koori

iQuartz top completed. The glass hob isn't installed yet though. It's just placed in the space cut out in the countertop. I could still lift the corner up if I try hard enough...LOL. This thing is very heavy! As I mentioned in earlier posts, I ended up getting iCrystal [instead of iZen] coz I was getting a dark colored laminate for the cabinets and wanted contrast. iCrystal isn't pure white. There are flecks of color and shimmery flecks. Here's a close-up at the sink area. It looks like it's not as hard to maintain as pure white. And they must always leave their brand name....like you will forget what you have meh? Mine is in the corner, at the smallish new wall built up, so luckily not visible from the living room view.

Curtains up...a bit early, but since they were done.....and it seems I suck at measuring. Should probably have altered the curtains another 2 cm shorter so that the folds don't touch the ground? Oh well, still looks ok, so will just leave it and not go bother neighbour auntie again. haha.... Pardon the stool, should have removed it before taking the photo. This set of curtain is only $29.90, so pardon the 'thinness'...heh....I prefer to still have some light shining through. This set is $59. Material is thicker and feels nicer. Again bad measuring....should have gone about 2 cm up. Curtains are really much cheaper at Ikea as compared to custom made ones. Plain though. Good enough for me...and the beige is just nice against my flooring.

thanks for the tips. Will go DIY shops look around, hopefully soon.

I used the more 'atas' Peeka. Haha....heard the rates is more expensive, but their system is very easy to use, dunnid to call up anyone de. dunnid tutorial also. You go their site register account then you know how to use liao... Think not cost efficient if you buying big bulky stuff though coz their 1 cubic meter I think is S$250 charge (sea freight). I have only gotten small stuff, didn't hit anywhere near 1 cbm. and hor....taobao also has bedsheets....whahhaha....Tencel is '天丝' . Beware there is different types for the mattress cover. Fitted sheet (elastic all around the mattress cover or at 4 corners= 床笠), flat sheet (one flat piece of cloth) = 床单. Another thing to note is China don't have bolster covers in their sets.

wah~ walk in wardrobe looks nice. Is it really as big as it looks like in the 3D?

If it's good material, $220 for king size + quilt cover is worth it. I saw some $400++ atas ones at Metro also. My 'elephant' skin dunno how to differentiate how good it is though. Haha...My sister said she bought one set dunno what bamboo cotton about $300 for queen size + quilt, she's been raving about how silky it is.... Thread count isn't everything though. Check what material it is. Higher threadcount doesn't always mean better sheets. aiyo. Like me. Then you get those cheaper ranges from Metro or OG will also be an upgrade liao. hahhahah....work our way slowly up. Ya. All very ex stuff. Heart attack when you see the price tag mark $380 and the sales person tells you it's 'on offer' liao.

My service balcony windows are new, so no film. Maybe should start the DIY there. Does the sunlight blocking also mean darkness? Coz my kitchen's natural source of light comes from service balcony, afraid of making it too dim/dark there. Hi pepper, PM sent. Good luck in your contractor/ID hunting.

Can! as vct's signature says - everything is made in china. And so 'everything' can be found in china.... hahaha....

Is that terrazzo?

kapianhe.taobao watermark, so these are card boxes lor. Buy liao put cards.

People still have them anyways. During house hunting, one of the units I viewed had a neighbour with at least 4 cats. The door was ajar and 2 cats were sitting in the doorway staring at me, 1 in the background jumping up to the neighbour's dining table. 1 was on the sofa. No idea if there were more inside the house.

No downsides as far as i know of, other than the prettiness factor.. Mine is all 'exposed' too. Only a layer of paint over all the trunking...Mine is a resale flat though, so no 'corridors' just went across a whole wall....haha.

Samsung smart TV bonanza. Cashback offered...offer till 13th Apr. At least that's what i read on Court's page : http://www.courts.com.sg/Promotions/Column1/TV/Samsung-Smart-Bonanza-2014.aspx

I got a mattress protector free with my mattress purchase. Are u getting a new mattress? Try to 'squeeze' one out of the sales person lah. Not expensive thing they can probably throw it in free. If not I remember seeing Metro sells them, I remembered it was below $20 [super-single size] Are you particular about bedsheets? I get mine at Metro too...I just got a couple of plain colored sets last week, less than $50 each. (super single, no quilt cover basis, threadcount was listed as 700 if I remember correctly. Not Tencel like Vct mentioned though. Just regular cotton. ). [will be more ex if your bed size is bigger lo...]

I admire her lungs....hahaha....everyone on opposite block can hear her. Also good lah. I heard her from my living room and ran to take in laundry once during a weekend. [ our kitchens face each other across a narrow carpark].

ya. just googled and there is this very very detailed instruction video....haha....as of this moment, this looks like a big project liao...I am thinking of getting those flat scraper Hesitant coz the old film is stuck there for >15 years plus the previous owners likely never washed the window based on the 'shrek' handles.

