking, reorganising and cleaning work to be done. No photos taken yet as we are pretty caught up with the above tasks.

75% renovation done

Renovation work has not been smooth sailing due to hiccups here and there. Contractor is forgetful as always. Can't remember the things we requested for (e.g. touch ups, rectifications...). We are actually more of the coordinator for the project than him.

Anyway pictures taken today. Enjoy the pictures. Pls pardon the messiness 0.O

Living Room

- Elmark ceiling fan repaired
- Wall colour completed. Main wall - Lavendar Mist, Common walls - Ivory

Entrance Foyer

- Halogen for Swarovski Crystal Ceiling Light installed. The crystal will be put up at a later date.




















- Shoe cabinet installed (Carpenter removed bottom 2 shelvings to saw to a smaller piece from the original slanted design as Hazel feels that slanting waste space and will therefore be not enough space to house her shoes collection)
- Workers knock off 2 big piece of wall (edge) when fixing our shoe cabinet (right side of 2nd pic) :(

Balcony

- Changed from original 1 "Milo-Gong" ceiling light to 2 coz not suitable for use at bathroom. Plastering to be done to removed casing.

Storeroom















- "Hamburger" ceiling light. Cheap and good.

Kitchen




















-Cabinets up but subject to touch ups etc.
- Rinnai Hood installed
- Franke sink installed
- Counter solid top fixed
















- Dish rack fixed
















- Lightings fixed
















- Black sparkles glass backing to be touched up with black putty




















- Bar top to be installed

Common Bathroom




















- Cabinets up
- Leaking found in the cabinets fixed
- Toilets accessories fixed (except for mirror which we just bought from Ikea. $9.90 is such a steal!)
- Basically the toilet is in a war state. All the rubbish are not cleared!
- Pending much rectifications and touch ups to be done




















- Rimfrost pendant ceiling lamp @ $25 replaced with the lost hamburger light. Same light as the MBR toilet. Had to run to 2 Ikea stores before we finally found the stock at Ikea Tampiness. Phew

Guest Room
















- Barley White paint colour up (But we were quite disappointed with the effect. But its ok since mostly for our guests or parents :P )




















- Close up of ceiling light up for both common rooms

Study Room















- Mulberry room colour was better than what we expected it to be. It turn out really nice. The workers did a good job. We like our cozy study room! :D

Master Bedroom

- Painter painted the wrong colour for our feature wall colour. We wanted Sandstone and not Lavendar mist. :(















- Main lighting up. Cove light, down light and halogen (spotlight) up.
- Wardrobe installed. Subject to some touch ups.

- Plastic wrapper not removed yet




















- Closeup of ceiling light




















- Vanity table installed

Master Bedroom Bathroom




















- Sorry for bad quality with handphone camera. Somehow the feature tiles behind the mirror turn out to be red under the capture -_-
- Mirror and toilet accessories installed





















- Rainshower installed. Shower screen will be up soon.
- Need major cleaning and clearing up rubbish. All our wall and floor tiles are so dirty.
- Choking cleared.




















- Same ceiling light as the common bathroom. Replaced with previously installed "Milo gong" as it is really not bright. Not feasible for bathroom use.

Hacking & Tiling

Progress of tiling is about 80%. Living room and all common room tiles are untouched.

More pics, less words xD

Master Bedroom Toilet


Floor tiles & Shiny Brown Feature wall with drop down at the shower area


Feature wall too at the other side of the wall

Common Toilet



Middle portion of the wall is dark brown while the sides are light brown ala SPA






Kitchen

Fully tiled kitchen with normal whites having white tiles while black glass tile are used for the feature wall where the hob is placed.








Red mosaic used as a feature wall opposite the black glass tile. A mini table top will be placed.

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.