Mandy & Lincoln - Renovating Our First Home

[mmycheng 0]

Two main things to share today:

One, today we had to make some decisions about our carpentry. After taking into account site measurements, design and costings, we had to give up the following in order to incur minimal additional costs to our renovation works. Very sad...

1. Give up additional 6ft WIW on right side of bedroom 2, will only be left with an L-shaped 18ft WIW on the left side.

2. Forgo larder unit in kitchen cabinet as the pull-out drawers themselves were expensive and the construction of the carpentry works to support it made it freaking expensive...I'm talking 4 figure sums here.

Two, if you have not embarked on your renovation yet and is still deciding between choosing a contractor or ID, I have some advice to share. Basically, I realised that an ID is essentially a project manager for your reno or you can liken he/she to a wedding planner for a wedding. So if you simply enjoy the shopping and decorating process, but hate managing contractors, suppliers and making sure things stick to a scheduled timeline, then you're like me...so have to employ an ID. However, if you enjoy doing the designing all on your own, have the time to supervise the contractors, liase with suppliers and push people to get the things done then it is worthwhile to just go with a contractor, plus you get cost savings too.

For me, choosing an ID was a right choice as both me and hb are rather busy with work. One of my friends who's also renovating house at the moment started 1 1/2 months ago and progress at the moment is on par with mine which started 1 and a half weeks ago! They said they only went to see the flat once a week and contractor basically took his time as they didn't have the energy to 'chase' him. Now they are worried when their reno will eventually finish.

Of course, at the end of the day, whether choosing an ID or going for contractor, both can be equally gratifying ways to build a home. You just have to weigh the pros and cons carefully.

Edited September 23, 2008 by mmycheng

[blurer23 0]

hi mmycheng:

maybe you can consider my dining lights if you want.

go visit lightning center, you mostly can find the lights which you wanted..

[mmycheng 0]

hi mmycheng:

maybe you can consider my dining lights if you want.

go visit lightning center, you mostly can find the lights which you wanted..

Want to leh...your lighting shop is so much cheaper...but difficult cos I already bought my lights from this shop...so I can only change from the same shop otherwise will have to forfeit my $

[mmycheng 0]

My personal opinion only.. I personally feel a round black colour fabric material dining pendant light about 500mm diameter is sufficient to bring it to an even classier feel without overly drama.. A cosy yet hotel style touch.. It shd cost you abt $250 at most of the balestier or jalan besar lighting shops.

Sounds lush ...thanks, will check out if my lighting shop has something similar.

[mmycheng 0]

Have finalised the designs of my carpentry works with my ID. Here are some pictures to show.

Living room feature wall

Study room working area

Study room bookshelves

MBR feature wall (other walls will be grey)

Edited September 27, 2008 by mmycheng

[mmycheng 0]

Kitchen

[applefreak 1]

nice kitchen! bright and cheery

[mmycheng 0]

nice kitchen! bright and cheery

Thanks! My hb wanted to be greeted by bright and cheery colours when he comes home.

[Angel81 1]

Very nice 3D drawings, especially the living room and kitchen!

[bubble-ling 0]

very nice 3D drawings...especially love ur kitchen!

[ponytail 0]

wah bright yellow, cherry colour.

[mmycheng 0]

Hi, thanks for all your comments! Another forumer, Klipp-Klapp also has very bright colours...in fact, it's supposed to be a green house!

I think bright colours is in fashion now...just picked up the latest copy of Home&Decor and they were featuring all the different bright colour combinations for home designs...I was like telling my hb "Look darling! This is similar to our feature wall!"

But then, I still need my 'serious' colours to do serious work...so study room is black and white... also more timeless lah...

[ahockz 1]

spam spam. hee hee. wow u almost finish your reno. I still @ the stage looking for ID when both of us getting the keys about the same time.

can pm mi the addition charges by homesuccess a not? i also shortlist them. i know they didnt put in the harlage charges. So hw much u paid for that?

[mmycheng 0]

Ok. I will PM u the info. Which few IDs have you shortlisted so far? What is your budget and your key needs for the reno? You can PM me.

My reno just started only...it's still not near finishing lah...today I went to see and so far only all the tiling done. I also had to redo the screeding for all my bedrooms...and had to pay an extra $360 for it.

Sighz... all because HDB's screeding (which was FOC) don't match the height...so after my ID did the living room tiling, then realised the bedroom screed is too low and if the laminates go on top, the bedroom floors will be lower than the living room... in the end, had to top up $$$... if I had known this would happen, I would just go for tiles throughout the whole house... if I top up on tiles for all the bedrooms, I would pay additional $500... and personally, i prefered tiles because I have a dog and his nails will scratch the flooring...but then during that time I was thinking of saving $.

Time to go watch F1 practices on TV! Hee

Edited September 26, 2008 by mmycheng

[typhoonz 0]

Kitchen

Very very nice kitchen... A very good mix of bright and dark colours...