The BASIN CURSE

All my post over the last two week are on the good things. Now its time to write something on the "not good things" that happened during the renovation. As the title say it. All two basin I brough for my house... cracked.

Toilet Basin

A closer look, there is a fine hairline crack at the top left corner which I find out from my contractor only when they are about to fix it up. Since I have never checked during delivery, the shop owner did not offer to replace the basin but offer to sell me another one at cheaper price. I did not like his offer and I went to another shop to buy a new one.

Vanity Basin



Nicely fixed up!

One week later, one of the worker fixing my kitchen cabinet knocked onto the basin and created two deep crack on both corner. My heart, like my basin crack as well. But luckily for me, they are honest about their mistake and replace back the exact basin.

It's Saturday afternoon! 90% completed

Lights up, doors up! Every corner in the house are now lighted up togather with my new bedroom door and main door gate. Just love it!

TV corner Light



Bedroom Light



New bedroom door and frame



Main door painted with new iron wrought gate



Kitchen cabinet completed with Handle, Hob and Sink

Morning Update

This morning I went up to take a look again on the work done. Painting, kitchen cabinet, walk-in wardrobe is up.

The paint colors were much lighter than I expect. The Lavendar paint looks Pinkish and the Dark Grey paint looks Off-white. Now I have to plan to repaint the wall yourself, should be after the handover date. Cannot trust the paint color catalog.

1 week gone, 2 weeks to go

This morning I went up to my new house to take a closer look at the work my contractor did. This is because all the lights were removed and I can only use the touchlight to see the work during weekday evening.

The house is totally brighten up by the new casement window. I asked for clear glass instead of tinted and I am glad I made the right choice. Aircon has been fixed. I am also happy there are no aircon trunkings in my living room, all are hidden in my bedroom. Basically, I love what they did so far.

I need more $$$!

I need three pieces of furnitures to make my house complete. A book shelve, a study table and a big TV console (aleast 2 meter) and preferably all-white. This is because my walls are grey and dark grey in color. I am comtemplating whether to custom-made or buy from shop.

Saw this site today (http://www.boconcept.com) selling designer furniture with designer's price tag. I shall print it out to show my contractor later. Hope he can do the same and charge me contractor price hehehe...

Cooking is not my forte

Today I have finalized my kitchen design with my contractor. And I have my worries. Why? Because I hardly cook or even step into the kitchen. So I decided to be creative. I ask my contractor to follow EXACTLY the same kitchen design that is in the house. Very creative ar... heheh... But I do changed the color!

A trip to the IT show and...

Well well... I'll keep the story short and spell out my total damage. But then, I think I got a good bargain for 2 item and a cab trip back home.

Toshiba REGZA 42" Full HD TV $1,199





Pioneer Home Theater HTZ373 DVD $399

One more day to go...

Everything I need for the reno are delivered. Therefore I hope there is no hipcups. My last few piece of items are toilet bowl, wash basin, hob, kitchen sink and vanity basin. The vanity basin took me a long time to hunt down as it is wider (90 cm) than normal and it cost me $350!!! without the bracket. The stainless steel bracket will cost another $45 which I did not buy. Not sure if it is necessary.

Kitchen sink




Vanity basin




Kitchen hob only (no hood)

Color, Switchpoint and Lightpoint

Yesterday I met my contractor and finalized all the neccessary reno work for week 1. That includes paint work, switchpoint and lightpoint. Since I am on leave, I drawn up a visual plan for my contractor to make sure there is no mistake.

Trip to Johor Jaya

Mission for the trip: Bargain hunting

I started my journey at 10.30 am and ended at 7 pm. It has been years since I entered JB. Without the help of my BIL to drive me around, I wouldn't have any clue where to go. All I can remember is that we combed all the light shops at Johor Jaya and went to two JUSCO shopping mall. The total cost is SGD 510.

Taps & Bathroom accessories and Lights:

3 pc tap







Mild steel accessories




Bedroom light



Living room centerpiece light



Wardrobe light

Renovation Price Tag

Cut a bit here, cut a bit there. And add a bit here and there. My dilemma is over and this are the quotation I was given.

