adidaem

Love the design and pocket doors. More pics pls!

Govt is pushing out BTOs like crazy... so nah... don't think 'flat' will be a luxury item. Condos, then perhaps. Problem is, if the foreigners go, ppty prices will drop too. Raw material costs may have also gone up? Wrote about it earlier... http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/why-renovation-costs-have-soared-in-singapore/

In case you are interested in reading, some info on Queenstown exec flat prices: http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/most-expensive-executive-flats-in-singapore/

Are both corner units? Can you buy the recess area for the 1st one? So which one are you getting?

Thanks for reading my blog. Now that I see your inspiration pics, I have a rough idea of the look you are going for. More 'design sponge' inspired ya?

Still think this is the "Happiest HDB in Singapore".

Looks good! Do share the other room pics. The stools look rather short for the counter. Are those temp (for picture taking) or permanent stools?

Storage heater better for rain showers? I dislike gas heater cos some times the water doesn't get hot enough, esp during cold weather. Over time, the spark thing may have problem. In my parents place the instant gas heater can die halfway thru the shower... Have to try a few times to switch on the flame which sucks when you are wet and cold. Could be cos the heater is old, but my over 20 years experience with gas heater is enough to put me off gas heaters for a long long time.... As for the oft cited reason for NOT getting storage heater cos of waiting time, I've never experienced this problem. Yeah and I hate the flame too. Very scary looking...

Glad you all enjoy the little armchair tour of the unique HDB EMs n lofts. Pricing wise I think the cck n sin Ming units go for over 800k. The Strathmore one will be quite a bit more tho. HDB no longer build exec hdb units, so all 5 rooms, or 4 for some Dawson units. The Punggol ones were sold at over 500k in the last sobf, but given their rarity I'm sure the owners will earn a fair amount when they sell. can't be less than 700k? Among the new 5 room lofts layout, I like the Sapphire one best cos of the bright staircase. Dawson location is better of course. Still, I can't get over the much smaller space and toilets so older flats still better IMO. Am sure some will prefer the newer flats but how to get used to a much shrunken room size? Based on analysis of bedroom sizes across periods, room sizes have shrunk by over 20 to 30% at least... If u r interested can read: http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/part-3-comparing-hdb-bedroom-sizes/

Just use a dryer... then you don't even need to hang clothes. Makes doing laundry a breeze, and you don't worry about funky smells during the rainy season.

Welcome to RT. Noticed a 'fireplace' - are you planning for a baroque theme? For the washer/dryer problem, I think may be worth considering to buy a new washer so that you can stack. Saves lots of space, and you can hide neatly in a cabinet too, for some noise reduction while watching TV. You may like to refer to this on ergonomics/walking & working space planning: http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/what-is-an-ideal-kitchen-configuration/ For a study in the yard, I'll be concerned about the toilets ventilating to the yard, cooking smells, etc. May be very distracting and kinda disgusting to study while someone is in the loo doing 'big' business? =P IMO a study in the 'playroom' area would be more conducive for studying, as well as to monitor kids next time (errr... Tiger Mum alert). If you 'push' the dining area more to the side, there is still plenty of space for kids to play in the living area while you watch TV - also easier to keep an eye on kids. Just based on my babysitting experience that it's good to maintain a direct line of sight to whatever the kids are doing while doing your own stuff. If you really need a play room (for noise isolation perhaps?), the room that is the planned nursery can serve as one?

Oki, that's all the high ceiling units I know about... the Pasir Ris EMs with interesting roof terrace don't count, the Bt Batok units with interesting layout don't really qualify tho they have a larger central 'void' area cos of their layout, Bishan EMs have sky terraces but not high ceilings. Regular EMs with higher ceilings on top floors don't count (just slightly higher bedroom ceiling), ditto the Hougang unique 5 room ones. Anyone has more to share or seen any unique ones while house hunting?

