KittyJems

Yup... totally agree. So I've split up my main reno into 2 phases. First part (this year) is for kitchen. Then 2nd part (next year) is for bedrooms. Meanwhile, will buy the loose furniture for living areas as and when we see suitable ones. Lucky I'm in no major hurry to reno cos I've been staying at this apartment for past 3-yrs liaoz. Now need to reno cos of wear and tear and need to 'upgrade' my furnitures to accommodate my growing family. Then since I need to revamp my home, I take the opportunity to change from modern contemporary to country style also. Tats why more reno required.

Which kitchen design did you select? Cos according to Forest, different designs got diff price cos depends on how 'complicated' it is. Main factor will be the size of your cabinets cos the amount of wood required for the job. Erm..., what counter top are you using? Granite or Solid Surface? Sometimes the quote can be more expensive depending on your requirements - eg: full height cabinets, adding decorative items like curve pelmets, etc.

Hi Countrylover, Thanks for your reply. I spoke to Forest about your peeling paint. But they said no one from the forum contacted them. Then Jessica went on to assure me that their painting all no problems. Good idea. Will tell them better do good job, else we will all be slamming them on the forum siah. hahaha. Yup. She has given me the drawings liaoz. Looks good. See if I can post pics of the drawings here. I'm starting my reno at end of Dec. So can complete b4 CNY. Hopefully everything goes well cos I'm using my friend's contractor for the hacking and re-tiling works. Forest only in charge of the carpentry. Busy having to liaise with both sides.

OMG!! Thanks for highlighting the posts. Now I'm really worried. Going to check with Forest on the worms. Hopefully my cabinets will be ok. Dun want to pay $10k to get a lousy kitchen cos it's not cheap. Will be whole lot cheaper to get it done the normal modern style leh.

Eekkss! Scary when I read your post on the moulds growing. Yah... you are right. If your place is humid then no reason why only their furniture is affected and not the other wooden furnitures. Agree that they should not push blame. Not right way to do biz. Hahah! We tink alike! I was just telling my hub last night that I wanna do wall paper for my MBR and perhaps some beading especially for the living areas. See how much it will costs first. I'm fast reaching my max cap of $20K for my reno's liaoz.

Wow! Below $1,000 for 7-pc dining set is really affordable. My only concern is quality. Cos no point buy nice furniture, but cannot last. From their online pics, I see a few nice pieces. See if I got chance to go down this weekend to look see.

Oh... I din tink that could be wood problem. Tink I will talk with my designer again. Did you manage to ask Country Lover about the paint peeling? Did she reply? Now I'm kinda worried. Cos the amount for the reno is not small lor. If any issues, my hub sure won't be happy. Wow! Thanks for the link. The furniture all looks really nice. But no pricing. Have you been there yet? How's the pricing and quality like?

Hi flermodders / piggiedearz, I was also concerned about the peeling paint experienced by country lover (on the other thread). But the designer at Forest kept reassuring me their paintwork is ok. She also said if my cabinets got such problem, they will send their painter down to rectify the problem. Tink I better get all these down in writing on the contract. Scared now say ok... then later got to pay for rectification works will be really sianz.

Hi piggiedearz, I'm more inclined towards the French country style. But really expensive to do all in this style cos the backbone of the home design should preferably have the wainscoting (or wall panelling), cornices, wallpaper, etc. Plus french style furniture is super ex. So guess I'll go for the french cum shabby chic style. I love all the white furniture and flowery sofa + curtains. So cosy. But only scared that white is hard to maintain. Plus I got 3 kiddos at home. Nightmare if my baby starts drawing all over. p/s: I wanted to go IFC to see the country furniture. But since you said can grow mould, then I tink better not liaoz. Now thinking of going to Ecolink this Sunday. Cos I wanna get new sofa.

