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If I may suggest, if you are going to cook more than maggi mee, you might want to consider the state of your living room furniture after cooking. I would hack off wall between bdrm 2 and kitchen and replace with top-hung sliding door. The 2 beams can be some sort of feature walls decorating both side of the glass panels. The original kitchen entrance also replace with glass door or those half wall half glass type, so you can get more kitchen workspace. But I prefer a door. This, in my opinion allows more light to flow through, make it look spacious and brighten the house and at the same time, if anyone is ever going to whip up a storm in the kitchen, you only need to clean up the kitchen when you close up the area. Otherwise can leave open. If you are going to put an average size dining table in bdrm 2, I think the space should be more than enough. It's a bedroom after all, I mean the old type, so generally, space is bigger than newer ones now. Your rm is abt 3m x 4m. A dining table is like 1.5m x .9m. Should be ok. Ah.. paiseh. talk too much.

Hi, welcome. Hmm... I would remove bedroom 2, open up kitchen and expand bathroom/toilet. Used to have a unit like this too and the toilets are very cramp. Also , depends on preference, some people don't like to have their dining area seen from the main door. Also depending on your direction, you may just get nice airflow from living rm to dining/kitchen area. Cheers.

For my HO, id say 6 wks from start work. Maybe because I do a lot of hacking. Hopefully all floor, wall, ceiling, electrical, pipes, paint and toilets will be ready this month. So coincident, I'm also moving out on the 24th. My furniture and stuff will go in then but dunno will the house be ready for people to stay. If cannot, then probably will lock one room then to put stuff. Then we will have headache where to stay. Dunno how and where to bunk 5 people!! Ya, adding more things is so stressful. Must watch budget and yet, if don't add like the house not properly done up. Then worry that next time will blame ownself for not doing this or that in the first place. Id always tell me "do this cost kui zarp kor" (Couple of ten dollars), then I will tell him "ya, here kui zarp kor, there kui zarp kor, in the end kui ba kor"!! (Few hundred)

Hey, I got the same toilet light too. Mine is 2x13.

Hmm... reno seems to be progressing quite smoothly. Not 2 week yet but floors all hacked, false ceiling removed, toilets tiles up, waterproofing for toilet done, living and dining room tiles 95% done. So happy. Went to the house just now at about 1 plus and saw the two tilers hard at work. I thought that even if they work on Sat, they would have already gone home by then. Id said before that to maintain standard in tiling, he will not assign more tilers. But we are ok with it cos even though there are only 2 guys, they seem to work fast and so far, the tiling seems good. Will post pic when get the opportunity to take better photos of floor. Also when tiler encounters problem or got things not sure, he will get id to call us to confirm on what we want and if we can accept this and that. Went to Choo Chiang to buy switches and sockets just now. I decided to buy them myself and just pass to electrician through id. Although he is providing switches and sockets, hubby doesn't really like those with small rockers. So instead of asking id and don't know what he will give us, we decided to get those white legrand ones. Blew $145 on 4 1-gang, 5 2-gang, 1 3-gang, 2 tv, 1 2-jack telephone, 1 heater, 6 13ampX1, 12 13ampX2. Heart pain but we know we won't regret it. Also, along the way on thge reno, we discovered more stuff to fix. Window grille misalignment, so must change cos it's a safety issue when I have 3 kids at home. Window handle loose, main door knob dented, existing parquet floor skirting popped out, ... So far, Id or should I say project manager is not bad. That's his title. Quite responsible. 95% of the time respond to my sms. That 5% is when sms went missing!!! But when send follow-up sms, will get reply. Never found the need to call him. Quite knowledgeable too. Ask this ask that ask quote, got answer. Only thing not too great is his 3d pictures. A bit slow in delivering this. Still waiting in fact. But not really a problem with us since we are not doing anything fanciful. In fact, I think we can visualise ourselves since we are asking him to do what we want and not he's telling us what he will do! Also when we chose laminates and hubby said he wanted to take samples home, id told him to wait for the factory to cut bigger pieces. He said small pieces can't see anything. And it's true. When we received the bigger pieces of laminates, about A5 size, we realised that we didn't like the design after all. So for laminates, we will choose again. And my bb also helped in drawing on the laminates!!! So now we know what not to pick!! Really really hope that majority of the reno can complete by the 20th of this month. Even if wardrobes not in yet, it's ok. Cos after 24th, we will be homeless. Keys must pass to new owners already. And then it's time to say bye bye to Bishan.

