d'lotus

My carpenters have not seen nor installed a blum runner before.... but from experience, it's sup sup sui for them. For the servo system - that one I am not sure.

Now you know why I only change 1 of the 2 hinges (small door).... or 2 of 4 (big door).... else, need to push hard to start the closing process... and takes FOREVER!! ... and my family and I don't slam things.... it's a culture thing. If I do, then maybe need to change ALL the hinges

I am also using a portable one from Taiyo... bought 3 years ago for $89 at Fairprice, near Khatib MRT station. At that time, they were having a promo... free 3 pc pot set

Else.... have to slide the fridge out till the door can be opened fully

For my cabinet doors (wardrobe and kitchen) - I just change 1 (small) or 2 (full length) of the hinges to a cheapo damper hinge that the carpenter has.... if you wanna a brand... there's MOBILE stamped on it.... cost only $1.5 each. The hinges that come with my cabinet are from HAFELE

IMHO, products from both brands are ok.... just like the rest of other brands.... but their prices are really out of this world Style and value for money do not come hand in hand and I opt for the latter.... paying $1,000 for a basin mixer just doesn't seem right... but hey, if you have the $, what is a few grand. Having expensive and branded items in the flat is a good talking topic... eg when you have friends coming over.... you can have bragging rights.... smiling humbly while muttering.... "this tap cost me a bomb".... "is it? how much" "not much lah" "tell lah, how much".... "only $2,000" (I guess the water that comes out taste sweeter?) This is a true conversation exchange - attended one my friend's house warming.... really BTH! (yeah... sour grapes )

Wow... must made a fortune then which unit? Hey, what happened to your Reno T-blog @ My Sweet Home Coming Soon! Started and end May 2009.... planning to continue the 'journey'?

@joleena... these shoe separators are just pretty cool...... where is Japan Home?

Dimension wise - it's all correct, but do not know if your ID is experienced enuf to cater for installation space requirement. Take a look at my fridge's brochure (I have posted it in one of the reno blogs earlier) and note the installation space required. This Panasonic brochure is good - they have diagram to note the space required for full opening of ALL the doors. Most of the brochure I noticed DON'T have this. You will notice the colour of my fridge (the middle model in the brochure) does not really match the white theme of my kitchen, but could not do anything as this model comes in only 1 colour (Rose Stainless) - looks champagne gold to me! The colour that suits my kitchen would be the one on the left model of the brochure (Elegant Pearl) - our first choice, but too wide!! From your pix... you have no problem with your left door, as there is nothing to block it. I suppose the wall will impede the opening of your fridge right door. One way to over come it is to move the fridge forward till the door is able to open fully - but your fridge will jut out and not flush against the wall. I see that you have a fridge base that is exactly the size of the current fridge (fridge base still in thing? I personally hate it!!) You will have problem moving the fridge forward then. What is the brand/model of your fridge? Do share with us what is your ID's recommendation

Hi..... my reno journey blog is a little unique - I am happily staying in my new condo since Nov 09, but only starting the blog now - re-living my reno process; instead of the normal reno journey most forummers describe here. Wifey and I decided on a minimalist theme... simple white-grey-blacks.... and maximise storage space! The condo is first hand, but not new.... one of the unsold units put back into the market. Since it came with built-in closet and kitchen cabinet, decided to do minimal reno. I registered for my RT account early 2009, but somehow, could not get the account validated. Send numerous emails to site admin but nothing came back - still no go. I registered again a few months back and lo and behold, the validation process went through this time. All these while, can only read but could not post - very frustrating - could not ask any queries at all!! Started condo hunting in Feb 2009 and cutting the long story short (will come back to this episode later) got our unit in D'Lotus end June 2009 (property market was at its lowest then - yipee!!) We were kinda lucky - as our original timeframe to look for our condo was Dec 2009 (property market was at its highest then - phew!!)... ding ding dong dong along the way, reno took about 6 weeks (will come back to the ID selection process later) and we were in 1st November 2009 (Sunday) Left view from balcony - to the left most is Toa Payoh hub - 'walkable' Middle view from balcony - that's Curtin University's campus Right view from balcony - NKF building and behind the mosque is St Michael's bus interchange, very convenient ... last but not least... straight down.... the swimming pool. Top right corner is BBQ pit #2... pit #1 is directly 1 level down. Condo model @ show unit

I am using Sanus' WMS3 Tilt and Swivel Wall Mount for satellite speakers. Got it free together with the AV system purchase. If I am not wrong, outside selling between $28-$35

