Bloom

Hi Raye, Which shop is having 1-for1 promo?

Interior fittings/system – Be your own middleman Potential savings: By interior fittings/system, I am referring to the hardware of the kitchen cabinet – hinge, drawer pull out, soft close, etc. I thought the only possible way to save $ was to go for a lower end brand or the entry level range of reputable brands. But I was pleasantly surprised. It is known that these hardware companies give discounts to contractors, IDs and carpenters. It would be great if contractors/IDs/carpenters could extend or share these discounts with their customers. I read that a forummer got his FOC from his ID. So, there’s no harm asking! Some hardware companies have distributors. Distributors welcome business from home owners. Go for those that do not distinguish the walk-ins (whether walk-ins are contractor$/carpenter$ or home owner$). With a minimum purchase, distributors can deliver goods FOC to the factory where the cabinets are fabricated. It sounds like a great idea to avoid the hassle of coordination but it is not really a good one. The point is, the contractor/ID/carpenter must think that you are buying direct from the parent company.

Carpentry – Go Direct Potential savings: between 10 to 25% This is an easy way to save $ and to retain control, especially if you are into DIY, doing without a contractor or ID. If you know what you want and can draw a simple diagram to explain that, then going direct to the carpenter will save you $. I was told by an ID that the cost price (i.e. before profit) is around $70/sqfr but I don’t know how true that is. I really think it should be lower. A note on cabinet drawers: There is an additional charge of ~$20 for each drawer. Therefore, if you love drawers like me, make sure it’s at least 80cm wide. Otherwise, it’s really not worth the extra charge since there are at least 2 rows of drawers in each "column", and the fittings system can still be ex after savings. Remember to check with the fittings system’s specs to determine the maximum width allowed. FYI, some carpenters charge slightly more for their quality workmanship and the premium laminates used. However, they usually absorb GST, that’s an immediate savings of 7%!

It is possible to save $$$ on the kitchen with a little research & some coordination. The 3 main components of a kitchen works are (1) carpentry for the frame, (2) interior fittings/system for storage organisation (e.g. bl*m, haf*le) and (3) working surface (e.g. soild surface). I made some savings on all 3 although not to the maximum possible. Looking at the savings that one can potentially get makes me want to set up a “gr*upon” concept company for renovation. The industry has some “heavily guarded” secrets that should not be discussed openly. Therefore, I shall only share the principles for each component.

It has been a long and challenging journey. I am happy that I am reaching the end of the tunnel very soon. Going to post some random photos… Do t-blogs get deleted if it is not updated after some time?

Teka having sale! 3 days only.

Thanks, sohnice! It is very helpful!

F&P offers: 2 year parts and labour warranty 5 years Compressor 5 years Internal Condenser 5 years rust free Though not comprehensive, I think it is pretty decent, compared to other brands. I've checked out the sale. There is no special promo for E402 stainless steel but the E402 white/sandstone is a steal! It is the same price as the smaller E372 white/sandstone. What you have gotten is a great deal! The special promo for E372 stainless steel is not as attractive, just about $60 less than the lowest I've asked around.

I don't know when my reno will be completed cos the there was a delay in getting the approval to hack the walls. Everything has come to a stand still Now, I am considering the stainless steel looking one and have a grey tall cabinet next to it, while the rest of the cabinets in white.

Hi emreno, welcome to the neighbourhood! Did the seller leave the wood furniture behind?

Hi sohnice, I have some questions, can you advise? I am currently renovating my house and your feedback would be very helpful! (1) Main Door Is it fire rated? If yes, is it nayatoh & what color did you use? Also what is the thinkness? I am considering digital door lock and it needs a certain thickness. (2) Bedroom Doors I love them! Are they nayatoh as well? (3) IntelliCorder door peephole recorder Was this installed onto the door or on the wall? Do you know how long the battery can last? Is recording continuous or is it set at a pre-fixed interval? Do you need to delete the video daily? (4) Bathroom Ventilation Fan Was it mounted onto tempered glass? It looks kind of transparent. Many thanks!