Haha...my unit is the first unit once you step out of the lift lobby. So my neighbours 1,2,3,4,5, etc....will all pass by my unit to reach their houses wor. Not on purpose peep lah, but still people will just look if it's at eye level mah....you dunno how many 'very eng' people are looking out of their windows everyday.... My parent's place here got rain 'alarm' somemore. An auntie on the opposite block monitors weather (so free) and will broadcast '下雨了！‘ when she sees people still having laundry outside our block when rain starts dripping. The frosting on your windows so good block sunlight... Mine doesn't leh. It only keeps people from viewing into my unit, does nothing to the sunlight as far as I can see. It's still bright when the sun is shining. curious, which contractor did you approach? Can share? Might try asking for prices on remove+ install new film.

I would want to re-install the film. That's why I'm wondering if I call some window film contractor to say I wanna install new ones will they remove the old ones for me? LOL. Corridor unit leh....not sure I can live without the frosting. I chose not to install curtains in living room coz I prefer it unblocked. Windows in bedroom, the one facing the corridor needs the frosting film too. The master bedroom and the other bedroom, not so much. I'm not very close to the next block of flats, so likely won't get 'peeped' at. Would still feel safer with frosting though....I mean if you wanna change clothes without drawing the curtains in the room or having to go into the toilet..... Dunnid to worry if someone in a taller unit in next block of flats saw something they not supposed to see.

I was googling about removing window film...and this guy's video makes it look like a piece of cake. I have no idea if it works....have to go try it out sometime....likely will be after I move in. Coz I got no patience to sit in empty house wait for 2 hours for the water to soak in. Basically steps are : 1. use some light detergent (like dishwashing liquid) and make a very diluted solution with lots of water 2. Put in spray bottle 3. Spray the film thoroughly. The wetter the better 4. Use some kind of plastic (guy in video used bubble wrap, but he says cling wrap or watever plastic will work) to stick to the film area to retain the moisture 5. Let the moisture sit there for at least 2 hours. The longer the better 6. Remove plastic and start tearing off the film 7. In his video,he used a penknife to cut the film to smaller pieces for easier removal. His video says must make sure the blade is stainless steel coz it's 'softer' than glass. I not sure about this, personally might not try. I am afraid of scratching the glass. Viola! Clean window! Here's another video : same principle, but this one doesn't wait at all, simply used a 'glass scraper' to scrape off, even the glue residue. Now where to get glass scrapers? DIY shops?

Half installed quartz top. Think the plumber jumped the gun, shouldn't have installed the tap first. Now it's in the way. The quartz top installation guys probably didn't know how to take the tap off safely so had to leave it. Alex said the quartz guys will be back Friday to install the balance of the worktop.

Didn't know hardware shops carried these handles. Will scout around. Looking at it, I know it's easy. Just 2 screws each... I thought need to get some windows specialist to be able to buy these handles hence called contractor up earlier. Thanks both. DIY project ~ Problem is I've got lousy 'art & craft' hands. A couple of screws probably ok. Tear off film likely ok. Paste film probably will probably get it crooked or something.

I got all 'white' for my place too. Nippon paint : Sail white in living room. Lilac white for all bedrooms. Not sure what is the difference in the paint types coz I can't tell....living room is medifresh, Bedrooms are vinilex 5000. Nippon doesn't seem to have 'pure' whites for walls? From what I can see, Sail white is actually an off-white under dim lighting. Lilac white has a hint of purple. My ceiling is plain 'Mattex' white, I do see a difference in the 'whites' when I take a pic. Heh....not all whites are equal. No oil based sealer / paint for my place but I don't see the problem...no kids going to draw on my walls so easywash is 'over-kill' for me.

Speaking about additions....Just saw these casement window handles that looks like 'Shrek'. Greeeeennnnnn~ Thought these can be cleaned, but apparently nothing budges algae + oxidization after all these years....The prior owners must not have cleaned their windows at all to get such build-up. The 'friction plates' (not sure what those are called, anyhow name them) are also either missing screws, or are missing totally.... Just called Alex to get replacements for all these handles.....more $$ flying..... Oh well...should be used to it by now...LOL.... On other notes, anyone knows if the sticker pasted on the glass for the frosting effect can be removed and replaced? These are pretty old and looks worn...and it's an old fashioned floral pattern. Ha...

My hacking started 21st Feb mah. This is the 6th week already....so contractor says 5 - 6 weeks he means 6 weeks. haha.... cannot blame him also lah...didn't see so many things and add this add that, subtract this subtract that from the original plan.

You can use photobucket or flickr to upload photos. It's about the same thing though, you still get a direct link from photobucket or flickr and you use that link in the post here.