FifiGal

Finally I'm ready to replace my bulky old-fashion TV for a HD-Ready LCD TV ( actually the old one is still working fine but my heart getting itchy with so many TV offers ) But I have a problem on how to display such a TV set.. likely a 37". I'm also planning to replace my current old sofa set/coffee table/ TV console. But I found that most TV consoles in the stores are now only about 40~ 50 cm high. If I place the TV on it, I find the viewing angle rather low and uncomfortable when watching from the sofa . ( my old console is about 70 cm high) If i opt for the wall mount option, there are the disadvantages of damaging the wall with brackets ( then how if i change TV in future?) and ugly wires dangling ( I don't have a false wall partition to hide them). I read thru some old discussion threads on ready-made consoles from Cellini which can mount the TV, but their design does not fit my house . Which is mostly natural-looking or country-style finishing, so cannot have high gloss + metal modern style. Anyone in similar situation with suggestions or solutions? Thanks!

hi, sorry missed your question as i had turned off the alert for this thread ( now kitchen renovation done, am moving on to the LCD TV, sofa forum ) Based on the sample piece i had, its about 5mm thick. Btw, for those of you thinking of choosing white, do take note that it will not be pure snow or milk -white. It has a greenish tinge which comes from the glass itself. And its exactly what i wanted so i was happy I'm glad i chose glass over SS backing because i found that my SS hob already has scratch marks from usage. so if i had chosen SS backing, i may hv obvious scratch marks too. The only trouble with cleaning a glass backing is same as glass window - if i do a sloppy job , i can end up with water marks lor. babytan - perhaps you can browse some kitchen decor books from the library to get some colour ideas. I personally prefer light sunny feel kitchen so i would not choose black if I already hv dark cabinets, but its up to individual tastes. Have fun!

Need to clarify - seems like problem is just with one supplier with current stocks. So contractor say ..if i not in hurry, he can try to arrange again. Got hope..ha

The tiler told me 'unpolished' is quite ok, its the shiny polished ones that seem to hv this problem. Anyway, mine lasted 10 yrs until i decided to go whack at it to replace new kitchen cabinets. So if you plan to move or do total renovation within 10 yrs, still can lah

oh ya, he did mention that ceramic is better then using polished homogenous tiles for concrete support too

Just to share something i learn from the tiling worker for my current renovation. Not sure accurate or not but just share lah. Mine is old kitchen with sink n stove support done with polished homogenous tiles. Was the trend back then. I decided to keep it and just change only the cabinets, including doors under the support. My contractor already check and warn me that some tiles sound hollow so there is risk of tiles popping. Good thing no tiles from countertop drop off but the vertical ones adjoining the countertop edge fell off, due to vibration during the dismantling of old cabinets. The tiler who came to fix told me that due to the way polished ( shiny) homog tiles are made, they dun stick well to the cement and tend to become hollow with time. Its something that they learn years later....was not obvious when they do last time. Anyway, so his advice for future kitchen is to use non-polished homog tile ( did not go thru extra processing that weaken the tile) or use solid top.

Me again. Have decided on glass backsplash n now kitchen under renovation already. Was told to choose colour from Nippon Bodelac 9000 series, so looking forward to a green tinted glass backsplash that match my light wood cabinate and brick colour tiles. But contractor just informed me latest update is that the factory has to give up on using other types of paint, except their original red/black/white special glass paint. Because their past customers had complained abt fading colours when using other paint. *sigh* ....Has anyone heard about this recently? Hasibee, you are lucky you chose black. Now i hv to decide to use white or switch to s/s because black or red is just too contrasting for my kitchen.

thanks..u answer so fast. are u permanently logged into Renotalk?..hee

Hi Mace, do you find the EasyWash paint "shiny" ? The paint specs say "Elegant soft sheen finish". I prefer matte but also want something easy to wash for easy maintenance. My contractor also charge me more if i choose EasyWash paint.