Another 65 units from SkyTerrace@Dawson Showing only the 5 room paired unit floor plan:

More Punggol Sapphire pics: From Skitzo's t-blog: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=46331

Glad you enjoy the pics. Just to complete the 'collection'... You have to monitor property ads very carefully if you are interested in one of these units with high ceiling... only 12 units in CCK and 4 units in Strathmore, and all being the possible record breaking/news making type of sales. Potong Pasir dunno how many units those slanted blocks have, but as I understand it's only the top floor for each stack. Can't be that many units in Sin Ming or Hougang either. But the good news is, more will be available in the market after Punggol and Dawson flats reach their MOP, tho the new units are a whole lot smaller (both in actual floor area and in room sizes) than the older ones featured so far. E.g. The Punggol Treelodge Lofts - 14 units located on the top floors of the 7 blocks Pics from Wendily's t-blog: Punggol Sapphire Lofts - 23 units More pics in next post.

More of the Strathmore unit: Only 2 toilets

Erm, mine is an old parquet from previous owner. Not great condition so nothing worth showing. 100K for JW EMs? Wow, I had no idea COV is so crazy.

Yeah... loads of 'potential' with those EMs... really can do a nice 'loft' concept, like this apartment: Read more: http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/reno-feature-the-brookvale-park-apartment/ But then, personally location is more important than a unique layout... so I'll still pick my Queenstown EM over some of the unique layouts. I hope to get a place with a better view for my next place tho. We all share and learn. I certainly learnt a lot since I got my place. To complete the collection, here are some pics from the penthouse HDB maisonettes in Choa Chu Kang and Strathmore. Enjoy. Strathmore: 2,055 sqft / 190.91 sqm On the top floor of these flats: Choa Chu Kang:

Putting the floor plans together for easier comparison... Almost like tracing the evolution of the EM design. 5 room maisonette - 133 sqm - 2 toilets, 3 bedrooms, 1 balcony 5 AM - 139 sqm - 2 toilets, 1 wash area, 3 bedrooms, 1 storeroom, 1 balcony Gen 1 EM - 150 sqm (??) 2 toilets, 1 wash area, 3 bedrooms, 1 utility room & 1 balcony Gen 2 EM - 146 sqm - 3 toilets, 4 bedrooms and 1 balcony Gen 3 EM - 144 sqm (??) this has 3 proper toilets, 4 bedrooms and 2 balconies (1 is a service balcony) Are the floor areas correctly indicated? Can actual owners pls help out? I indicated based on what I remember...

Just to add... if you compare the space, I think some space is used on corridors/walkways. So... I still prefer having an extra room and toilet but I understand different owners have different preferences of course. As for the washing bay, are you referring to the Gen 1 EMs? The Gen 2 and 3 EMs came with proper toilets on the ground floor. The space for Gen 2 EM ground floor toilet is ok. We have a shower in the loo and proper basin in mine. There wasn't any space for glass partition, but it isn't as packed/crammed as mentioned. It's (my ground floor) not any worse than most HDBs I've visited tho it is undeniable the smallest loo in my place. Oh ya, these are rare. I would prefer having high ceiling in the living room like those units that Potatoes described - think apart from Sin Ming, Potong Pasir also have such 'penthouse' EM units? I've extracted some discussion from another thread on RT: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=43662&st=0

Where are the high ceilings? Any pics to share?

Why? The extra toilet and larger room is worth the diff IMO.

5 room has 3 bedrooms and 2 toilets. EM mostly have 4 bedrooms (or 3 bedrooms and 1 utility room) and 3 toilets (2 upstairs and 1 downstairs). The extra bedroom is downstairs. EM floorplans here: http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/how-many-types-of-em-layouts-are-there/ Another 5 room model A floorplan: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=39428

Paiseh. Thought your wall is craftstone. Blur...Cos he mention real bricks... But anyway sometimes words in writing sounds very different from spoken/in person. Maybe he didnt mean it. Most importantly if you are happy with your reno, then go ahead with your plans. Cos end of the day you (and your family of course) are the ones staying in the apartment, not people who are passing comments. No need to be angry.

Welcome Split84, Eric & Lynn & Zkong. Hope you all have a smooth reno and beautiful home at the end of your reno journey.