Anything that hdb will worry that you will cause damage to their structure, I supposed. Did your id say anything about need special chop? For example, I got a special kerb between kitchen and service balcony that will cost me $600 to remove cos need to get approval. $600 for that chop! Got those metal strips inside. My id say that one take 10 days. Dunno real or not. I left that alone.

Usually 3 days I think. Mine was applied on a Friday and approved the following Monday. Yours got anything for PE to endorse?

Today I went down with my family to imm giant to buy the Yale door handleset. $99.90. Now, this is so much cheaper than homefix and also I could make use of my vouchers in giant, so the new door lock is as good as free. Saw the knobs for the rooms as well, tempted to buy but it was so ex at $19.90. The dunno what brand selling at the hardware store near my home is only $7.90. Think my vouchers can be better spent. Actually when at homefix previously, was very tempted to buy the duro lock set where the wooden main door and the padlock use the same key. Just thinking that can eliminate keys and use only 1 key to open everything. But not sure if it is a good idea. Hacking has completed. Material is more or less brought up to my unit already. They also have removed quite a lot of debris already. Wonder when they will start laying tiles. So excited to see the new tiles. Dunno if it would be nice when so many pieces are placed side by side...

I suppose u have to consider again carefully. Not only cov and upgrading fees, you may also need to think abt reno cost and furniture. Have u view other units in that area? Just curious, which ave or st are u looking at? Also will u be taking hdb or bank loan? Cos bank loan need to fork out extra 5% cash.

You can get private lawyer do all, or can also hdb do paperwork and private lawyer discharge loan. If HDB lawyer do paperwork for selling, for my 4rm flat, I paid about $300+. Discharge loan only got cheaper lawyers but you must check that the bank is ok with them. Cos there might be cases where you get a lawyer to discharge loan but bank want to use own lawyer, and in the end you have to pay for both. Safest to ask bank to refer a lawyer to you. Lawyer fees for selling whether using private or hdb lawyer, all must pay cash. No CPF. Only buying can use CPF. Pay hdb lawyer at first appt. Private lawyer can be paid just before 2nd appt.

So, today is day 2 of hacking. So happy to see that they have already completed the living, dining, storeroom, kitchen and toilets. When I went over at 4.30pm, they were doing the service balcony and also clearing the debris. Think there were about 4 or 5 workers there and today the tiles also came in. Whee...

No kidding. I also kenna before.

Try Ikea? Can look at their website.

Yep, no gaurantee can get into sch. For me is get son into sch first then shift! Anyway I also got not much choice. New flat at TPY. I tried asking my parents-in-law, they like Jurong or Pasir Ris? They couldn't sleep for a week! The location and amenities not so much for me but rather for parents and children. They help to look after my kids so can't expect them to travel so far everyday. Moreover, kids growing older already, soon they have to take public transport. Will be so pitiful if they have to travel more than 1 hour just to get to sch. Now new flat within 2km from chij tpy. Maybe my gal can try there!

It's a good brand. I almost wanted to buy it yesterday when I went to homefix but cost $138. Wah, $99 is good price. Think will go there get one.

Erm... ulu = 1 bus service and no mrt? Aiyah, maybe next time you can buy better than TPY. I borrow max from bank and will pay till pokkai. So not much better off also. In fact, pok already. How was your reno after 1 yr? So far so gd?

Yep. Not just that, I'm going to label 1/20, 2/20, 3/20, ... and my note in my hp will tell me which box is what.

Late? What late? You're always welcome, erm, athough I first time talk to you, but still, welcome. Extend a hug also can. Yep, TPY nice even though mine is ulu part of TPY. Mmm... why is it fantastic?

