Hi carelinwen, yup i agree.... how i wish i can cash my leaves too... last time my company is able to do that. sigh. I dun think it is possible to spend below 20k if you really wanna do it nicely. My fren actually targetted to do it at $18k and the carpenter is his wife's uncle. But as you know there is bound to be some alteration works and the budget is eventually burst. i think his reno is closing to 30k..if i am not wrong. Luckily he is still studying so he can afford the time to go down 3-4 times a week to inspect. I guess i will engage an ID to do up all the essential stuff first. Life in a Korean style house first loh... and buy the furnitures slowly.. what to do... sigh -_-