potatoes

Hi Starburst, thanks for your nice comments. My kitchen cabinets are a combination of white and maple. I wanted it white while my wife wanted maple.... So we agreed on something in between. We do light cooking more often and occasionally heavy cooking.we find the chimney hood from Mayer is powerful and quite effective. We also created a yard mainly for our laundry the yard was also built to segregate our toilet, washing machine and rubbish bin from the kitchen. Maintenance of kitchen cabinets? We only moved in for abt 2.5 mths. It still looks as new as before...... But We always make it a point to keep the cabinets area clean after each cooking.

Nice and Beautiful surrounding. Are u staying on high floor? The utility room big enough to be a bedroom?

Hi piknik, congrats! I sure your reno will be swee swee despite your low budget. Cheers!

Great! All the best to your reno.! awaiting to see you start your own blog. Merry Christmas and happy new year too!

Hi bro Cleong, couldnt PM u. Wishing u a merry Christmas & happy new year! I was outside your unit few days ago. U r lucky to get a nice space outside where u have a cabinet and recycled bin.... I m also impressed with the things u have done to your reno, particularly your staircase and cove lightings the retractable awning system is something I look forward to install but hesitated becos I m a little worried about the outlook and design. It looks good from the outside....are u free to invite us over to your place? Hee Hee ... Kay po to see your Reno live rather than just pics

Cleong, Thanks for your reply:) I like yours becos it nicely cover your air con compressor. Looking at mine, I think it is quite difficult to cover the compressor and I don't like it to be too low as I have a 4 ft wrought iron grill obstruction

Can see open terrace from the Master Bedroom? Are the windows casement type? Bedroom 2 also can have access to terrace? Do u have picture of the staircase? Who else in this blog has the same layout as u?

Agree. Wendily, i like the open terrace, giving a really high space..... A really unique feature.The glass panels on the upper level cannot be opened?

It will be good to check with them on the rewiring cost before committing it.... from what I know, this is one of the most costly items in home reno.....

May, wishing u a Blessed Christmas & Joyous New Year !

Hi Punggolfamily, congrats on getting your keys. Your 5 rm prenium layout looks neat an spacious (similar to condo layout) ....nice What is the size of your uiit? Are you going to use glass panel for your new study workplace? Hope everything will go well in your reno.

Why delete if you are not here to advertise? Just continue to share with us the other things you have done to renovate your home other than just Kitchen top..... I m sure anyone has the right to share what they have done in home reno...... that is what T-blog Forum is for.

I am looking at the possibilty to install a folding / retractable awning @ my open balcony to keep the sun/rain away. Anyone knows if HDB approval is needed to install a motorised canvas awning at balcony? I have seen in installed by some EM owners.....

Kobelala, did you manage to get the plants you wanted for your balcony? I am now trying to spruce up my little garden by growing spice and herbs Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Hi Renmapiao, hope things are going well with u in your new place. Cheers!

I don't seem to agree with your statement. In fact i think the design is excellent in terms of its look and space saving. It is top hung and unlike bifold doors, there is no track below. It's durability really depends on whether it is used the right way. I only install PD door for my MBR bathroom and bifold doors for my other 2 toilets.....one of the reason is becos of budget.... PD door is more expensive than bifold. Another reason is we think we can handle PD door better than our children. I love the PD door in my MBR bathroom as it less noisy and give more space for door entrance.

OMG..... U mean u didn't let ur ID know u want to keep the wires? Rewiring is an expensive thing if u r talking about cost cutting..... Can save about 1 to 1.5k

Congrats! Don't worry.... Try to relax and leave it to your ID. Make sure u give clear instructions of what u want.....Everything will turn out beautiful after reno. Wish u a smooth reno journey.

Hi ipineapple, don't get so discouraged or upset over Ah Wei. It took me weeks to find out his contact number. I went thru' every section in renotalk as well as his facebook pages. Also added him in facebook and left a note..... U know what? Weeks later, he replied me thru' his facebook and left me his local contact number. I msg him immediately and I was fortunate that he called me:) So, u need to be very patient. Cheers!

Congrats! I m happy to know that u have finally decided which ID to engage for your reno. Since u r engaging the same ID as me, I can give u tips on how to best get your reno done well without going through unnecessary stress. You got to get Kafu to write down in black and white the things u want him to do..... Be sure to msg him also as proof of evidence. Our ID tends to be a little forgetful cos he has to handle so many projects..... So reminders are very necessary. I didn't do some of these, so ended up doing rework:( Wish u smooth reno journey..... Hope u can start your own blog soon

Yes, Andrew was one of the 2 IDs I have shortlisted to do my reno. I met him 3 times to discuss details. As a matter of fact, when I visited your place, I could see the high standard of workmanship and good design. I like Andrew's definition of "Home" which I noted it on the 1st page of my blog. I almost signed on the dotted line until Mr Kafu came along to offer alternatives for me to meet my contrained budget lor. Sometimes things don't turn out the way u want it to happen. Kafu was able to turn things around for me and materialize my hopes of changing this ugly looking EM into a beautiful place and still meeting my budget. May, U are most welcome to visit my place anytime.... I m now on leave until new year's day! Cheers

May, this story is very unique and amazing. It is hard to believe that after renovation for 2.5yrs ago and have not moved in. What is more amazing is that no one seem to be able to solve your friend's problem. It is a major setback for both the owner and contractor. Do u mean the contractor did not receive any payment or is it only final 5%?

Revival of Blog! I have been deligently reading this old blog and thought it is worth adding my contribution to it. Wow!! Over 90 pages of reading the blog written by many EM owners. I bought an EM in Serangoon N which is abt 26yrs old. It is 1st gen with area of 150sqm..... In very original state. Paid high for COV, leaving little $$$ to renovate. I just completed my reno and already moved in for 2 mths. Happy with what I have done for my reno, although exceeding my 35k budget..... Hope the new EM owners will continue to contribute to this blog

Thanks for visitng my blog..... I wouldn't want to recommend my ID cos I think he is really busy handling so many projects.... so he may not be 100% devoted your reno. .Besides, I find my ID often procrastinates and I had to keep pestering him to get my things done....... can be very stressful I would actualy recommend May_dream's contractor instead. If not for my tight budget, I would have used him.....

Staircase reno can be very costly if your steps are parque. To cut cost and keep to my budget, I got my ID to use laminate wood instead only for horizontal layers, painted wall for the vertical sides. I use wrought iron grilles instead of glass panels. The wooden handrail I got my ID to install already cost me 1K, not sure if it is parque.... also not sure about cost of painting the wrought iron..... if I were u, I surely ask for FOC