hdb4ever

I am a single too and I bought a 4-room flat (you can see my blog thread in the Resale HDB section). My suggestion is to go with 4-room if finances is not an issue. More space is better because it gives you greater flexibility for the future. No need to feel compelled to fill the unoccupied space with stuff if you don't yet have plans for it. An empty space doesn't take long to clean - just 3 minutes of stick vacuuming every now and then. If you have a robot vacuum cleaner, you don't even need to think about sweeping/vacuuming as the robot will take care of this for you

Oops just realised a typo in my previous post. I meant that the item is sold by username desireeeeee ?

Hi @Horchew my blog thread is in the second post of this thread. What I bought over Taobao is still working well with my Joven, but nowadays there are smarter versions that let you do the timer setup using mobile app. There seems to be one sold on Carousell called desireeeeee - look at the 20A Smart WiFi switch.

@JOYWALKER Very nice matching bed frame and bedside table! Is the wood white oak? And where did you buy these from?

Hi deltor I would suggest having a dedicated study in place of the walk-in-wardrobe so that your computer screen doesn't get glare from the bedroom window. This may not matter if you don't expect to use the study table for much computer work though. The integrated console and peninsula is a good way to have a small space-saving dining space that can also function as countertop space. Since this is an open concept kitchen I would suggest thinking about placing an air purifier in the living room (unless you don't cook at all or don't cook much).

Yes it is possible to add drainage for the shower area but will require hacking and retiling of the entire flooring. I did this for both bathrooms when I renovated my resale flat.

Hi you may want to use an air purifier. I have an open kitchen and cooking smells often waft into the living room; in such times, turning on my air purifier helps.

You could consider using some of the space from your kitchen/dining area for your MBR's wardrobe. Or move the store room into the kitchen/dining area and then the MBR use some of the space from Bedroom 3 for its wardrobe or bed placement (in this case will require shifting of both rooms' doors). Another idea is to shrink the size of the kitchen/dining area to either move one bedroom or the living area there (and then the living room area becomes another bedroom). But this will result in a newly created space that doesn't get much air circulation because no windows there, even though MBR becomes much bigger through absorption of Bedroom 3. Last idea from me is redesignate MBR through either 1. Redesignate Bedroom 3 as MBR. Move the Store room into the kitchen/dining area. Absorb some of the space from existing Main Bedroom into Bedroom 3 to connect it to Bathroom 1 so that the new MBR continues to have an ensuite. 2. Redesignate Bedroom 2 as MBR. Expand its capacity by using more of that space between Bedroom 2 and Kitching/Dining Area (and even some of the latter), for a much larger wardrobe. Connect Bedroom 3 to Bathroom 1. Bathroom 1 hence becomes redesignated as Common Bathroom for use by your children who will be in the previous Main Bedroom and Bedroom 3. The new MBR will have no more ensuite bathroom with this new layout however.

Hi I have a few suggestions for your kitchen too. You may find the lighting at your sink area to be dim at night making it more challenging to wash your dishes; if this is the case, you could purchase online a stick-on led strip that is powered by batteries (or built in rechargeable battery) and turn it on when there is a need. Also, if you find fumes and oil splashes coating the nearby switches/sockets when you cook, you may want to purchase a stick-on cover for the switch/socket.

Thanks for sharing the beautiful renovation! It's such a brilliant idea to remove the wall between the living room and bedroom area to create a greater sense of space - while retaining the option to separate them again using the versatile vertical blinds when you want a cosy space! Now you can style it to your heart's content!

Just spotted this new layout among the new Aug 2020 BTOs at Woodlands. Very outstanding because of 1) Open concept kitchen - similar to that of one-bedroom condo units! (That does mean cooking smells will need to be filtered out using cooker hood and an air purifier for the living room) 2) A separate laundry area away from the kitchen means no cooking smells sticking to laundry. Alas it is near the entrance, but can probably be concealed with curtains or a sliding screen 3) The "second room" appeared in a recent previous launch. But just occurred to me that it could also be turned into a walk-in closet!