Fingers and toes crossed that our units will be well-behaved I am thinking of getting sandstone gray and would like the kitchen laminate to match the color but I am not sure how to?! If I get the fridge delivered 1st, it could be dirtied, or worse damaged, during the cabinet installation. I wonder if the contractor can pass me the laminate samples to bring to retail shop to do the matching

Hi May_dream1, a picture speaks a thousand words

Hi lovenestinjw, thanks for your "like"! The Mitsubishi Starmex System 2 you got is a good deal. Is it an inverter?

Hi! I am also getting F&P bottom freezer fridge. Is this model no. 372, 402 or? Heard some not so good reviews but I think I am still going ahead. Can you share the price? Thanks!

Something I learned about tiles purchase and how to save cost for DIY renovation... (1) Use tiles that are low in stock – they could be priced up to 50% lower or more. However, it is essential to ensure that the quantity, including buffer, is sufficient for the area to be laid. (2) Find a nice contractor who is willing to reduce the cut he takes from the supplier. I estimate the usual cut to be in the range of +/- 25%. (3) Purchase tiles from a supplier that is not affiliated to the contractor. Negotiate for contractor or near-contractor price. Discount is in the range of 10 to 25% depending on various factors. Another advantage is that some suppliers accept credit cards that can earn points/rebates.

The tiles I have chosen…

After 4 requests for details and after 4 responses, the wall-hacking approval is still pending. I have my take on whats going on but I shall not comment. To speed up approval, I decided to take a more conservative approach and minimise the no. of alternations put forth in the initial application: - Leave 1 of the walls (to be hacked) intact - Leave the original stairs intact (and overlay with tiles) instead of hacking and replacing it with suspended timber stairs, commonly seen in landed properties - Frame the raised area with stairs to address safety concern due to the 40cm drop in foyer, although this was not done by the other unit With the above changes, I have also decided to shift the main door to the right as the planned centre entrance no longer serves the dramatic feel I wanted to create with 2 stairs on each side of the beam. The next best drama is to use a different floor tiles in the middle of the recess area. Hopefully, the eyes would be tricked to interpret this as a red carpet leading to the chill out area.

@LynZie: Thank you for your comforting words! I hope the approval will come soon. Otherwise, it will be the rate limiting step. I see that your reno will be completed very soon, that's very fast! Congrats in advance

Yesterday was Day 5 of reno. The wall and floor tiles have been hacked and cleared (Day 1 & 2). The hacked surfaces have been plastered (Day 3 & 4). Waterproofing is done and some wall tiles in the bathrooms have been laid (Day 5). Everything went well except for the hacking of walls. HDB has not granted the approval yet. They have written twice to my contactor to ask for details and he did as requested. I have also called the in-charge to clarify the hacking is similar to that in one of the units in the same stack. The reply I received was “that unit was done some time ago (before he joined).” What does that mean?

@ May dream1: Hi there! Thank you for your encouragement! @ValerieLow: Thank you for your compliment! I see that you have also started your reno. Wishing you a smooth reno too. I will post some photo shortly. I hope to write more too. But I realise I am not one who verbalise my thoughts. This probably explains why this t-blog is so skim after 3 months!

Chanced upon a TV series “Superior Interiors with Kelly Hoppen”. Kelly Hoppen's style is simple yet tasteful, minimalist yet opulent. Her philosophy,“…When I design a room, I really want to reflect the personality of the people living in it. Good taste is a room you feel comfortable in… Good design can be achieved with a very small budget… When you get it right, it can actually improve your life…” For a non-professional like me, it's easier said than done. I am inspired, nevertheless. Renovation has started on Mon, 16th Apr.

@ May dream1: At least 2 other units in the same stack have walled up the foyer. The idea to have 2 “sofas” came about because I want to fully utilise the available space and yet have a spacious feel. The TV area is small but good enough for “personal” viewing. I do not think my guests visit me to watch TV. While they could, the 2nd “sofa” area, dinning and kitchen island form a guest hosting zone individually and collectively at the same time.