countrylover

My HB used to be in the reno biz and he said that nowadays contractors don't earn as much as before due to competition, increase in material costs etc. I would think it's probably only 10% to 15% per project. Previously he could easily earn at least $10k from a $30k reno project. I'm renovating my flat now. As I compare the quotes from contractors and those from our direct sources, there are cost savings of course, but not really very significant.

Does anybody know if the shelves I attached below are avail in S'pore? If not, will probably need to buy from US (again!!).

We just finished the MBR feature wall, have not started on the living room one yet. Not quite decided on what to do with the feature wall too. But we'll probably make a trip down to Soon Bee Huat soon to check out what they have, then decide on the design. Must warn u 1st though it's really not easy, esp when you are doing it for the 1st time. It's not just about sticking the tiles on the wall, but the mixing of sand and cement which is a big pain, cos the proportion has to be just right. But once u get the hang of it, it shd come on quite easily. Actually my HB did it all by himself, I just stood watch by the side and comment. I believe u will be mounting your LCD TV on the wall? That one I'm not sure how to get it done, probably need to drill holes and mount the brackets etc. I can check with my HB and PM u.

But Mr Chairman, you are in RC right? Technically speaking, neighbours got problems all can approach u mah. :

Hmm...I don't think the skim coat peeling off has anything to do with my painting, as the cracks have appeared even before I started painting the base coat. As with my living room ceiling, we didn't even start any reno works yet and they fell off suddenly. The skim coat is like a thin layer of plastering which HDB does for our ceilings. Btw what's the difference between oil-based and water-based base coat? Any effect on the finished painting works?

Does anyone here have problems with the skim coat of your ceiling falling off? Sigh, this has happened to my flat not just once but twice! Sometime in Dec last year, I was shocked to see layers coming off from my living room ceiling. Went to the service contractor at Blk 89 to complain, who got their workers to patch it up. At the same time, they also patched up some cracks which they found in my bedrooms. Back then, they claimed to have done a thorough check of the entire place and that such incidents should not happen again. Last weekend, it happened again...this time in my MBR! The layers started coming off as we were painting the ceiling. The damage is about 50cm wide. My HB did a check of the MBR and found that it's hollow in many areas, and we won't be surprised when all those other areas also start falling off in time to come! Apparently, the service contractor didn't inspect my place as thoroughly as they so claimed. In fact, over the past month, we noticed visible cracks that run across the bedrooms. Was gonna lodge a complaint when the incident happened last weekend. Does anybody here experience this too? We were lucky we were just painting the base coat for the flat. Just imagine what would have happened if all painting and lightings were up and the same thing happens. A waste of paint and our time! Who's gonna be responsible and pay for the damages then? Does that also mean we have to dismantle the lights and wait for HDB to fix it? Anyway have called HDB to complain and they are sending someone to fix it tomorrow. Sorry for my grunting. It's a Monday all right, and this had to happen! Here's some photos I took in Dec last year. Didn't take any photos last weekend as I didn't have my camera with me then.

It's definitely possible not to go thru an ID and yet create a dream home that you like. But very important, you need to know exactly what you want. I'm currently renovating my flat and I do not engage any ID/contractor. Besides the floor tiles, windows, air-con and some carpentry stuff, we DIY on all other stuff eg feature walls, painting etc. Good to have contacts and engage realiable sub-contractors to handle those works we need. But I must tell you it's no joke as you need to liaise with more people and do lots of planning yourself. If time is a major concern, then it'll be better to engage an ID/main contractor. As both me and HB are working, we could only work on the flat after office hours or weekends. But since we are not really in a hurry to move, we have no issue with taking our time to complete those works. This is a good option if you have limited budget, but yet able to have good time management. I must admit it's really stressful to be doing everything ourselves but we enjoy the process and what matters is the great satisfaction that we derive seeing our dream home come to life. All our hard work (and sweat!) paying off. We are very happy with the sub-contractors we engage. PM me for their contacts if you are interested.

Yeah, think they still around. I was at Blk 91 last Sat and saw the guys still creating a nuisance there.

Thanks. Have u completed your reno? Quick...quick...show photos!

Thanks. It's not too late. Maybe can consider getting a tiffany standing lamp or table lamp? I was also surprised that it's so cheap in US. Now I know why tiffany lamps and chandeliers are so expensive in Singapore. The markups by local stores are a killer! I'm very pleased with the quality of the lamps...the frames are all made of wrought iron. Initially was very worried that they are made of inferior materials. But finishings and all are really good! So no complaints! Hey Zlia...is your home reno completed? Still waiting to see your pics leh

Yeah, that was a consideration before we decided to buy from US. We will need to ask our electrician to do a conversion to 240V for us.

I bought all my lights from ebay. You can check out the following merchants : http://stores.ebay.com/Selas-imall-Shops-and-Boutiques http://stores.ebay.com/CSS-LIGHTING http://stores.ebay.com/Tiffany-Direct They are really cheap, mostly below US$100. It's the shipping charges that kill. But with shipping, still cheaper than what we can get in S'pore. I consolidated the varoius shipments via vpost USA to save on shipping costs. One thing though, u need to get yr electrician to do a conversion, cos US uses 120v but S'pore uses 240v. I can't show photos of the lightings now as they are all packed in the boxes. What I've attached here are the stock pics from the merchants. Hope they look as stunning when installed!