Congratulations on the completion of your new home! The whole space feels very serene. Just add a few (green) plants to complete the look! By the way, what is the wall-mounted dryer you are using? Noticed that the controls are at the bottom - which really makes sense for a dryer not placed on the floor.

Very beautiful renovation and thank you for sharing! I especially like how you have a separate dry kitchen with its own sink and induction hob on a peninsula. Can I ask what is the cooker hood and doorbell that you use? Thanks!

The only construction related services that will continue are those listed on this government website (please delete all the extra space in the link below. my original post was placed in "Hidden" limbo ? ) https: // covid . gobusiness . gov . sg / essentialservices / construction /

The only construction related services that will continue are those listed on this government website https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/essentialservices/construction/

Looking nice but where do you intend to dry your washed dishes/pots/pans? Seems like a waste to use that limited countertop space (where the flower pot is) for a countertop dish rack?

Duplicate post - edited for removal.

Hi POX, I actually bought the timer separately from Taobao via EZBuy and the electrician was with my ID's company. But based on what I have seen from the diagram, it uses typical wiring for a switch of a storage water heater. See below for the photo of the back of my timer switch Nowadays there are apparently even Wifi-enabled ones that can be set via a mobile phone app. You can consider those too. Here is one sold in Singapore https://sg.carousell.com/p/smart-wifi-switch-20a-smart-home-automation-253384072

Looking bright and breezy! How did your defect checks go - encountered any issues? I also didn't realise that the toilet window is now so large! Ventilation and natural light will not be a problem for sure!

Noticed new layouts for 2-room BTO in the Feb 2020 release. In some cases, it is even possible to have an open concept kitchen and even a study room. Looks like there are more layout possibilities with 2-room flats! 46sqm with second bedroom/dining area/study room 36sqm with open concept kitchen 36sqm with "railroad style" layout - potentially kitchen+living+bedroom in a single open space

One-Year Retrospective (Part 4) Bathroom Every time I clean my shower curtains by simply tossing it in to the washing machine with some hand towels, I am glad that I did not install a shower screen - which would have required daily cleaning to look good! I had gone with a premade stainless steel sink+cabinet combi because I don't trust myself (or visitors..) to keep carpentry in the bathroom dry. This meant an inevitable gap between the sink cabinet and the bathroom wall as pictured above, which I initially found unsightly. But I quickly realised that this is a blessing because it is an ideal space to hang your bathroom foldable floor squeegee and floor brush. Much more aesthetic than hanging them in the shower area! L-shaped Wardrobe Instead of building my master bedroom's wardrobe against a wall, I had it done in an L-shape for a pseudo walk-in wardrobe feel. I really like this configuration because it also closes off the view of my sleeping space from outside the bedroom (e.g. when guests use the guest bathroom). If you are considering this configuration for your wardrobe though, just bear in mind the "corner" part of the L-shaped wardrobe. Depending on how it is configured, the space there may not be so easily accessible (I presently have my less often used clothes stored there). Also, I overlooked how the corner would not get much light - something I addressed by sticking battery-operated LED lights, but it would have been nicer if I had remembered to fit in a light switch there. Ok that's the end of this 1-year retrospective! I hope you have enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing!

One-Year Retrospective (Part 3) Distinct Service Yard I chose to keep my service yard separate and closed off from my kitchen and I am so glad that I have. When I have guests, I no longer need to worry about them having a "good view" of my laundry. I also don't need to worry about cooking fumes going into freshly laundered clothes. Most importantly, a closed off service yard allows me to air dry my laundry any time of the day of the week with the help of a laundry dehumidifier, which uses significantly less electricity than a dryer. This is unparalled convenience and flexibility that I will never want to trade for slightly more kitchen countertop space. Air dried clothes last longer too, so air drying is gentler on both clothes and the wallet! Storage settees Taller cabinets would have certainly given me more storage space than these settees but they would also be less flexible and likely made my place feel more "boxed up". I chose to do "lift up" doors on these instead of side casement or sliding doors and I am glad I did because I get to store large and long items very easily!

