csingeu

LOL... yeah! I just got another quote last weekend (from neighbourhood renovators downstairs)... $35K!! It's like half of what the other IDs are quoting me... a bit scary ah?

Wah! Very chio and affordable! (though i don't know how much the normal SOP kind cost). BUT yours really looks But sometimes, i very scared to do such nice stuff, coz don't know if got noisy neighbours or naughty kids, later poke poke here touch touch there... then damaged le... I'll be very LOL... just a thought... this door sign, can organize Group-Buy or not? hehehe

Talk abt char kway teow, I'm feeling hungry now. Last time, there's a char kway teow stall at 505 market. I used to eat it quite often when I was still schooling... Then now it's gone le... don't know go to where... I can't remember whether there's other char kway teow stall ard now... There used to be a nice hokkien prawn mee... which I like that texture and "wetness"... but now also no more... been eating mostly (chicken with porridge + you tiao) or kway chap for a lot of weekends, so the past weekends, we tried the yong tou fu stall (facing the POSB ATM)... not too bad... Yes. The chicken rice (facing wet market) is really very packed. (though i think i didn't buy from it before, coz always long queue - i hate waiting)... last weekend, i was checking out some renovators (my mum helped me ask for some quotes earlier in the week) for quotations along the shops after the wet market towards the former town council building, I saw a long queue there too... anyway, don't think i'm getting any of the renovators downstairs. There's a few (Hwa Li, AP Logic, LCT)... some of them... the quotes were like $35K. a bit too low... i scared a lot of hidden costs.

LOL! Not really a review la... more like personal reflections abt my visit to your place. Yes! The Arco Lamp is here! and it's a little less than what I expected. Think the total price is <$350! and i'll be collecting it this Sat. Will prob test it at my current home first, since my new place, won't be ready b4 May (I guess)... But i think the lamp is a little tall (think ard 2.4m or so), a bit dangerous to assemble at my current place, coz my living room got ceiling fan. For my new place, there won't be ceiling fans for my living rm or dining rm. Some friends *s-w-e-a-r* by ceiling fans for cooling and ventilation. But I think it's visually cluttering, and for it to be effective, it has to be placed above the area it's trying to cool. And this usually means being positioned off-sided, as the sofa is likely to be against the wall or so... And I don't really like built-in stuff; kind of restrict future configuration, if next time, I intend to change facing of my sofa and tv console, or shift the sofa... then the ceiling fan not very effective le. Don't like it in my bedrooms too.. think have to be careful with them... I don't want to lose a hand or wat (maybe i'm sounding paranoid)... maybe i'm just don't like ceiling fans la... anyone using standing fan or other cooling solutions (not ceiling fans, not wall-mounted fans, not aircon)? Yes... slowly "psycho-ing" my WTB to the idea of having a projector and 5.1 HTS... LOL... maybe she just gave up on me (coz i'm just too stubborn)... She was telling me we should get this game and it would be the highlight of our house warming... and I said "yeah! with our projector and 5.1 HTS too!" hehehe... Just Dance 2 E3 2010 Trailer (Wii)

Apparently, it's not a new thing... think fridge with LED lights for enhanced vitamins already available ard 2006. Some link for your reference. Can LEDs in refrigerators enhance the nutritional value of vegetables? I'm likely to get from Kong Tai too. Guy who attended to me during my first visit seemed fairly friendly and willing to help. will get fridge, washing machine, hood & hob from them. and maybe also instant water heaters. hopefully can get a package deal.

Yeah! I also look at the energy-saving 4-tick thing. same reason lor. it's the only electrical appliance that's switched on 24/7. basically, nv cook last time... no idea how big is sufficient. and or what's our marketing session going to be like (think maybe once a week, or so)... but would prefer at least 400L to cater for "future growth" and for those gathering (reunion dinner, etc), whereby we need to store quite a bit of stuff. anyway, usage is likely to go up... so should be ok to get a bigger one now, rather than buy a small one first, then next time upgrade again, coz fridge should be quite long-lasting, if properly taken care of.

I got backache problems, so likely to get harder mattress too. LOL... thinking of getting Sealy's Posturepedic mattresses... but i thought nowadays, even if mattress is hard kind, on top of the mattress, got a layer of the mattress comforter or so, can "soften" the hardness of the mattress. LOL... maybe it defeats the purpose of getting a hard mattress, though.

