sohck

Initially was thinking of getting the Rinai three inner-flame model. That's even more expensive at $1,180. But eventually settled on the Bellari one because of the service: Bellari offers a service where the service personnel will come down to your house once a year to check and clean your hood and hob, and replace any parts that are faulty or dirty. All for $50 per visit. I think anybody will appreciate a sparkling clean hood and hob.

No prob. I am also using 30x60.

?????

Meeting the air-con guy this afternoon. ID will also be discussing with us on the carpentry work.

Bellari Double Bowl Professional Sink - 800mm x 520mm x 230mm ($549) We are adding two soap dispensers (2 x $39) (one for hand soap, the other for Mama Lemon) and a pull-out kitchen tap ($219)

Bellari Tornado (TW/TG) $688: This one is quite interesting: the fire swirl around like a tornado (hence the name). It has built-in safety feature: if the cooker detects that there is no high-temperature, it will cut off the gas supply.

Made some purchases from Jalan Besar yesterday: Bellari Slim Line Hood (JL9) $359

Which area are you staying? How come got ghost? Why don't you record the noise the next time you hear it. Then you can use it as an evidence.

Hi Marissa, Welcome to the forum and congratulations in getting your new house. Have fun here and doing your renovation. I think it is 94 square metre. To calculate the square feet equivalent, multiply it by 10.7639104 = 1,011.81 square feet. Do speak to as many IDs / contractors as you can. Show them your floor plan, tell them what you want and let them suggest to you what can be done. After you have done this 5 or 6 times, you will be an expert that many of the people here. And do pose your questions in this forum if you have any.

Hi Garion, Congratulations on starting your renovation and selecting Baroque as your ID. We were also seriously considering Baroque in our three-month search for ID. In fact, Baroque was the last two in our selection, only losing to Ideal on price. Andy was very prompt in our dealing, his quotes and revised quotes came within hours of request. They are detailed and precise so you get the comfort feeling everytime you deal with him. I have also checked out his work in Strathmore Area, tiling, carpentry and design are all very well done. Although I did not sign up with them, Andy did go through the pain and provided me with design diagrams (similar to what you have). I would recommend Andy from Baroque to anybody.

The colour scheme is ok. I like your water basin, square square one. Will be getting one similar. How much did you pay for it?

Have you got your lock replaced? How much does it cost?

Not bad, I used to pay Carrier (now Toshiba) more than $300 a year for 4 times service.

Agree with Pinklady. When you ask for discounts too early (like during the price negotiation but before signing contract), the ID may [plan] tend to cut corners. Instead, go with his price but ask for free, small things that doesn't cost much - like hinges, like the extra colours in the paint, or additional hacking job. It is so much easier for the ID to give you small free things than to ask his boss for that 5% discount. Make it easy for the ID and he will make it easy for you! Works for most business (not only renovation).

I think the gap between IDs and contractors have narrowed over the years. Perhaps it is due to customers asking, contractors these days are also taking on interior design jobs / or giving advice on interior design - so much so they could call and marketing themselves as IDs. However, many of these IDs still have the mentality of contractors - they pretty much do as they were told [by the customers] and only participate in few, selected designs, mostly at the request of the customers. Or worst still, the guy you deal with is not a designer, and he will only engaged the inhouse designer when requested to do so. In my opinion, these IDs have the best value for money. Because their mindset is still very contractor, often they can match the price of contractors'. But like dealing with a contractor, you have to pretty much do most of the designs yourself. The good thing is that should you need advice on designs, you can "activate" the inhouse designers to give you advice / suggestions. To me, that's best of both world!

It's true. Cola contains enough acid to clean your toilet bowl if left overnight.

Thought about this before.... Built-in wardrobe is a better utilization of space, so you won't have gaps between that accumulates lizard poops. Also it can better match the design you have in your room as you can customize the laminate, etc. Ready-made ones are cheaper and more mobile. But if you get those that are pretty large (to maximize space) it is not going to be easy to move them around the house, especially from rooms to rooms.

Baroque is not too bad - design and workmanship are both good. Price wise a little on the high side. No comment on Gracious Lodge as I have never dealt with them before.

Oh I see. Stupid me!

Really quite badly done. Why don't you share the name of the company so the fellow forumers here can be careful in their selection?

May I know the reason why you wanted somebody who is "not very exp"?

For the debate on whether you should engage a registered or non-registered contractor for your renovation, you may want to read Ah Soon track.

Mine is a 5rm flat: renovation includes replacing wall and floor tiles for both toilets, floor tiles for kitchen, change windows, doors (except main door), plaster and paint whole house, kitchen cabinet, wardrobe at master bedroom and bedroom 3, book cabinet at bedroom 2, electrical and plumbing services, king-sized bed platform - about $38K. You can find cheaper ones if you look hard enough but should not have to pay more.

For peace of mind you could call up Nippon Paint (http://www.nipponpaint.com.sg) or ICI (http://www.dulux.com.sg). You can get recommended contractors there with reasonably good quality workmanship. You could also approach painting companies found on internet and newspapers. They are cheaper but you will have to take a risk on the quality.

Hi Sneha, Welcome to the froum. Feel free to check the opinion of any of us if you need help.