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I think it depends on how many and what kind of quality you want. For me, i didn't spend much on lightings, you can see my post here: http://mylittlecasa.blogspot.com/2011/09/down-lights-ceiling-lights-wall-lights.html If you're on tight budget, u can consider buying from Malaysia also.

my current house is downlight with false ceiling, fan in the middle, it looks good to me: My previous house is cove light with L box with fan in the middle, also ok.

I tot as long as your fan don't touch the lights will be fine? For me I just told my contractor the size of my fan and he will estimate the distance himself. See picture below:

Btw, just to give you a better picture of the cost, my electricity per month is around $90, 3 adults 2 kids. LED lights at the moment are still too expensive to me, I would prefer normal electricity saving light bulbs.

I installed 9 downlights in my living hall, i don't find their electric usage expensive. My contractor gave me 3 lighting points, so i can control how many lights to on at once. See my pictures here: If you want to see other lights, click here.

I find lighting.com the cheapest and no need to bargain as prices are fixed. But quality wise depending on your luck. So far my toilet wall light is spoilt after few months using, the rest are still working.

mine is Baron, cheap and good

My Kitchen sliding glass door was $600 only

I regret using black colour solid surface.

haha, regarding IKEA items: I only buy decoration items from IKEA, I always tell ppl don't buy furniture from IKEA as they are not durable. My brother bot the shoe racks from IKEA, within a month it collapsed. When I bot my first house, I bot many IKEA items as they are cheap and nice, but most are spoilt or replaced not even after a year. Regarding stainless steel, you'll be surprised many stainless steel do rust. There's once I bot a pot from OG, there was rust on the top after 1 usage, I brought back for refund. The guy told me the rust is becoz in our water, it contain steel element, any stainless steel left with water for long term, will get the rust, which he said is not from the stainless steel but from the water. Although at tat time I don't buy his explanation and insisted on refund, now I do see my other stainless steel item get rusty. But strangely this rusty level is like, get worst for those not so good quality stainless steel. Anyway now I'll just clean the rust away if possible. But the rust on the IKEA item is really too much, I don't believe those products are truly stainless steel, i think they're chrome. Btw even my Rinai stainless steel hob get rusty. So in a way i start to believe wat the salesman from OG told me.

Yes, for HDB and apartments, cannot install those ventilation fan type of hood, you may consider chimney type which is better than those slim type

My old house is using something like wood, but i don't like it, coz over time it'll give you problem. it is water proof but after long time the water can leak into the side and the wood will start to rot, I don't suggest you to go for this type. My current one is solid surface, I also don't like it coz it is prone to scratches and marks. Do ask your ID or contractor the pro and con of each type of material before deciding. You may refer to my post here: http://mylittlecasa.blogspot.com/2011/08/solid-surface-for-kitchen-table-top-do.html

crizto is not bad, i've some stainless steel from this brand. My basins are Baron, so far so good. Price is cheap. If you need to see picture, click here.

I think balestier there shd be cheaper. I got mine from Royal Fanco and lights from lighting.com, you may refer to prices and pictures here: http://mylittlecasa.blogspot.com/2011/09/cost-of-renovating-toilet-including.html

I got most of my items from Royal Fanco, you may see the pictures and prices here: http://mylittlecasa.blogspot.com/2011/09/cost-of-renovating-toilet-including.html

I have the same thought as you last time, but after checking quotation I don't find it worthwhile, must as well change the whole thing. Anything you don't like you can still change before moving in, but after move in will be difficult to change. My advice is hack it off and do a new one, unless you can do the lamination by yourself. I don't think carpenter will want to do a small budget for just changing the door.

If solid surface, it'll be one full piece

hahah, I tot mine was not good, but after seeing yours i think mine was way too good! Although the joint between my laminate does have a line, but is much smaller than yours, and my kitchen where the laminate do not join with laminate (ie. join with other type of material), there's no line at all! I do find some corners the laminate crack a little at the bottom like urs, but much smaller not as big as yours, and with this i told my friends the workmanship is bad, if i'm you, i'll probably fight with the carpenter! haha! And my carpenter is from Msia, I tot singapore carpenter shd have better workmanship

My quotation in Nov 2010: http://mylittlecasa.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-cheap-quotation-for-cabinet-wardrobe.html

You can try my tiler who is also my main contractor, do PM me if you want the contact. His work is very good, i don't find his price expensive but some other friends I recommended compare other contractor and said ex. Frankly, workmanship for tiler is very important, Mr Tan is really someone you can trust his workmanship and coordination, he keep to his timing also, a very neat person, I shall post some of his work when I have time, thumbs up for him!

For me, I get a main contractor who help me to coordinate with other sub-contractor, save me lots of money and time.

Some of the items are expensive to me, ID will be more ex than contractor, if you've the design in mind, just go to contractor straight away, anyway i see that you're not doing many things

Invisible grille will be more expensive than the conventional type, for cost and review, see here: http://mylittlecasa.blogspot.com/2011/09/invisible-grille-review.html

For me, i just get my contractor to repaint the door and chrome the lock and handle, it turn out very nice and elegant, only cost me $400.