One-Year Retrospective (Part 3) Distinct Service Yard I chose to keep my service yard separate and closed off from my kitchen and I am so glad that I have. When I have guests, I no longer need to worry about them having a "good view" of my laundry. I also don't need to worry about cooking fumes going into freshly laundered clothes. Most importantly, a closed off service yard allows me to air dry my laundry any time of the day of the week with the help of a laundry dehumidifier, which uses significantly less electricity than a dryer. This is unparalled convenience and flexibility that I will never want to trade for slightly more kitchen countertop space. Air dried clothes last longer too, so air drying is gentler on both clothes and the wallet! Storage settees Taller cabinets would have certainly given me more storage space than these settees but they would also be less flexible and likely made my place feel more "boxed up". I chose to do "lift up" doors on these instead of side casement or sliding doors and I am glad I did because I get to store large and long items very easily! Bathroom Every time I clean my shower curtains by simply tossing it in to the washing machine with some hand towels, I am glad that I did not install a shower screen - which would have required daily cleaning to look good! I had gone with a premade stainless steel sink+cabinet combi because I don't trust myself (or visitors..) to keep carpentry in the bathroom dry. This meant an inevitable gap between the sink cabinet and the bathroom wall as pictured above, which I initially found unsightly. But I quickly realised that this is a blessing because it is an ideal space to hang your bathroom foldable floor squeegee and floor brush. Much more aesthetic than hanging them in the shower area! (I have always felt uncomfortable when. as a guest. I need to stare at a mop while doing my business in a bathroom). L-shaped Wardrobe Instead of building my master bedroom's wardrobe against a wall, I had it done in an L-shape for a pseudo walk-in wardrobe feel. I really like this configuration because it also closes off the view of my sleeping space from outside the bedroom (e.g. when guests use the guest bathroom). If you are considering this configuration for your wardrobe though, just bear in mind the "corner" part of the L-shaped wardrobe. Depending on how it is configured, the space there may not be so easily accessible (I presently have my less often used clothes stored there). Also, I overlooked how the corner would not get much light - something I addressed by sticking battery-operated LED lights, but it would have been nicer if I had remembered to fit in a light switch there. Ok that's the end of this 1-year retrospective! I hope you have enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing!

One-Year Retrospective (Part 2) Open Concept Kitchen with Peninsula I had hacked the wall between my (minuscule) kitchen and the living/dining area and built a peninsula instead. This actually increased, rather than decreased, the amount of storage space because I was able to extend the width of the peninsula beyond the original kitchen space. Had I retained the kitchen wall, I would not be able to fit in carpentry one at least one wall in the kitchen. It would also have been more difficult to move about in the kitchen. I am also glad that when I thought of the design of the kitchen, I chose colours that are very much consistent with the rest of my apartment. My guests without fail get the impression that this apartment is bigger than it actually is (they think this is a 5-room) and one big reason is that the entryway+study room+ living/dining room + kitchen all come together coherently as a single space! So if you want your open-concept apartment to feel more spacious, stick to a coherent colour scheme! I am also fortunate that my kitchen has windows, which thanks to the removal of the kitchen wall, also contributes lots of natural lighting to the apartment. Bar-height Peninsula From the picture above, you will see 3 different heights (1) table height (2) counter height (where the frying pan is) and (3) bar height (of the peninsula). Peninsulas and islands are typically at counter height so that they can serve as extensions to the kitchen's countertop space. In my case however, I went with a bar height peninsula. A bar height peninsula will be less comfortable to work on (slightly less of an issue for me as I am relatively tall), but the increased height means more storage space in the peninsula - a priority for me given the small kitchen. One additional benefit of a bar height peninsula that I did not expect is that it helps to block out the view of more messy items in the kitchen. I have come to appreciate just how useful this is because an open concept kitchen typically exposes too much mess to guests. Induction Hob I decided to go with a 4-zone induction hob because I am paranoid about gas leaks. I was worried about finding suitable cookware for this but as it turns out there is now a wide range of induction-compatible cookware available. The first time I heated pratha it got burnt because I didn't realise how much faster things heat up on an induction hob over a gas one. I also liked how the induction hob doubles as countertop space, especially since only the zones "turned on" for cooking will get warm - the rest of the hob surface is cool to touch! Due to the flat nature of an induction hob, it is also effortless to maintain and gets cleaned with the rest of the countertop. On the topic of countertop, I went with a solid surface countertop from 3S instead of the currently more popular q uartz option. I don't have any problems with this countertop because it seems sturdy enough, with no major scratches or stains. Having said that, I do take care to use trivets when placing hot items, I never cut items directly on the countertop and I wipe off any spills as soon as possible. There are some (inevitable?) fine scratches/scuffing, but these aren't noticeable unless you are specifically looking for them. I suppose it also helps that my countertop material has an off-white base with "chips" embedded. So in my opinion, the cheaper solid surface option will do if you know what simple precautions to take. Post-renovation, I also added a marble-look glass backsplash at the cooking space. Glass is certainly easier to clean after a cooking session!

