leonjennawong

I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT SOMETHING. HAHA. If I could title the following section of my post.... Hmm... It would be called...... How To Persuade Your Wife/ CFO To Let You Buy The Huge-Donkey TV You Always Wanted hahahahaha... This #CalvinTan taught me how to go around my CFO's budget control, in an ethical way of cos! #CalvinTan ever shared with me on his personal experience with #MrsCalvinTan, using baby strollers as an example.. hahaha.. Basically if you can afford it, don't over-subscribe & apply the "scrimp & save every-single-cent mentality" to all your renovation/ house accessory purchases... So the story of #CalvinTan's baby-stroller-buying goes something like this... #CalvinTan wanted to buy a better brand (and more expensive) baby stroller that cost $1,000... This super-stroller (hahaha nice name that I gave the stroller right? ) can turn here turn there, super hardy, extremely light.. Wah. The features can go on and on... But #MrsCalvinTan wanted to save $$$... So he thought, "not wrong to save $$ ma... ok lor..". And so the #CalvinTan family bought the cheapest (albeit heaviest, clunkiest & the "most minimalistic") baby stroller... After a short while, the cheapo baby stroller gave way... spoilt lor... So the next time round they thought, "ok maybe we go for something better this time round!" ANDDDDDD so they bought the next-better-generation baby stroller! Time passed before #MrsCalvinTan thought that the current stroller was a bit difficult to turn, not all the wheels are fully rotatable, very difficult to bring baby around you know?! HAHAHA. And so no prizes for guessing, the #CalvinTan family bought an EVEN BETTER baby stroller!! hahaha... And to cut the story short, they didn't settle for this baby-stroller either... #CalvinTan finally put his foot down and went for the SUPER-STROLLER that he always wanted, after experiencing about 7 different strollers along the way.... BTW, they are still using the super-stroller to this day. (i think) All in all, they spent more than $1,000 on the different baby-strollers.. More than they would have if they'd just went for the $1,000 stroller in the first place! Anyway aside from #CalvinTan's advice, I have also long thought that buying TVs are just like buying computers... The latest models are always crazy-expensive, so you should go for a couple of models before the latest generation, where the specifications are still really good, BUT the prices are a lot cheaper... This way, you get the most bang for your buck! Value for money! Heh heh... And so with that story of the #CalvinTan family in mind as my added ammunition, call it a devious tactic if you will, but...... I have finally managed to convince my CFO to allow me to get my long-term dream SAMSUNG 60" FULL HD SMART LED LCD TV UA60F6300! Isn't she a beauty??? Bought from the recent IT Show at Marina Bay Sands for $2199. (CFO kept complaining that she wanted to eat grass the next few days, of course it didn't happen. :p:p) Since we are on the topic, I also got the Samsung HW-F450 2.1 Sound Bar w Wireless Subwoofer @ $279. (OK i didn't do much research on soundbars. actually. Looks good, Got bluetooth connectivity, Got wireless subwoofer = Good Enough!) NOW, BEFORE I GO OUT OF TOPIC on this predominantly renovation-related blog...... I have some updates on our beloved dining table! Take a look at the photo sent by #CalvinTan below: LOOKS LIKE A FREAKING TABLE MADE OF FREAKING LEGO RIGHT. OMG. I CERTAINLY HOPE IT LOOKS BETTER SOON. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... Aiya apparently, what you are seeing is just the base coat of paint. The #PoshHome carpenters will start to stain the individual dining table wooden pieces with the oh-so-beautiful tapestry of colours, before finally sanding it all off to get the amazing finish that we want... Let's wait and see what happens next. more posts on this when I get the pictures! hehehe... Oh, and last thing for tonight..... I've been meaning to post this up for some time already... CFO & I saw this shop near the #PoshHome showroom... called Lite Lab or something.. Saw this beautiful bamboo pendant light that might work for my dining area.. The bulbs are of the incandescent type. But costs $350 lei. Hmm. We could possibly paint the bamboo frames into white, baby pink & baby blue colours...... Bamboo pendant light photo in beautiful light fawn colour... Really am in love with this colour.. Colour combination of dining lights that we might try to mimick, other than the grey one (sorry for blur image, captured from TV) What do you all think ah?

Hihi MrandMrsWEE! Do start your own T-Blog! hahahahaha and let me know once you have set it up! I will be sure to subscribe to it! heh heh Yeah I'm really glad that we found #CalvinTan! So many design ideas coming from him & the best part is after engaging him, we continue to have a solid designer brain to count on. Also, PLEASE DO share your 3D drawing with me please!! It's gonna be awesome! Curious what other genius ideas this #CalvinTan has up his sleeve!! Cheers to our reno journeys!

