g0mug0mu

OMG that SMEG... I am from fernvale too Congrats on moving in! Nice reno with many personal touches

Thanks for the encouragement eno and hojichalatte! Appreciate it. I have signed with the ID no 7 from the 7 Jan post The whole drawers fiasco took us 2 months! We are absorbing the cost 5months to finish signing with the ID but the up side it's that we are no longer kan cheong and just want to take it slow and do everything swee swee. For quote request, I decided to not post out my quote publicly at this moment. What I will do is, you can PM me your quote and we could highlight anything unreasonable/negotiable Been MIA all these while as I had no constructive things to post. We have went for 1st round of tile selection to see ID recommendations and if we are okay with it. We are using our own tiler so it's again kinda complicated. Short listed to vinyl for MBR + living and cement tiles for kitchen + dining.

Good luck with the reno!! Found your contractor?

Hello, I like the way you chronicle your ID journey! And I thought I met ALOT of IDs. BTW, mind if you can share how the dead space problem was solve? PM is good too if it is not too convenient!

Someone beat me to the tiles questions. Nice stand-alone bathtub and mixer too. Anyway nice reno! I like how you kept the french door, subway tiles, colour palette, light flooring consistent.

I think it is expensive imho, considering some items painting is 1500+500; and hacking of everything is 9k++ I cant comment much because I don't have contractors quotes and my ID quotes only have carpentry items Carpentry I calculated is less expensive comparing my ID quotes (not contractors) but not for painting What you can do not is: since you have signed a 60k+ contractor, take every item and breakdown into per square feet/per feet then multiply by the actual feet done. For each item: 1) Per feet bill higher than quote (DO NOT PAY - Demand explanations) 2) Per feet bill same as quote but bill is higher due to longer dimensions done - Check why he under quote in the first place. Why first measurement not accurate. 4) Per feet bill same as quote - Dont be too quick to pay. Take measuring tape and measure every single item. I sure many people will err on the high side if the owners don't check. Let us know what you find Nice reno btw. Enjoy your new house.

Haha I like how things are centralize in the layout above Nice old school furnishing!

Yummy 3D! Congrats on one big step to your reno. So far you are doing tv console kitchen, shoe cabinet, study area and toilets for carpentry? Should look very different with the textures from 'Momento'. I saw many 'floating' clocks in 3D but maybe not so practical to get/include?

Looks like your bet on wooden planks vs brick wall has paid off! It fits better into the whole house... I have been thinking to do the bar counter + SMEG something like yours but no budget! No budget to do feature wall also... Haha, I think.. Can share more on your laminate feature wall? They have to install plywood backing for TV console?

Wow that seems really fast! Good job!

Reallllyyy nice house! Nice blog to read

Thanks! I can't wait to start!! Stressed and tired to choose someone to handle so much of our savings!