Its me again on the glass backsplash. I've got my heart quite set on it but now its my hubby who is still scared of glass breaking. I've tried searching the internet but ..... only found reported cases of glass hob shattering, glass shower screen shattering ....but no cases of glass backsplash shattering, only some people voicing concern that it might happen. Does anyone know of actual cases?

Does it include drawers? I had one contractor quote me drawers separately and that adds another $600+ . My 26ft kitchen cabinet laminate w ABS trimming , handles & 2 glass panel is at $2548. I'm going for basic laminate counter top and that addes another $300.

I need to know too. I have 2 quotations for my kitchen cabinet - one is abt $3.5k , another is abt $2.8k. Problem is ..they quote at different level of details. Meaning one just give me a bao-ka-liao price ($2.8k) and say price includes a laminated top and 6 drawers for the bottom cabinet. Cheaper but dunno reliable or not. As far as this forum is concerned, he is an unknown - a neighbourhood shop contact. But the guy who came is nice ( but young) and respond to my emails fast. Another one quote me separately for the laminated top and the drawers and I add it all up to $3.5k. He is supposed to be quite well-known in both Renotalk n sgbrides and reputed to be economical. So far he is also quite efficient in responding to my queries. Bit of headache how to choose Btw, is it also normal to charge for installing hob & hood ? First contractor said FOC but 2nd contractor ask for $50. Small sum but i wonder if this reflects that the contractor is a bit 'picky'. 2nd contractor also want to charge me $50 for removing old/ re-applying new silicon around my existing sink. I thot it should be FOC too but now not sure if I am the picky one!

One contractor quoted me for 'sand glass' at $540; another quoted me $690 for 'tempered glass' for about 2.8m ( around 9 ft). Does anyone here know what is 'sand glass' and is it ok for backsplash? For those who have done it, what is the type of glass used for your backsplash? ( besides tempered) Thanks

my heart is on glass but more expensive leh... and the contractor i want 'rejected' me so now on hunt for another one and see if get better quote for glass

Hi, Mrs Quek has called me to confirm that Patrick cannot take my job *boo-hoo*. Guess I'll have to find someone else. Gotta catch up with Miu Miu ! !! So for anyone else hoping to get Patrick to do your house before CNY'08, forget it...he can't even squeeze in my tiny kitchen before that. Look for him only if you can wait till after CNY to start.

I also waited one month liao. Both Patrick and Ah Keong have come to see my kitchen and measure. And I call Mrs Quek until both of us pai-seh liao. But she say Patrick is REALLY busy and maybe I shud give up waiting for him ( becos I said that if he really no time to do mine, I have to find someone else quickly). I hv also called Patrick n Ah Keong direct - he said will check n get back to me. But if they really cannot take any more jobs, why bother to visit for measurements then. How? *sigh*

Me too ... As long as the work quality is good and the person has integrity, I dun mind paying him what he is worth. I wun even bargain too hard for discount as long as every cent is worth it. Patrick visited my place abt 20 days ago and still hv not given me quotation When I called 2 days ago, Mrs Quek arranged for Ah Keong to come as the bulk of my job is kitchen cabinet. He & his worker jus came & left. He said Patrick has no impression of my house (sigh..mus be too super busy and mine is a rather small job) But even Ah Keong left me a very good impresson. He saw a door knob was loose, and without my asking, he and his guy just went ahead n fixed it for me! My hubby will be happy - the loose knob had been bothering him. Then I wanted to consult him on another minor problem with a wooden sliding door, to see if it can be fixed ( and ask Patrick to quote it in) - but he just fixed it on the spot for me too. !! Shows they are not nit-picky and take pride in their work So now I'm waiting for the quotation, finalise what I want and hope they can squeeze me into their schedule.