Wow! Hahaha thanks so much elvira for your kind words! Really makes my day.. Hehehe Modern European!! Very beautiful and interesting theme! Your house will look gorgeous! If you start a t-blog please pm me your url k? Engaging these "theme designer" designers is a right step towards your dream house! There was a comment earlier from another visitor to my blog about Ephron being very proactive and on the ball as well! Seems like we have unearthed another ID gem from Renotalk & #PoshHome! Yeah all the best in our Reno journeys! :)

PHEW! Finally finished my Fire Safety Manager assignment.. All freaking 89 pages of it! I want to die liao. Sunday has come and gone, and I've missed my opportunity to spend it with my beloved CFO... the sole comfort I have now is from blogging quietly here.. hahaha so poor thing lei. Sorry lei everyone I have been really really so so so busyyyyyy... :( sobs. Good to see that my blog didn't degrade into a request-and-sent-thread in my absence.. heh heh ANYWAY. thanks lei taiwee7.. Your drooling is received with a lot of appreciation.. hahahaha... I've been discussing with CFO on our master toilet wall tiles recently.. with some inputs from #CalvinTan.. he actually sent 28 whatsapp photos to us for consideration on the type of wall overlay that we want for the master toilet tiles.. Can't attach all here due to the 5 pictures per post limitation here.. But they're all basically either mosaic or motif tiles.... But ohmygod 28 photos. hahahaha.. Will show you guys 5 of the nicer photos (in my opinion) that #CalvinTan sent over to us... Still gotta decide lor. So difficult lei. I always thought that I wanted a hotel-like-feel for my master bathroom... dark tiles with character.. glass... mirror.. with light accents....... BUT NOW when I see how pretty the motif tiles look, I'm starting to have second thoughts about my hotel-themed master toilet. hahahahaha talk about being wishy-washy... AIYA JUST A TOILET ONLY LEI!! WAH... At this rate I will go bonkers. (0_0) Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. You know the kind of feeling you get when you got a lot of options/choices and you don't know which one to go for? Touché. Luckily I am engaging an ID and not a contractor. I plan to just consult and wait for #CalvinTan's advice.. As much as I want to.. really cannot be too micro-managing on all aspects of my home reno... Still got work, night class exam & assignment.. and WEDDING to tend to... tiring. Sorry i complain so much. hehehehhee... Anyway as promised, here are 5 of the nicer photos... The last one being my favourite as always.. Mosaic tiles sent by #CalvinTan (am starting to feel that mosaic is a bit common.. and I also worry that the small mosaic pieces will start to drop off here and there...) Motif tiles! Finally managed to find a picture of the entire wall clad in this wonderful & pretty motif tiles... *swoon* hehehe I realised that some of the motif tiles can actually look quite vintage and rustic... So I must be careful which one i choose... obviously my master toilet is not going to be scandinavian style, but i still wouldn't want something too vintage-looking... So the last picture (i hope) actually gives a welcome splash of colour to my toilet amidst all the beige+mirror+glass combination... Meeting #CalvinTan soon.. Hopefully CFO & I can settle this by then..... That's all sorry for the short post guys.. Will update more when I have more time I promise... Argh tomorrow is monday! No no no cannot lidat... i love my job i love my job i love my job i love my job i love my job....

Hey breakster! Wow it sounds like you managed to get another good designer from #PoshHome! Outstanding service right?! Heh Heh... I have personally not met this Ephron before but he sounds like someone who is quite proactive! Good for you! *thumbs up* All the best to your Reno and maybe we will even bump in each other at #PoshHome showroom one day! Yeah!!

Can pm me the link/cost/contact for your awesome white track lights Pls?

Hi you all! Thanks so much for all your kind comments on the 3d drawings and the choice of colours! Also I am very happy if I managed to entertain you guys along the way! Hahahaha not intended, but still it's bringing a smile to my way on this gloomy Monday morning. Even now I'm stuck in a traffic jam on TPE.. Sheesh... Haha.. I must admit that the choice of mint colour for the kitchen cabinet was totally CFO's idea! Initially I was like yuckkkkk.. Because I'm a very boring person.. Always go for earthy tones one.. But even now, the colour is really growing on me!! So I guess you can say that CFO brings colour to my life... Hehehehe so cheesy..

