BusyBee

Original colour of these room doors are light brown. My contractor used Duluxe paint (don't know model) to paint over the doors upon our request.

MBR Storage Cabinet cum TV Console MBR Bathroom with 32" TV and LG soundbar system

Hi, here's my MBR and BR2 design plan for easy reference. Due to space constraint in MBR, we have hacked away the L-shaped wall between MBR and BR2, then making use of thickness of wall, put in (1) a full ht storage cabinet cum TV console on 1 side. And put in (2)a L-shape partition in BR2 for a small WIW. In this way, MBR is more spacious and we still have space for a single bed for my MIL who is staying with us.

Thanks. My reno was all done by this ID contractor, including supply and laying and overlaying of wall and floor tiles. He brought us to choose the tiles from LSH and Hafary. And I chose this homogeneous tiles with porcelain top coating to get that "white effect". Cons of these tiles are: under very harsh light, the tiles will show "waves" that makes the flooring look "uneven" (but so far, I don't find this a problem) and it's more expensive compared to normal homo tiles. Will try to get the tile serial quote from my ID contractor and update you again. It's a pre-requisite for us to have a lot of storage space in living room (for my shoes, my DVD and book collections, players, home theatre system, karaoke speakers etc). And my hubby and I don't like to see clutters exposed in "plain sight", so we incorporate that into our design. We have this stretch of full height storage cabinet in white laminate finishing(with blum tic-tac system)cum TV console at one side of living room. Here are the pictures: URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/684/livingroomff.jpg/]

I think the things that I remembered most from my reno were there was a new problem and challenge every day: 1. IDs Even before we collected our keys in Mar 2012, I have started reading magazines and done online research on IDs (industry reputation, customer reviews, pros and cons etc) and reno ideas. Then we went to “shop” around for IDs and ideas. But in the back of our mind, we were thinking of using our old ID who renovated our existing 3-room flat. Since his after-sales service has been very good and we have good “chemistry” during last reno. But we have some reserves since he left the reno firm and set up a new reno company with his partner. So we took our time “shopping” around and at the same time, asked him to show us current projects that he’s working on for workmanship and “feel”. He shown us a few units and in the end, we decided to stick with him. We took into consideration that he’s not really an ID from renowned reno firm who will charge exorbitant fees for ideas alone. Such IDs normally will employ contractors to do the “hard” work. So we have to pay more for the same amount of work to be done. Also we tend to be quite firm in what we wanted in the design and colour and will “spoon-feed” ideas to the IDs. So most IDs will not be happy with working with owners like us and our reno will suffer as a result. In the end, we have to do a lot of brainstorming and homework before sitting down with our ID and discuss with him. He will then throw in a few ideas which we sometimes include in our overall design. 2. Reno ideas and HDB Permit Our first quotations include: a) hacking of wall between MBR bathroom and MBR b) hacking of wall and floor tiles for both bathrooms and replace them with homogeneous tiles c) hacking of wall between kitchen and living room d) hacking of wall between kitchen and service yard Then ID informed us that HDB does not allow hacking in areas with waterproofing membrane. Any hacking in such areas has to be done after 3 years’ warranty period. But we asked ID to go ahead to apply HDB permit for these areas and reno was delayed till approval. Then (a) was rejected. We replaced (b) with overlay tiles instead of hacking. © was approved. (d) was subjected to PE endorsement at additional costs. So after much hassles and delays, reno started in first week of April 2012. HDB Floor Plan Space Planning

You can still keep 3 rooms. What I did was hack away both walls between MBR and Room 2. Then put in a full ht storage cabinet cum TV console on 1 side using thickness of wall. Then put in a L-shape partition in Room 2. So I have a small WI wardrobe oppo MBR bathroom entrance. Will try to upload my design plan and some pictures soon

Near SIn Min Lane

Hello, read yr t-blog too. Nice flooring and white brick walls..very stylo. U moved in yet? I moved in in June. Unit above mine now still under reno. Got crackline in MBR ceiling and my son's room ceiling after hacking upstairs. Look like earthquake site haha. Anyway, got my painter to touch up liao. So watch out for such "casualties" in yr place if upstairs unit still unde reno

I bought mine at Style Furniture at Midview. U can also find something similar at Furniture Mall at Toh Guan.

Sorry for late reply. Busy days at work these 2 days. Here're my replies: Lovely kitchen you have there and White is the new IN My contractors and suppliers were initially surprised at our choice of using all white, saying it's rare. And the latest trend being black and white or grey as in industrial look. But my fav colour is white, so no brainer on choosing it as my house's primary colour hue Then I put in diff secondary colour hues in diff parts of the house to make it more interesting. 1) Did you hack down any walls? Yes. I hacked away (a) the wall between MBR and Room 2 to make room for a WI wardrobe (2) wall between kitchen and dining area for open concept kitchen and to make room for a breakfast counter (3) wall between kitchen and service yard 2) Is that doors/panels which you installed? It's a bi-fold door in white powdered coated aluminium frames and tempered frosted glass. Put in this bi-fold door to hide away clutters created by hanging clothes and laundry baskets etc. It's more commonly used in bungalows and terraced houses with swimming pool. But I wanted this idea cos it's less space consuming than a sliding door. Due to space constraint created by 2 huge piping that take up a lot of space at the service yard, which does not allow a sliding door to be fully "opened" 3) Love to see more pictures of your kitchen~! Thanks. Here are some pictures of my kitchen

I got it from One Piece Painting.