My advice of minimal 60cm, is from some of the IDs I've met. currently, my home using the 30cm x 30cm ceramic tiles... so i just looking at it as reference... 60cm (abt 2 tiles-width) barely enough for a slim-built person to walk thru (normally; not crab-walking or wat)... if the person is of bigger built, or carrying something, or the pathway is flanked by wall and maybe full height cabinets, then 60cm is very cramped... 90cm - 100cm (abt 3 tiles-width), would be preferred. note: my current bedroom tile is 30cm x 30cm kind... not the big 60cm x 60cm kind. But you would know your own lifestyle and needs better. So better get a measuring tape... and see for yourself 90cm... is exactly how wide.... etc... and whether will it be claustrophobic for the occupants.

Ohh... the version i heard abt the $1 coin was slightly different. I heard that when they were relocating the position of the Merlion status from the old site to its current site, the 8 x $1 coins were found buried under the statue, and they were replaced at the new site too.

I heard abt this story before too. I think it's a real story too.

I totally agree with you! it's really like lottery... heng-suay one...

WAH!! 5 bedrooms!!! Zai... told you, your EA much bigger than mine liao... LOL... I can't even squeeze 4 bedrooms out of it. anyway, not too sure if this plan is realistic or not. must check minimal comfortable walking clearance (at least 60cm wide; 90cm will be better). and like some forummers mentioned, there might big some waste pipes, beams, etc... which can get in the way. BUT... if this is really possible, then really leh..

Was actually quite clueless abt fridges, coz they all looked the same. Sis got a panasonic one. Friend got a Samsung one. WTB thinks the "freezer-at-the-bottom" design not very "smart". I'm intrigued by how flashing LED lights can increase vitamin levels in food. LOL... Went to Kong Tai (which is near blk 505 market; and recommended by some forummers for getting electrical appliances), and the salesperson there recommended that Hitachi model. Read thru the sales brochure; seemed quite ok so decided to get similar model. Wanted something at least 400L capacity (not too sure if it's too much; coz some friends said.. actually their fridge only stores very little things like fruits, chocolates, juicies, drinks, etc) and stainless steel seems like a "neutral" choice. You mean Mega Discount at Kallang Leisure Park? No StanChart credit card now. headache to manage all the credit cards leh... sigh... i guess the most have 2 quarters to maximize only. This quarter (Jan-Mar) and next quarter (Apr-Jun)... No?

LOL! no no no... haven't bought yet.. just wishlist (cos doing our research, and some budget planning)... just getting ballpark figures of the big-ticket (and essential) items, such as electrical appliances, sofa, tv, dining table, mattress & bedframe, aircon, etc... so that, i have a more realistic sense of how much I actually have spare for my renovation, if i intend to do a few things more than just basic rehaul, eg. chengal wood decking for open-air balcony, stone wall feature for balcony... and of coz... my projector and 5.1 HTS.. LOL... as a lot of forummers have mentioned, no pt buying electrical appliances too early... coz 1. prices will definitely drop every quarter (esp for TVs) when there is major electronics fairs or new models coming out 2. you "reduce the lifespan" of your warranty... if the warranty is based on the day of purchase, rather than the day of delivery... and in some cases, may need to pay for storage costs, if the shop cannot hold the item for you.... UNLESS... now got some warehouse sales, with >50% discounts la (like some of those recent Gain City expo warehouse sale or wat)... For now, think settle ID/contractor first... then go back to furniture hunting. at least washing machine, fridge, aircon, hood & hob, we already got some ideas what we intend to get.. also the price range.