Thanks for sharing this info on how the glass is coloured. Hmmm... wonder if the paint can be underneath the glass, so that I look thru clear glass to a nice colour underneath..just a thot. I'm a metrics gal so I had to do a rough conversion of $1100/18ft, which works out to about $200 per metre. That's about the same price quoted by my conractor for mine which is slightly less then 3 metre. I'm pretty sure I will not be drilling anymore holes so that's not a concern for me. Don't mind about the price of glass either if its not too much of a difference. Its just the worry of cracking Gotta make up my mind soon ..wanna finalise by selection by this week

I know this thread has been quiet awhile but it has some info I'm looking for regarding choice of s/s or glass backsplash. Checking with those who did glass or s/s backsplash recently, what is the length for the price of $150 ? I had a quote of over $500 to do entire length of cabinet for mine. ( about length of 3 cooker hobs) And does the tempered glass backsplash come in tinted glass? Thank you!

Actually in my case, its an old kitchen with existing wall tiles from HDB. So its a matter of deciding whether or not to plaster over them and paint to give my kitchen a new look. Lets see...if i should leave the tiles or use some kind of backing between cabinets, backsplash, sink area, behind fridge...area left to plaster & paint is...... practically nothing left! I showed one contractor those dirty ugly old tiles, with evidence of sloppy work done by my first contractor long ago ( can see lots of excess plaster marks around the service balconey door & window frame), and asked his advice what to do if not plastering or hack/re-tile, he told me to close one eye and dun keep looking up so often when cooking lor. LOL! But i buay tahan them anymore - wonder if there is some way to at least scrub or use some special cleaning agent to clean those tiles... There were quite a few pple who shared that they did do plastering/painting for the kitchen ...can share how long ago and so far how are the painted walls holding up?

I juz came back from a short trip , checked my email and still no quote from patrick. More then 1 week liao. And no wonder... he is busy re-doing your quotation! LOL Come monday, I'll give him or Mrs Quek a call to check.

If you mean getting slim hood, then there is still cabinet space above it, like mine now. And changing the filter sponge, no need to open cabinet. In any case, I'm sure u can ask patrick's advice Only problem is, in the long run, be prepared for greasy doors if u cook lot. that is why i ask his suggestion for another type of door which is easier to clean instead of the laminate/painted wood. if u like to discuss more on hood/hobs, maybe we can PM? Or else we hijack "ho bee website" to another topic..haha.

Most likely once the quotation come in & I make any clarifications needed...i'll try to chope him liao. Altho I normally prefer to get a few quotes first, I think this time i wun waste time - its small job plus enough good testimonies from various folks here. Ahhh..thanks for the alert, can save me an unnecessary trip, but can tell me more why not tecno/tecnogas ah? Advert on last page of one of the ST sections today. Actually Patrick advised me..hood in HDB oso not really help much coz the air is circulated back in instead of out, but i think got one is still better then none. I had quite a detailed discussion with him coz one of my problems is old greasy cabinet doors above the slim hood. ( then my MIL go scrub until paint come off ) Was wondering is it better to change to chimny type. Patrick suggest to use door with aluminium trimming & frosted glass for easy cleaning.

Actually i forgot name of shop... went IMM for dinner with hubby then after dinner decide to walk walk see hood/hob. By that time, even SCC close liao. Think it was 2 shops away from SCC.

I met patrick yesterday, mine lagi even smaller job Dunno the cost yet, he will give me quote next week. But he say its a 2 week job and no problem to squeeze me in before year-end if I engage him. Nice friendly guy to talk to I oso need to go research hob & hood, but i got limitation of hob size coz I'm not hacking up the old wetworks. Just remove the old spoilt hob & plonk in new one. So other pple can consider brand, color, design...i first thing is look at the size (sigh). There is another old thread somewhere in this forum (under design/kitchen I think), 7 pages of comments on some hobs/hoods, u might wanna read read oso. BTW, Rinnai is having some hob+hood offers now, i picked up a brochure from an IMM shop which is also available on their website. Now i am looking thru. Then saw newspaper advert today that Techno having sale 2-4Nov. Then of coz i prob go Poh Joo too.