KittyJems

If you are able to bring in the Classical French / Baroque style furnishings at an affordable pricing with good quality, I'm sure you will find a market of buyers in SG. Most of such styles available in the market at the moment are either too expensive, or the cheaper versions are lousy quality.

Your quote does seem abit too cheap. Be careful of hidden costs. For example, I see that you were quoted for dismantling of exiting cabinets... But how about haulage and clearing of debris fees? Then for the soft closing / ABS trimmings, do check out what brand they are offering you. Lastly, do check out their credentials, get past customers reviews and see examples of their work. If overall you are happy... then perhaps you have found a really good deal. *good luck*

Oh dear. Maybe you call faster will be better. Else if delay too long, scared that Forest may say not their fault leh. I also hope my reno will turn out good. Keeping my fingers cross. Recently I keep calling them to take the measurements for my unit, but Jessica says it's too early. She will only get her carpenter to come in mid-Dec. Cos she says their carpenters are all rushing to finish their Nov jobs. Haiz. Hope no major problems. Else I will be super angryz.

I've never had much issues with my Ikea furnitures. My kids bed which I bot 5-years ago is still as good as new. Nothing spoilt. Mattress still in good shape though much softer now. I also have 3 pieces of their chest of drawers, 1 side table, 1 kids cupboard with those colourful plastic drawers and 1 shoe case. All going on to 3-years and still in good condition. This depsite our slamming the drawers shut, rough handling it on occassions and lots of shifting the furniture around to maximise space. However, one thing I have noticed is - get their delivery guys to do up the furnitures for you. Do not DIY. For some reasons, those stuffs that we DIY-ed, they came apart faster. But those fixed by the Ikea delivery people, lasts very long.

Hi Bluefly, Thanks for the advise. At first my contractor quoted me $500 for the backsplash. Then I bargained down to $405. Dun think he will lower any further cos mine is a small job reno - mainly kitchen only. But I'll definately confirm and double confirm to make sure he gives me 1 big piece of glass for each wall and not small pieces.

Thanks for the advises. Looks like I can proceed to sign the contract with him then.

I just measured my kitchen wall yesterday and my measurements for 2 walls are: Wall 1 : 123cm (L) x 57cm (H) = 7.55sqf Wall 2 : 155cm (L) x 57cm (H) = 9.51sqf Total of 17.06 sqf My contractor came back with price of about $405 for both walls using 6mm tempered glass, spray painted white. Is this ok? Expensive? Reasonable?

Oh dear. The tiling works looks poorly done. Please get your contractor to redo. After all you paid him to do a good job. And I believe the rectification costs should be borne by your contractor cos it's his men who messed up.

Hello, Need advise please... Is this quote for a small job (kitchen renovation only) fm my contractor expensive? I'm using this contractor mainly for demolish and tiling jobs. The kitchen carpentry will be done by another ID which specialises in kitchens. 1) Demolish kitchen flooring, dismantle kitchen cabinet, storeroom shelving, bathroom vanity cabinet and mirror --> $750 2) Haulage fee --> $100 3) Supply and lay homogenuos tiles in kitchen, service yard --> $800 4) Labour to disconnect and re-connect kitchen tap when cabinet done --> 120 5) Labour & tools to shift dining light --> 50 6) Flush level 1 Mstr bedroom wall and 1 kid's bedroom wall with gypsum board --> $400 7) Shift and installation of 13nos of downlights --> $195 8) Seal up existing downlight holes --> 120 9) Supply and Paint 2 bedrooms, storeroom and 5 door frames --> $860 TOTAL: S$3395.00

Hi James, Do you know the breakdown of how much your ID is charging per square foot? Maybe this way we can compare your quote against that one I got.

I currently have EF hob & hood. Dun like it! The stainless steel gets burned easily. Then any cooking stain if left for 1-day, becomes really hard to clean off especially around the burner area. Now the rim is all black. aargghh. Then the hood... the lighting cover cannot remove to clean. Need to unscrew. Lousy design. So the lighting cover is now filled with oil and soot. Yucks! Will not get EF brand ever after this experience.

Hi Xiaobudian, Have you started using your new kitchen already? Any issues with peeling paint? Cos I scared will kena same problem as Countrylover. Btw, how's the Teka hob and hood? Is it good? Cos I tried to get reviews on this but seems like not much people using Teka brand. Mostly getting Rinnai or other european brands. Thanks for your advises.

