Homeowner

Hi FSP. Thanks for visiting. Hubby didn't want a bathtub...yah, maybe it lacks toilet accessories...we haven't bought any 'cos we didn't know what we need. Seller left us some, but we threw away the stainless steel bars/holder 'cos they were bulky...now we've a lot of glass shelves without any holder. Dunno what to do with them... A picture of some flowers in silver frame above the W.C. would warm up the place...or maybe I should just leave it looking simple and utilitarian 'cos it's bad fengshui to have an over-decorated bathroom...Maybe after all our tubes and bottles are inside, it'll have the usual messy lived-in look of most bathrooms...

Slight mistake above. Contractor (Mr. Lim) $22.5k. Painting (most likely Self-fix) $2k. 'Cos very, very rushed painting job required...my fault...last minute decision to paint... More pictures! The lovely kitchen from another angle The boys' toilet with Carlyle toilet bowl and sink installed, Ikea mirror The master bathroom, with the kerbless shower area Dunno why the master bathroom looks a little too simple and empty...maybe some pictures will improve the look. Sigh, turns out that Mr. Lim's price for a bathroom granite countertop cum cabinet is very reasonable...am just kicking myself for buying the bathroom cabinet even before engaging him.

Great idea.

Dear applefreak...it's really not easy being your own contractor... IMHO, suggest that concrete support, plumbing, kitchen cabinets be done by the same fellow 'cos close co-ordination required. For example, plumber needs to set up a working tap for the tiler, kitchen cabinet guy need to co-ordinate with the concrete support guy so that your concrete support can have doors. Chemical wash will be done by the same guy. The biggest disadvantage of being your own contractor, besides the time, is that the various groups may not want to be responsible if there are any problems. They'll just blame the other parties...and you may have difficulty resolving the problem and end up begging one of the parties to help clear the mess. Whereas if you have a main contractor, he'll have to be responsible to clear the mess. E.g. my air-con problem (see my blog), if the main contractor was responsible, he'll have to make sure they drill the holes nicely, clean up nicely, etc. But, since I sub-contracted it to others, I had to swallow all the consequences myself. Others like grilles, painting, electrical can be easily sub-contracted out yourself...easy to parcel out and easy to monitor.

Extensive reno, Mace? Sigh...had a budget of $20k, did my sums just now and the total costs has climbed up to $36k. Contractor $24.5k (kitchen, 3 toilets, 3 doors, whole flat painting) Electrician $1k (change all switches/ sockets, change 10 lights, rewire kitchen) Teka oven, sink, tap $1k (Asia Excel) Sanitary items $3k (Poh Joo, 391 Jln Besar) Air-con $2k Lights $600 (Nan Wah) Wardrobes $3k (Seng Kwong) Moving costs+cleaning costs $700 Am feeling quite green now.

Don't really know much abt painting...but everyone I spoke with with painting experience says it is the norm for contractors to mix paint...that's why they can charge such low prices. My Dad once engaged a painting contractor to paint with premium paints that my Dad bought...and even then, the contractor brought his own paint and mixed them!

Blk 159 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 #01-534. If you know the model numbers, you can call to check the prices first.

Wasn't the sofa covered with plastic wrapping? Oh dear, Spotlight curtains not nice? Am thinking of getting mine - the ready made ones - there. Congrats...now to clean up and prepare for wedding!

Thanks for the compliments, everyone. The kitchen's pleased as punch with its spiffy new outfit. Think the contractor did a good job. The Ikea carousel costs only $65 for a double. Fits cabinet space 1200mm by 600mm. Powder coated steel, so cannot touch water.

Mace, yours sound quite extensive...are you doing the toilets as well? Xinyi reiko, looks like yours is finishing...congrats!

Congrats!...now, to wait for everything to come together...

Bought your electricals yet? I called Everjoint 64582578 today...they seem to have the cheapest prices for most electricals.

How's your reno. going on? Read that you engaged Ho Bee?

Thanks! Love it and my double bluenose granite top!

If you know the exact models you want: call and compare the prices: audio house, hong liang, goh ah bee, mega,...

Thanks! Was thinking this morning that my well-thought out kitchen could have been a disaster kitchen if I didn't have a good contractor to execute the plan... Am really, really very grateful. $450 for the matching sliding door and $180 for the laminated toilet door. Should be okay 'cos mine took less than 4 weeks for complete kitchen and 3 toilets overhaul. But, must plan properly and get your stuff early...in case sometimes suppliers have no stock. Try negotiating with your buyers for an extension...better to have a buffer period...Gave my sellers abt 12 days extension for an auspicious move-in date.

How much did you pay for the Samsung TV?

Try 391 Poh Joo (Tel: 62963388) instead of the one opposite the food centre...few people, more attention and better service. Think that Poh Joo's prices are okay 'cos bought all my sanitary stuff from there...they offer a good price for hob and hood too...but, you must check out the prices offered at other places for better bargaining power. Use the telephone...don't strain yourself.

Nice kitchen design...a little bit of glass to let in the light and allow communication ... Sigh...like your air-con window cover-up...my aircon company just put a cardboard...should have let my contractor cover the hole instead...

Looks like your reno's progressing well. Wah...you're very on the ball, go on site to check every day...

Cheaper alternatives to installing cameras: duplicate the padlock key - one for ID and one for you, the homeowner; pass a spare door key to the ID and change the lock after the reno. (the Duro padlock comes with a canister door lock). Don't think it's a very good idea to leave keys "hiding" around...might as well leave the door open...

Congrats...looking forward to more pictures!!

The top-hung sliding kitchen door with a large glass panel (so that I can observe the kids' antics outside the kitchen while I cook) and matching laminate (as the kitchen cabinets). Looks very co-ordinated. The "silver touch" laminated kitchen toilet door. Here's the air-con trunking at the side by the wall after rectification...significantly better, don't you think?

The kitchen cabinets were completed last week!!! The cumulation of many months of research, planning, drawing and redrawing and, of course, not forgetting the hard work of the contractor and his team of carpenters... The light coloured woodgrain laminate provides a contrast to the double bluenose black galaxy granite countertop...The medium brown woodgrain ceramic floor adds warmth while the white walls make the kitchen look brighter. To make the L-corner more accessible, a corner wall cabinet is located at the top and a double powder coated steel carousal from Ikea at the bottom. Next to the Teka oven, is a drawer for cooking utensils eg. spatula/ wooden spoon, etc. and a double pull-out for storing spices and clingwrap above and oils and sauces below. This is the tall cupboard with 5 pull-out drawers for easy access and storage. The stainless steel dish rack with stainless steel tray...funny, I thought I got a black plastic tray...must be mistaken...it's exactly like the catalogue's after all. Oops! Finally, deep drawers for plates, bowls, wok, pots and pans. My dream kitchen!

Welcome, storeberry! Xinyi reiko, i think the dish rack comes as a set of 3; i don't think they sell just the tray alone. !!