maybe cos I'm not using the kitchen at home now... maybe next time when I have my own place, i would prob find it useful, esp if we are going to cook and prepare meals... LOL... actually, I like the fact that it's NOT fixed.. so I have flexibility... coz with fixed ceiling lights... the use of the living space is some sort fixed... esp the placement of your sofa, reading corner, or even dining room (if using ceiling-hung pendant lamp or so)... Anyway, i was reading the "lighting bible" i've bought... it was talking abt lighting scheme, and how to "layer" your lights... so I was thinking for my living room... I'll use warm lights for my cove lighting for general ambience lighting and don't want down lights, since i don't need it to be very bright when watching tv or so... the floor lamp (in this case, Arco lamp) will provide the 2nd layer (and lower level) of lighting, to create a focal point for people to gather ard the sofa area, if need to chit-chat and chill or play some boardgames etc... or even for reading books while lazing on the sofa... Alternatively, similar idea, for the dining area, i intend to do L-box with cove lighting (without down lights), for ambient lighting (again)... and maybe instead of pendant lights which will be fixed, and sort of determine the position of your dining table (and prob the size too)... so using the Arco lamp may be ok... Having said this, i think i still likely to use pendant lamp for the dining area... (which is pretty common) and provide a gd focal point over the dining table... according to the book, people are attracted (and feel welcomed) at bright places... BUT again, not like i'll be changing space configuration very often, i just like the idea of having more flexibility. I would think so... I scared the bird dropping and what's not... maybe must remember to bring in the cushions, when not using... and whether difficult to maintain and clean or not... EH... i intend to have both TV and projector in my living room... I think a lot of people (incl my WTB) think that why need 2? projector and tv are not equal substitutes... to me, they serve different purposes... I'll definitely use the TV for general TV watching (drama, variety shows, news, etc)... the projector is for house parties, movie watching, play console games... and WTB's question to me was "how often do you think we'll have house parties? 2-3 times a yr??!!?" LOL... how abt every other weekends? hehehe...

yah... but like what i've mentioned in some other posts before... too cheap i also scared... 1. hidden costs? 2. low quality materials? 3. lousy workmanship/ workers? i got feeling that sometimes, contractors/IDs charge cheaply (or "competitively") so that those who are cash-strapped will be enticed to sign up with them... and once signed, their "horns" start to appear... if they don't earn much profit margins from your project, it's hard to imagine that they will be giving 100% etc (even if they are earning a lot from your project, also doesn't guarantee they will give 110%)... human nature... customer - wants cheap, fast, gd quality and do more for free provider - wants to do less and maximize profits... so sometimes, "squeezing" them too dry (yes... we've seen this a lot in IT projects...), the contractor will be unwilling to do more... will charge VOs for every minor things and uncooperative or sloppy work... so i decided to be forthcoming with my estimated budget (and ended up as "carrot")... coz everyone will quote to my proposed budget.... no matter how much or how little they are going to do for me... and some more "atas" IDs will charge exorbitant prices design fees, etc... so i'm not too sure how realistic the 10K difference is...

Quick updates: Quite a few things happened over the last weekend... Group buys: 1. Group Buy For Leifheit 3-in-1 Wall Roll Holder From Hogarmas Bought 2 sets (1 for my new place, 1 for my sis, who's moving to her new unit later half of this yr). Actually not too sure why I got it too, but since got people organizing group buy + got people want to buy + got 50% discount = must be reasonably gd and useful and worth it la... My sis was like telling me "I also don't know whether I got kitchen wall available to mount it or not... " LOL... ok la... maybe later she will appreciate it... I hope... Told one of my colleagues abt it; she said I'm very "uncle"... bleahz... 2. Group Buy: Arco Floor Lamp, Fantastic floor lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in 1962 Missed the first group buy earlier on, as I just joined renotalk and was skeptical abt such group buys (i'm paranoid that it could be a scam... or inferior goods passing off as cheaper but quality stuffs). But after reading some of the reviews from buyers of the first group buy; it seemed quite ok... (maybe it's all just clones by the organiser... ok i'm being paranoid here...) Did some research online... http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/lightin...tiglioni-005041 http://www.ylighting.com/arco.html Seems like a genuine piece can cost between USD$1.7K to $2.7K... being able to own a replica designer lamp at SGD$400+ seems like a gd deal. most imptly, WTB also likes it... first saw it at a friend (an expat in the banking industry)'s apartment. thought it looks gd... and quite an eye-catching and yet functional item... Housewarming visits: 1. dexufto's We Live Love Laugh, one blessed resale 3i@ TPY Read my review here (http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?s=...st&p=604427) 2. Salsa friend's place @ ******** (censored for privacy reasons; no pics too) Landed home somewhere near ECP... indeed very spacious.... now that I'm into renovation research... when i'm visiting people's homes... I tend to look at the lightings... and the kitchen layout, materials used, appliances... and toilet accessories + placement of lightings... her place very cool... got recessed speaker thru the whole place... thru centralized sound system... 2 kitchens (1 dry indoor kitchen island with induction cooker stove and they got the eubiq electric strip too... i'll consider this for my kitchen too... dexufto has it too; another "wet" outdoor kitchen, with teppanyaki hot plate kitchen island and gas stove at the side) spa/dip pool! and with very cool outdoor wicker loveseat beside it, under the pergola... looks like this, but without the cover... seen it on some forummer's t-blog too... thinking of getting this for my open-air balcony... but unsheltered and subjected to rain and sun.... a bit heartpain ah? ... and no maid to help me clean and take care also... *better think twice...* plus balcony also not super big la... BUT i'm inspired to get wicker and fabric sofa... actually... i've a pic of it in my earlier posts (from Reiki's t-blog)... thought it gives a very resorty feel... She has an entertainment room too! think 65" LED (or is it plasma or lcd) TV... with Wii and PS3!!! and 7.1 (or is it 5.1) speaker system... really shiok for playing console games and watching movie... but somehow whenever we were over for rockband party... the speaker volume was kept low, so can't really feel the ommmhhh of the speakers... If i were to get a projector with 100" screen... i'm sure to beat this... and it's like my dream too!!! home cinema!!! LOL... one of my JC friends who's living in a landed property has a projector at his living room too... very shiok to play games (esp console games like wii rockband, xbox COD4/5) for house parties!!! or even just movie marathons!! BUT WTB thinks it's a waste of money... (esp when we are quite cash-strapped now...) must be realistic... but but... hmmm... my dream leh... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Read RimBlock's t-blog that he has gotten a projector (Epson home cinema projector?) and projector screen at ard $3K+ ... I'm thinking i'll need like maybe $5K to get my projector + screen + 5.1 HTS... it's quite unlikely WTB will agree to it... hmmm... oh well... let's see how la... need to relook at my budget again...

