JS21

Yay, I'm gonna remove mine! Ask my husband remove. Ha, later his parents and sister faint. Anyway, I'll be expecting some snide remarks about the lack of grilles in the house perhaps during the housewarming or their next visit when the reno is completed .

Really can? If can, I also wanna remove. Haha, instead of putting on grilles, I remove more grilles! Can I check with y'all, I'm having headache over this, I want a 2-bowl sink. Is "L" shaped kitchen better where the sink is resting on shorter "L" and washing machine at the end near the kitchen window, or should I put the sink near the kitchen window where part of it jutting out because the protuding wall is too short. Or should I put the sink beside the protuding wall very near the cooker? I hope y'all will know what I'm saying because I think our kitchens should be similar. Any insights would be great. I need to know ASAP, hope to confirm floor laying and kitchen this weekend. I intend to place a 1.5m (L) x 0.7m (W) kitchen table at the opposite wall. Which of the above will be the best layout? I'm thinking of putting the sink perpendicular to kitchen window where part of the jutting out of the protuding wall. Is that layout good? Can the washing machine be put on the opposite wall and the dryer above it? I'm a shortie, can I reach the dryer this way? Can Citygas water heater be shifted slightly to the top or right or is there only one fixed point for installation? So many questions, hopefully some people can answer them. Thanks!

How much is it to do aluminium frame frosted glass wardrobes? Is the price the same for both sliding and swing doors? I know most contractors seem to be quoting $250 per foot, is there any out there that's cheaper?

Hi Djulyn, thanks for sharing the pictures. It's so nice to see the various decors of Tanglin Halt units. I've spend hours in the office planning and replanning the layout of my house to squeeze in as many things into my small unit. The Fengshui master came down on Sunday, in a way he made my job easier, told us how to arrange. Quite useful. Now can't wait to start reno. Not sure how things will go...conflicts and all. Quite stress.

Thanks for your insights! Maybe he's stressed, so am I! I also think it's ridiculous that grills are the cause of all these conflicts. I'm not so rich as to on the aircon 24/7. Anyway, I'll be staying with my parents tonight, their house is near Tanglin Halt too, so I'll pop by alone to view unit..Heehee...Yesterday we were supposed to go down, but in his anger, he said not going already. I should be the one who's angry, yet he got angry with me for getting angry with his family members! He's on their side more than mine. For our wedding, I also had to fight very hard for what I want. I really envy those girls whose husbands give in readily to their every whims. My wedding was beautiful, but the memories of the fightings tarnish those beautiful memories... During the wedding, he thanked me for doing all the planning and giving him such a beautiful wedding. He gave me h-ell during the planning! Now after the wedding, he reminded me I'm a tua CC and only know how to spend alot and that the wedding is not even what he wants in the first place! I'm think the reno will be no different. H-ELL..

I feel that his actons are quite cowardly. Actually I suspect he himself does not really want the grills too, but he's more chin chye (easy-going), so when his parents wants grills in our house, he gave in to them. Then how about me?! I'm the one living in the house, having to face the grills. Not them! Day before yesterday, both of us went up to our unit. Again, I tried to let him see the illogicalness of making grills. I said when the need arise, I will do it, but not now! I said his nephew wouldn't come often anyway. He exploded and told me to stay out of his family's affairs and his nephew is none of my business, then he stormed out and slammed the door. He keeps losing his temper. I should be the one who's stressed out! Then he said ok, we'll not be doing grills. I half-believed him. I so wished he would keep to his word and that they are true. Then yesterday...haha..truth is, he just wants to shut me up that night, but has no intention of keeping to his words.

My Hokkein is quite bad but I can undestand a few words here and there. They think I cannot understand any, that's why I think she dared to scold me in Hokkein, thinking I do not understand. Sorry, I only pretend I cannot understand, not that I really cannot understand a word. Anyway, "chao ban" I believe is a nasty way of saying somebody only wants his/her way, stubborn. I never even call her names for being so thick-skinned and telling me what to do in my own house. That's what I get for staying firm on my decision. I rather say first to them that I WILL NOT be making grills, then to cave to the pressure, and say yes, and later never do. I'm not that sort. I dare and I said upfront, "I've already made up my mind already. I'm not doing grills." She kept insisting, I still said the same thing, "Anyway, I'm not doing.." She still insisted and said MUST DO, blah blah.. I said "there's no such thing as MUST" Like that she must scold me so vehemently behind my back already. Finally see some true colours.