Lifespan up the best. Can just throw and no need to worry about shifting. However, also must spend more to get new ones. Haiz, everything all got gd and bad. But at least better than shift liao then spoil! When I shift to current house, struggle bring the stupid washing machine over, then the next day spoil! Went shopping immediately. My this time also not many big stuff to bring over cos my current stuff quite big. If bring over there, there will be cram. So the things we buy also must bring measuring tape along. Just imagine lor, I went cellini, saw their setting and ask them to measure sofa to tv distance! After satisfy my criteria, then I buy sofa! Ur friends are right. Label very impt. Otherwise when all seal up and then want to find things when move over, will have headache. If you can, store some away first, or else when moving day comes, you will be very busy and will not have time to think which item go into which box. But must remember leh, after storing, dun buy more.

Wah! So coincidence. Mine is beige frame and I think cushion beige too!! My package was the I dunno call wat one. But I change quite a bit of stuff. Coffee table change, mattress change to dining table, 3-seat sofa change to L-sofa. I saw the calypso too. Sat on it. Not bad actually but my new home cannot fit it in nicely.

Aiyah, trying to save cost mah. If one time throw more than 3, must pay leh. Kind of like private arrangement with the "throwers"! But dun think TC allow me to kachao them everyday!! Ya, about 30. Dunno will more than that or not. Haha, my boys' room the book cupboard is enough to give me headache. Haven go thru their desk, book boxes and wardrobe. My wardrobe lagi worse. Endless digging! Think you also better start clearing a bit. Actually, my intention is to move the lighter boxes and stuff myself earlier to save cost and leave the ultra heavy items to the movers. So movers will move for abt $340: 1. piano 2. fridge 3. washing machine 4. 4 standing fans 5. 2 swivel chairs 6. q mattress x 1 7. s mattress x 1 8. 10 boxes Actually, it's all cos of the piano. If no piano, think will anyhow ask any mover to shift liao. Haiz.

Although I only need to handover my current flat keys near end of next month, my family has already started packing. Or rather, started throwing! Wah, I never knew that I have so many junk. It's like endless, throw already still got some more to throw. I got some boxes from the moving company, ya, I ks, book moving company liao, and now my living room is filled with stuffed boxes. What's inside them? Actually, I'm not so sure either. That's cos my parents-in-law were happily stuffing this and that into boxes. And... I still have lots unpacked. Think got abt 20 boxes le. And 10+ unused boxes. Looking at all m y junk, I don't think that they are enough to hold the rest of the stuff. Big items we don't have many but the here, there and everywhere a bit kind of things, think we can throw some more! Existing furniture also must get rid. Wrote to Salvation Army abt donation of bulky items but no news from them yet. Otherwise must get Town Council to throw. But then TC only throw up to 3 items. Dunno the rest how. Mmm... how about each day throw 3? Dunno if got anyone do like that? Now, the hacking has stopped for the day, I wonder how much they have done...

Common Bathroom Will not be posting pictures for the 3 rms and study cos there is nothing inside them. Just empty rooms and parquet flooring. So, these will be varnished and we will put in built-in wardrobes. Other than these, think nothing else for rooms liao. Mmm... will try to get pics of the hacking work!

Dining/Kitchen Master Bathroom

Ok, so I finally got the keys last Friday and then went to the ID to apply for renovation permit. It was approved yesterday and today, they started hacking. I was feeling kind of kpo so I went to take a peek. When I went about 3pm, one was completing hacking the living and dining rooms. Another guy was doing the kitchen. It was so noisy and dusty but the fun part was, there are 3 units hacking together!! My direct neighbour above was also hacking though I think they should finish earlier and another one at the other end of the block on the fifth floor is also doing the same. Not sure how all the other neighbours there felt cos the noise was x3!! As far as I know, the 2nd flr corner was also sold and papers completed. Not sure if that unit would be doing anything soon. So, here are some pictures of my unit. I took the photo immediately after taking the keys. I should say that condition wise, it's actually quite ok but we felt that we did not really like the open concept kitchen. Scared that when we cook, whole house will be oily. Living/Dining