*Continued from previous post KITCHEN 3D (LEFT & RIGHT SIDE) by #PoshHome: Summary of Works: · Mint-coloured laminate from #Formica & ABS trimming & soft-close hinges (bottom cabinet only) for all kitchen cabinets (CFO absolutely loves this colour! ) · Concrete Base for bottom kitchen cabinets · LED strip lighting below top-hung kitchen cabinets · White subway tiles with grey grouting for kitchen backsplash · Full height cabinet for built-in ovens · Complete quartz top for bottom cabinets (colour to be confirmed again) · Forgot to tell #CalvinTan that we want a kitchen hood with chimney · Dish rack not shown here · Complete false ceiling for kitchen not shown here · Full height ladder unit not shown here MASTER BATHROOM 3D by #PoshHome: Summary of Works: · Top hung suspended mirror cabinet (love love love how it is in-line with the bottom quartz top & vanity closet) · Quartz top for sink (still exploring other colours) · Built-in vanity closet below sink · Tempered glass shower screen (extends all the way up to ceiling, opted out glass door) · Shower Kerb (tiles to be bought from HDB later) · Still looking around for suitable motif tiles to replace the current mosaic 3D design shown (will have a post on new choices for motif tiles soon!) Oh yeah.... Hmm there's still one more Master Bedroom 3D drawing that #CalvinTan owes me... I shall upload again once I get my grubby hands on it.. Hehehe.. And.. That's all folks! Hope you all enjoy these 3D drawings as much as CFO & I do! TGIF and Happy Weekends everybody!