Hi piggiedearz, Wow!! Your home is really beautifully furnished and decorated. Love everything - the soft furnishings, wallpaper, cabinets, etc..!! You have very good taste. Also drooling over your huge wardrobe. I also want something big like that. Too bad, my bedroom is too small. The most I can squeeze in will be a 6-door size. Ask you har... your home was featured in some magazine issit? Cos I noticed that some pics are accompanied by a write-up. Hope to evetually convert my home to a totally french country feel juse like yours - complete with wainscoting, cornices, etc. Thanks for the pics. Really gives me more inspirations.

Xiaobudian, For your kitchen canopy, the design on it is tiles or carving on the wood? Possible to get a close up pic on the design? Cos Forest giving me a choice and I dunno which to choose yet. Waiting for her drawings.

Piggiedearz, I was considering between Cottage and Forest. However, for Cottage, everything also need to add extra $$ - for gold trimmings, cut outs, Blum system, etc. In end, the quote by Forest was much more affordable. Plus, my hub preferred the design by Forest. hahaha... I'm also very excited for my reno to start. Targetting to complete b4 CNY. I'm also very happy to meet lots of people with similar interests in country style homes. So did you design your whole house in the country look as well? Any pics to share?

Xiaobudian, Yah. My hub also said same thing - classic colour. Although both of us like the french blue, our kitchen area is rather closed off and can get dark even in the afternoon. As such, Forest recommend to do all white with gold trimmings so that my kitchen will look 'brighter'.

Wow! Xiaobudian, Your reno with Forest is really extensive. Love all the carpentry works done. Really nice... especially your wardrobes, kitchen and living room cabinets. I've also just confirmed doing my kitchen reno with them. Have selected the French Blue design at their showroom. Except that instead of the blue colour for the bottom cabinets, my hub wanted the whole kitchen to be white with gold trimmings. Also getting a suspended vanity cabinet for my common bathroom. I love your design. But for the cutout, I may choose the flower shape so that it is same pattern as my kitchen. Then got common element to tie in the whole look. p/s: I love Hello Kitty stuffs too! Your die cut mirror very nice. Where did you get it from? Is it custom made?

Thanks for the various links. Will definately take time and slowly browse thru them. Oohh... I like the bathroom idea! So high class and classic! But tink the venetian mirror not too easy to find in SG. No matter, this is certainly a ***** and worth exploring to see how to make it 'come alive'. Thanks again.

Wow! What an informative thread!! I'm acutally looking to re-design my current unit from the usual cookie clutter modern home to a more cosy French Country Classical look. I find your postings on the Baroque and Neo-Classical look especially helpful. Not easy looking for ID's that specialise in such style in SG. Furnishings are another matter. But I'm taking things slow and enjoying the hunt as we go along. Currently I'm starting with my kitchen (looking at french blue bottom cabinet and white for top cabinets, including the cornice and pelmets). Afterwhich, I'll slowly move on to the living room and finally the bedrooms. Thanks again for thread. I'm drawing lots of ideas and inspirations from it.

Oic. Then quite worth the $$$ cos includes the display hutch. Currently I'm comparing quotes from Cottage Crafts and Forest. Both ID's responded promptly and the prices quoted are rather competitive. I have been to Forest showroom already. Will meet Cottage Crafts next weekend and from there, I'll decide which ID to use for my house renos. hahhaha... me too. Initital budget was only about $10, then to $15k. now may decide to stretch further to a max of $18k. *lolz* With all the quotations in hand, hub and I have finally decided to renovate the whole kitchen plus some other small jobs like changing vanity cabinets in both bathrooms + painting whole house. The wardrobes will be pushed to phase 2. Oh dear... how come the paint can chip off so fast? I also remember them telling me that their paint job is good and can last. Agree that you should call Forest fast to rectify the problem asap. I would be upset too and also be heartpain cos the reno $$$ is not small amount lor. Good luck!

Currently I have quotes from Cottage Crafts and Forestwood. Service and quotations from both ID's have been prompt and I appreciate the advises given. But with a tight budget, I've decided to on full removation of my kitchen, plus a few jobs around my house like painting of whole house, changing of vanity cabinets in bathrooms and a feature wall for Mstr bedroom. Will leave the the wardrobes and living room features for phase 2. Have already been to Forest showroom and like their French Blue kitchen. Made appointment to see Cottage Crafts designs and portfolio in October. From there will decide which ID to use. Anyone has any feedbacks on workmanship and quality for Cottage Crafts. So far, I see the postings above are mainly on Forest. Appreciate all advise. Thanks in advance.