Haha, we have similar taste. Your house sure very nice 16 Contractor/Designer; 8 quotes and 3months later: Okay, we almost have finalized the quote with our favourite; our imaginary pen is on the dotted line already; First 3 meet-ups/phone-up Quote was: "Cabinetry configurations will come in later after we confirmed on the space planning" "configurations will come in later at the design stage" "We can throw in xxx and *** but depending on the design" Was not too concern as I have trust and still initial stage; we think that quote is purposely vague to leave themselves some creative freedom to play with ideas without too much concern for add-ons. We wanted to reduce price by $xxxx (Less than 10%) as it will be out of our budget and no need consider. (You can read from previous that we are happy with them) Next 3 meet-ups/phone-up Thankfully they managed to get a middle ground(reduce price for some areas) and proceed for site visit --> hopefully confirm All okay; Sorry, but carpenter increase price need to top-up for the previous discussed cabinetry combinations. Okay, I accept since give discount in other areas. (Its like taking people give you $10 and taking $5 back, still got $5, I happy) Raising some alarm bells, we decided that quote need to specific in case carpenter increase price etc that they can match the price with the simplest of configurations Can you specify any limitations in the quote? 1) Amount of drawers (need to top-up as more work for the carpenter) 2) Mount two drawers together to form low height pull out pantry (help us to check for top up) 3) Pull out table top mechanism (need to check how much to top up for special mechanism) Maybe because we ask for too much discount? Maybe other affluent customers or less detailed are less concern and the cabinetry configurations ended up have no top up? Previously, I had the idea that the high price is because I thought that they can have the creative freedom. I thought the competitors could not match their materials, quality and flexibility as their price was much higher. Conclusion, now that we are back to neutral from being highly in favor towards the chosen one (boo-ing other competitors that they cannot provide their quality and flexibility) My non-negotiable terms: 1) Flexibility of kitchen carpentry 2) Specify quotes (like the amount of glass for a "laminate and glass" finish) 3) Suggestion on solutions of the inaccessible areas for the proposed design 4) Free or nominal top-up for internal coloured PVC (not laminate) (I don't want to worry about number of drawers/glass when they design carpentry! Not for this 'high end' studio) Of course, most likely we don't need so much drawers or glass door. As they have said usually their customer can accept and don't need. Which is true but now I feel like they want to take back the other $5 they gave me (this may not be true, just my feeling). *fingers cross and hoping for the best if our issues still can be resolved. Backup Plan Do everything by myself + family; Wasted enough time just to rectify 1 quote. Anyone know which t-blog using direct carpenter and manage without contractor/ID? Maybe I should start drawing my own carpentry and get them to quote right after CNY.

Hi, Thanks for the techie info. Its difficult even for me! Anyway, looks like this is THE place to ask for tech and wiring stuff for home reno. Anyway, I saw that we have phone cables to almost every room. Any chance to convert the phone points to cat4 cables(about 10mbps) or cat5 cables or you have experience in homePNA? Phonelines should be technically useless now(due to free voice) and intent to conceal all WIFI, modem router in the drawer Good sharing! http://computer.howstuffworks.com/phone-network.htm

Wow wow! Very nice chair!! Congrats!! Love the whole scandi wooden flooring feel with the brick wall and black accent..

Original theme is Scandinavian but its more like scandi with a blue touch, grey out wooden planks, white walls, light blue SMEG, wooden TV console... Yes, SMEG is in the living room/dining area, kitchen too small..

That's right! Thats why number 7 still in the running despite lack of experience and v v v expensive. Totally focus on answering our requests and on-the-ball. I am impressed with the carpentry from number 7 during the site visit. Good things comes to those who wait. Its true! 14. Design Practice - Thou okay to talk to; did not offer much ideas. Their port-folio looks great and they sincere. Most likely dropped 15. JQ Ong - Our appointment got delayed from 11 to 1130 to 12 to 1220 eventually. Totally unforgivable, I would have left. By luck, just as we were hailing a cab, they called. Our discussion were limited to 40mins as someone else was waiting at 1pm. But JQ was very creative. I am impressed. (they have a SMEG in their office and recycled pipings and crates for their customers to save $$ and good design) Most excited about their ideas but JQ will not be our designer, he will only QC his designer's work. Shortlisted - Most Looking forward. 16. Fuse concept - Met Thomas. Sincere chap and have good ideas. But lack a WOW(For my personal taste, but they are good - visit their portfolio and its really good). Saw that he has done many projects and experience in way he talks. Able to trust my reno to him. Shortlisted - Hopefully able to WOW us with his layout. Finally, we have choices. Notice that these smaller companies do suit our style more. They are more attentive and able to accommodate our Those shortlisted are able to Offer or even happy to work with our family's for electrical, plumbing, hacking and tiling. Seem happy as they are free to hack and have more creative room. Small companies perhaps so more attentive as they don't get as much leads for customer (I think) Talk more about design instead of cost/materials/pricing Think out of the box in space planningMust. Sign. Before. CNY. I cant wait to start... I should have 7-8 quotes after next week. Have keyed in every quote into spreadsheet to compare items psf and quality etc. Plan is to compile a (easy to read) table and post for future reno-talkers reference once the renovation blows over For those of you who made it reading through my rant, thanks for dropping by!