Daily vacumming was wifey's instructions.... now once a week is MY instruction!! I love to sleep on the rug

@gals_mama... from your post, seems like you are providing space for the small and tall fridge that you have selected. Are you catering extra space, just in case you wanna change to a bigger one in future, as what @Zelly noted above? To share my fridge hunting experience, I was bound by space constraint as my condo came with built-in kitchen cabinet (refer pix below) and all I had to work with these dimensions = 84cm x 73cm x 185cm (WxDxH) I have to provide adequate space on the left side of the fridge so that the smaller door could open adequately for the ice-making container to be removed (from the brochure - full opening requires 21cm space, but in the end, from motion study at Best Denki, Plaza Singapura, 9cm suffice. We require the right door to be FULLY opened for easy access to the right side of the fridge (most of our frequently used items are stored on this side. Luckily, the microwave oven did not obstruct the door... phew! The original fridge that we wanted to get is way bigger than this on... around 1.5x the width, height about the same. In the end, we settled for the middle one in the brochure (Panasonic NR-F532TX - only one colour) - all the requirements are there (ie freezer at the bottom, vege compartment in the middle, ice making tray (my son's favourite part of the fridge) and the dimensions are right (except for the price ) We cook and freeze our food a lot, and with 2 boys.... it's a challenge - have to restock more frequently. I will do up my reno-blog soon (post reno blog to be more accurate) and explain more on our journey.

Hope you don't regret your decision in getting a small fridge NOW, as IF and when you wanna change to a bigger one..... the space you provide NOW is the constraint Nothing against husbands making decisions in/for the kitchen.... just ensure he knows what he is doing Jokes aside

If space is a limiting factor, then bo pien, tower fan is kinda fits the bill, space saving. Agree that it's noisy, but one can mitigate it by not swiveling it - fixed it at one flow position (crap isn't it) Yes, stand fans are the best... but try not to get those with 3-way of swings, just left and right suffice

If you entertain a lot, then the rug will give your home an elegant look/feel. Yes, it's a little hassle to maintain, especially if you have kids in the house.... spills (as noted in earlier threads) I have a furry rug in my living room between the TV console and my sofa.... initial plan was to vacuum daily.... then twice per week... now, it's weekly (right before mopping).

Hi, I'm staying at D'Lotus @ Lorong Ampas.... any RT forummers around this area? Let's built-up a groupie and have regular teh tarik sessions, discussing any topic under the sun/moon Let the intro roll!!

There's a shoplot along 28, Lorong Ampas (behind Shaw Plaza @ Balestier) that sells teak furniture, Colonial Antuque. I pass that place almost daily but didn't have to urge to go in... as not getting teak furnitures for our condo - wrong theme. Go and have a look. p/s : they had that sales banner there since I moved in Nov 2009 ie... everyday's a sales day!!

Catch the cat... if u r staying in Changi, 'relocate' it to Jurong.... if you are staying in Woodlands, 'relocate' it to Marina Bay... u get the idea

Like that have to assign driver, else..... overnight at Reuben's new place

@salavanun.... even for a basic reno, it also depends on the materials you choose.... As noted by @leechaorui... agree with the the $10k...

@ dean / @ashomech - was at Vivo yesterday, dropped by Daiso and got me this!! Yea... cheap ($2) and fits the bill (easy to set, start, stop and reset) The alarm is rated at 65-75db and is loud enough to be heard inside a closed room - BRAVO!! (unless of one is deaf/semi-deaf)

@therat... Singapore is not a clean city... it's a CLEANED city.... To be fair, most of my overseas friends and colleagues are very impressed with the cleaned city state... but somehow, they always comment that... it's a little 'fake'.... SG is devoid of 'character'.... whatever it is.... there 'should' be a little dirtiness here... smelly there.... Agree.... just a day off for the cleaners.... let's see what's the consequence... what's the difference Cleanliness should start at home... it's a character thing, a cultural thing... not the $$ one pays to the TC MUST be fully utilised - then only rest in peace I shift to a private condo.... hoping the tenants/owners are a little 'atas'.... higher educated... but to my dismay.... same **** happens!! (like HDB)

@vermilion... any brand name of the 'waterproofing' stuff that you bought at the DIY shop? Are your referring to inpregnators?

@marsh.... now you know why SG is always branded as a first world infra but a 3rd world mentatlity country... I take the current parents to task (whose minds were screwed by their parents [these are ppl beyond help ie the grandparents]).... following in their parents' behaviour.... and this is seen and followed by their kids...... and the parents didn't do anything to correct them....