I guess it's probably jean, wendy? ...?? not quite in touch with who's teaching.. coz not teaching for some time le... but thinking of going back to teach after i finish my master course... jean has been asking me abt it... hopefully by then, I'm still in condition to teach and "wanted"... yeah... I got "sleepy" eyes... PLUS... i was out for the whole day leh... really tired at the end of the day, when meeting you...

eh... my EM, the MBR only going to have 2.8m (~9ft) for 2 of us! LOL... not too sure whether it's enough... but like what WTB says... more storage space breeds hoarding mentality... so don't need too big... but must have sufficient... maybe will also make us think twice abt buying too much clothes... anyway, in the first place, we are both not heavy shoppers... at least i don't think i am... esp in the fashion sense... LOL

interesting way of describing "not being able to understand"... LOL... i guess if it's "words went in from one eat and out the other", it prob mean ignoring the message, or it's empty between the ears...

Need to spend the time lor... but tired of meeting more leh... coz feel.. the price won't be any cheaper also... was thinking of visiting ID Note. seems like a lot of renotalk forummers use them. hmmm... Let's not hijack idealistic's thread anymore.. his thread going to be our private conversation channel liao.. LOL

Ya... that's why he's one of my shortlisted one.... LOL... In fact, even without meeting him, i was like half-intending to get him le... was still thinking of arranging to meet up with him this weekend... now, maybe need to reconsider.... maybe really have to go back to contractor uncle from Joo Guan Huat (JGH)... But i feel no pt cheap but problematic leh...

Ingenious! I'm going to BKK end-Feb for mini-honeymoon... but more like shopping trip for home decor and accessories.

Woah... I was still thinking of shortlisting Andy from Baroque... I didn't meet up with him but sent him my floor plan and my requirements. He came back with a floorplan which pretty much matches my preferred layout (actually.. a lot of the inputs were from my requirements doc to the IDs... ). and his quotation was cheaper... abt $10K cheaper than most of the IDs i've spoken to. But seems like they are not very gd eh... I've PM-ed idealistic abt his views on Baroque.. and he has also informed me that he would not recommend them... hmmm.... I must rethink my shortlisted choices again... sigh.

LOL... I got classes on Mon, Tue, Wed nights... when I'm home ... it's already 10+pm... usually... I just read some of the posts... no time and energy to post... i didn't even update my t-blog lor... LOL... coz I like to write long entries... wahahaha... but takes quite some time to organize my thoughts... I've been staying in Jurong West for at least 22-23 yrs too... but I'm not exactly that familiar with the area... sec 1 to JC2, i spent most of my time in sch.. at bukit timah... NS, i spent 2.5 yrs at changi Uni, i stayed in campus for 4 yrs... now working, i have my 3 meals in town... and usually i get home... it's 10+pm... LOL... and weekends, I'm usually out... somewhere...