I'm a woman, so you'll mean my husband. What he thinks? 1 year ago when we were looking for a house, we already agreed that if we are lucky enough to find a house on a high floor and non-corridor unt, then we do not need grills. We are indeed fortunate to be able to buy this Tanglin Halt unit just as I hoped, high floor, all windows facing outwards, unblocked, good views, etc..and yay and no need grills!! So I thought. Just on Sunday, he must have told his parents our plans. When they realised we do not intend to do grills, they told him we need to do grills for safety reason in case kids visit. He listens to them alot, so he dutifully agreed and suddenly started echoing his family views and kept insisting we need grills. I said: For what? Him: For kids' safety. Me: whose kids? Him: In case kids visit. Me: No kids will come lah. Even if have, not often. Him: What if my nephew comes? Me: How often will he come? Him: *silence* Me: Once a year? During housewarming only? At the most few times a year only. Like that need to do grills already ah? They're also not living here! Him: *angry* After that he kept on pestering me to do grills. Very frustating having the deal with that. Then suddenly yesterday while I was at his parent's place, he told them I do not want to do grills. The parents suddenly explode and the father forcefully told me I NEED to do grills. My father in law said, if you do grills, then I'll support! The mother also echo the same views. Then the sister sitting nearest to me started insisting, I MUST do grills. MUST ONE..MUST ONE!! What if her son visits? Kids action very fast one, what if one kid falls down? What if..what if..what if... The most infuriating thing is she scolded me CHAO BAN just because I stand firm on my point and did not listen to her. How can she behave like this? Have more respect for people's own views and opinions. Nobody like other's opinions and views to be forced down their throats. Moreover it's MY house, not hers! I do not succumb to pressure easily. The more they insist, the more it'll turn me off only.

Sorry, allow me to rant abit. It's so maddening. My family in law wants me to do grills. It'll mar the view of the apartment, and there's no need for the grills at all since there're only adults living in it. My family in law thinks it's for safety reason in case there're kids visiting. I said even if there are, it wouldn't be very often. My sis-in law had the cheek to say what if her son visits? So she expects me to do grills for her son's safety? How often will he come anyway? Once a year?! She kept insisting I MUST do grills! Hello, it's my house, if you want, you can suggest nicely. But to insist that I MUST? Have some respect please, it's MY house, not yours. I told her there's no such thing as MUST. Then she got angry, and went behind my back and scolded me in Hokkein to her parents. I heard her scolding me CHAO BAN. Not her house and yet she behaves like this? My father in law said he'll pay for the grills. He thinks it's so simple like coming out with money and I'll do grills? PLEASE! I think if I have children, then it'll be irresponsible of me not to do grills. When the time comes, I'll do it. But currently I do not have any and I love the view without grills! Why are these people INSISTING I MUST do grills for THEIR kids safety? It's **** ridiculous to me. I don;t forsee them coming often anyway. At the most, a few times a year only for a few minutes! My sis in law can jolly well keep keep close watch on her precious son during those visits, if any. It's very thick-skinned to tell me to do grills for my house for your son's VISITS. She told me kids are very fast, and might just fall over! Yeah, everthing might might might in case incase incase...can't stand interfering people. If it's their kids, it's their responsibility! Not mine. If they want to come, they're wlecome. Just beware of your own kids safety. But to insist I MUSt do grills in case their kids come visiting?

Anyone can recommend a good contractor who has done your home at Tanglin Halt and whom you're satisfied with? I want to start reno ASAP, but still haven't decided on a contractor. I don't need ID, just a reasonably priced and reliable contractor. Tks!

I'll be starting renovation at my unit in Tanglin Halt soon. Got a few questions, hopefully the helpful soon-to-be neighbours of Tanglin Halt can help me, 1) Air-Con - Is it possible to put 2 compressors at the air-con ledge? Mine is a 4-room unit. I'm thinking of doing a system 3 (3 bedrooms) + system 2 (Living/Dining room). Salesman said the air-con ledge is not big enough for 2 compressors. Is it true? He said if we want to, we can still do it by placing one on top of the another, which means the air-con window will be partially blocked. Is there other way to go about this? Eg. laying the system 2 compressor horizontally on top of the larger compressor, instead of vertically. Any advise will be appreciated! 2) Also, did everyone here placed the water storage heater in the kitchen? Anyone placed theirs in the bathrooms by re-routing the pipes? 3) Can the yellow gas pipes near the ceiling in the kitchen be removed if we're not using Citygas? 4) Is Citygas for heating water heater expensive compare to heating by electricity?

I've stayed before on the highest floor and also on 2nd floor of HDB flats. 2nd floor advantages: 1) good exercise, faster than taking lift, no waiting time. 2) not affected at all by any lift breakdowns disadvantages: 1) cockroaches enter the house easily. eeeek! 2) no high floor views High floor advantage: 1)view only disadvantage 1) water from taps come out warm especially on hot day (highest floor) 2) in the event of lift breakdown, curse like crazy. Overall, I prefer midfloor, 5th floor and above, where there's a view, yet not so high that the people on the ground look like ants.