Now in the aftermath, I think back on the whole process with a rosy tint, since my house turns out so beautiful (to me) and time mends all heartburns and pains, I guess. But during the reno process, it’s really painful, despite I have given very specific reno ideas to the ID and we have used the same ID that we have used before. But I guess since I have upgraded to a bigger unit and the reno concept and contents are different, all previous experiences do not apply here. Even prior to that, when we got our keys and visited our new flat for the first time, we almost fainted. We were horrified at • the small size of the kitchen, • the ugly partition between the kitchen and service yard, • the super ugly and confining PD door and partition at the common bathroom, • the small size of the MBR bathroom, • the big wooden door at MBR bathroom entrance which leaves no standing room when open, • how “big” the aircon window is when compared to the aircon ledge and not all aircon compressor can go through etc. Bearing in mind that we purchased our unit from “Sale of Balance Flats” which is comparable to the current sky high resale market rates and we get such “Kopitiam” standard. Then we found out that our unit gets slanted morning and afternoon sun and not much wind in early months of the year. Although we have visited the site in later months of the year before we chose our unit, and we don’t see such problems So overall, it’s very disappointing for us and we searched ways and means to solve these problems through our reno Here’re some pictures of our unit before reno for your better understanding.

I guess I’m doing this backwards. Just finished my housewarming party last Sunday and I finally have the time to relax and write my reno blog It has been non-stop rush for me since last Dec when we selected our flat at HDB Hub. Then it’s searching for ideas and IDs. Followed by selling of my existing HDB flat (I sold my unit DIY). Followed by collecting of keys to new flat. Then reno, searching for furniture and decorations, packing/moving house/unpacking, handover of existing flat etc. It’s a non-stop nightmare. Just imagine a headless chicken running around squeaking! That’s how I look like in those months Even the housewarming party is a tiring event with about 40-50pax to cater to. What I did was order catering from Neo Garden. Colleague’s hubby is a member, so I got member price. But tying down the total number of headcounts and the final menu took some time. Then I went overboard with finger food (nuts and chocolates, Four Season durian puffs, mini swiss rolls of different flavor, sushi party packs from Ichiban Sushi, fruits, desserts, ice cream etc), wine and drinks. So everybody went home, happy and overloaded with food. I think they will remember the food more than my house Here’re some pictures from my housewarming party to share.

Prices ranging from $10 to $600 Item 12. Acer Scanner Model 6678-03B / L410 x W250 x H40 / In good working condition / $20 Item 13. Brother MFC-5840CN Network Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, and Fax / L18.1” x W19.1” x H13.4" / In good working condition / $80 Please sms me at 96373729 if keen. Self collection in Bukit Batok.

Prices ranging from $10 to $600 Item 6. 2-Door Wardrobe / L800 x W550 x H2020 / In good condition / $80 Item 7. Full length mirror / L400 x W500 x H1600 / $10 Item 8. Sanyo Washer / L589 x W568 x H975 / In good working condition / $80 Item 9. Sharp Microwave Oven R-148D White Colour / L365 x W360 x H357 / In good working condition / $40 Item 10. Contata Coffee Machine / L13.75" x W7" x H10.5" / Complimentary 01 starter kit of beverage capsules / New - Collected from Coffee Bean in Apr 2012 at $299 / Selling at $260 Item 11. GE Simon III Wireless Security System / In good working condition / Bought in 2007 at $1300 / Selling at $500 - 1 Keypad / Control Unit / Sounder - 1 Motion Sensor - 1 Door Transmitter - 4 Window Transmitter Item 12. Acer Scanner Model 6678-03B / L410 x W250 x H40 / In good working condition / $20 Item 13. Brother MFC-5840CN Network Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, and Fax / L18.1” x W19.1” x H13.4" / In good working condition / $80 Please sms me at 96373729 if keen. Self collection in Bukit Batok.

I have chosen a LG Inverter System 4. The aircon window is too small for other brand compressor to fit through. My aircon window is only about 695mm in height. So better to measure your aircon window first b4 buying your aircon.

View before and after photos of my common toilet via this link https://picasaweb.google.com/101987790770477650639/CommonToiletReno?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPXC3YHqocyVlQE&feat=directlink

Hi, I'm from Blk 423. Finishing tail end of my reno and schedule to move in early June Didn't realize Casa Clementi is such a "happening" place. Falling incident? Fights? If you are keen, you can contact my ID, Byron 96998818. I used him in my old home and he has recently opened his own company. His contractors, especially carpenters have good workmanship. And he has excellent after-sales service and during reno, if you have any complaint or rectification to be done, he will try his best to do it and not "brush it aside" or argue with the owners like other IDs. However, he is not much of an "ideas" person, so you will have to do your homework (reading magazines and browse internet for ideas). Then run through your ideas with him. I agree, the interior layout in these blocks are "weird". I keep telling my hb that these HDB architects and contractors really "eat ****". They apparently don't live in HDB flats, if not, why such idiotic ideas? (1) Common Toilet - I almost fainted when I saw the PD doors and partitions. It look like a kopitiam toilet. And when you go into the toilet unit or bath unit, you will feel claustrophobic like you are in a "coffin". It's that small, even for a petite lady like me...And the toilet bowl is so "far way" from the wall, so I can't put in a glass shower cubicle as it will be very squeezed. You can tear down the PD doors and partitions, but you will see holes in your wall tiles. So what we did was, after tearing it down, we overlay the wall tiles (2) Toilet Entrance - we tear down the bi-fold door to the service yard and overlay toilet and service yard floor tiles. Then we put in bi-fold door to both service yard entrance and passage way entrance. Will upload later some photos before and after my reno.