Hahaha just as an opening, tell you all what happened last night.. CFO & I were talking to my sister yesterday about renovation.. And again, we concluded the conversation with “Ask #Calvin lor.” when deciding on subway tiles for her kitchen backsplash… Hahahahaha… Really our favourite person to go to for design ideas.. ANYWAY. Let’s not hide the BIG NEWS any further… I have been going on and on about my eagerness for the end of Feb to come… And how it cannot come any sooner for me… It’s been a torturous 4 weeks up until now… And, here goes…... *cue drumroll* LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! BRINGING TO YOU… THE LONG-AWAITED 3D DRAWINGS OF THE BELOVED NEW HOME OF LEONJENNAWONG! (spread over next 2 posts due to photo limitations per post) BTW I will accompany each 3D drawing with a summary of what I’m doing in the picture.. Just to provide some text to accompany the illustrations, so that you guys can have a better understanding of the scope of work that I’m doing & can even tally it with my sent quotation if you holding on to it. If I don’t specify anything in the ‘Summary of Works’, it means that it is done/ provided by #PoshHome. Hmmmm… Just realised that I indeed have quite a lot of custom-made stuff in my home… Hehehe… (n_n)v LIVING AREA 3D (FRONT VIEW) by #PoshHome: Summary of Works: · Gypsum board cover up of wall recess (on wall where TV is mounted) · Complete false ceiling coverage for living area · Wood trimming for windows in white paint finish (to cover the ugly aluminum white frames where possible…) · Loose furniture planning to get from #PoshHome: o Beige fabric sofa (see below printscreen from #CalvinTan for details, might go for soft grey) o TV console sideboard (btw I did check, there is a hole behind for wires) o Custom-made Solid-Wood-Bench-cum-Bay-Window (love this so much!) o Custom-made Castor-Wheel Coffee Table (still pending quotation, keep you all updated) o Custom-made solid-nyatoh-wood Wall Planter Rack (in the corner of the living area where it still can get some light, different location from initial proposal if you remember) · So cute, #CalvinTan even put a 60” Samsung TV for me – buying outside myself (he must have remembered that time when I was asking him on advice on how to persuade CFO to let me to buy a bigger TV hehehe ) · Wooden grain HERF vinyl Alsafloor purchased direct from Bilrich · Designer bag on the floor beside the sofa not included (hahahaha yes I did tell that joke to #CalvinTan too) LIVING AREA 3D (BACK VIEW) by #PoshHome: Summary of Works: · Custom-made sideboard with pencil legs for living area back wall (Design aligned to the current theme of living area) · Painted back wall with mint-colour (probably going to reconsider the colour and get something a couple of tones lighter) · False Ceiling for corridor to bedrooms (still considering if we should put the normal downlights or the white tracklights as shown… Hmm..) DINING AREA 3D by #PoshHome: Summary of Works: · Custom-made colourfully-stained Solid-Wood Dining Table · White ceiling beams · Full height 5ft-wide shoe cabinet (right hand side of picture) · Vertical light-oak-colour veneer-wrapped beam, with 2x white plywood ABS-trimming suspended/open display shelves (elongates the adjoining wall & enlarge the dining area space, so that my dining table does not seem like it’s too big. Also planning to place a pastel/ white table fan on the shelf to provide ventilation for the dining area) · Install kitchen glass door with custom-made veneer-wrapped handle (like I mentioned before, the custom-made veneer-wrapped handle is to soften the ‘modern’ look that a glass door exudes… And to be more aligned to Scandinavia theme) · Take note that I will probably source for a different pendant light to the one in the 3D drawing (maybe something more woody or pastel coloured) BTW, this is the recommended sofa printscreen from #CalvinTan: (wooden pencil legs! My favourite!) 3D DRAWINGS ARE OUT!! WOOHOO! YEAH! Like I was telling you guys before in the earlier short post on 3D design quality (see Post #24), the 3D drawing is good right! Hehehe... Turned out EXACTLY the way I want it to be!*thumbs up!* *completely melting from elation like… right now. Wahahaha..* Wahahahahha just typing this post is making me so happy and excited because I am re-living my initial feelings when I got the 3D drawings. Ok enough of nonsense. Move on to my observations and more serious stuff... COMMUNCIATION WITHIN #POSHHOME: The 3D rendering was done by #CalvinTan’s trusted #PoshHome 3D rendering design team, so like I was telling a couple of Renotalk friends who PM-ed me, I actually believe that the #PoshHome core team of (senior)designers/carpenters/site-coordinators must have been working together for some time already because there doesn’t seem to be ANY communication break-down from; 1) my communication of my preferences/design to #CalvinTan; 2) from #CalvinTan to the #PoshHome designing team; and 3) from #CalvinTan to the #PoshHome carpentry team Communication from Person A (leonjennawong) to Person B (#CalvinTan) to Persons C (#PoshHome designers & carpenters) all working fine!(which is really not easy to find from any contractor or ID firm) Really give me the impression that their #PoshHome team is a well-oiled machine. Thumbs up and kudos to them! Really so impressed and very appreciate how they captured the EXACT FEEL AND ESSENCE that I wanted for my house, so much so that I couldn’t help but tell him well done & good job! Really impressed. Of course after I told him good job, I proceeded to gush over and over and OVER ON HOW MUCH CFO & I LOVED THE 3D DRAWINGS!! Wahahaha.. POINT TO TAKE NOTE ON EXPECTATION LEVELS THOUGH… Anyhow, dearest newer Renotalkers, beware and please don’t make the mistaken assumption that engaging a super ID like #CalvinTan and #PoshHome or anyone else means you can hands-off & let them design freestyle, and yet still expect them to be able to read your mind and achieve your inner most desired dream house… NO! I have met up with #CalvinTan on a few occasions & even text with him sometimes, and am not afraid to converse with him on my preferences… I mean of course it helps that on the other hand, this #CalvinTan has good design intuition and SIMPLY GETS IT when it comes to our design preferences. But as the old saying still goes, “It takes 2 hands to clap.”…… Also, I am very sorry that some of the Renotalkers told me that #CalvinTan seems to be quite busy nowadays.. Maybe it’s peak period or something..? But do try to talk to his recommended senior designers.. I’m sure they can offer the same top-class designs & services to you.. Not to mention about the NO FREAKINGGGG GST pricing! Wahaha... (yah what… if you engage the same #PoshHome company, the pricing rates should remain the same ma.. unless they increase then I really got nothing to say. Haha don’t quote me on this if not I think #CalvinTan will hunt me down hehehehehe…) Lastly, do remember that my comfort-level & chemistry with #CalvinTan might not necessarily mean you will experience the same level of chemistry with him too… Because we are all different people with different ways of interaction ma…. So anyway, what I’m trying to say from my own experience is, DON'T TURN DOWN the opportunity to talk to different designers so easily.. Because… Worse come to worse, even if you don’t engage that particular ID; 1) You will still manage to get an exchange of renovation ideas; 2) You will get a better idea of the pricing being offered on the market for your intended works; 3) Lastly, I believe that you cannot just meet the so-called ‘good’ or 'famous' interior designers. Because you don’t really value what is right in front of you, or know what is considered good, UNTIL you have met the bad or mediocre ones. Just my 2 cents worth really… Anyways, Good Job to #PoshHome & #CalvinTan!!! CFO & I are super-duper happy & satisfied. *Continued on next post: 3D rendering for Kitchen, Master Bathroom & Master Bedroom