Hi Countrylover, Did you manage to contact Forest on your peeling paint issue? Has it been rectified? Or is the paint still peeling? I'm worried... cos my reno start at end of Dec.

Thanks for all the advise. Can check yah... How much is the usual quote now if $25psf is too ex? Think i should bargain down to $20 psf? Also... Tempered glass comes in different mm? How much mm should I be getting if there is heavy cooking?

My contractor quoted me $25psf for tempered glass backsplash for the kitchen. Is this quote reasonable? How much is the usual price? Btw, I'm using contractor not ID. Appreciate all feedbacks and advise.

How is the Teka brand of Hob and Hood? Is this brand good? Cos my kitchen ID recommend me to use this. Really appreciate all feedbacks. Thanks.

I've had the wallpaper done for an entire stretch of wall in my living room. Now already 3-years and it's still in good condition - no popping or coming off.

Oh dear... wat happen to all our posts? How come all the various country homes posting now all merged into Xiaobudian's T-blog? Could it be the moderator tink all the posts are similar about country homes, so lump together? But then, not fair to lump together with Xiaobudian's t-Blog leh. So strange.

Xiaobudian, Are you going to get a sheet of glass to place on top of your study table? Cos I realised it is white... scared it get dirty from paper ink and stationery marks. Like my Ikea chest of drawers, I regret not putting a glass sheet cos strted to get markings and scratches from daily usage. Worse... I left a cup of cold water. Then the condensation cause the wood to "pop" up. Now got a small lump there to remind me not to place any more cups on the cupboard. So ugly.

*hi-5* hahah.... yah. I also felt the price is quite reasonable. Was so tempted to get it on the spot. However, downside to that sofa design is that the wood at the bottom part of the sofa is very low. Nearly touching the floor. Like that will be tough to sweep/ vacuum under leh. Everytime wanna vaccum need to drag the whole chair out. So because of that, I'm still considering.

Me too. I got the tap, hob & hood all from Forest. Which brand for the hob and hood did you choose? I selected the Teka brand for both. As for tap, was the Hansgrohe one. Oh! Then I better go down to Ecolinks quick. Cos I wanna get the sofa b4 CNY. Last weekend I was at IMM and saw a flowery sofa set from Picket & Rail. For a 3-seater + 2-seater, costs only about $1,600+. May consider that too.

WOW!! Really nice sofa and study chair from Ecolinks. I love your dining hall lights too. You got good taste..! Tink I must make a trip down to Park Mall to look at the furniture from Ecolinks. P/s: Can share how much your got the sofa and dining chair for? Your kitchen after fully done up looks fantastic. Did you get the hob & hood from Forest also? Or you source on your own?

Actually I prefer having the french blue for the bottom and white for top. But my kitchen area is quite dark. Even in the afternoon need to switch on the lights type. So hub prefer to get all the cabinets in white to open up the space and give illusion of brightness. Anyway my current cabinets are also white. So far no issues with my heavy cooking. Just spray on Mr Muscle and all the oil is easily removed. I also dun mind if the white color turns yellowish... will kinda give the aged and shabby look.

Oh. I also chose the french blue design. Except that instead of having the blue for the bottom cabinets, I'm changing it to white with gold trimmings. Yah... totally agree that black granite will not look nice with the blue. A whitish shade will suit better. But not easy to find cos granite colours are quite limited. Unless you opt for onyx (which is rather ex) or use solid surface. Personally I dun like solid surface as my work place has lots of those. Although it's not easily stained cos still can use CIF to remove but scratches are a nightmare. And the scratches can look rather obvious on a plain white top. My experience with cottage was quite good. Fast to reply with quote and the designer was really friendly. Unfortunately, their quote was alot higher than Forest. Plus hub prefer the kitchen deisgn at Forest and it was more convenient as we could choose the hob, hood, tap and sink all at 1-shot. No need to go hunting all over SG.

Share some drawings that Forest did for my kitchen. Cabinets will be in white with gold trimmings and gold handles/knobs. Kitchen with Teka Hob and Hood Sink area with Hansgrohe Tap The doorway between the fridge and the cabinets is my Bomb Shelter. Uploaded with ImageShack.us