One-Year Retrospective (Part 1) It has been a year since I moved in and lived in this apartment, so I thought I would share my thoughts on the key renovation decisions that I made. If I were to do this renovation all over again, would I have made the same decisions? Do I have any regrets? Storage Cabinet, Flooring and Half Glass Wall Hacked store room and replaced with storage cabinet You may recall that this apartment came with store room to the left of the main door. I hacked it away and replaced it with storage cabinets. Functionally, this might not seem to make sense - why spend $$$ to hack then do carpentry for a space that would serve the same purpose of..storage? Still, I have not regrets because: The entryway space has become so much more spacious and airy The floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets has enhanced the feeling of spaciousness In fact, I gained more usable storage space with this reconfiguration since you need to leave room to move about in a store room. Hacked floor tiles and laid new wood-look tiles Tiling was probably the biggest contributing item to the total cost of renovation. And it didn't help that I (1) hacked, re-did cement screed and then tiled over, instead of overlaying, (2) chose to go with wood-look tiles which meant higher costs of tiles and workmanship The thing about these particular tiles is that they are textured - which is nice to walk on, if baffling to my guests ("What is this flooring? I can't figure it out!"). They are light enough to make my apartment feel bright, and don't show up minor scratches/imperfections (if any). Because of the texture though, they won't be clean if you sweep using a broom. Just as well then that I use a combination of (1) daily "sweeping" by a robot vacuum cleaner (2) weekly vacuuming using Dyson V8 and (3) weekly steam mopping. As I intend to be in this apartment for some time, I am also happy that I went with these tiles over vinyl. Hacked study room wall and replaced with half glass wall Very glad that I made this choice. This enables both my living room and study room to have lots of natural light coming in all day during the day. Since I am in either space much of my waking hours when I am at home, it also helps to make the entire apartment feel truly bright, spacious and relaxing! Living Room Cubby I created this false wall in the corner of my oddly-shaped living room so that I can arrange for my sofa, dining table and peninsula all parallel to my TV. The cubby below the TV is a good place to store devices like router, Apple TV, game controllers etc. What I did not consider though is just how messy it can look once you fill the cubby with devices - especially with all the different wires. Managed to keep everything looking neat by placing 3 theme-fitting storage baskets from Ikea (which I can't seem to find anymore). I didn't factor in track lighting above this TV wall because I didn't think I would need lights shining above my TV? That did result in the floating shelves above my TV looking rather dim and dreary though. Fortunately, this was easily solved with the addition of LED strips from Ikea as pictured above. I also love being able to watch TV whether I am in the kitchen , at the dining table or on the sofa! This also feels like being in a studio apartment!