Livinstyle

Actually parquet can be patch up quite nicely if done well. But of course, will need to give the new parquet some time to settle into the new surrounding. After which all will look good. The old steps are single planks. Still in good shiny condition so we are keeping it. Yes it's expensive, was quoted about $4-5k just for the planks if redoing the stairs. Prices will depends on the width & depth of the steps. My stairs are rather wide and deep as compared to some newer developments we saw. Still doing reno, all in a total mess now. Will post pics when i can get done decent shots.

Guess the price is ok considering the length (for 3 storey) and its much more visible since you've double height at the living area. Well worth it. Is the steps on your original staircase parquet or teak planks? I have the same staircase but most of it is hidden behind a wall, and the steps are single planks.

How old is the house? Did you check under the false ceiling / box up areas for water leakage? Monitor the water meter for any signs of leakage. If the house has been painted recently, it will be hard to find traces of leakage. Repainting interior should cost from $4k onwards, depending on your selection of paint. Will cost more if scaffolding is required, ie for double height ceiling. Sand & re-varnish wood floors cost will depend on your total area. How about your staircase? For my case since all the design and re-layout are done by myself, I engaged a contractor to carry out the required works.

How big is the damage for redoing the staircase?

Even if you do not intend to move any water points, you will need to redo the pipes once hacking is involved. May also affect concealed wires if there are any. For the bathrooms, do you intend to lay over the tiles or hack to replace? If hacking of existing tiles is involved, chances are concealed pipes will be damaged. Also bear in mind water proofing. Depending on the age of your house, rewiring and redoing the plumbing works may be required. Check if there's any water leakage both the house interior and exterior (garden). Only paint the interior? How about the exterior?

Nice reno! Love the glass around your house, especially the glass room above the dining area.

Wow what a luxury to have MBR bathroom for 'display'. Indeed it looks bigger and brighter too. Shifting the sewage will cost a bomb. Looking at your bath tub location, won't be able to shower without wetting the bathroom.

Marinated meat, think they have some pre packed or at the deli counter. Sausages, no need to marinade as they they are processed food. More than salty enough in my opinion.

Nice bathroom. Love the double vanity area. Is there a separate shower area? Or only bath tub?

For 1.6m, likely to get an old FH/999 inter terrace. However, old terraces usually have rather small built in as they are either single or at best two storey. Minus the staircase and carporch etc, will have lesser useable area. With 1.6m, may still be possible to get FH/999 condo with 2000+ built in area.

BCA ruling for full length windows is 1m from ground, must be in tempered glass. Wonder why no such ruling for doors? Kind of weird logic.

Check the coverage stated for the electric insect killer. Think the small one only covers 100sqft, so probably has to place it around the sitting/sleeping area. Remembered seeing some that covers 400sqft of space. No la, am also a neubie. The neem oil mixture, just spray it in your garden/plants and drains... they act as a pesticide. Recommended by gardening friends. Oh btw, are you doing the bamboo screens for your side boundary as well? Or leaving it to your plants to act as a natural screen?

You can consider getting those electric mosquito & insect killer. There's also the outdoor solar version which can double up as garden light in the evenings. Will be good if your garden has ample sun (facing the west sun). For my case, i can only use it in the front and back as my side garden is shaded most of the time. Can also try neem oil, easily available from nurseries. For 1 litre... mix 5-10 ml of neem oil, 1-2ml of insecticide soap or detergent & 1 litre of warm water.

Haha but my friend had well given up and got it all removed! Ain't as sporty as your family. I'm also another helpless sweeper, find that the vacuum is more friendly to me. With not much green fingers to speak of, i'm definitely sticking to easy to maintain plants if any! My new place used to have some heliconias, but they are now all gone... gone with the wind. Reno is still ongoing, plumbing and electrical works are more or less to be completing soon. Still some more hacking to be tidied up before wetworks.

Very pretty garden indeed. Good choice on the heliconias. For the bamboo, do they have a lot of falling leaves? A friend's place used to have some plants that have lots of falling leaves and petals, it was a nightmare sweeping it every day!

Thanks for the info. Are the granite shelves polished on the under side?

can get from choo chiang http://www.ccm.sg

Will probably be black granite top. Dark colours solid top do show scratches easily, thus not ideal for me. Furthermore for the kind of $ that will be spent, granite seems like more value for money. I do a fair bit of cooking as well, so a tiny island will still be handy for food preparation or baking. Oh Betty Crocker is good and easy, taste great too. Can PM me your gardener's contact for the grass? Do they also do landscaping as well? Still undecided between carpet or pearl grass.

The sales are quite friendly. I also have the same experience of AW balestier branch quoting me 10-20% higher than IMM.

Matex is by Nippon... but real cheap, cost less than $50 for 20-litre.

Yes, please check out the cost for me. Real marble tiles absorb water, thus the water stains. This is particularly noticeable on vanity tops and the bottom part of the wall. You can try keeping a lookout for commercial buildings/toilets with marble or granite tiles. The bottom part is usually darker than rest of the area.

make sure your ID gives you good quality paint for the white walls, and not the cheap matex emulsion.

Haha, i'm not sure if i can developed an obessive urge like you to be constantly cleaning the place repeatedly! Ok, i admit i'm lazy! Chances are i'm opting for a black counter top with white cabinets. I'm still hoping to squeeze in an island within my smaller kitchen, will have to be a tweeny tiny island though. Hopefully, the island will come in handy for baking.

Heard that the bamboo screen will last probably about 3 years, depending on the location and condition. Ours being a high humidity weather somehow limits its lifespan. However depending on its location... if it is in an area where there's sunlight, it might last longer. Can't see clearly if your bamboo is stuck to the soil ground. Usually it's the part nearer to the soil that will rot first. You're tempting me to replace my wooden fence with these bamboo sticks! Btw, how much psf for your carpet grass?

thanks mudball for the explanation. where did you get the granite shelves from? is it ready cut to size, what's the cost like? i'm also considering having similar shelfing in the kitchen, but not sure what if the wall can hold long shelf. we did considered using marble wall tiles for the bathroom. while this is beautiful, it is not so practical considering that marble tiles is best kept dry. guess real marble toilets are good as powder room, or the hotel restrooms where they have an attendant to wipe dry the place almost instantly.