$1300 for all your lights and ceiling fans sound very reasonable. What did you buy exactly? I also recently spent about $1300 from a shop at Geylang and bought the following : 1 x ceiling fan with light kit 1 x hanging lamp (foyer) 1 x hanging lamp (corridor) 3 x ceiling lights (bomb shelter & 2 toilets) 1 x ceiling light (children's room) 1 x ceiling light (study room) 1 x Joven heater

How often do the cleaners clean up the bin area? Once a week? Just imagine some inconsiderate folks who dump leftover food there. Gosh...the rotten stench lingering for 1 week or more!

Sigh, my hubby was one of those who witnessed the incident, as shared earlier. He didn't see him jump but saw the body as he was walking back from the shops. Happened sometime in March. Like I've also mentioned, we shd all try to avoid walking under that area, like what Zirhk has shared, not afraid of becoming a victim of suicidal people but victims of killer litters. From a great height of 40th level, even a small harmless cup can prove fatal, not to mention other stuff like bricks and chairs! Can u remember which papers reported? The tabloids SM & WB? I actually looked in the papers after the incident but didn't see anything leh. Pardon me for my ignorance. What is hamtam bola huh?

Thanks for your concern. Hehe...nothing new to report. We still struggling to finish up with the feature walls and painting. Cos everything DIY and we only have weekends to work on it, so taking our time to finish. Targetting to finish everything in 3 weeks time, so can move in by end May. Will keep all posted!

Gosh, really unbelievable! Like u mentioned earlier, these people ought to be penalised cos they are really depriving people who are serious abt getting flats of their chances! Really hope that my cousin will be lucky this time round. Poor guy, tried for so many times liao over the past 2 years but didn't have the luck.

If HDB were to queue up to 500 balloters, then there shouldn't be units left over after a few rounds of balloting right? For 200 or more balloters to back out is quite unlikely, taking the popularity of Tanglin Halt neighbourhood into account.

Totally agree with zirhk. I know of some people who are desperate to get new flats as they are planning to get married. However, they always land with queue numbers of 200 & above and thus unable to get flats in their neighbourhood of choice. One example is my cousin. He has been balloting for HDB flats since 2 years ago, from Tanglin Halt to Seng Kang to Bukit Panjang, but everytime very suay. This is the 3rd time he has balloted for Tanglin Halt but his queue no. is 300+. What I don't quite understand is...are we guaranteed a flat as long as we get a queue no? There are others who don't get a no. at all right? Then why is it that my cousin says that he has a queue no. for a few balloting exercises but no more flats avail when it comes to his turn?

My unit faces the Tanglin Halt 10th storey and I stay at mid level. I've been back every wkend but so far don't hear the MRT noise at all. Actually I'm not too particular about noises caused by vehicles, schools etc as I've been staying in a mature estate since young and have thus gotten accustomed to such. Middle of the night neighbours quarrel and hurl flower pots at each other also can sleep leh. LOL.

Can I check if the floor plans in Blk 89 & 91 are similar? A friend who got a queue no. in the recent balloting likes my floor plan, but was wondering if there are similar ones in Blk 89. If tupperware clubs are for ah sohs and aunties, then chairman for the club must be for ah cheks & ah peks?(oh oooo....kidding...kidding...) I also did see some neighbours pushing up the Sheng Siong trolleys, but I think it's more for the convenience rather than the intention to keep the trolleys for themselves. What can one use the trolley for at home anyway? Use as laundry baskets? LOL

You are right, I'm really inspired by Rachel Ashwell & Laura Ashley, and would love to have my home furnished with all their wonderful items! LOL. Unfortunately, they are way too over-priced and way beyond my budget. Therefore, will make do with what I can find in ebay and flea market finds that's close to the concepts I want. I might splurge on some exquisite items, but definitely not on every corner in my home. The reason why I'm really into country-style is because I just love the warmth and coziness that comes with a country home. The allure that makes u look forward to coming home after a torturous day at work...the aromas of home-cooked food and fragrance of home-grown posies that titillate our every senses. Sorry...think I'm getting too carried away! Haha... I'm also pretty much an unconventional person, and not so into following the "norm". The trends that accompany a minimalist or contemporary concept might eventually get outdated but the country style is something that stays for ages and something that one would never get tired of. That's the reason why victorian and old English style still stay till this modern era. I've got tons of stuff from ebay such as placemats, canisters, pitchers, primitive dolls, signs, posters, chinaware, lamps etc. Think probably 6 or 7 boxes of stuff which I've been progressively buying over the past 6 mths. Like you, I love the books and magazines from Country Living too. Have recently purchased some books on country style decorating which are really great in giving me inspirations.

LOL. The tupperware club is for ah sohs and aunties lah...since 10 or 20 years ago. But u guys pls don't stereotype us ladies...I believe most of the neighbours staying here are young couples, prob in their 20s or early 30s. Can't possibly put us into the category of aunties right? When ladies gather, it doesn't have to be tupperware parites, most likely to complain about our hubbies! I'm usually back on weekends since still doing reno. If there's biz next Sat, I might just pop by.

We engaged contractors to do screeding and floor tiles. The cement mentioned above which we DIY was for the window platform.

Sorry, I can't rem who you are? Care to enlighten me? Pardon me for my bad memory I've not gone to IFC yet, can't find the time. How much did you spend for the items mentioned?