Hi Countrylover, Thanks for all your suggestions. Really helpful. Wow! $9k just for the study. But I must say from your pics, the workmanship and design is really nice. Yah... my initial budget of $15k includes changing the cabinet doors for the kitchen. After going thru the various quotes I got from other ID's besides Forest, I'm trying to see which are the "die-die" must have items. The pricing of the quotes are quite similar. So far, my hub is thinking of renovating the whole kitchen cos he feels waste of $$$ just to change the cabinet doors. But to re-do the whole kitchen is going to set me back by my whole budget of $15k cos the hacking and re-laying of tiles is expensive. Haiz... now really need to think hard on what needs to be done versus what I would like done cos of our tight budget. Am also thinking of upping my budget to $20k. But that is the ultimate max I can spend. But to do all the stuffs I'm looking at, the amount is closer to $30k. faintz. Never know renovation costs sssooo much nowadays. *scary*

How about getting a quotation from them, listing all the various items/service provided and each cost involved? For example: - Hacking & disposal = $$$ - Provision of laminate flooring = $$$ - Labour to lay laminate flooring = $$$ - Provision of paint = $$$ - Labour to paint rooms = $$$ For renovation, small jobs always tend to cost more. In addition, you have hacking of floor tiles. This is costly cos hacking is labour intensive. Not to mention the costs for haulage and removal of debris. Meanwhile, get more quotes and then compare each item. From there, you will have a better whether you are being over-quoted. Good luck!

Xiaobudian, Have you started your reno's with Forest already? Cos I'm looking to engage them for some small reno job and want to see more pics on their workmanship. Those pics Countrylover uploaded into her blog is berry nice. Can't imagine if do the whole house with them. Surely will At moment, I have a quote from them to do up 3 wardrobes and 2 sets of study table plus wall hung cabinets. But after some consideration, I may choose to redo my whole kitchen instead plus 2 wardrobes and some other smaller areas(if budgets allows). With a tight budget, can't do whole house at 1-shot. Need to break down into phases.

Hi Countrylover, Thanks for letting me know your name. Will see if I can find Helen there next time. My designer at Forest is Jessica. She remembers you and another lady that did renos with them when I said that I found out about their company from Renotalk. hehehehe... she even has photos of your study on file to show clients. Btw, Jessica showed me a sample quality of their wooden doors and I must admit that it feels more solid. I'm also very very tempted to re-do my kitchen cos I want the whole country feel, especially the canopy. Unfortunately, got $$$$ constraints. So if I re-do the kitchen, the most is just change the doors (comes with Blum system). The main reno works will be for my MBR and 2 bedrooms. Cos my place is a resale condo and I'm already living here for 3-yrs. When I first moved in, already got wardrobes and false ceiling. Now, to maximise space, I need to shift the wardrobes to another wall. Which means need to dismantle and remove current wardrobes + false ceiling. Then need to varnish back the parquet, fix another ceiling then get new wardrobes done up. My initial budget of $15K is nearly busted. Haiz. Besides the wardrobes I still wanna do up my 2 gals study table and cupboards, similar to your design. Hope can re-nego with them and my other contractor to see if can pull some costs down. Else, need to give up certain items neh. Din know such small job reno can also costs so much $$$.

Hi CountryLover, I love the cabinets you had made by Forestwood for your study and dining room. So much so that I went down today to get a quotation from them. I'm looking to re-do my current MBR wardrobe, plus another 2 wardrobes for my 2 gals' bedrooms. Should also be adding in the study units for their bedrooms. So far the quote seems kinda ex. P/s: when I went to their showroom, BOOM! I fell in love with their blue and white kitchen set. So nice! Now dunno whether wanna redo my kitchen cabinets as well.