I think I gave up on him and the others who too busy to reply! So far, quite happy with the ID we met today! So we have an alternative besides breaking the bank. No mood to post pics as much as I wanted to... Will make me 'gian' and I have no ID. Yet. Good things comes to all who wait!! *pull hair..

Now I am tired out and sleepless from the ID process After contacting so many ID. Summit Design - Good Attitude but ideas template. No meet up to take design requirements, no talk D'Planner - Good attitude, patient. I would recommend if simple design. But See Number 1 (met but no design requirement) Intradesign - No breakdown no talk. See Number 1 Sunny contractor - No action after email-SMS reminder-email Mr K - See Number 4 Linewerkz - See post 1 Conceptwerke - Manage to squeeze within budget stretch our budget and had to revise 4 TIMES as quotation was vague (non of the other IDs had this issue).. Good vision but impractical but good ideas but lack of experience but patient but... Amazingly, contactable to meet during X'mas eve and New Year's Day weekend... I dont know to be impress that she replied our 5-15 liner queries 3 times over email/whatsapp/phone or not impress because we there are so many things to question the quote/design on... (Whats your take?) Prozfile - Decide not to meet after reading forum; took long to reply star star - Was at IMM and talk to ID; see number 1 (we met but no take design requirements) oblique interiors - emailed but dropped for unknown reason Artist Room - No reply Dwell - No reply D I aka star star - Amazing portfolio. Feature a lot on home and deco magazine(Guess?).Met on Saturday at 4pm but their office was closing; To save us time; talk at bullet speed during requirements taking. Help us save more time by quoting at bullet speed. *lights off-ing in the background *Colleague: excuse me, may I take your last order please? (Ok... the last line is fake). Granted; her ideas is modern/Scandinavian and I imagined many people would have distinctly signed. They showed us 3D drawing; mood board and detail quote within 2+ weeks. I was impressed but wifey did not heard a word(she has an amazing auto-filter for nonsense). Just our luck as ID had an emergency home emergency as she need to go to visit the hospital. Would have confirmed Number 7 if not for the long drag about the quote which gave us time to scroll 1000-2000+ pinterest excessively day and night. find 2 more IDs from pinterest.. The last last contenders.. Design Practice - Main guy had difficulty meeting me over the past 3 weeks(Paternal leave) but pass to another designer (good reviews from inthechouse). Fingers cross! JQ Ong - Weekend meetup: 11am slot. Super busy, almost fully book almost every day. Yummy portfolio (Booking thru his administrator; like doctor who gives 2 day MC) Fuse concept - If they reply

Congrats on the upcoming home! I think it has progressed well but still left quite abit of appliances etc.. Whats left? Are you targeting CNY and able to move before CNY?

Hi, I am looking for a built undercounter freezer such as the one below. Electrolux ERU1101FOW Any person or shop have it can message me. Thanks! Otherwise have to resort to non-undercounter freezer such as: Europace Upright Freezers EFZ085B It vents from behind so not so ideal as an undercounter freezer.... Help!

Thanks for the support! Will do just that. Thank you. Its going very slowly and cheaper ID = less follow up. We only taking carpentry and 3D from the ID; hence the low interest from many of the ID firms I contacted to begin with. Been taken to Pinterest and reading the t-blogs during this idle time of which we have so much information that we don't really need an "ID". On the other hand, our ideas are in the 'wild' so just want an ID to coordinate the design (which might blow the budget). Our original plan was that if we cant successfully negotiate down ~10% from our preferred ID; we just hum-tum a contractor. But my mistake is that we thought contractor might be find to do only carpentry since no need 'click', see quotation and just do. But NONE replied after the initial greetings/sending my requirements.

Dropping by to say Hi! We do share the 'some' of the same concepts and good luck for your reno! True that stucco and bricks are a bit overused but that kind of fits my theme! Looking forward to how your laminated white plank wall will turn out

Loved how you overlay your walls in the kitchen and da SMEG Do did you put up the random craftstone designs on the wall? Thinking to put some hulk inspired design in the spare room ;p

I have using flickr account which is easy as they provide the link. It's through a PC thou but I suspect the mobile app won't be too hard! I'm doing a scandi-American-pop thingy! Will watch this space You have an ID already? Good luck!!