Overhaul Price tag: 40k+++

1. New common & MBR toilet
2. Hack and cement kitchen floor and wall
3. Kitchen cabinet 34.5ft
4. Glass door between kitchen and living
5. Hack and relay partition with gypsum board for TV area, bedroom and study
6. 2-dr veener door for MBR
7. Vanity outside MBR toilet with lower cabinet and parition with gypsum board
8. Walk-in wardrobe 14ft and laminate flooring
9. Sliding door to study
10.Custom made study ledge 8ft
11.Clear glass casement windows 12 pc(no grilles)
12.Front door and gate
13.Stainless steel chute and aluminium hanger
14.Rewiring and aircon outlet
15.Simple cornice for bedroom and living
16.Miscellaneous work (dismantle, painting, marble polishing, chemcial wash...etc)


Facelift Price tag: 15k+++

1. Kitchen cabinet 34.5ft
2. New door and flame for MBR
3. Walk-in wardrobe 8.5ft and partition
4. New clear glass casement windows 12 pc(no grilles)
5. Wrought Iron gate
6. Change main door lock
7. Stainless steel chute and aluminium hanger
8. Rewiring and aircon outlet
9.Simple cornice for bedroom and living
10. Miscellaneous work (dismantle, painting, marble polishing, chemcial wash...etc)

House layout

I knew this is going to be my house when I first view it. How was the house like? Front room, kitchen wall and store room have been hacked and the master bedroom is extended.

Floor Plan:



Living Room:









Bedroom:







Kitchen:

Renovation about to start...

I have started my renovation shopping as early as 21.02.09.

1st stop: Singapore Expo - (21.02.09 - 08.03.09)

I saw a booth which showcased very nice custom made wardrobe system(http://www.closetrobe.com.sg/). So I decided to ask for more info. I eventually fallen in love with it and decided to do a 8.5ft walk-in wardrobe. The total cost is SGD 2,073.

2nd stop: Bright House lighting @ Tradehub21 (21.02.09)

Saw a cheap deal on the newspaper and decided to check it out! 8 sets of lights (w energy saving bulbs + installation) going for $388 (http://www.bh-lighting.com/). Price is quite reasonable to me. I do not want to spend too much on "necessary white light" as they are ugly anyway. I am saving up to spend on standing/table lambs with warm light. The total cost is SGD 415.

3rd stop: Home Concept @ Tradehub21 (22.02.09 - 08.03.09)

To look for a contractor that is highly recommanded by my best friend (http://www.homeconcepts21.com/), his name is Patrick. Although the sky is pouring that day, I still want to meet him and discussed my renovation needs. I can say, the quotation he gave is much higher than the market or after comparing with how much those big renovation firm charge. But on a safe side I decided to go with him as I have heard far too many bad experience from my friends and relatives who engaged contractor from HELL. The total cost is SGD 13,000.

4th stop: Sincere Furniture Centre @ Tradehub21 (22.02.09)

After the discussion with Patrick, the rain was even heavier. I felt uneasy to drive home. Hence, I took out my big umbrella and start walking down the row of shops to see see look look. I went into a furniture shop with BIG SALE posters on their glass window. This furniture shop does not have a website as they are the suppliers to many other furniture shop. I met the sale person and I started to ask for a "package". I like one of their sofa and the sale person was quick to suggest a package for me to pick a TV console and coffee table, all for $999. After scanning around, the coffee tables he offered was not up to my taste... either in black tempered glass or just too small. I am trying my best to avoid black furniture. Finally, I set my eyes on a clear glass coffee table but was told to top up $200 for it. The total cost is SGD 1,336.

Sofa

Coffee Table

TV console

A dog's life

Eat, play and sleep. That's what they do and love to do. Whenever I looked into http://www.petschannel.com/adoption/ or http://www.spca.org.sg/gallerydog1.html it really breaks my heart. Each day many dogs (big and small) are given up due to various reasons. Price of dogs are so affordable now, even cheaper than PSP and Nintendo. No wonder their owner can discard them like this. Since our economy is heading south now, there will just be more homeless pets in the shelter.

This is Elmo's & Sammi's goodies cabinet: